To think that asking a Cleaner to do the dusting and hoovering would be pretty lazy on my part?

[Writerwannabe83]

I do not have a cleaner yet so I have no idea about Housework Ettiquette but when I return to work after maternity (in 6 weeks) the plan is for me to use one.

I'm putting together a list in my head of what jobs will need doing and I'm just wondering to what extent people go? Fair enough it makes sense to delegate cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms because they are time consuming jobs, but what about the little jobs? Surely doing the quick and easy things like polishing should still be something DH and I should be prepared to do?

So can I ask those with Cleaners how often you have them come round and what jobs they do for you?? And what general upkeep do you do yourselves inbetween their visits??

[Micah]

I have a cleaner, she does two hours once a week (3 bed house).

I have no idea what she does specifically, we've never discussed it, but I love walking into my house after she's been. Cleaner day keeps me sane :). I can just sit and there's nothing needs doing.

I presume she does bathrooms, kitchen, floors, hoovering, and any other jobs she has time for.

In between I keep things generally tidy, sweep floors, wipe surfaces after use etc.

[Parietal]

cleaner can do lots of things. but it is often hard for a cleaner to do tidying, because she/he won't know where things go. Every time my cleaner comes, it forces me to spend an hour doing a really good tidy so that the house is neat and ready for her to clean. Then she does everything.

[TheListingAttic]

Yeah, that's basically what my DH was like when I first suggested it. He didn't want to pay someone to do it because "we could just do it ourselves" - which meant me doing it! He got short shrift, and has since come round, because not only is the house cleaner than it used to be, he doesn't get moaned at to pull his weight anymore - we neither of us have to do anything but the odd wipe over in between!

[TheListingAttic]

Parietal Yes, we (mostly DH) are now forced into having a regular tidy up to prepare for the cleaner coming whereas before we (he) would just leave stuff lying around and keep promising to do it 'soon'.

[Writerwannabe83]

How did you all find your Cleaners? Through a well known franchise or more word of mouth?

[m0therofdragons]

Mine was word of mouth - she cleaned for a friend and the local vicar.

[Micah]

It was my dh's idea. I was struggling with dd, couldn't keep on top of everything, and a colleague told him to just hire one if he wanted me sane.

Best thing we ever did. She cleaned for a neighbour, so she did ours too.

[ConferencePear]

I don't expect/like my cleaner to tidy, make beds or do the dishes. Everything else is OK by me. Sometimes, if she's done it all in good time, she will clean a window or two.
My OH doesn't really like someone else in the house while we're out and complains if things aren't put back in exactly the right place. I don't care because it's so lovely coming in to a clean house.

[nostress]

We've just taken on a housekeeper. So she does all the cleaning stuff and tidying, ironing, taking stuff to the post office etc. :)

[TiggerLillies]

Laughing at the thought of TheListing's husband doing the cleaning with her relaxing on the sofa. Marvellous!
I've worked on both sides, facilitating cleaners and as a housekeeper myself. Honestly, cleaners will do anything you pay them for (obviously within reason) and if they have an issue with that, they should find another job! If you want to pay someone to purely come and empty your bins each week, then that is your perogotive. Domestic service is not about judging, it is about serving! As long as you make clear at the beginning what you require, then do as you wish. I had to do all sorts of random things in my job, I honestly didn't mind - I was being compensated generously for my efforts.
Then sit back and enjoy the glass of wine as you watch the cleaner do her job

[Topseyt]

I last had a cleaner about 10 years ago when the youngest of my three kids was still a baby and I needed help.

We just used to do a basic tidy around so that they could clean efficiently. Since then circumstance and finances have dictated that we could no longer keep it up, so since then I haven't had anyone and I really miss it.

I have started working again now though. I am part time, but even that really takes so much out of my day that I can't get around the house to clean it as it needs. Nothing more than basics ever gets done. The job is going fairly well though, so I am thinking of revisiting the idea of another cleaner again in 2015. My husband isn't likely to be enamoured with the idea either, but might also get short shrift, as he is a disaster around the house.

Can I just ask, what is the average hourly rate you all pay your cleaners these days? What part of the country is that in, as I should think it might make a difference for many? I am in Essex.

[Miggsie]

Women paying another woman to do all the cleaning is no lazier than a man expecting his female partner to do it for free.

[Kundry]

What would be the point of getting a cleaner and then asking her not to clean?

My cleaner cleans all the rooms (everything, hoovering, dusting, polishing, tidying, whatever is needed), puts the bins out, does any laundry needed, sorts out the dishwasher and does the ironing. Once a week, 4 hours.

In between time I do no cleaning whatsoever except wiping kitchen surfaces. Marvellous.

[Bisgetti]

I ask my cleaner to dust, hoover, wash dishes and clean the bathroom and kitchen. He always mops too, re-arranges my cushions leaves the childrens toys neatly organised in really sweet arrangements around their room, and he takes out the rubbish. He is BRILLANT.

My flat is very small so it takes him 2 hours but I pay him for 3 because it would take me 3 hours to do all of that.

I do make sure I tidy up before he comes even if that means throwing everything into a cupboard.

I found my cleaner through my neighbour, he works for her too. If you are in London I can ask him if he is interested in more work for you.

[Writerwannabe83]

A male cleaner - maybe it would make my DH that men are capable of cleaning

Thanks for the offer but I'm in Leicestershire. One company I have looked at charge you based on the jobs they are doing as opposed to an hourly fee.

[cestlavielife]

don't use a company that works like that unless it is a one off house clean prior to a move etc... you want someone flexible...so someone who will help you clean up sick when you home with vomiting baby etc. and wont say "not in my job description"

[Givemecoffeeplease]

Mine hangs my washing out, knickers n all, and changes my bedding. In return for these lowly tasks, that she is happy to do, I give her a blinding christmas tip and pay her a decent hourly rate (I'm in London so think she should get over min wage etc). She's lovely and I love returning to the house when she has been.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Mine hoovers, dusts, changes beds, mops floors, empties bins, mops the hard floors and will pretty much do anything else I ask her.

I always tidy before she comes, so she can get a clear run at it. I also check the toilets aren't too disgusting (9 yo DS not the most efficient at aiming or wiping round if things go awry). During the week of course I wipe down the kitchen and all that after cooking. But that's it.

I've had a cleaner pretty much since I was married, tbh. DH doesn't like cleaning, I don't like cleaning, so why clean?

[Writerwannabe83]

Thanks for the tip about no going for companies that charge by the job. I think the things I would like doing are the bathrooms, the kitchen, thorough polishing and hoovering and mopping the floors. Having all the ironing done sounds pretty tempting though

[Writerwannabe83]

One company said they do a 'Big Clean' to get the house up to "their standard" and then they will do whatever jobs are requested at future visits.

That made me raise my eyebrows a little.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Oh yeah, mine irons DH's shirts too!

I'd go for a local person or company - if you're on facebook ask around for a local rec. I go through an umbrella company which finds the cleaners and deals with the insurance, they get a small DD every month and the cleaners are then paid direct.

[FinallyHere]

Our brief to Treasure was to keep our house 'ready for my mother to visit'. And she has gone from strength to strength. I love coming home to a clean and shining house.

We agreed three hours, twice a week, usually monday and friday. Two hours to do the basic, regular tasks, and extra hour each visit to tackle extra jobs which don't need to be done quite so frequently. Bliss.

When we moved house, i asked her what areas she would be prepared to cover before even looking at new houses. HTH.

[WellnowImFucked]

Ours is through an agency, which quietened some of OH's issues (insurance etc)

He did do the 'why are we paying when we could do it' crap. I pointed out that (a) yes 'we' could but 'we' didn't. .

That because they came in purely to do the cleaning, not clean for 10 minutes then watch the news, then have a cuppa, then whine about random unrelated stuff meant they would and do take a fraction of the time it takes us.

And that actually as both of us earn more an hour that we pay them, doing ourselves was wasting money.

That one won the discussion, with him it was more of a money/what would his mother say thing, rather than expecting me to do it all.

Ours hoovers everywhere except our bedroom (both of us dislike the idea of someone else in there). Wash floors, generally dust, clean kitchen and bathrooms. They also do 'bigger' jobs by arrangement, anything from cleaning the fridge to ironing/windows etc. They will also feed the cats etc

It is so nice to come home to and frees up a shocking amount of time at the weekend.

[TheListingAttic]

OP, I'm in Leicestershire too! We use Molly Maid - are they the 'Big Clean' ones you mentioned? We thought the initial charge for that was a bit steep, but decided to go for it as our house kind of needed it (see previous posts!) Anyway, it was definitely worth it, and they've been great!

[Writerwannabe83]

It was listing - how much do they charge for a big clean? Do they do every room? I take it it's compulsory so do we have any say in what gets done in the initial clean?