AIBU to think three hours is an hour too long?

[dyslexicbrian]

Looking to hire a cleaner to clean our 3 bed detached, with a conservatory once a week. We’ve never had a cleaner before so thought that two hours per week would be plenty. Cleaner has given a quote (she has not seen our house) and thinks that it would take a minimum of three hours. AIBU to think she’s overestimating and should at least see the place first? Also, for independent cleaners, should I expect them to hold insurance / DBS - or is that too much?

I'd say it takes between 2-3 hours. They'd be rushing to do a good job in two hours - and whilst it's fine for you to do your own basic surface level job in your own house, you would likely pick flaws in a cleaner's work about stuff they had missed if they rushed it.

I only pay my cleaner 3 hours (once a fortnight, large house) and she doesn't do as good a job as her predecessor, but I've accepted that it's really my fault for not paying her to clean for longer. I'm happy with a basic level clean

I think 3 hours sounds reasonable for that size house but it depends what you want doing.

I read the title and thought this was going to be about the Avengers Infinity sequel.

Yes, I think three hours if fine for a cleaning a 3 bedroom house but I'd ask her to visit and quote. I definitely think they should have insurance.

A DBS check only means that they are checked against offences that might make them a risk to children (or vulnerable adults depending which type of check). It doesn't cover dishonesty offences.

Of course it does, but as it would be a normal rather than enhanced (for child care or other care work) then it will not show 'spent' convictions.

Think 2 hours sounds about right.

It depends what you want done. Vacuuming, washing floors, cleaning worktops and bathroom are pretty standard, do you want tables / shelves / sideboards / dressing tables dusted and polished? Mirrors? Kitchens look cleaner when the kettle and toaster are sparkling! Skirting boards washed or just dusted? What's the staircase like - do you want banisters and spindles wiped? Windows cleaned? Silverware, ornaments, photo frames dusted after moving them to dust and polish underneath? Stripping and remaking beds, putting the bedding in to wash - putting it on the line or in the dryer? Any other laundry? Unloading the dryer? Is she doing the ironing? Folding and putting away? Emptying bins - kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms?

I don't have a cleaner and don't do 90% of this list with any commitment, I vacuum downstairs weekly and upstairs infrequently, I wash up and wash the worktops, and clean the bathrooms. Just trying to remember all the things my mother did when she was a cleaner 50-odd years ago!