Page 2 | Is this a deep clean or not?

MyNewFish · 2025-08-03T09:48:14+00:00

Wipe down woodwork door frames and picture rail in one room. Floors once over. Kitchen sides. Window sills. Full bathroom. Small house. Cleaner misses kitchen cupboard doors path panel nooks and crannies of dirt and dust. How much would you pay for this and is it a 'deep clean' ?

roses2 · 03/08/2025 12:08

Get a new cleaner, this one doesn't sound particularly good

AlertEagle · 03/08/2025 12:06

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 12:04

This would be perfect but it seems she's not doing that and there is grime and finger marks on doors and I asked her to sort those over time but she just comes and does a maintenance and leaves.

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Does she have enough time to deep clean everything? Sometimes houses have a lot or clutter and cleaners spend time moving them from one place to the next to be able to clean and they lose time doing that. Maybe shes not as good if she doesnt do it up to your standard then you should let her go. At the end of the day its your money and your home.

Original poster

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 12:04

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 12:00

I think a decent cleaner will do that. I always do a deep clean for the first clean or even second, as I need to get the place up to my standard which is rather high. All subsequent cleans are maintenance cleans but I'm maintaining the standard of my deep clean. I'll move furniture etc but not necessarily each week maybe once a month. I'll even do the front door on the outside and pick up rubbish if in the front garden. The way I work is that I clean to the same standard as my own home. Some things may take a few weeks to get to the way they should look but I tell the customer so they know I've not missed something but whatever it is needs a lot of attention and will be gleaming within x amount of weeks. Sadly, an awful lot of cleaners don't see it how I do and think a quick wipe around is all it takes. I suppose I do it because I love cleaning and not because it's the only option open to me. I chose to clean where as for some it's the only thing they feel they can do.

This would be perfect but it seems she's not doing that and there is grime and finger marks on doors and I asked her to sort those over time but she just comes and does a maintenance and leaves.

OP posts:

Dheops · 03/08/2025 12:00

I think you're essential paying for £100 worth of her time, and she's getting as much done in that time as she can, or is prepared to.

How long is she spending in your house?

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 12:00

I think a decent cleaner will do that. I always do a deep clean for the first clean or even second, as I need to get the place up to my standard which is rather high. All subsequent cleans are maintenance cleans but I'm maintaining the standard of my deep clean. I'll move furniture etc but not necessarily each week maybe once a month. I'll even do the front door on the outside and pick up rubbish if in the front garden. The way I work is that I clean to the same standard as my own home. Some things may take a few weeks to get to the way they should look but I tell the customer so they know I've not missed something but whatever it is needs a lot of attention and will be gleaming within x amount of weeks. Sadly, an awful lot of cleaners don't see it how I do and think a quick wipe around is all it takes. I suppose I do it because I love cleaning and not because it's the only option open to me. I chose to clean where as for some it's the only thing they feel they can do.

Anonomoso · 03/08/2025 11:57

Depends on how many hours your cleaner is doing to what they can get done.

I used to do 2 x 2 hours weekly and that was pretty much downstairs one shift.
But not what I'd call a deep clean...more keeping things clean and tidy.

Hang out washing.
Oven/hob clean.
Kitchen/utility doors, surfaces, sinks wiped down.
Kitchen window.
Dishwasher emptied.
Downstairs shower room cleaned.
Dinning room.
Sung area.
Lounge.
Flooring vacuumed/mopped.

Next shift.

Washing out
Bedding changing.
Clean/Polish surface
Bathrooms.
Tidy airing cupboard
Polish mirrors.
Mop.
Flooring Vacuum/mopped.
Ironing.

All room doors/wall pictures would be dusted weekly.
Once a month furniture shift to vacuum underneath.

roses2 · 03/08/2025 11:52

My cleaner cleans under/behind the sofa, cupboard doors etc as standard and does a deep clean eg removes everything from shelves, dusts and puts back, cleans windows from outside etc when I'm on holiday. I pay her the same hourly rate regardless of what she cleans.

Original poster

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 11:42

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 11:37

I'm a cleaner and door fronts are standard for me to clean and so is bath panel along with picture rails, windows, nooks and crannies.

Unfortunately, too many people start up as cleaners but don't actually clean to a high standard. They think it's an easy job and a quick way to earn a few pennies but in reality it's hard work, you need to give massive attention to detail and you have to stand out as the market is flooded with people claiming they're cleaners.

Yes, I want someone who will keep cleaning and know what needs to be done each time. So they will work on the doors or a stain on the floor over time. So I can not worry about it, but now I'm finding myself a bit angry when I see grime that I've paid to have removed.

OP posts:

Original poster

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 11:41

Fuelledbylatte · 03/08/2025 11:30

I pay £36 for a 2 hour surface clean fortnightly (Just North of London)

Some weeks they will spend longer on skirting boards or cleaning windows, then moving things off the side in kitchen to do behind in all nooks and crannies.

If they did what they considered a deep clean, it would be a £200 one off, lasting 4 ish hours where they’d pull out furniture, go under beds etc.

I think you need to find a different cleaner? This is our third time with a different company- they set the price and they are very easy to discuss concerns with.

Thanks. I'm even more confused now.

I do see this as a once over and 100 is a bit much for that.

I should be paying at most 50 and I can have it twice a month.

I'd love to keep her but feel she's kind of taken the mick?

Also don't feel I want to 'tell her off', given I've told her twice to do kitchen cupboard doors and I feel it's a maintenance clean for the price of something more thorough, I just might get someone else in and see how they do.

I pay 100, and would rather pay that over a month for 2 visits than pay another 100 for what I wanted, which was once monthly deep clean.

OP posts:

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 11:37

I'm a cleaner and door fronts are standard for me to clean and so is bath panel along with picture rails, windows, nooks and crannies.

Unfortunately, too many people start up as cleaners but don't actually clean to a high standard. They think it's an easy job and a quick way to earn a few pennies but in reality it's hard work, you need to give massive attention to detail and you have to stand out as the market is flooded with people claiming they're cleaners.

Fuelledbylatte · 03/08/2025 11:30

I pay £36 for a 2 hour surface clean fortnightly (Just North of London)

Some weeks they will spend longer on skirting boards or cleaning windows, then moving things off the side in kitchen to do behind in all nooks and crannies.

If they did what they considered a deep clean, it would be a £200 one off, lasting 4 ish hours where they’d pull out furniture, go under beds etc.

I think you need to find a different cleaner? This is our third time with a different company- they set the price and they are very easy to discuss concerns with.

Cattery · 03/08/2025 11:23

To me, a deep clean would mean pulling out the fridge freezer and cleaning behind that. Pulling out the sofas etc. (not that I do). Anything else is just a once over surely

Original poster

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 11:21

I find the clear up very valuable so I'm fine to offset that against some jobs being missed. I can't bring it up. I've said twice to do cupboard doors but feel it's too much but she's not saying?

She leaves it absolutely lovely but since the house is tiny and I pay £100 I don't then like coming into the bathroom to see grime still in places.

I asked for deep clean and specified these things.

But it really does seem like a maintenance clean is being done which I could pay half for.

Can't afford to be ripped off is all and if I could I'd happily overpay.

I'm wondering whether to leave it or a firm and see what they do.

I'm mess and clutter phobic so the moving stuff off sides is very minimal, it's permanent fixtures she moves and reogranises them which I find charming.

OP posts:

FloofyBird · 03/08/2025 11:09

Were they meant to deep clean the whole house? Sounds like they've only done a deeper clean in one room?

tumblingdowntherabbithole · 03/08/2025 11:08

It's not a cleaners job to organise your clutter or tidy things up.

Original poster

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 11:07

So I wonder if my deep clean is actually an expensive maintenance clean and I may have to change cleaners.

how much is reasonable for a maintenance clean of bathroom, kitchen, lounge, all quite small. maybe a bit of moving around of clutter and tidying is also done, which I find valuable. One rug and stairs are vacuumed, but cupboard doors and path panel noticably untouched.

OP posts:

Rainbowshine · 03/08/2025 10:56

Yes around here the picture rail, frames, bath panel and “nooks and crannies “ would be a deep clean. Surfaces and general floor area would be standard.