To think cleaners could have done a slightly better job?

[ronconcoke]

I've been struggling to find a decent cleaner/cleaning company that will actually do a good job. I know cleaners don't tidy and I admit my home is a bit on the cluttered side but I pick up the kids' things (or get them to) and try to make sure at least the floors are clear before the cleaners come.

Today I tried out some new cleaners (through a small local company that people, including someone I know, have recommended). I was told they have 2 hours between the two of them to clean my 4-bed, 2 bath semi (the 4th bedroom is a guest room and only needs a vacuum).

When I got home the place looked (and smelled) generally clean but they didn't clean the en-suite bathroom (shower, loo and basin) and I noticed they didn't move things around in the kitchen (eg my small coffee machine) to clean underneath them, or the draining board (underneath the rack), which I was surprised about. The stove top (induction) doesn't look like it's been cleaned that thoroughly either.

I asked the cleaning company owner whether they'd cleaned the 2nd bathroom and she said they'd run out of time as had spent a lot of time picking things up from the floor so they could vacuum. As I said above, I made sure there were no toys etc lying around although I know the kids have lots of bits and pieces under their beds (but I don't expect cleaners to clean there) so I'm not sure what it was they spent time picking up. I admit that surfaces, tops of chests of drawers etc are quite cluttered but I don't expect cleaners to tackle those either - and the clutter is on the surfaces, not the floor. The kitchen surfaces just have the normal things on (coffee machine, bread maker, fruit bowl, spice rack etc). The owner said it was the first time and hopefully things would get easier, but if I picked up more stuff they would have more time to clean.

I got rid of our previous cleaners as they cut corners all the time and would leave after 45 mins and often didn't even bother to vacuum behind doors!

AIBU to think the new cleaners could have been a bit more thorough in the kitchen (draining board included) and/or at least managed to clean the en-suite bathroom in their 2 hours? They're only coming every 2 weeks and I'm a bit annoyed that the 2nd bathroom didn't get cleaned (my husband uses it every day).

Is it two hours in total or they are both there for 2 hours? If the former I can definitely see how, especially on a first clean they might not have got round to everything. I have a cleaner for 3 hours for a 2 bed, one bathroom bungalow and she barely gets everything done I'd want in that time!!
But in general I think finding a cleaner who has the same priorities as you and therefore cleans to your standard really hard so you're not being unreasonable to be a bit disappointed!

We obviously can't know for sure, but you do have a large house so 4 hours may not be enough if they do have to move things about too.

@Littlehouseinthebigcity it's 2 hours in total, so they are here for 1 hour.

I know it sounds like a large house as we have 4 beds and 2 baths but it actually isn't that big.

I've had cleaners in the past who have done it in the same amount of time but have been a bit more thorough and no one has ever not had time to clean the en-suite bathroom before.

Imo opinion 2 hours isn’t enough. You need more like 3 hours.
Maybe you need to be clearer - I would like you to clean under the small appliances in the kitchen.
I do not want you to move items under beds/on top of cabinets. Then they know the expectations exactly.
Give them at least 3-4 try’s. Making adjustments and keeping communication clear.

2 hours is nothing, especially in a place they've never been. Our cleaner is here 3 hours for a smaller place.

YABVU

I think what they're saying is reasonable. We have a cleaner come once a week for two hours, she does tidy (we tidy before she comes but the kids always manage to get stuff out to 'show' her) and she takes laundry to the right room etc. She will often miss the utility room if she runs out of time. We are a three bed, one bathroom plus downstairs loo, semi detached. I tell her what my priorities are and she does those first so if she runs out of time, at least the important things are done (bathroom, loo and downstairs floors). The first time she came, she missed the downstairs loo, I just completely forgot to show her where it was but the following week she came back and said she'd realised after she'd left that she never found it. I'd give them a few more weeks

I'd agree that 2hrs in a 4 bed, 2 bath place isn't long.
I have the same and when I've had cleaners I haven't expected the spare room and dining room (neither used very often) to be cleaned every time - I'd substitute the kids rooms if I wanted one of the non-standard ones doing. I also didn't have the shower cubicle or bath cleaned regularly as I wipe them down with a squeegy and dry cloth after every use which keeps them clean. So 2 bathrooms & downstairs loo became 3 toilets and 3 sinks not the full bathrooms

I personally prioritise what I want done and in what order, for me this would be bathrooms (so toilets & sinks given the above) and kitchen & utility surfaces and sinks, plus washing hard floors. Then vacuuming stairs, then other carpets, then damp wiping surfaces such as tables, cabinets etc.

Any cleaners I have had have always managed the above in 2 hours.
I am naturally though, floors are generally clear and surfaces uncluttered. This undoubtedly makes cleaning easier and quicker.

That should say "naturally tidy"

Also were you clear to them that they didn't need to do surfaces? Otherwise dusting surfaces is a very standard party of cleaning and therefore they would have taken a long time moving things so they could dust. Maybe make a list of things that need to happen every time, and then jobs you consider less important that they can do if they have time. If they never manage the first list it may be time to consider if you could pay for more time. (We have a 5 room bungalow - 2 bedrooms, small kitchen, bathroom, lounge/diner and it's easily a 3 hour job to clean it properly)

I agree with pp that 2 hours in total isn't much - maybe increase to 3.

Two hours isn’t enough. I have a 4 bed (and 4th bedroom isn’t used) and 2 bath and my cleaner comes for four hours. Even if your downstairs is small, you need 3 hours

Why not ask them how long it will take them to clean your house thoroughly? 2 hours doesn’t sound anything like enough.

They didn't have enough time. Two hours in a strange home is very little time to do a thorough job.

Cleaner here.. Wouldn't have agreed to only 2 hours op.
3 hours minimum. For a first clean I prefer an extra hour so 4!!

Nowhere near enough time to do what you want. If in doubt, try seeing what you manage in one hour in one floor of your own home, that will give you a better idea of what is achievable. Then draw up a list of the jobs you definitely want done and how long you can do them in. Go from there!

Yeah YABU two people for 1 hour in a 4 bed 2 bathroom with tidying to do too isn’t long enough, you need to increase the time and try be more tidy.

Two hours isn’t enough.

120 mins to do three bedrooms, two bathrooms, vacuum a fourth bedroom, plus clean a kitchen, livingroom, and hallway (I assume) is very little time per room.

I think they are being fair and I’d try to tidy up more in the future so they can spend the time they are there actually cleaning

I'm a cleaner and 3 hours sound about right, maybe 4 hours to start to get on top of things and then reduce to 3

Unless your house is really tidy and all surfaces clear then 2h is nowhere near enough to get a decent clean IMO

Nowhere near enough time.
First 20 mins for coffee and discussing who is going to do what.
Only leaves 40 mins for a bit of light dusting.

as an ex cleaner 2 hoirs isnt enough.. i always did minimum 3 hours for 4 beds and thats without the extra bathroom especially if you want a deeper clean

Two hours isn’t enough. I used to clean and I would need thirty minutes for each bathroom/kitchen to do a good job. I had a similar job to yours once but with less bedrooms and even racing around like an absolute lunatic, I wouldn’t get bath bathrooms cleaned to a good standard.

That was a weekly clean….there’s no way I’d have taken a job like that once a fortnight because two weeks of dirt takes far longer to clean.

If the cleaners are full time you can’t expect them to be doing the equivalent of an intense workout for eight hours a day….they’ll just leave and find an easier job.

Your house is a three hour job. I’d say from experience that it’s better to have one cleaner because if they’re doing 1/1.5 hours, they’re wasting a lot of time settling in and getting ready to leave.

@riapia no cleaner should be having coffee and a discussion for 20 mins on the house owners money. thats something that gets discussed beforehand

You're unreasonable and hugely unrealistic to expect all that in 2hours, especially fortnightly.