To say that it’s really hard to find a good cleaner

[EalingLucy]

I have tried a few times incluidng a new one today but they don’t ever seem to know what they’re doing.

me and DH have splashed out today on a deep clean of the kitchen but she had to be told to clean the skirting boards, the kitchen cupboard, the fridge and instead was polishing my kettle for about 15 mins? Also she was using viakal on the oven - it’s for bloody limescale. I had to show her how to use the oven cleaner. She’s also really bloody slow.

the last one used oven cleaner on my wooden countertops, scratched my wooden floor and the fireplace surround by trying to hoover them with a hoover I had asked her not use downstairs.

they just seem to not actually know how to clean, which products to use etc. Why is this so hard?

And here with pics after the ‘deep clean’ of the kitchen where I specified the skirting boards and cupboard doors!!!

Poor poor you.

We trialled several before finding a fantastic cleaner. I would always trial first and never do a deep clean with someone you haven't trialled first. We saw some very interesting things before finding our current lovely cleaner! The best cleaners don't need a to-do list, they get to know your house and rotate the tasks that don't need doing every week.

I agree. I have a nice cleaner atm in that she’s reliable and ‘normal’ (I’ve had some bad experiences), but she was recently away and so I did some cleaning and noticed she hadn’t been cleaning certain areas that weren’t ‘obvious’ like a high shelf or behind door in bathroom.
id rather someone ‘decent’ whose not as thorough than a cleaner who cancels half the time or who I can’t trust.
Doesn’t make sense when they don’t understand products if you’ve shown them.

I really don’t get why you don’t just do it yourself. It’s not difficult.

You really can't think of any reasons why someone would employ a cleaner? 🤔

Totally agree. My experience with cleaners are they are only good for the general wipe over kitchen and bathrooms, and mop the floor kind of clean. DH and I still go around regularly cleaning bits they don't do.

Same with gardening. All my experiences with gardeners have been poor. They general don't do proper gardening.

That's exactly the kind of things DH and I do regularly. But if you look at it a different way, the cleaners are there to reduce the level of overall cleaning needed in the house. If we don't have them, we'll never get to the high shelves or behind radiators.

Oh shut up. I’m recovering from an operation and we’ve splashed out this once because we both have a lot on at the moment. Not that I should have to justify myself to some random person who loves to snipe at strangers in their spare time. Suggest you go get your thrills elsewhere.

If you want a professional job, then you need to pay professional wages. I'm going to say at least £30 per hour, equivalent to what you pay a tradesperson would be appropriate. Are you paying those sorts of wages? If so, then I would say you have cause for compliant. If not, you get what you pay for.

Good cleaners who are quick, thorough, reliable and knowledgeable should be paid proper wages imo. It's not an easy job and as you've found out can be done really poorly.

Sorry you are disappointed op... I am a cleaner.. Usually get new customers by word of mouth!.. Don't give up hope!!
There are good ones out there!

Why are you assuming I’m paying bad wages? We have gone specifically to an agency that says it pays well. Wage or not, no agency should be telling us they can do a deep clean if they cant. It’s up to them if they want to put their prices up.

I know! I had an amazing one for a weeks before and she was wonderful. I also used to be a cleaner and know what’s possible in 3 hours!! A lot more than this!

My cleaner came on a friend's recommendation. I'm very happy with her.

Seriously why the snipe? I’ve been post op and done it myself, I’ve been pre op and done it myself (which was worse - emergency op for pelvic ulcer) just crack on and do it.
or sit on your work chair pretending to “work” and carry on getting embroiled.

‘Carry on getting embroiled’ makes no sense. It’s you who has chosen to get yourself embroiled in a random stranger’s business. If you don’t like the conversation get off the thread. Oh and good for you doing a clean after an operation (you have no idea if mine is comparable or not.) I’m slow clapping you out the door.

Am I the only one thinking that the skirting boards, floorboards, windowframe and walls would be almost impossible for a cleaner to make pristine and that a decorator might be needed first?

I get them cleaner than that with a soapy sponge. She didn’t even try - the skirtings are full of dust! She didn’t even touch them!

@EalingLucy hope you feel better quickly. Agree your cleaner did a poor job and doesn’t know how to clean. - no one seems to train cleaners how to do the job anymore, there used to be nvqs in cleaning! Agencies just hire people who are available and have two hands. Even in dedicated settings which hire in house, new domestics are somehow expected to know about cross contamination and how to actually clean a toilet ( and no, it’s not just a quick spray and wave a wipe at the seat!).
I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years explaining and showing cleaners how and why things have to be cleaned a certain way or with certain products.

Using an agency might be a way forward or otherwise as above, word of mouth. I adore my cleaner. She makes my life so much easier and loves nothing better than the opportunity to deep clean when I’m on holiday.

Agree that good cleaners and gardeners are like gold dust.

I also have a cleaner, is that Ok with you?
Actually don't answer because I don't care.
To answer OP yes, it IS hard to find a good cleaner. I have had some awful ones and now have a wonderful one so they are out there

Time.

YANBU, @EalingLucy . I’ve given up now but I go back to work in a few weeks and I am going to hunt a good one down!

And it’s you who has chosen to ignore how princessy you’re being. And also telling miss truths about a cleaner being a one off. How on earth did you let it get to that state in the first place?!

I don’t think agency cleaners are good in general because they underpay the cleaners generally and take a huge cut/don’t really train well and then you end up with lots of random people in your house if cleaner is sick or on holiday. Agree re word of mouth - there are some amazing cleaners out there!

OP isn’t being princessy. Don’t be so rude. Why don’t you take up another hobby?