Right so before I say anything I am aware that I am very lucky to a) own a house and b) be able to afford a cleaner.
We have lived here for 2 years. The house is 3 floors but we dont need all of it cleaning every week. Our standard weekly clean request is: floors (hard) downstairs, hoover stairs and carpets on 1st floor. Dust living room, dining room, our bedroom and baby's bedroom. Clean one bathroom and kitchen.
Our first cleaners were lovely and did lovely touches like arranging crockery, putting the loo paper into points etc etc. However this was often at the expense of the actual cleaning - some weeks the floors weren't done because they 'ran out of time'. We decided it wasnt working and let them go.
We then employed 2 more through a recommendation. They seemed to work through their daughter. Neither spoke a word of english - it was nigh on impossible to communicate what needed doing or didnt need doing. Both were heavy smokers and I could always smell the smoke from them after they had left. They also did a pretty cursory job. We've had them for a year and paid them £30 for 2 hours.
We asked around locally for recommendations and a lady came round to look last week. She seemed really professional and really keen. She said there was lots that in her opinion should be done but weren't- she gave examples of cobwebs behind our pictures, skirting boards and the blinds in the bathroom. She quoted 40 quid to get the job done, however long it took.
I've just come home from the first clean. The house looks good - but literally all 3 things she pointed out that should be done havent been.
Am I just expecting too much?!