I'm a domestic cleaner AMA

[KeepItCleaner]

I am a self employed cleaner working in private homes. I see a lot of questions on here about cleaners, so if you have any questions you want brutally honest answers to, ask away 😊

What do you love/hate about your job?
what’s a good hourly rate nowadays for a cleaner?
What did you do before you became a cleaner?
what products do you recommend?

I love choosing my own hours/customers
I hate the monetary!
I earn £16-£19hr and thsts ok with me.
I used to be in a high pressure low paid caring role and couldn't hack the stress/hours
Products wise, less is more, they pretty much all do the same thing, but I love Viakal for limescale and blach for toilets!

What's your cleaning product tip for oven grills? That is very much my weakness when it comes to cleaning.

Do you judge my messy / grubby house?!

Are you tempted to snoop in drawers, fridge etc when you’re alone in the property (when the householder is out)?

Honestly..cover your counters with split bin bags, spay shelves with Mr Muscle oven spray, cover over with more bin bags and then rinse shelves after 30 mins

Honestly I dont judge or care how gross a house is Clutter is more likely to annoy me!
I'd rather clean a 'dirty' house where I feel I'm making a difference.

Drawers wise..no, honestly I dont care what's in people's drawers! Its probably the same crap Ive got in mine at home 😆

Have you had to stop/refuse cleaning for some people? Why?

Thank you. Will no doubt give that a try in the big pre-Christmas clean. Good tip re bin bags on the kitchen tops. The whole kitchen usually gets so greasy when cleaning the oven I find.

I have only stopped cleaning for customers who have been rude or not paid.
I am very happy to have constructive criticism but I won't tolerate rudeness which luckily is very rare

The bin bag tip really helps to avoid little flecks of grime everywhere!
I use a pair of rubber gloves and a metal scourer, but with a good soak most of the grime will come away x

I worked as a cleaner and people used to leave the most remarkable filth about - dirty knickers gusset up on the floor, used condoms in the bed. What's the worst thing you've seen?

p.s. It's hard work isn't it!

Niche question - I'm sensitive to perfume type smells. If asked, would you able to clean using less product or is that a total pain?

What’s the one thing that you wish your clients did around the house that would help you to work faster / more effectively / more easily?

Just what I was going to ask. Some people must be filthy buggars.

My only real gross- out thing is shitty toilets, unless it's kids, there's just no excuse not to clean up after yourself! And pubes on the loo seat isnt ideal 😆

Absolutely! I offer my customers use of my own products or they can supply their own but I'm always happy to adapt for allergies/preferences. Not a pain at all!

I appreciate it when clients stay out of my way and allow me to get on.
Lots of people love to/feel obliged to chat but I would much prefer a quick greeting and then to not be hovering over me.
And to just ask if there's anything you'd especially like doing, I can't read minds and what each customer wants is very different 😊

How long does it take you to clean a kitchen?

How do you find new clients if not recommended?

Very dependant on the state of it! If I clean a house weekly/fortnightly around 30/45 mins
If it hasn't been cleaned in a while anything up to 2hrs

Also please don't leave your kitchen bin until absolute bursting point, it makes it really gross and difficult to change!

What do you do with all the clutter if people don't tidy up before you arrive?!

I do have fliers which I occasionally post but very often it's through local Facebook job advertisements

I tend to tidy paperwork, toys etc into piles so I'm able to work around it. If my clients are ok with it I will put things away where they belong such as laundry, toys, kitchen items etc