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Original poster

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:
identiy102 · 30/08/2023 14:47

stevalnamechanger · 30/08/2023 14:36

I ask to see their insurance and dbs check

You would be applying for a dbs check for them

identiy102 · 30/08/2023 14:48

Hippyhippybake · 30/08/2023 14:07

Surely the point is that it takes some skill to judge what the correct cleaning fluid / method to use on various items in other people’s houses. We all know what to use in our own homes but you need to use your judgement in other people’s homes.

No. The label tells you how much to use.

Hippyhippybake · 30/08/2023 14:50

Ok, but you have to be able to identify say limestone versus other tiles / stones and know which surfaces are safe to scour and which aren’t etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cleaning
Seashellies · 30/08/2023 14:52

There is a difference between someone cleaning their home and a cleaner with experience. Cleaning a large space and to a professional standard would take some people hours upon hours, for others who know what to use where, what not to miss and who have done it before it doesn't take as long and is invariably to a higher standard. I don't think this means it's skilled in the ways some jobs are, but there's definitely some who are more skilled at doing a decent job in a timely manner than others. Its often grim cleaning up after strangers (bit different to cleaning your home).

Chypre · 30/08/2023 14:56

Cleaner in my area is 20£/hr and yoga class is 16£/hr... Yes, it is a skilled job, especially with stuff like cleaning after builders - I have gone trough 3 cleaning companies after renovation and in the end had to crawl trough the house on all fours by myself to scrub away the "kerapoxy haze" which none of them knew how to get rid of.

CrossStitchX · 30/08/2023 15:17

Physical work yes. Not everyone it’s good at it. But it’s not skilled.

CrossStitchX · 30/08/2023 15:18

@Chypre individual one to one yoga? You are comparing apples and oranges.

bladebladebla1 · 30/08/2023 15:23

Look, some are better than others but we all clean our homes so know the products. Also, people are struggling, of course they are looking to make 80 quid!!!

Original poster
fecojem · 30/08/2023 17:38

bladebladebla1 · 30/08/2023 15:23

Look, some are better than others but we all clean our homes so know the products. Also, people are struggling, of course they are looking to make 80 quid!!!

i have alluded to the fact that times are tough and people want the cash in nearly all of my posts, including the OP

but I’ll be paying an experienced cleaner with testimonials and pictures, who does this for a living- not a primary school teacher who wants £80 cash in hand because they also clean their house. Would rather do it myself if I don’t have complete confidence in their finish

anyway- cleaner found. A professional one! Thanks for all who commented.

OP posts:
GreenWheat · 30/08/2023 17:43

Cleaning isn't a skilled job. It's hard work and not everyone is good at it, but you don't need training and a qualification to do it.

headcheffer · 30/08/2023 17:43

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 09:23

It’s a skilled job knowing what products to use,

what are you on about

It is actually. I had a cleaner who decided to use limescale remover to clean everything... polished wood included.

I got her via a cleaning agency thinking it would mean she had some training or know how. Nope. And the insurance wouldn't cover it so that was an expensive "professional" clean for me!!

identiy102 · 30/08/2023 17:59

GreenWheat · 30/08/2023 17:43

Cleaning isn't a skilled job. It's hard work and not everyone is good at it, but you don't need training and a qualification to do it.

You need cosh training if you employee people.....

watermeloncougar · 30/08/2023 18:02

@headcheffer what sort of professional agency wouldn't have insurance to cover a botch job? Sounds like you didn't use a reputable agency tbh. I mean, limescale remover on wood ffs!

Livinginanotherworld · 30/08/2023 18:13

I 100% agree with the op, there are cleaners and there are professional cleaners, I’d rather pay more. They will also come with insurance for breakages or spillages as well, and they are very thorough. I have one of the “ non professional” cleaners at the moment, lovely person and good enough but I’ve had professional cleaners and you can definitely tell the difference. Problem is they are like gold dust, so any cleaner is better than no cleaner.

karmakameleon · 30/08/2023 18:40

I think the comparison should be to home cooking vs professional cooking. We all cook our own dinners to varying standards but if I employed a professional chef to cook for me at home I’d expect someone with some training/ experience.

identiy102 · 30/08/2023 18:56

Livinginanotherworld · 30/08/2023 18:13

I 100% agree with the op, there are cleaners and there are professional cleaners, I’d rather pay more. They will also come with insurance for breakages or spillages as well, and they are very thorough. I have one of the “ non professional” cleaners at the moment, lovely person and good enough but I’ve had professional cleaners and you can definitely tell the difference. Problem is they are like gold dust, so any cleaner is better than no cleaner.

Lol no their insurance doesn't cover that

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:08

DappledOliveGroves · 30/08/2023 11:59

I'm completely in agreement. Our cleaner is ok, but she's not especially good at noticing what needs doing. She does the basics, and keeps things to a reasonable standard, but she doesn't see what needs doing. So, for example, I had a bath last night, looked at the underside of the shower temperature dial thing, and it has a load of limescale underneath. I picked up a fallen blueberry from the kitchen and noticed that the kickboards are dirty. The grout in the bathroom has little specks of mould starting. None of these things are especially obvious if you don't go looking, but I would want a cleaner to notice these things, ask me about them, and then ask for additional time to deal with them.

My cleaner uses a mop and bucket. Which is fine, but it never cleans as well as getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing the floor. I once had a cleaner who disliked mops as much as me, and would do an amazing job with a cloth on her hands and knees. Sadly she moved away.

So I think "proper" cleaning IS a skilled job. Both my grandmother and my mother used to be in service and they really did know how to clean.

@DappledOliveGroves when you see all these issues - do you mention to her? So she learns and adapts?

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:10

headcheffer · 30/08/2023 17:43

It is actually. I had a cleaner who decided to use limescale remover to clean everything... polished wood included.

I got her via a cleaning agency thinking it would mean she had some training or know how. Nope. And the insurance wouldn't cover it so that was an expensive "professional" clean for me!!

Show quote history

Your cleaner neglected to read the back of the product for directions and usage. She failed to read and messed up rather than due to lack of skill

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:11

If they destroy a worktop or a sofa for not reading a label properly, then that would be a very expensive mistake to make.

yes op. The skill in this scenario being ability to read

Original poster
fecojem · 30/08/2023 19:12

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:10

Your cleaner neglected to read the back of the product for directions and usage. She failed to read and messed up rather than due to lack of skill

Show quote history

Yes….due to not caring properly and not acting like a professional

i am convinced you just are angry at people who have a cleaner at this point 😂😂😂

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 30/08/2023 19:12

You are sooo right OP! I've had many, many cleaners, and the best were experienced, painstaking, and thorough. Many others thought a quick wipe around was enough. It's a skilled job and deserves respect.

Ragwort · 30/08/2023 19:16

To the poster who said 'she cleaned holiday cottages without training and it was fine' ... fine for whom? Hmm. I have stayed in holiday cottages which clearly hadn't been cleaned to the standard I would expect, it's not just a matter of making the beds and a quick spray of bleach round the bathroom, I have been shocked at the level of cleaning in some holiday cottages I have stayed in .. and I am not a 'clean freak' but do have minimum standards (ie; no toe nail clippings under the bed ...)

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:17

fecojem · 30/08/2023 19:12

Yes….due to not caring properly and not acting like a professional

i am convinced you just are angry at people who have a cleaner at this point 😂😂😂

Show quote history

I have a cleaner and would not be without her!!

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 19:18

You are mixing up “skilled”

With being able to read instructions and caring about doing a good job

that isn’t “skilled”

GlasgowGal82 · 30/08/2023 19:27

Layinwait · 30/08/2023 09:24

How much were you going to pay by the hour for this “skilled” work? Same as having a private yoga teacher come to your house? I think not

My cleaner charges £45 for 75 minutes and my yoga teacher would do a private lesson at my house for £40 an hour.