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)

I would love a cleaner.

Even more,i would love a decotator.

House needs painting and i cannot be bothered.

she did yesterday, she was great. Yep, had a decorator now too as house was decorated top to bottom in March, thats why i am trying to keep it cleaner!!!

reeling I would definitely get a decorator in though I suppose it depends on the job.

mabs, that's great! How many hours did she do for you? What did she get done?

3 hours, did both bathrooms with walk in showers and kitchen ,dining room thoroughly top to bottom. did all floors, mopped, hoovered as relevant. Moved all furniture downstairs to clean, did windowsills. hoovered all bedrooms. what do you reckon?

I think that sounds really good for 3hrs. You should be pleased .

I'm thinking that I'm going to have to up my hours from 2 to possibly 3 or 4. With only 2 hours, I have to select what I want done each week & it can be quite tricky.

i am very pleased with her

Great! I was actually at home for the first time today while my lady was here. Thought I'd find it a bit awkward but it wasn't too bad.

thats good, anything you not happy with as yet?

No, not really.

I would say that dusting is her weakest point (god, I sound like a right idiot saying that!). She does miss the odd bit that I would do as part of dusting a room. But really, it's only a minor thing.

I think her standards are good, I just know that 2hrs p/w isn't really enough for our size house. I'm on maternity leave at the moment but I'll definitely be increasing her hours when I go back to work next year. If not before!

Our cleaner has just quit after three years. Bit of a relief really as her work had deteriorated (not cleaning toilet, shower cubical ... list goes on) and we had not been happy for some while with her but as she was employed locally I found it difficult due to her character to confront her about it.

Have decided to go through an agency now so hopefully things will be more detached/professional

Looking forward to that fresh smelling, gleming house

Hope you find someone suitable soon Lilly. Can't beat that fresh, gleaming house feeling!

I love having a cleaner

I know its a bit cheeky because i don't work, but it's just nice to enjoy the house, without always being the one having worked on it.

Not cheeky at all! Makes sense to me.

How many hrs p/w do you have?

twice a week, mon and fri, the mornings I volunteer at DS school

My dh works away so I like to ahem save my energy for when he is home

I would love a cleaner! Going back to work after maternity leave in a few weeks and said to DH that we should get one. I always has in mind that it would be better to get a recommendation as opposed to going through a cleaning company? However, I do like the idea of being able to change easily If not up to scratch.

We have a four bed detached but was thinking of getting all downstairs ( lounge, dining, kitchen, toilet, hall, stairs), bathroom, our bedroom and en suite doing? Therefore leaving out the two kids rooms and the study - how long so you think it would take?

Do you think weekly or fortnightly?

Has anyone ever had one of those one off cleans where they so the whole house?

Good plan!

CJ Mommy, thats what ours does in 2hrs/wk, plus she also hoovers other rooms.

Definitely weekly if you can afford it otherwise you end up having to do a lot on the 'off' weeks so it's not worth it really. And if they miss a week for whatever reason you end up waiting a whole month.

Life is so much better since I got my cleaner back.

defo agree weekly

Yes me too.

Thanks ipredictrouble, have an agency lined up so fingers and bloody everything else crossed that it all works out fine. Certainly impressed with inital conversation

Discussing it will DH tonight and we think we never got that lovely just cleaned smell because previous cleaner used her own cleaning stuff - perhaps she was econonmising and watering it down? With the new cleaner we shall be providing all the cleaning stuff - so lovely smelling house here we come!

So after reading this thread I am sadly very excited

I understand the feeling of excitement .

I am excited at the prospect of it....how sad is that . I actually think it's time to stop talking about it and do something! I'll be working FT so want to spend weekends with my DC's, not bloody cleaning! And, I know that I get stressed out if the house isn't clean.....those unexpected visitors that need to use the bathroom

not sad at all!

Just signed my agency agreement for two hours a week! £9 per hr with £6.50 of that to the cleaner.

Am really looking forward to it but am embarrassed about the state of the house and my lack of cleaning. I've been off sick since November and am now expecting to have an operation. My 61 year old mum has been cleaning for me but we are very untidy people generally