How to be a good cleaning client

[chickenwings00]

I’ve finally taken the plunge and hired a cleaner, their first visit is next week and I want to make sure I don’t make it onto their list of awful clients!

If it helps we’re a 2 bed apartment, paying for 2 hours every 2 weeks.

If there’s any cleaners on here what can people do to make your job easier/ better? Please give me your top tips to make the most of my cleaner (I love them already!)

My mum is a cleaner. The only person she's ever stopped cleaning for is a lady who's house was unbearably messy and cluttered and who didn't make any effort to tidy up before the cleaning slot. You've hired a cleaner not a tidy upper! (Unless you have specifically hired one who does tidying too 😂)

If they are using your cleaning products then make sure you have enough and ask them what you need. If you think you have enough cloths... Double it. Pay on time. Try and be out when they are cleaning (it's easier all round) give clear instructions what needs to be cleaned and if any areas are needing a deep clean then let them know. If your paying by bank transfer then try and do it the same day of your clean. I had clients who would take days to pay, sometimes I would be due at the house and they still hadn't paid me for last time. Letting me know that I'm welcome to make a drink is nice and where the cups are. Also if you are going out while your cleaner is in and they don't have a key to lock up then please be back on time as she will usually have back to back clients and time is money and all that.

Ex cleaner here.

She probably quit working for me, I never tidy up before my cleaner comes. She just has to make the best of it.

Seriously, the way to be a good cleaner client is to pay (every time, on time). And not be uptight about timing - no ‘you said you’d be here at 3 and now it is quarter past’ etc. Do not insist that they must be completely on time and regular - they need flexibility, that’s usually why they are doing this job.

Also, expect them to quit. They will, the job is temporary, even if they say they are starting a business, etc. Cleaning is hard work and ther’s easier way to make the same money if they get sick of it, which they will, cos lots of clients are a nightmare.

Ex cleaner here, I agree with Geneandfred. Also I always appreciated being appreciated. Little something at Christmas always helps

Tidy up clutter so the cleaner can get to stuff, don't be unbearably disgusting, say what you want them to do so they don't have to guess, provide the cleaning materials they ask for (or be prepared to pay extra for cleaner to provide their own), don't leave £10 notes hidden in strategic places to test honesty, offer a cup of tea and if you're offering a biscuit, don't only offer your cleaner the crap ones.

Bear in mind the first couple of cleans will probably take longer than usual, and have a reasonable expectation of what can be done in the time allowed - especially if the house has been a bit neglected and all the light switches, cupboard doors, skirting boards etc need a really good go to start with. If you would like ovens etc done be prepared that you might need extra time or for one visit just to concentrate on something like that depending on the existing state.

Thanks everyone I’ll make sure I do a thorough tidy beforehand! Where’s the line in terms of what you can ask them to do e.g. can you leave a few dishes in the sink? Can you ask them to fold laundry from the dryer? Don’t want to take the p*ss!

The agency I have got them through takes payment by direct direct each month so no issues there 😊

Catherine - what constitutes unbearably disgusting how do I avoid being one of those 😩

I have done those things and didn't mind at all, but bear in mind that it leaves less time to actually clean.

're being unbearably disgusting; skid marks in the loo, dirty underwear on the floor. I have read of one cleaner who had to pick up the clients dirty knickers that still had used sanitary towels attached!

Obviously it's important for it to be tidy, but I also think it's important to give constructive feedback too. No cleaver ever cleans everything 100% and not pointing something out that consistently isn't cleaned well breeds resentment.

Heh. I used to work for a household that would only wash dishes between visits - nothing else. Clothes just dropped on any old floor, overflowing rubbish, used nappies left out, bathrooms like the worst state of public loos, just STUFF everywhere - they never put anything away - it would take me an hour or two just to tidy up the kitchen enough so I could start to clean it. And when I went back after 3 days it would be that bad all over again. When they had cats they didn't pick up after them, etc. Also when I first started they hadn't had a cleaner for a good two years and had never even dusted or hoovered once in that time. I found a dead dessicated rat in their downstairs bathroom when I mucked that out.

That said they were lovely people and I worked for them for 5 years, 3 visits a week. (it was a big house). They paid by standing order and they did understand that I couldn't do everything and were happy to pay for the tidying. But all the same I was relieved when I could leave and I always slightly dreaded going there because I never knew what would appear.

Another tip: don't walk on a newly washed floor and if your teenage son does it tell them off. LOL

Make sure your toilets are flushed! Had a relatively good client but their toilets were never flushed. Just stewing pee to greet me and plenty skids,Otherwise they were great.
Dishes and stuff is fine but it does take away from actual cleaning as that is everyday type of stuff but it needs to be done in order to do a proper cleaners clean, so I'd recommend having minimal dishes to be cleaned or put away or none at all.
Clutter is a pain but not a huge issue.

To me terribly dirty is someone with no domestic cleaning abilities between cleans. Like shovelling snow when it's snowing, even when I've cleaned its still dirty. ( I wouldn't take a client like that on anymore)

Don't cancel all the time and especially not at short notice.
Cleaners often have to rejig their schedule and will have potentially refused new or better clients for you.

Don't leave used condoms under the bed 🤢🤢. Seriously, ex cleaner here.

Also, I think they thought one cloth and half a bottle of bleach lasted them for all that 5 years...they never bought any cleaning materials despite requests so I brought in my own. Gloves too.