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Cleaning is a skilled job

121 replies

fecojem · 30/08/2023 09:17

Just posted in a community group looking / cleaner for a one off clean. My regular cleaner doesn’t work in school holidays and I need some help preparing for guests this weekend.

In this day and age, I cannot blame anyone wanting to make some extra cash- but I have been inundated by people are who not cleaners who obviously want to come and make £80 for a few hours work.

It’s a skilled job knowing what products to use, physical work to do properly and all of my cleaners have come with so much experience and tips/tricks for a really good clean. If I wanted a non-professional clean (I am a terrible ‘housewife’) then I’d bloody well save my money and do it myself. If they destroy a worktop or a sofa for not reading a label properly, then that would be a very expensive mistake to make.

I’m not suggesting it should be a regulated industry- but I don’t offer myself up as a plasterer or a yoga teacher when I want to earn £££ so why should it be different with cleaning?

OP posts:
x2boys · 30/08/2023 09:50

Well its not skilled ,you dont have training or have to pass exams to do it thats not to say that some people are far better and more conscientious than others about it of ccourse .

Dogsitterwoes · 30/08/2023 09:51

Unless you have a houseful of antiques/special fabrics etc, that need proper training to clean and conserve, it's not a 'skilled job'.

Just needing a few skills - like every job does - isn't enough. I've just made a cup of tea and if I had a job making cups of tea all day, it wouldn't be a 'skilled job', despite needing the following skills:
Evaluating how much water to put in the kettle, operating the tap, and opening and closing the kettle lid
Correctly starting the kettle
Selecting a boiling-water safe vessel
Opening the tea bag jar
Dropping one tea bag in the cup without missing
Recognizing when the water had boiled and safely pouring into the cup
Evaluating when the tea had brewed sufficiently and safely removing the teabag using an appropriate tool (teaspoon)
Correct waste disposal of the tea bag
Adding the correct quantity of milk by eye

highdaysandholudays · 30/08/2023 09:52

Painting and decorating is also a skilled job. But I've painted my bathroom all by myself. Guess what. It does not look like anyone with any skill has done it.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

marriedatlastsight · 30/08/2023 09:52

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fecojem · 30/08/2023 09:52

Whataretheodds · 30/08/2023 09:48

OK, and you haven't received any, just people offering to come and do it themselves. How do you know whether they are good or bad cleaners?

I have had two professional cleaners with businesses pages where I can see testimonials and before/afters. One has a tiktok for cleaning hacks.

the rest have been 15-20 random people- including teachers on school hols, admin workers and photographers based on what I can see on their Facebook.

OP posts:
marriedatlastsight · 30/08/2023 09:53

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Layinwait · 30/08/2023 09:54

This is a one off clean op? In the time you’ve spent navel gazing about it - you could have slipped on your marigolds and got cracking!

ClaudiaWankleman · 30/08/2023 09:55

It involves skill (everything does to some extent) but that doesn't make it skilled work - almost everyone develops cleaning skills throughout their life. It is the kind of work anyone could turn their hand to.

marriedatlastsight · 30/08/2023 10:05

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Layinwait · 30/08/2023 10:07

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You need to change hairdresser
i always come away thinking my hairdresser is a genius!

WinterFireJanuaryEmbers · 30/08/2023 10:09

I'm pretty sure anyone can walk a day.

I'll assume you mean dog. And no, they cannot. Or at least they cannot safely in a commercial manner. Which is exactly my point.

They can, of course, hang onto a lead while a dog is on the other end. But that's not the kind of service I would pay for.

For example, I expect any walker I hire to have first aid qualifications, in case of accident etc and to know where all the local vets are and to keep good, easily accessible records on which dog is registered with which vet.

To have qualifications in the basics of canine body language to be able to adequately read the dogs they are walking and any they encounter. To be able to combine the dogs (energy, play style etc) so that all dogs fully enjoy their walks. I've come across far too many pet owners who think they know dog body language but whose interpretations of a scenario are way, way off.

Bonus for also have good training knowledge to be able to have a positive influence on the dog's long term walk behaviours.

I would expect them to be aware and up to date on dog crime tactics so as to reduce the risk of being targetted for dog thefts, including things like the use of unmarked vans etc. And to keep up to date on the frequency/likelihood in their local patch.

I would expect them to have reasonable knowledge of the local area, including good places to walk in different weathers. My own dog walker knows all the quiet, stream-side spots that are under shade, for hot days. She knows which areas get especially icey in winter to avoid - especially for elderly or less robust dogs. She knows when places are busy and when they are quiet, when farm work is going on, when sheep are in fields with public footpaths.

She knows the law around dog walking - which many pet owners do not. Things like collar requirements and what constitutes a dangerously out of control dog (too many people do not know and just assume it means an aggressive dog).

Does a pet owner know and have all this? Sometimes, yes. Often, no.

hylian · 30/08/2023 10:10

The way you worded your post might have had an impact, OP. Did you say you were looking for a professional/ agency cleaner only?

I don't think I would class cleaning as skilled work but I wouldn't want a random person from Facebook coming into my home. You do have to word these adverts properly to get what you want though.

fecojem · 30/08/2023 10:32

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 09:54

This is a one off clean op? In the time you’ve spent navel gazing about it - you could have slipped on your marigolds and got cracking!

If you want to come and look after my
18 month old so I can do an efficient deep,
deep clean throughout my house with bleach, hot water and cleaning sprays- pulling out all furniture and emptying the cupboards where there may be non baby safe things out, then sure. She’s a climber and gravitates to the most dangerous things😂

I obviously wipe down my kitchen and stick washing on when she is watching some baby tv in a playpen or ‘helping’- but I’ve been poorly the past few weeks, haven’t had my regular wonderful cleaner either and the work that needs to be done is a lot.

Before anyone says LTB- DH would happily divide and conquer once toddler is in bed, but I’d rather support a small business owner and have them do a better job than us

OP posts:
tt9 · 30/08/2023 10:34

@fecojem I 100% agree with you.. when I have advertised for housekeeping before finding my current lovely lady, so many people listed 'cleaning my house' as experience. ridiculous.

it may not need 5 years of training but needs some... and experience. eg. working in a hotel.

it also depends on the kind of fixtures and fittings you have + the standard you expect.

I am immunocompromised takes me a good few weeks to fully train them in infection control to my standard

people might have expensive stone floors/antiques etc etc which require careful handling. if someone has never come across these, how can you expect them to deal with it. its unfair on both the client and the cleaner

fecojem · 30/08/2023 10:44

tt9 · 30/08/2023 10:34

@fecojem I 100% agree with you.. when I have advertised for housekeeping before finding my current lovely lady, so many people listed 'cleaning my house' as experience. ridiculous.

it may not need 5 years of training but needs some... and experience. eg. working in a hotel.

it also depends on the kind of fixtures and fittings you have + the standard you expect.

I am immunocompromised takes me a good few weeks to fully train them in infection control to my standard

people might have expensive stone floors/antiques etc etc which require careful handling. if someone has never come across these, how can you expect them to deal with it. its unfair on both the client and the cleaner

I’m so pleased that you found a great cleaner you are happy with and who can clean to the standards needed to keep you healthy. :)

I ‘clean my house’ too. My version of cleaning is setting my roombas, using a flash mop swiffer and using multipurpose spray on everything. I have done deep cleans too,
of course- but it’s just not the same as a professional nor am I as fast. Fine for day to day, but I absolutely wouldn’t be offering to take pay for it.

OP posts:
fecojem · 30/08/2023 10:51

hylian · 30/08/2023 10:10

The way you worded your post might have had an impact, OP. Did you say you were looking for a professional/ agency cleaner only?

I don't think I would class cleaning as skilled work but I wouldn't want a random person from Facebook coming into my home. You do have to word these adverts properly to get what you want though.

No it was very clear. Just a sign of the times that people want to cash.

I think I could have possibly added clarity to to my post here though- with lots of snippy responses about how it’s not a trade or regulated or doesn’t need a degree so it’s not a ‘skilled’ job. I meant that it’s a job that requires skill and experience. Not every person would be able to do a professional level clean in 4 hours.

I plastered my own bedroom, I’ve also been on a few yoga retreats- but I’m not suggesting I do any of those in exchange for cash. Maybe if a mate wanted some help with theirs or wanted to do some stretching with me- absolutely. But I wouldn’t be putting myself up for what is a job!

OP posts:
Whataretheodds · 30/08/2023 11:17

I don't understand your issue. Just because someone isn't a full time professional cleaner doesn't mean they're not experienced or skilled at cleaning.

You have 2 professionals who've responded as well.

What's the problem/what's lacking?

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 30/08/2023 11:27

I agree that a professional cleaner would be faster and more efficient and that practice would make anyone better at it. I would also want a proper professional if I were paying good money for a one-off clean - they have a reputation to uphold, so are more likely to do a good job, and they'll likely get more done in the time you're paying them for.

I wouldn't dispute any of that. It was just your description of why you think it's a skilled job, and of the feeble levels of cleaning that non-cleaners are capable of, which were OTT imo.

Hecate01 · 30/08/2023 11:36

There's more to cleaning when you are cleaning professionally. I'm a housekeeping manager and recently one of my new starter students asked me what skills they could say they have gained from the job. We listed the soft skills such as hardworking, team player etc then looked at the training files to see what he could add to his cv.

He's trained in legionella, hazardous waste, infection control, bed bugs, cross contamination, COSHH, manual handling to name a few.

When you are cleaning professionally it's totally different to cleaning your home. Admittedly the core skills are the same but I don't think people realise the amount of paperwork and training that people have to complete. I've seen people post on here about bed bugs/legionella and they've been given the totally wrong advice from well meaning posters so they are obviously not things that everyone understands unlike vacuuming and dusting.

Beetlebuggy · 30/08/2023 11:39

I've worked as a manager for an industrial contract cleaning company. Yes, my staff were skilled, no the job can't be done by just anybody. Quite often we were sent middle class professionals by the job centre, as they'd failed to get anything "better", they were often clueless and hopeless. Although at least they went away with more understanding of a job that they'd previously thought unskilled and beneath them 🤣

I've decorated, plumbed and generally renovated a few houses, that doesn't mean decorators and plumbers aren't skilled and certainly doesn't mean I'm skilled in these areas.

Ilovegoldies · 30/08/2023 11:40

I used to be a cleaner. A good one. Now I'm a surveyor of sorts . The amount of time I'm called to view damp bathrooms to find mould in the grout which could easily be cleaned with the right product. So while I wouldn't say its skilled you definitely have to be knowledgeable.

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 11:48

fecojem · 30/08/2023 09:42

It’s very easy to damage natural stone

using bleach products incorrectly

using ‘the wrong’ cloth can make a job take twice as long if it just moves dust and fibres around

just a few

All that requires is the ability to read the instructions on the cleaning product

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 11:49

fecojem · 30/08/2023 10:32

If you want to come and look after my
18 month old so I can do an efficient deep,
deep clean throughout my house with bleach, hot water and cleaning sprays- pulling out all furniture and emptying the cupboards where there may be non baby safe things out, then sure. She’s a climber and gravitates to the most dangerous things😂

I obviously wipe down my kitchen and stick washing on when she is watching some baby tv in a playpen or ‘helping’- but I’ve been poorly the past few weeks, haven’t had my regular wonderful cleaner either and the work that needs to be done is a lot.

Before anyone says LTB- DH would happily divide and conquer once toddler is in bed, but I’d rather support a small business owner and have them do a better job than us

Yeah cos no one on this site has ever deep cleaned with a toddler before!

drama lllama 😂

WeWereInParis · 30/08/2023 11:52

It’s a skilled job knowing what products to use

Most people are regularly damaging things by using the wrong products. I don't think I've ever done that.

I've worked as a cleaner for a company cleaning holiday lets. Zero training. It was fine.

burnoutbabe · 30/08/2023 11:53

i have just had to swap cleaners - used someone who was recommended via facebook local group but whilst it was cleaner, it wasn't the same standard as previous cleaners, where you come home and its all shiny and say the toilet roll in a little point and the towel straightend. taps clean but not left streak free etc

So its a skill to have the level of attention and ensure the room as a whole looks clean.

(and yes i mentioned the few things that not been done but i wasn't sure how all others made it all sparkly and they could not - anyway new one's in and its sparkly again)

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