Cleaner

[GiBlues]

Just wondering those with cleaners how long it was until you left them alone in your house to clean it?
I had a cleaner start last week and she is doing 3 hrs once a week, I stayed while she was here but firstly feel really awkward pottering around while she is here cleaning and secondly it’s 3 hours I’m here while all 3 kids are at school and pre school that I only get once a week (at work the other time) so feel like I’m wasting my child free time.
But I’m not sure I’m feel comfortable leaving someone I don’t know in our house on their own. I know this a first world problem but I’d appreciate the feedback
Thank you

Anyone?

We don’t have them now but with the last ones I stayed the first time in case they had questions/couldn’t find things and then just left my number in case. What is it you’re worried about?

Of course you have to leave them to it!

I'm a cleaner, most give a key after the 1st meeting and leave me to it. I've had the odd client leave a key somewhere safe then I post it thru the letter box when I'm done but after a few cleans I keep the key.

So I’m just being over the top then?
I suppose I’m just concerned about having a complete stranger in my house alone

I am a cleaner. Most people just gave me a key. I fully understand how u feel and I think I would feel the same if I was having someone in my house and I wasn’t there.
I would stay at home until you feel comfortable enough to go out when they come.
It’s your house so do what you feel best. The more you chat with them the better so you can get to know them. But to be honest if something goes missing it is pretty obvious who it is. And only a idiot would take things from someone’s house.

How did you pick them. Were they recommended

I am at work (otherwise could not afford cleaner) so leave her to it

I would only leave them if you trust them.

My sister does my cleaning so naturally I'm at work when she does it.

We had a deep clean tuesday and we hadn't had them here before. I went out.

Her very first clean. Not something I would book a day off for!

Maybe you would feel more comfortable asking for key holder policies, references or a DBS check? I own a small cleaning company and everyone that works for me is DBS checked. We provide references for anyone that wants to leave/provide a key, and we store keys with tags -initials or pets names on the tags- in a safe when not in use.

I'm never there when the cleaner is. Too awkward . They did our neighbours for 5 yrs though so we were comfortable leaving them to it.

It’s understandable to be nervous about leaving her alone, but it is her job and while there are bad cleaners it’s unlikely she will risk her job by doing anything ‘bad’.
As a cleaner I prefer it when my clients leave me to it or go out as I can concentrate properly. When they’re home I feel like I’m getting in the way and it can be awkward essentially kicking them out of a room. Some clients wait for me to arrive then go out and come back when I’m leaving, but most I haven’t even met and they left a key for first visit onwards.
As long as they have a dbs check and it’s a trustworthy agency let her get on with it and see how you feel after/talk to her boss about any concerns.

She was posting flyers through doors where we live, and I got chatting to her when she got to our house. She came in had a look round asked what I would like her to do, we settled on 3 hours a week to begin with and that was that. She is DBS checked too.

I'm retired and disabled so mostly at home when my cleaner comes. She has been coming for years and is now more like a friend so on the rare occasions I've not been here, I have no concerns at all.

I actually already knew my cleaner when I hired her.
I totally trusted her and she got my key after her 1st visit.
It's bloody handy when you lock yourself out as well!!!!
If I'm ever working from home when she is there I try to not be around.
I'll take the dog out or work upstairs while she is downstairs etc....
Did you get references from her?

Start with asking her to lock up and push keys through letterbox when finished. 2-3 months should be enough time to suss out and give a spare set of keys.

I clean and one couple stay in when I clean, they get in the way of the hoover, push furniture back that I moved when walking past, ask to finish watching TV or want a shower so I have to change my room routine. When they are not there I can do the clean much faster.