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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think 3 hrs to clean a 1 bed flat is ridiculous?

49 replies

PassTheSatsumas · 03/12/2016 19:27

I've just tried a new cleaner on a friend's recommendation to clean a 2 bed flat (but not spare bedroom so really a 1bed) -she insisted it would take her 3 hours Hmm

Although she did clean the oven which my regular lady (2 hours but has skipped turning up now and again) never does, I think she is chancing her arm at 3 hours for a regular clean

Any suggestions on a) how to find someone good (not got v far with recon) b) how to make sure it's not just a good clean the first 1-2 times and then trails off

It's just me and I am pretty tidy: I can thoroughly clean myself in 2 hours so querying this extra time (and looking for someone else!)

OP posts:
fc301 · 04/12/2016 00:58

This is literally like asking how long is a piece of string OP! I run a deep cleaning company and It depends on so many factors - every job is different.
How clean is it now/generally
How clean do you expect it to be
What are your priorities
What's your budget
We've done 9 hours on 1 kitchen!
One house sale we reckon we put in 50 hours over 3 months (it was bad!)
But you are right that you need to find someone who is a good fit for you and your budget.

everdene · 04/12/2016 01:07

OP I have just booked a cleaner for our (small) two bed house - she said it would take three hours at first as it's new. I have to say I was surprised too! I thought two hours would do.

Going to try her out and see if we get on, I think a spotless house will be worth the expense TBH.

ItsLikeRainOnYourWeddingDay · 04/12/2016 01:11

A card in a shop?? Bloody hell just hand your house keys over to a stranger. Use an agency.

Sybys · 04/12/2016 01:35

Depends on the flat, it'd take a full team of hazmat-suited specialist to get mine done in anything like 3 hours.

Original poster
PassTheSatsumas · 04/12/2016 01:43

I have had v poor experience of agency cleaners so will not be going down that route

OP posts:
Diemfdie · 04/12/2016 01:46

Just do not use a website... I learned that the hard way last week. 3 hours seems to be a minimum which is fair, I reckon.

Check insurances. Don't use a website... the references are based on the happy people. The upset people don't give references.

Grindelwaldswand · 04/12/2016 01:57

Ive thought about hiring a cleaner for my 2 bed apartment, we only use one room but the living room kitchen and bathrooms get pretty grotty during the week when we don't have much time to clean up after ourselves and we are so disorganised and messy when it comes to laundry !! It gets washed and aired but never makes it to ironing and goes straight in the chest of drawers all crumpled up sigh can you hire cleaner's that organise for you too and put away the laundry ?

GlitterNails · 04/12/2016 02:12

I have a cleaner in a two bed, and she does two hours a week. It's plenty of time.

ThisThingCalledLife · 04/12/2016 02:25

I'm really amazed by how many people have said they have 3-4 hours in a flat!

OP, have you ever cleaned your flat YOURSELF? How long did it take you?

Original poster
PassTheSatsumas · 04/12/2016 07:56

It takes me 90 min-2 hrs

OP posts:
allegretto · 04/12/2016 08:04

I don't think it's unreasonable for a really good clean.

Artandco · 04/12/2016 08:58

But how can you clean whole flat in 90mins? Below would take me 4+ hours in our very clean and tidy one bed
-Hoover ( including pulling out all funiture and using nozzle around edges)

  • mop any wooden and tile floors
  • clean all tiles in bathroom and kitchen flooor to ceiling
  • fully clean toilet/ bath/ shower/ sink
  • fully clean kitchen sides, cupboard doors inside and out, sink, oven top and door inside, wipe fridge over
  • dust and polish all surfaces plus doors and windows
  • empty bins and wash
  • unload dishwasher and stuff away

That's without someone changing bedding and washing it. Or doing any additional laundry or ironing

90mins would be just about hoovering bits in the middle, and just wiping dirt on show rather than an actual clean.

PaulDacresConscience · 04/12/2016 09:50

I do mine in 90 mins Art and I can assure you that I don;t just vacuum the middle and wipe the dust that's on show!

I have plenty of storage so keep things clutter free, so it is easy to clean. I also keep things tidy during the week rather than letting things build up, so that when it comes to cleaning time I can crack straight on with it, rather than having to do lots of tidying up first.

However I used to work as a commercial cleaner so I am quite quick, as you have to learn to be efficient with your time and movement if you are going to get everything done in the allotted time.

Artandco · 04/12/2016 09:54

PAss - we have no clutter at all and home very minimalistic. So it's not tidying that takes time but actual cleaning

DailyMailSucksAss · 04/12/2016 10:34

We clean kitchen/bathrooms/bins and do as we go so the regular cleaning gig takes much much less time. Like others we also keep things minimalist. My 3bed detached house takes 3 hours to clean top to bottom inc garden, and tbh it's the garden that takes up most of it.

PaulDacresConscience · 04/12/2016 10:40

Art perhaps it's just speed then? If I spent 4 hours on mine then I'd be doing the external windows and frames, cleaning the top of the kitchen cupboards (which doesn't happen every week) and cleaning the inside of the fridge and washing the shelves and drawers (which also doesn't happen every week).

ComputerUserNumptyTwit · 04/12/2016 10:48

Some people are just faster and more efficient than others. My dp can do my two bed flat in 90 minutes. Two hours and he'll have washed the windows, too. He's a bit of a force of nature.

gamerwidow · 04/12/2016 10:51

We do 3 hrs for a 2 bed house. It needs that time at least. I've occasionally been at home at the same time as the cleaner and she works flat out for those 3 hours.

burnoutbabe · 04/12/2016 10:55

We have a 2 bed (but 2nd room is spair so needs no cleaning)

We have 2 cleaners for 1 hour once a fortnight (so 2 hours work)

Kitchen and bathroom get cleaned and floors done. Thats all we need.

2 people for an hour seems more efficient, no one can really do 2 hours cleaning flat out.

I'd go for a shorter visit (if they let you) and then have a once a quarter deeper clean)

Original poster
PassTheSatsumas · 04/12/2016 11:14

I think getting a quarterly deep clean is a good idea - I have been trying to get my cleaner to rotate the odd task but tbh they really don't like doing that!

OP posts:
Haggis0307 · 13/10/2024 22:05

It's been almost a decade, but you sound really tight! Saying it only takes you x amount of time? Why not just do it yourself then? Professional cleaners clean MUCH more thoroughly than the average person. If you're unhappy, find someone else and specify how many hours you want. Don't moan about your poor cleaner on here and compare how long they take to how long it takes you. You seem like a nightmare client!

fc301 · 05/01/2025 11:04

@Haggis0307
Why on earth would you resurrect an 8 year old cleaning thread??!!

Tinythumbelina · 05/01/2025 11:11

Perhaps go for fortnightly...makes it worthwhile a cleaner coming. My cleaner, it years ago so can't recommend would do extra jobs to fill 3 hours such as change bed sheets & iron. She came 3 hours pw 4 bed, 2 bath house.

bifurCAT · 05/01/2025 11:15

I don't get why an oven takes that long... Squirt on some good stuff, leave it while you clean the rest of the house, come back and it's a five minute scrub job

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