to be ridiculously excited about having a cleaner start on Thursday?

[ipredicttrouble]

That's it really. I've fantasised about having a cleaner for ages but have finally taken the plunge and she is starting on Thursday. I've met her and am really hopeful that she's going to be great (though am preparing myself for teething problems etc.)

I feel that this may transform my life!! (not to be over-dramatic or anything)

It's bloody brilliant having a cleaner - I'd go as far as to say it's life changing! Enjoy!

oooh, can so relate. Mine moved away, and funnily enough I put an ad on Gumtree for a new one just 2 hours ago :)

i am loving this thread :)

as i am a cleaner :)

Me too :)

So am I :)

I love my job, too. I've had to cancel some of my ladies this week due to my back being awful again, and I hate it. Years ago when I worked, any illness/injury resulting in time off would secretly be relished "Yay, OK I've got a stinking cold/bad back/broken toe but at least I get a few days off work!" but for the first time, I genuinely hate letting people down, and actually miss working.

I'd love a cleaner myself

Ooo, nice to hear from some cleaners. You are very much appreciated!

Congrats on your cleaner! Mine is fabulous- I was out all day today and the house was pretty untidy and I didn't have time to pick everything up before she came. I came home to a wonderful clean, tidy and fresh smelling house (it didn't smell bad before but after she'd been it smelled CLEAN iykwim) and she had even pulled out the bed and cleared out under there and hoovered-OMG the shame!!! I haven't cleared under the bed for 2 years
My house is so lovely its the best £20 I spend every week!!

I'm so jealous, I would love a cleaner. Kansasmum - I know what you mean about the clean smell. I have a friend that as soon as you walk in her door, you're hit with a real 'clean' smell. When I asked what it was and how she got it, she just said she used Flash. I've tried Flash but just can't recreate that same smell. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. Both my grans were cleaners but have sadly passed away so can't ask them.
Could I be cheeky and ask the cleaners what their opinion is on steam mops? Are they really as good as some reviews I've been reading.

Can't beat the smell of a clean house! I could smell the cleanness coming from my ensuite when I wandered upstairs on Thursday evening.

Inspirational thread this! I have the MD (no less) of my chosen cleaning company coming round on Tuesday to go through the whole malarky! I shall definately hoover that day! I cannot wait.

Ok, bit of a hijack, I have an amazing cleaner from a few doors down who charges £6 an hour, (this is after paying £15 an hour for 2 people who always rounded 5 mins to the next hour so 1 hr 5 mins would cost £60!) (they lasted 4 weeks). I have to provide all cleaning materials, hoover, mop etc. What should I provide? Just asking as house is lovely and clean but always smells of bleach!

YANBU!

But, after you've finished, would you mind sending her over here? There's a darling

Exciting fearnelinen. Let us know how you get on. I'm getting giddy again at the prospect of her 2nd visit on Thursday.

Of course don'tcallmepeanut!

eToTheiPi I left out 2 boxes of stuff. One had loads of cloths/dusters/anti-bacterial wipes in and the other all the products. I'm not exactly sure which ones she used.

But in case you're interested I left:

Bleach
Stardrops
Dettol
Cif Kitchen Spray
Cif Bathroom Spray
Dettol Mold & Mildew Remover
Pledge Furniture Polish

Think that was it

Oh & Windolene!

I dont mind cleaning or ironing its a nice sense of satisfaction when it is all done but I would love someone to clean my windows and do my garden I hate gardening, so no YANBU enjoy

I loathe cleaning windows!

Beautiful, elegant french (she had a moustache, how can the french look stunning even with facial hair??????) MD of cleaning company came to visit yesterday and today I was matched with my cleaner :o She starts next week :o:o

So, she is doing 5 hours in the first stint and 2.5 hours per week thereafter. What can I expect in that time?

Fearne, that's very similar to what I had/am having.

I had 5 hrs last week and then will have 2 hrs per week starting from tomorrow.

In 5 hrs my lady:

Cleaned the kitchen really thoroughly from top to bottow including the oven & windows etc.
Cleaned main bathroom
Cleaned our ensuite including getting rid of quite a bit of mould/grot on tiles/seals
Hoovered & dusted everywhere (we have 4 bedrooms/2 reception rooms)
Cleaned inside of windows in majority of rooms
Cleaned downstairs toilet

I was happy with this. My only criticism is that I think she spent ages on kitchen and bathrooms and then perhaps rushed some of the hoovering/dusting. Not a major problem as these rooms are important but I am going to mention it for tomorrow.

I'm still trying to judge how much she can do effectively in 2hrs. For tomorrow, I'm going to ask her to:

Hoover & dust thoroughly in main bedroom (inc under bed!). And clean mirrors in this room.
Hoover & dust thoroughly in lounge inc hoovering/cleaning sofas and footstool.
Hoover hall/stairs/landing
Clean bathroom
Clean ensuite
Clean downstairs

This means that 3 of my bedrooms, dining room & kitchen won't get touched but with only having 2 hrs I know she can't do everything and I'd rather she did the things I want really thoroughly IYKWIM. I think I'll have to operate a kind of rota system each week though to be honest I reckon I'll end up increasing to 3 hrs before too long.

I think this is pretty reasonable for 2hrs but I may have mis-judged it?? We'll see. What do others think?

She's also agreed to do an extra 1/2 hour of ironing.

Phew, sorry that was epic You can tell I'm giddy about her coming again tomorrow!!

Oops, sorry for typos, missed off toilet from 'clean downstairs'

mine starts Wed for 3 hours each week, can't wait!

Well in 2.5 hours yesterday she:

Cleaned our bedroom really thoroughly (moving furniture & hoovering under bed etc. which I didn't expect)
Cleaned one other bedroom
Cleaned the ensuite
Cleaned the main bathroom
Hoovered landing/stairs/hall
Cleaned downstairs toilet
Did approx 45 mins of ironing

I wanted her to do the lounge too but the ironing took longer than expected. I did leave quite a lot to be fair.

Does that sound reasonable to others?

I do have a couple of niggly bits but don't know if I'm being uber picky e.g. the lamps on our bedside tables still had dust on them. I was wondering what other cleaners thought about this. Would you want to be told? Or would it annoy you when you'd done such a good job on everything else? It's not really a big deal...

MABS and fearne, make sure you let us know how you get on. I'm sad but really intrigued!!

I think there are always bits that you do yourself (like the dust on the lamps). But it's still so worth it, because it only takes you 5 mins to do those bits (perhaps that you only notice if you live in the house?) and you don't have to do all the tedious stuff first.

BTW, IME cleaners don't use wipes. They like ecloths and kitchen roll a lot, though.

I think you got value for money and I wouldn't mention the little things. If you want to pay her for longer, you can add more jobs on, but sounds like she's working fully for the time you're paying.

I'm not a cleaner, but I wouldn't want to be told about the lamps, because it does sound quite picky. Add particular requests like that in if you are going to increase her hours.

Thanks for the comments. I do agree with you but just wanted to check what others thought.

Don't get me wrong I am really satisfied with the work she's done. I could kiss her for the wonderful job she's done on my shower cubicle

Plus in some areas she has gone beyond what I would expect/do myself e.g. moving the furniture in the bedroom. She must have arms like the Incredible Hulk!

i will let you know how it goes :)