AIBU or do you clean before cleaner arrives?

[Dinosauraddict]

Context: I'm poorly, pregnant, in/out of hospital, in the middle of a house renovation, usually work FT (as does DH) and have 3Ddogs. This has meant that my usually 'slightly messy but clean' house feels not clean or tidy. So, I've bitten the bullet and taken the standard MN advice of 'get a cleaner'. She is our neighbour's cleaner and is coming this afternoon for the first time. I've dragged myself off the sofa and started trying to make the house presentable. 2 rooms are currently being painted/renovated so I'm planning on telling her just to ignore those on this visit, but how tidy/clean does it need to be before she arrives??

I don't have a cleaner any more as I Marie Kondo'd our house and don't need one now... however when I used to have one I would get everyone to tidy our rooms as in put things away so they can get round but never clean. (Isn't that what the cleaner does?!)

Cleaner here.
The only thing I don't like left around are your dc!!
Ddogs no problem as long as they like a chat!!

The idea is to tidy so that she can clean better. Most cleaners I‘ve had would pile random stuff left around on the side or table so that they can clean, but then they are cleaning less and you still have to put the stuff away.
I wouldn’t clean unless e.g. the toilet is disgusting or the bin is full of sanitary towels. I‘d clean that kind of thing because I wouldn’t want to clean it myself.

I mean, if I were the cleaner.

I used to try and tidy as much as possible so the cleaner didn't waste time on that but could actually clean. But I would never have cleaned beforehand. That's what you're paying for!

No! But I clear up stuff lying around eg stack dishwasher, pick up the dogs toys and straighten the cushions

It’s best to tidy, so she can clean.

However I never left dirty dishes in the sink or stains down the loo out of respect for her trying to do her job properly

No I just tidy mess away so they can come in and get straight to work.

No, but the house is always tidy, I dislike mess and honestly don't know how people don't get really depressed living in mess. It would really stress me out.

Fantastic, thank you everyone. I've taken the hair out of the shower, taken the rubbish and recycling out etc. I will just try and reduce clutter on the surfaces! I am mainly wanting her to clean the bathrooms and hoover the floors - anything else is a bonus!

Hope you feel better soon

I tidy up, but I don't clean. So I try to make surfaces as clear as possible, pick stuff up off the floor if it has been left there, that kind of thing. basically so that she can clean the floor and surfaces.

I also ask our cleaner to empty the bins, so I don't do that before she comes.

Our recycling is in bins which are stored out of sight.

Never had the luxury of one but I know I would work like a dog cleaning every day she was coming!

I tidy so that it’s quicker and easier for her to get on with the actual cleaning.

I was a cleaner. Don't clean beforehand but if it's tidier she will get more done in the time.

Does anyone who has or is a cleaner have an idea of what can be done on average in 2 hours? So as well as cleaning the bathrooms and hoovering, would they be likely to be able to clean the kitchen too or is that over-hopeful? Not sure what to expect!

Montysma1 then why have a cleaner?

I tidy. The cleaner cleans.

Yep, tidy so they can clean.

In an hour and half in a 4 bedroom house mine does the two bathrooms, hoovers and washes the floors, wipes the kitchen surfaces and dusts. I was quite amazed she can do so much in a short space of time although my house is a new build so didn’t have accumulated grime when she started. I have to hold off from cleaning before she comes but I tidy so she can clean.

In that time my cleaner
Dusts and vaccuums every room (4 double bedrooms, 4 reception rooms)
And mops any room with tiles/laminate
Cleans 3 bathrooms
Dusts all blinds
Makes beds up if new duvet covers left out
Cleans kitchen surfaces and cooker
Arranges my cushions and throws much more nicely than I can.
Theres actually 2 of them tho and they work full on for an hour which costs 50 quid.

Wow @user1493413286 that sounds fab, she sounds amazing. Ours is a very old house, so has a habit of collecting dust rather more than our previous new build did, but houses are similar size (we have 5 bed but don't want to let her or anyone else in the master) - hopefully in 2 hours she can give the kitchen an attempt too then!

Cleaner here so a few tips for you;
-clear floors and surfaces of clutter as much as you can. I do tidy, fold clothes, put toys away and move stuff but it eats into the actual cleaning time and obviously I don't know where everything "goes".

-Be clear about what you want done. This is v. important. Make sure cleaner knows what takes priority and what you want left (e.g. rooms being painted) You sound a bit too nice and wishy washy about what you expect on this thread.

-Expect bathrms, kitchen, dusting and floors hoovered and mopped as minimum. I would empty bins.

-Be clear about who is providing cleaning materials/equipment and show her/him where everything is today.

-I always find I'm slightly slower on a first visit as it takes time to find my way round and get into a routine. This improves after a couple of cleans.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon!

I have a cleaner for 2 hours every week in a 4 bed house. She basically cleans everything but doesnt so things like inside fridge or windows.

I tidy before she arrives so she doesnt have a mountain of crap to work around but I dont clean.

That's incredibly helpful thank you everyone, particularly @SmileyClare - I'll try and be really clear about what I want her to just leave or attempt to do! @PicaK your cleaners sound amazingly efficient, but they are charging more than mine!