To expect the cleaner to clean for the time she’s paid?

[Annatinks]

Hubby and I both work full time (my hours exceed full time vastly - my choice) We have a two year old son and a late teen who has MH struggles.

Whilst we’ve always tried to be tidy, I’ve been constantly frustrated by the deep cleaning things taking the minimal free time I get and how tired I always am (autoimmune disease). My husband is good at general tidy but doesn’t really notice things like skirting boards, glass cleaning, light shades, door handles etc.

When he was promoted recently with a small but noticeable pay rise he spoke to me about the idea of employing a cleaner to do those deep clean things fortnightly and to mop/hoover etc so on the day before/day of/day after we have a bit more family downtime. I was quite negative about it because of feeling like “we’re not that kind of people” but then feeling horribly judgemental and saying yes we’d try it.

The cleaner is amazing 🤩
She came and had a look round visit and suggested things she could do in the two hours she proposed she comes each fortnight. She polishes the taps so they look new and her hoover is soooo much better than ours!

But…

She’s only been 4 times and last fortnight she left arrived late and left early (about 20min less time). Hubby said a mild “oh are you off already?” (I wasn’t there, he WFH) and she explained how yes she’s got to know our 2bed house better now so it doesn’t take her as long. She then made some comment about having to drop some clients before because they didn’t understand that.

Is this normal? Should a cleaner who quotes two hours and is paid two hours be able to knock off early regularly?
Neither of us get to knock off early for efficiency so it seems unreasonable to me?

Hubny wants to cancel her because he feels like she’s going to take the Mickey ongoing but I’ve appreciated the help soooo much I’m reluctant for it to stop.

I think if she is getting a lot done in the time and does what you expect of her, then leave her to it.

What if you get someone else that takes the full two hours to get done what she got done in under two hours. So because your cleaner is faster than another cleaner, does it mean she should do more? She could decide to slow down to fit it in the two hours.

Obviously if she doesn't do everything on the list and leaves before the 2 hours, then that's a problem.

This.

If she runs out of stuff to do, give her more. Clean out cupboards, fridge, windows, laundry, strip beds, etc.

You're paying for her time, not for her to leave early.

Get someone else, I’d it on the head with her right now.

We have had a few cleaners over the years and they do quite different amounts/to different standards I’ve noticed.

The one we have had for a few years is brilliant.

She comes for 2 hours once every week and as well as the usual routine, she often adds something different in - for example, cleaning out the cutlery drawer inside (as it gets crumbs and bits inside), and a few weeks ago she cleaned the inside of the oven… we didn’t agree this in advance, she just sorted out her own routine and I trust that she always does the full time (and we have a ring doorbell, so I could check if I needed to!)

There is always something that be done

*knock it on the head

I don’t think it’s really fair to view the clean house as an hourly wage for cleaning. I view it more as a price for a clean house whether that takes one hour or two hours. The time is more an estimate and a booking slot to ensure the job is fully completed each visit.

And she cannot really predict how much mess there will be to clean each week.

So, I’m more of a pay for performance, not time on the clock person.

Id be fine with paying her a set fixed price every fortnight and I’d not be clock watching.

I had cleaners who worked for an agency who regularly left 10 minutes early. I asked the agency to ask them to work the full time and they blacklisted me! Never came back, no notice just didn't show. Blocked me from their Facebook group and wouldn't give me my key back (made promises/excuses for 2 months) so I had to change the locks.

I really want another cleaner but don't want the aggro!

This has happened to us with every cleaner we have ever had . I am now of the opinion that as long as the cleaning is of a good standard I am happy . We currently have an excellent cleaner and as long as she cleans the house well I don’t mind if she leaves early .

I've had this problem with cleaners. I expect them to clean for the time I pay them for and I state that clearly when they first come. I had one who left 20mins early on a 3hr clean, then 30min and the next time 1.5hrs! I stopped the clean after that, and no the house was not cleaned to a good standard and she'd clearly been seeing what she could get away with. If you quote for work on an hourly basis you should work the hours agreed. My current cleaner is amazing and I trust her not to take the mick, so if she left a few mins early occasionally I wouldn't mind. I only get them to clean certain rooms, so there is certainly more to clean if they finished everything they normally do.

Don’t indulge patronising batshittery with a response OP!

Decent people rinse and don't leave it for a low-wage cleaner, any more than they'd not flush the toilet because "the cleaner can do it."

Hi,
For a 2 bed terrace (presumably with only one bathroom) we would charge aprox £30.
We always clean in twos and this would take us aprox 1hour if it was already tidy.

For a full clean we would tidy any areas, put away belongings etc. Vacuum and mop all flooring including moving out sofas. Dust all shelving, ornaments and surfaces in the bedrooms/ living/ dining areas. Full bathroom clean including limescale removal etc and polishing of all taps, radiators and anything chrome/ glass. Empty bins. In the kitchen we would clean all work tops, wipe down any appliances on the work tops and clean cupboard door fronts. Washing up or stacking dishwasher where needed. We also clean hobs and extractor fans but not internal ovens or microwaves. We would charge extra for skirting boards and internal windows and blinds. Hope this helps in the list of jobs you could expect to be done

@tigerbear0906

Thank you, that’s indeed very helpful.
We are going to look at someone new as the standard has dropped so much. Yesterday she left 35min early and the shower door and sink weren’t cleaned (I’m sure I’ll get slated a bit more by Zelda 😜). The small (box) bedroom has 2 play rugs on it and I thought to look under them - she’s been hoovering and mopping around them. I’m not expecting someone to move mega furniture but a kids rug? Kitchen wasn’t at previous levels either and she bought a kid with her which I’d have liked to be asked (although I’d have probably agreed, it felt weird she didn’t check)
We tidy all belongings before she comes and do any washing up and we only asked for skirting to be dusted (not washed) as it’s square top type so is a magnet for it! Thank you for the guidance.

im a cleaner. Sometimes I’ll estimate 4 hours for a house. It’ll take 4 hours the first time, then 3.5 the next as it’ll be a better standard. When I’m done I ask if they want me to do any extra jobs or if they’re happy with what I’ve done. Don’t lose her, good cleaners are hard to find. X

We had a cleaner like this. I asked her repeatedly to work the time we paid her for but she didn’t and eventually we had to fire her. She also kept asking for advances on her wage though.

I've never been or employed a cleaner but I think you're daft to dismiss her over 20mins if she's doing a good job.
I can relate to her saying she 'learns' the new house/routine and gets more efficient. If you were happy with her doing the work in 2hrs I really can't see why you wouldn't be happy with her doing the SAME job in 1hr40. I'd be delighted. If I was the cleaner and every time I improved you loaded on more work I'd slow down to my original speed...and hang out in your home for the full 2hrs.

You are not being unreasonable!

I had a local cleaning company for 15 years. I cleaned before they came (i.e. no dirty toilets, nothing much to do, just polishing up really! No clutter, put it all away, so easy to clean)
We're old, so wanted someone to do shower doors, toilets (clean already but an extra scrub), and we are tiles through downstairs so mopping through.

I came home one day to see no toilets cleaned (I could only tell because there was a speck of toilet paper on one, and the rest you could tell). The house looked no different since before the clean.

And we paid £19 an hour, rural!

I questioned the owner of the local cleaning company, and she said it was because I didn;t provide toilet brushes! I hate toilet brushes and in 15 years have never provided them! ( I clean toilets with rubber gloves in between cleans!)

I had no idea what they do and after paying £19 an hour I gave up.

Does this mean the cleaner shouldn't clean the toilet because the OP shits in it? 🤔

I’m a cleaner and I charge per job rather than per hour. I clean the whole house and it costs £x. I leave once everything is clean. If they’ve had guests staying or the kids off school, it takes me longer but doesn’t cost the customer any more. And no-one is watching the clock.

As she quoted an hourly rate, I would assume she’s charging per hour. I would expect her to stay while she’s being paid. Please mention any things she’s missed. I think it’s ok to say “Ooh if you’re finding you’re done before time’s up could you please clean out the fridge/ microwave”. She should bill you less if she’s going early.

We do get faster once we know the house.

@Antsinmypantsneedtodance £25/hr is fine and my customers are happy to pay upwards of this. There are many costs associated with the job; it’s not all profit.

One would hope that the shitters aren't leaving visible residue for someone else to deal with.

The toothpaste splatter is visible residue, bodily fluid and disgusting. Take one minute to wipe it off with some loo roll fgs.

£25 an hour is not fine when the going rate for the area is £15 per hour (i contacted about 30 cleaners to find one and the average was this). £25 per hour is also more than a top band 6 nurse gets per hour! By £4! And i'm sorry but a nurse is a hell of a lot more qualified than a cleaner.

Also the only reason we were given for this jump was "its the biggest house I clean for the least money". She cleans 4 bed house down the road that she consistently spends 3-3.5 hours on and is charging the same. Ours needs 3 hours if done properly. Its a large house. But we only ever have 1 bedroom done in it. She cuts corners and rushes it to get it done in 2 hours to go off elsewhere. None of my pictures are ever dusted, skirtings covered in dust despite being asked. She was good to start with but got cheekier and cheekier. She got a reputation and took advantage of it. I have no patience for that. We treat our cleaners well. Large christmas bonus. Offer a coffee etc. Tidy before they come. Make their lives easier if we can in anyway they ask such as changing times/days if they need to at short notice. I have huge respect for our cleaners. But not when they're demanding a wage thats waaaay beyond their worth and justifying it because we have a big house.

When looking for cleaners there's a lot of chancers out there now it seems. Its seen as 'easy' money. I contacted on person who quoted £80 for the job...she'd just started out. Had 1 reference and had loads of availability. I wonder why!

Does she do ironing? Our cleaner always irons if they have time left over. I’d just give her extra jobs.

Also to add £25 didnt include products. I supplied those . Supplying what was asked. Including cloths etc. Her costs were £0. She could walk here if she wanted.

You sound so angry.

People are allowed to set their prices. If you don't like it, don't hire them. But don't belittle their "worth."

We pay a varying amount and our cleaner flexes her time to get it all done, some weeks there's more to do than others and if she has more time she wante to spend (or needs more money that week), then she hunts for extra tasks. I wouldn't mind a system of an amount of money for guaranteed cleaning in principle, to reward her for her speed, but in your case it sounds like she's leaving early without finishing tasks.

I'd observe her yourself and ask her to clean the fridge IF she's got time . I'd give herva chance because you did say she's a good cleaner and not all Cleaners are the same .