To get a cleaner for 2-bed flat?

[RedFlagsOnTheRight]

I have a clingy baby so only minimal housework gets done. I've never liked cleaning anyway.

DH thinks I should be able to manage cleaning but I can't put baby down longer than 5mins as he cries. I'd love to have a clean, dust-free home again!

How many hours would it take to clean a 2-bed? Large lounge and kitchen, 2 bathrooms. I'd want them to steam-mop floors and carpets, vacuum, clean kitchen including hob (but not oven as I get a separate company in for that), scrub bathrooms including shower and get rid of limescale in loos, dust, clean insides of windows, also do some ironing (bedlinen, DH's shirts, a few dresses). When hoovering will they also get into corners/edges and wipe skirting boards? And will they clean leather sofa (it has a special kit and instructions for treating leather).

I'm excited at thought of a clean flat again!

A monthly clean would be enough, I can keep on top of it in between.

[Oysterbabe]

Yanbu. Get one if you want.
I'm in exactly the same situation but DH cleans when he gets home or takes the baby so I can.

[goodnightdarthvader1]

You can't clean because you can't put the baby down, but you can "keep on top of the cleaning" if you have a cleaner come in once a month?

Also, sling?

[RedFlagsOnTheRight]

I do some stuff with him in the sling, but it's tiring now he's bigger, and can't bend over or get into corners or use chemicals while he's strapped to me.

If they did a monthly deep-clean I could just do basics in between (wiping surfaces, hoovering, sweeping etc). Or do you have to book weekly/fortnightly?

[RedFlagsOnTheRight]

DH doesn't clean and I'd rather he watched baby in eve so I can shower/cook/take a break.

He mops the floors every few months but takes hours over it!

[SistersOfPercy]

Never understood the angst about cleaners on here, if you want one and can afford one then get one.

[Tallulahoola]

YANBU at all. We have a 3-bed and our cleaner comes for 3 hours a week BUT doesn't iron, if she did we'd need her for 4. Our house is always a tip though

Not sure about the sling advice. You don't really want to be spraying bleach/whipping up dust clouds around a baby.

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

We are a growing cleaning company, we have around 75 clients and I would say off hand (without actually quantifying this, please understand as I'm off out in a minute) I think about 20 of these are small 1 or 2 bed homes who we charge our minimum of £30 based upon 2 hours or less cleaning (our business model is charge 'per job' not hourly you see).

However we are offering a premium, fully-managed level of service and include all the details you describe plus more within that price, (apart from steam mopping we have alternative methods of cleaning) but depending upon how deep you want them to go, you can get cheaper cleaning with an agency but the cleaner will be self-employed and up to you to manage yourself so results can be variable. I have seen a lot of posts on here about agencies to back this up plus our own clients have told me this is the case.

Also some individual self-employed cleaners can be good and if they don't plan to grow their business with staff, they are often cheaper than a company like ours, but this too can vary. If you are on a tight budget and you do go with an agency or an individual you may have a period of 'trial and error' before you meet a good match for your needs.

Whoever you book I would ask about what is included within their price and what is not, you need to find out what level of service they are offering and if this level is a good match for your requirements, they really should be able to provide a service list in writing of everything their price includes and what is additional so you don't suddenly find its extra to pay for. Their rep should spend some time with you managing expectations and explaining these things in full so you know exactly what you should receive for the price agreed.

If you hire an individual, make sure they really are registered as self-employed and are covered with public liability insurance in case they cause major damage such as flooding or fire etc (unlikely but it does occur, make sure they are covered for this liability!) It's important to make sure they are registered to work and are declaring their income to pay their taxes as this person will have a key to your home with access to your things, you want a legallly operating, honest individual who is operating a legitimate business not a benefits cheat or someone working 'under the radar' of the tax man.

Insurance - wise they will have an 'excess' to pay, ours is £250, no cleaning service is covered for small breakage, if they are asked to replace these it comes from their own pockets as insurances always carry an excess. Most of our clients understand this and as we are hired to be touching their items so that they don't have to and just say 'never mind' if we break something small since we are exposed to more risk of breaking these than they are since we are the ones who have to clean these items each week, if you see what I mean.

I can't think of anything to add except - good luck with your new cleaning service and I hope you find a real 'treasure' who can really help you and really make the difference you need to be able to cope with everything. This is the value a good service will add to your life.

[RudeElf]

4 hours for everything you have listed OP. I charge £10/hr

[cosmicglittergirl]

Definitely get one, you're looking after a small child, not a skivvy. Maybe have her come every two weeks for three hours?
I had a cleaner in my two bed flat when I was pregnant and on mat leave, so yeah, if you can afford it get one.

[DearTeddyRobinson]

Get a cleaner. I had one weekly when I lived in a 2 bed flat by myself! 3 hours/week & the place was sparkling.
I know this wasn't your question but have you tried a jumperoo? Used to give me 10 mins break from my Velcro baby. Does take up quite a bit of room but was worth it for me!

[stealthbanana]

I would get one 2-3hrs a week fortnightly (assuming you can afford that). Some tasks only need to be done once a month but ideally you want eg your bathrooms to be properly cleaned at least once a fortnight.

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

Gah - just noticed there are two bathrooms, this would not qualify for our minimum then, sorry I didn't mean to mislead.

I wish I could edit my post now, sorry about that!

Unless it's a tiny place, I couldn't say how much then but any service would need to come out to see it to give you an accurate quote.

[augustusglupe]

Yes to getting a cleaner!! I've never had one, but as I've got older I hate cleaning. My DD has just got a new flat in Manchester and I booked cleaners to give it a deep clean... Job done!! What are you waiting for

[ManneryTowers]

Get a cleaner but I suggest every two weeks rather than monthly, or else by week three you'll be frustrated by the mess again. I'd say 2.5 cleaning hours and one hour of ironing for all the jobs you'd like done

[LotsOfShoes]

We have a tiny 1-bed and no kids and we have a cleaner come every week for 2 hours. We outsource almost all the laundry/ironing as well. If you can afford it, get it. My purpose in life is not to mop floors and iron clothes. And if your DH has a problem with it, let him do the weekly cleaning.

[LotsOfShoes]

And yes, yes to the suggestion of at least every 2 weeks. Once a month is not enough.

[LotsOfShoes]

We're ttc and when i'm on mat leave I'll probably increase the cleaner's hours, just FYI (we are also moving to a 2-bed).

[PurpleDaisies]

We have a cleaner once a fortnight. It's really great-the house never gets that bad and it forces us to keep it vaguely tidy. She does our 2 bedroom 1 bathroom house in 2 hours (all hoovering, mopping, dusting and kitchen and bathroom).

[HeavenlyPeas]

We have a two bedroom flat and a cleaner for two hours once a fortnight. She deep cleans the kitchen and bathrooms then hoovers and dusts round everywhere else. I just wipe up and run the roomba in between. It's amazing and has saved my sanity and removed many causes of arguments between DH and I!

[NerrSnerr]

We also have a cleaner once a fortnight. Go for it. Now we have a cleaner we will never go back!

[Me624]

Cleaner here does 3 hours per fortnight for a 4 bed, 2 bathroom, 1 downstairs loo, lounge and kitchen/diner house. I don't expect it to be deep cleaned in that time and would pay for an extra hour every so often if I want a particular room (usually kitchen) deep cleaned or something extra like Windows done. But she does a fabulous job of keeping everything nice in that time. I'd say you only need 2 hours for a 2 bed.

I am about to go on maternity leave and I'm thinking about increasing her to weekly when I'm off! The house doesn't get dirty at the moment as DH and I work long hours and are barely there during the week - I suspect when baby and I are there all the time it will get a lot grubbier more quickly.

[MitzyLeFrouf]

Cleaning is tedious work but living in a clean environment is lovely.

I don't understand women's cleaner angst either.

[A1Sharon]

My sister lives alone in a large 1 bed in London, and she has a cleaner weekly, who also irons.
My sis is the cleanest tidiest person I know, but she works very long hours and doesn't want to spend her weekends cleaning!
Go for it.

[whois]

3 hours, every 2 weeks sounds right for what you want.

[whois]

But I think 2 or 3h every week would be better so then you would hardly have to do anything.

Anyway, you're on ML not on 'cleaning the house' leave. DH can do one.