Cleaning for the cleaners

10 replies

John4703 · 04/01/2017 19:39

I am trying to get used to having cleaners. We got a company to clean our home four months ago as we had a massive amount of mess after building work. We arranged for them to come every four weeks and clean. This is a great incentive to tidy up, we are two messy people who live with clutter.
I was in the kitchen just now and looked at the work surface, it is dirty, there are splashes of oil from the deep fat fryer as I did roast potatoes this evening, the floor has bits of that white papery skin from garlic on it, I can never deal with garlic and not make a mess.

My question is AIBU to leave it all for the cleaners tomorrow or should I brush and wash the floor and clean the work surfaces?

A part of me wants my home nice and clean for visitors and the other part tells me that the cleaners are not visitors but are here to do a job.
WWYD? This is going to be a question every four weeks so any advice is welcome.

OP posts:

FaerieDusting · 04/01/2017 19:45

I am a cleaner and would say leave it for the cleaner as you are paying them to clean.

I think it's more helpful for people to tidy before a cleaner comes as clutter and mess makes it more time consuming to clean.

When you have to spend half of your time tidying before you can clean it's not very productive. Unless the customer is happy to pay for that of course.

It's not like your leaving poo up the walls or anything!!

FaerieDusting · 04/01/2017 19:46

Oh and if you are leaving pots for the cleaner to wash please put them in to soak so it doesn't take long at all.

PlugUgly1980 · 04/01/2017 19:48

I've only had a cleaner about 6 months. I tidy enough to ensure all the surfaces are clear, and would wipe any major spills off worktops before they come (would do that as and when anyway as try and clean as we go during the week), but literally just a quick squirt of spray and a wipe down so hygienic, they then do a deep clean. I have a quick whip round with a dust pan and brush if there's big stuff on the kitchen floor, and maybe hoover the lounge a couple of times a week (toddler and baby create havoc!) buy other than that leave it for our lovely cleaner. Ours is a weekly clean though! I can't wait for him to come tomorrow as he had last week off.

Figure17a · 04/01/2017 19:48

I tidy, not clean, but I'd clean (a bit) in between four weekly cleans, clearing up splashes and food dropped on the floor as we go.

Original poster

John4703 · 04/01/2017 19:51

We do clean up as we go, we don't leave it all for four weeks, it was just one evenings mess I wondered about. Just wanting to make it clear that I am not a total pig.

OP posts:

Crabbitstick · 04/01/2017 19:54

I am getting a cleaner for first time, they start next week.
I've spent the day cleaning so it's not too messy when they come. My husband thinks I'm an idiot. He's probably got a fair point

Figure17a · 04/01/2017 19:58

Actually Crabbit, I think it's worth doing before their first visit, so the know what standard is expected

Ab1000 · 04/01/2017 20:05

I have a cleaner twice weekly. I tidy before they come as I'm not paying them to tidy. I get the kids and dh to join in otherwise anything that belongs to them and is left out goes in the bin. My cleaner does two hours on a thurs and does whole house. She also does one hour on a Monday just to quickly go over kitchen and sitting room. I clean up as I go along the rest of the time but she goes the bulk

Original poster

John4703 · 04/01/2017 20:33

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I think I'll continue to keep the house clean all the time but not get excessive because the cleaners are coming. Having this company cleaning is such a help as it makes me tidy up. My DW is not able to do much as she had a mastectomy three years ago and is still recovering from the treatment. She had a knee replacement 5 weeks ago and is still in loads of pain. Cooking, shopping, basic cleaning, ironing and being here to help take time I'm a man so can't do any of this as efficiently as you ladies It is great to have cleaners, I think it is a bit out of my comfort zone as I feel I should do it but on the other hand it gives employment and the company pay well over the living wage rate and employ all their staff full time.
I really do appreciate all your comments. Thank you

OP posts:

drinkingchanelno5 · 04/01/2017 21:46

I tidy up so that the cleaner can actually clean. I'm not paying her to do things that I can easily do, I'm paying her to the do the jobs I hate. Tidying includes stacking all plates/cups into dishwasher, making sure all surfaces are clear and everything put away. actually it helps me to keep things tidier throughout he week because otherwise I know that come Wednesday morning I'll be running around like a headless chicken trying to get everything put away.

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