Talk to me about cleaners...

[Blindleadingtheblind]

I'm considering hiring a cleaner. I'm currently p/t at work with a view to going f/t in october. Single parent with 2 primary aged dc.

Keeping on top of my house is a pain. I feel like there's never enough hours in the day.

Is it worth having a cleaner come in weekly? I've looked at rates for my area and it doesn't seem too costly. I normally run myself ragged fitting jobs in around kids and work. Even now my bathroom needs a good clean but I'll probably do it later whilst kids are in bed.

If I hired a cleaner say once per week to tackle jobs like the bathroom and maybe some polishing/hoovering what would you say is a reasonable amount of time for them to do that? Do they bring their own products and equipment. How much prep do you have to do before they arrive?

We have three cleaners for 45 minutes. They do bathroom, hoover whole house. Plump cushions and dust bedroom and sitting room and hall table. Clean kitchen. Clean downstairs loo. Mop all of downstairs. They bring their own stuff. If I ask they will do something specific like windows.

That's sounds amazing. I'm guessing you can pick and choose jobs or are there 'set' jobs they do weekly? Or can you mix it up week to week depending on what needs doing as priority? Not even sure what im asking here 😂

Also if they do the bathroom, do you need to clear it beforehand or do they just shift stuff as they go?

I used to have a cleaner. It's great. Only downside is kids do less cleaning so feel like they're not getting the skills. Round here is now 15.00 per hour. Mine used to do bathrooms and kitchen every week plus either upstairs or downstairs (hoover, mop). They used own cloths but my hoover and products.

I'm a cleaner and I'm there for 2 hours as that's the minimum booking time required by the company I work for. I bring my own equipment. No prep required but if makes it a lot easier to clean if there's not much clutter around. I clean the bathrooms, kitchen/dining room, bedrooms, living room, polish all surfaces, tables, cabinets etc. Clean any glass/mirrors. I don't usually change the bed but will do this if asked only one client has requested this. Full house will be hoovered and mopped at the end of each clean. Most of this takes the full 2 hours but if I manage to get everything done with time to spare then I will go around and clean skirting boards, switches, ornaments etc. Some clients ask for one particular area to be the main focus which is fine. Or my client this morning asked me to finish up polishing and make him a cup of tea instead .

Mine do everything- bathrooms, hoovering, dusting, mopping. Like pp additional bits like windows, ironing or changing beds if asked. They are wonderful and part of family, we exchange xmas gifts etc! We do a ‘family sweep’ the night before they come where everyone has to clear the floors in their rooms etc to be free to hoover. I clear surfaces that I want thoroughly cleaned, otherwise she moves things around.

I have a cleaner every week for 2 hours, I have a 3 bed semi and in that time she does the kitchen, 3 bathrooms, hoovers / sweeps and mops and does the dusting, plus mirrors and windows. She charges £12.50 an hour. It’s great as for £100 a month I don’t really have to do any cleaning 😂

Or my client this morning asked me to finish up polishing and make him a cup of tea instead oh wow! Thought he wouldn't least make you one!

Thanks all, this is all useful. I'm definitely going to give it some consideration as it will take a load off. The kids go to their dads one night per week and I hate spending one day of my weekend blitzing everything plus food shopping before they get back. It will make my life so much easier. Going to make some enquiries soon.

oh wow! Thought he wouldn't least make you one!

He's elderly with serious health issues so I don't mind. Don't think I'd be pleased if anyone else was to ask me mind you

Alternative view- I have had cleaners more than once and they never did as good a job as I wanted. I definitely paid the going rate for the area but I was never happy. Things like not hoovering crumbs under the dining table. I just felt the house got progressively more dirty (despite feedback)and stressed me out more than having to do it myself. I am glad I tried it but wasn’t for me.

I would love a cleaner and can afford it but I don't think I can get over having someone in the house. I'm strange I know!

I love mine, she is a treasure. I’d get rid of beauty treatments/gym/sky before I let her go.
She comes biweekly for 3 hours and always does the kitchen and bathrooms, then she rotates different rooms, she’s super quick.
I run the hoover around and do the loos in between but honestly because she’s so thorough it doesn’t need much.
She charges £12.50 an hour and I alway buy her a decent birthday and Christmas present.
It is weird having someone in your house at first and I had all kinds of thoughts about is it right to employ another woman to clean our loos and what would people think but she’s brilliant and lovely and loads better at it than me. She’s on a bit of a pedestal in our house tbh.

My bigger question would be how do you find a skilled, reliable, trustworthy cleaner in the first place rather than someone who's just picked it up as an oddjob and isn't trained?

I can't be the only one who's seen threads started by people trying to do cleaning to make extra money who'd gone off and damaged something or been fired for doing a rubbish job because they didn't know what they were doing and just repeated what they might have done in their own home. Or guessed and put something corrosive on an expensive, delicate surface.

If I want a tradesperson I can look at one of the trading standards approved schemes or which trusted traders or checkatrade or whatever.

But where do you look for professional cleaners?

My cleaner comes 3 hours/week and cleans the full house plus does all my ironing. Best £ I spend in the month. House is always clean. I'm a LP and I have a busy job. I managed one month after mat leave before I hired her. She now cleans for a number of families in dc's class too! I couldn't do it without her!

I've just leaned my bathroom and finally sitting down to a bit of telly before bed. Definitely need a cleaner.

Go for it OP! I love our cleaners so much, we've had them for 3 years and would be gutted beyond belief if they ever stop working.

They're a married couple who come for 1.5 hours and charge £15 per hour each (so £45 each session).

They bring their own things, I keep the house tidy and they clean around things. But some like to use your products- ask them when calling.