To want to find a cleaner that tidies too?

[Whatdowehaveherethen]

I'm exhausted. My house is a mess. I've been working from home since May with 2 young boys. They're finally back at school now after having a cough.

I just want somebody to come and sort out my kitchen and the boys room. I keep them clean but they're just disorganised.

I want a fresh start so I can keep on top of it all.

I know a lot of people are out of work at the moment and I thought by advertising on Gumtree I'd easily find somebody that would accept £12-£15ph for 3 hours work during school hours every now and again. I've had no luck.

I know I should and can do it myself but I'd rather pay somebody.

I work from home so I don't know if that will put people off?

I don't know how to go about it. Word of mouth is great and all that but I don't have any friends to pass the message on.

I know Coronavirus might be an issue but surely I can find SOMEBODY!

I feel like I'm missing something. Hence the AIBU.

Where abouts are you op? Cleaner here. Customers of 7 + years know they can expect a spotless clean and tidy home from me..
What needs done gets done.
Over the years I have :
Put up /taken down Xmas trees.
Bathed /walked ddogs.
Watched a poorly dc while their dm had to go to work..
Collected bits of shopping.
Administered eye drops and meds to an old lady.
Helped pack for a move.
Unpacked from the move.
Organised /scheduled carpet fitters /decorators.
Hung new curtains and organised new soft furnishings.
My CV jokingly also includes spider nest removal and chauffeuring duties!!.

Advertise for a housekeeper/ cleaner, you’ll get someone. Also try local Facebook groups.

I was getting £15 per hour to do someone's clothes washing and drying then put it away.
Getting shopping and put it away
General cleaning
Picking prescription up
Making telephone calls
Cupboard tidying

I would say the pay is too low, when we had a cleaner temporarily (after having last baby) we paid £10 an hour, so maybe if you upped the pay?

Based on the tasks you described, you are not expecting Marie Kondo. I think any cleaner would be happy to do what you asked - it is much lighter work than actual cleaning, provided you pay them the same hourly rate and don't expect them to fit in cleaning without increasing the hours.

In fact, I have to try and persuade my cleaner not to tidy my kitchen cupboards but to tackle the hoovering under the sofas instead.

@Sunnydaysstillhere

Where abouts are you op? Cleaner here. Customers of 7 + years know they can expect a spotless clean and tidy home from me.. What needs done gets done. Over the years I have : Put up /taken down Xmas trees. Bathed /walked ddogs. Watched a poorly dc while their dm had to go to work.. Collected bits of shopping. Administered eye drops and meds to an old lady. Helped pack for a move. Unpacked from the move. Organised /scheduled carpet fitters /decorators. Hung new curtains and organised new soft furnishings. My CV jokingly also includes spider nest removal and chauffeuring duties!!.

Omg I’d love someone like you in my life!

I would ask on Next Door, usually lots of people happy to pick up work on there, some cleaning companies, but also just local mums who might be happy for the work (they won't have professional indemnity insurance or anything like that).

I specifically advertised for an 'extra pair of hands' when I looked for my last cleaner, and she would clean including washing up, do deep cleans like clean fridge, do laundry, change bedding (which I used to strip), tidy cupboards. Tidying rooms- I used to ask her not to do the kids bedrooms, but she would have done. She also used to do shopping/cook occasionally as well.

It was more of a home help job than a cleaner, but it didn't need a professional organizer, just someone to do what I would have done if I'd had the time.

I've noticed everyone on here says pay more, pay more, but I would be surprised if for £15 an hour you couldn't find someone local to do this, professional organizers don't come over to put lego away and put kids clothes in the washing!

My cleaner tidies when I have t asked her to.
I came home from holiday the other week and because we'd made no mess as not been there my cupboards looked like Sleeping with the Enemy inside.

I do love it though. Good luck

I know it's really hard and horrible and I'm in a similar situation. However last weekend I just walked around with a bin bag. It was very satisfying, highly recommend!

I got local cleaning company to quote to do a kitchen cupboard tidy for me coming in few days to look , i just need all my food cupboards cleaned , tidied someone to be ruthless and throw away crap and check for any use by dates and they said job they can do but would have to quote
Waiting for them to come and look
So maybe try a company and ask them rather than individual cleaners

This is what I need!! Desperately. It’s great to read this thread. It seems like I need a housekeeper. Whenever people offer me the details of their cleaner it’s clear that they are not going to do the work I need. I’d be happy to pay well for the right kind of help.

I'm in Kent. Ashford to be specific. I honestly don't think I'm asking for much. I also don't think £12-£15ph is unreasonable?

I know I'd be home at the same time but I'm not a cow. I'd be working, not looking over their shoulder🤣.

I just want somebody to come and do what I can't be bothered to do!

I've looked at all available services online and they all recommend a tidy beforehand.

I can't help but feel like I'm on to a money maker with my new business idea!

@Cissyandflora that makes me feel so much better! It's just the tidying I don't want to do. My home is clean. Please let me know if you come across this wonderperson!

My cleaner does all those types of things.
She charges £10 ph (we are in the Midlands though, I don't think she would be able to travel to Kent ).

Exactly the same. My home is clean but it’s a mess of untidiness. I need someone to do the work that I can’t do or haven’t got time for. I don’t need someone to vacuum and wipe surfaces. I mean that would be great too but I know it’s not what I need. I need things sorted. Tools tidied up. Hall cupboard sorted. Children’s books dusted and organised. Etc etc!
Maybe you can recruit people? I’d be a grateful customer!

So you are saying £12 to £15 in total for 3 hours work?

£4-£5 per hour?

No one is going to do everything you want done for that price.

If you are saying £12 to £15 per hour fine bu too me it reads as that price for the full 3 hours work and no one want to do all that work for £4 an hour.

Of course it's per hour!

I know a lot of people are out of work at the moment and I thought by advertising on Gumtree I'd easily find somebody that would accept £12-£15ph for 3 hours work during school hours every now and again. I've had no luck

Notice the ph?

@ThanksForAllTheFish

So you are saying £12 to £15 in total for 3 hours work?

£4-£5 per hour?

No one is going to do everything you want done for that price.

If you are saying £12 to £15 per hour fine bu too me it reads as that price for the full 3 hours work and no one want to do all that work for £4 an hour.

She clearly says 12-15 per hour.

How old are your children?
From a young age I would expect them putting away their Lego, toys etc and not leaving clothes around. Unless of course they are physically unable.

12/15ph is too low in Kent. Up your offering.

I have a mother help and she's wonderful! I still need to do a lot of stuff myself but so far she's helped quite a bit and only £8ph (she's 20 and she put her rates not me!)

My cleaner cleans, tidies, says comforting things to me about children being naturally messy ( Im WFH at moment) sometimes puts a wash on and hangs up before she goes and leaves me feeling calm and peaceful with a lovely smelling house.

Sometimes I apologise for the mess and she says people like me keep people like her in a job so not to worry.

Shes cheaper than therapy and probably a lot better for me. These amazing people are out there

The only thing she wont do is iron .. fair enough.

My DB has this and advertised on gumtree to find - had loads of applicants. But importantly he was offering regular hours. I don’t think you’ll find someone for ad hoc.

This would be my ideal job !

@Sunnydaysstillhere

Where abouts are you op? Cleaner here. Customers of 7 + years know they can expect a spotless clean and tidy home from me.. What needs done gets done. Over the years I have : Put up /taken down Xmas trees. Bathed /walked ddogs. Watched a poorly dc while their dm had to go to work.. Collected bits of shopping. Administered eye drops and meds to an old lady. Helped pack for a move. Unpacked from the move. Organised /scheduled carpet fitters /decorators. Hung new curtains and organised new soft furnishings. My CV jokingly also includes spider nest removal and chauffeuring duties!!.

You are a Life Admin Fairy Godmother! :D