Are you a Cleaner? Advice wanted please

[Twatterati]

Posting here for traffic as I'm hoping some cleaners can give me a bit of advice.

I've been struggling to find work since Covid resulted in me losing my job. The whole situation is demoralising and TBH I love got to the stage that I really don't want to work for someone else.

So I've thought about what I enjoy doing and what sort of work/life balance I'd like and the kind of earnings I need, and have decided that being a self-employed cleaner/home help would be ideal. As I also have a Food Hygiene certificate I'm considering offering to do meal prep at the client's house, batch cooking dishes that can freeze and be reheated. I also really love gardening so will offer garden tidying, re-planting and maintenance too. Where I live everyone has a traditional UK style paved 'yard' so no grass cutting, hedges, borders or anything. Mostly small raised beds and planters. I'm a big fan of jet-washing too and have all the kit!

I LOVE cleaning and am good at it, I'm very observant about what needs doing, how it should be done etc and what a client would expect.

I was just hoping that people already doing this could spare a bit of time and tell me some of the things I might not have considered - some of the things that the benefit of your hindsight and experience has made you aware of that I might not realise.

Thanks so much, I really appreciate you reading and responding.

I have done a bit of cleaning, including holiday lets to help a friend, I still clean for one elderly lady as she is so grateful I can't get out of it! I think you will do very well with the ideas you have shared. Might be an idea to work for a cleaning company for a short time to get proper training. I did a stint and learnt a few things like cleaning from the top of the house downwards, which products to use (forgotten now!) Good luck!

Have you got liability insurance? That's was my first thought. Good luck with your venture!

I don't anymore but set up quiet easily. Liability insurance was about £200 a year. Enhanced DBS £50/60 iirc. I had a website but also got a lot of work from flyers.

Imo the money/market is in cleaning, rather than the other things you talked about. Pitching yourself as a specialist cleaner will be better than offering other services as well (though no harm in offering if you happen to take on a vulnerable client who struggles with say cooking). It can come across as a 'jack of all trades, master of none' impression if you mention everything you're willing to do.

You will need to consider policies too for payment and cancellations.

I agree with getting a job with a cleaning agency for a few months before setting up on your own. I think that's what I would do in your circumstances.

I'm not a cleaner, but, with anyone who is self employed, you need to factor in to your hourly price the fact that when you don't work, you won't have any income. So consider how much you need to earn for the year, then take off a reasonable amount of holiday, a reasonable amount of days when you might be unwell or have a hospital appointment or recovering from an accident, and remember you will still need to eat, pay your bills and rent / mortgage during those times. Also insurance against critical illness or unable to work after an accident ?
Remember also about travel time between jobs and time to do paperwork.

Invest ina steam cleaner. Clients love if you have specialist tools

Hi OP,

I'm not a Cleaner, I'm a Private SEN Tutor, but something I learnt early on was that I didn't once pick any work up from leaflet drops etc. I use an app called Next Door, and Facebook local selling pages. Both are free and I'm inundated with work from them.

If you want me to cast an eye over any potential social media posts for you, I'm more than happy to.

Good luck setting up!

I am a cleaner and charge £14 ph. I think it would be a good idea for you to work with a company for a while to get the hang of it and see what different people want.

I think, apart from cleaning well you need to be very reliable, apart from once cancelling the evening before because my son had appendicitis, I always give at least a week's notice of any changes. I am very flexible with what I am willing to do -within the time frame obviously- I clean out-houses, sheds, change beds, ironing, clean windows, help turn mattresses over etc.

I always make sure I do in corners, on top of cupboards, behind toilets etc. Which I know sounds obvious but I have known cleaners leave these areas.

If I finish the normal jobs early I will clean a cupboard, windows or ask what they want. If nothing needs doing I will either reduce the cost or add the time onto next week.

If I break anything I always mention it, I have payed for broken items and also been asked not to because it doesn't matter. Being honest is very important.

I have insurance with Hiscox, £185 a year.

I am always tell my customers that if they aren't happy with what I am doing or if they want me to do it a different way I am fine with that.

If you get good/nice customers it is a very easy/satisfying job. I don't think I could clean for someone I didn't like.

I hope you do well op.

Sorry, I meant say I got some of my work through word of mouth and some through notice in local post offices.

Now I would probably use FB.

I have had a cleaning business for ten years

I TOTALLY recommend it

I will come back when I have more time and give you the full lowdown! X

@shetlandponies tell me more! I’m thinking about leaving my desk shop which pays £16/hr to set up a cleaning business

I want a cleaner like you! Or at least, I used to in my older, much larger, house. I never managed to find one though. I hope you go from strength to strength.