Page 2 | Is this a deep clean or not?

MyNewFish · 2025-08-03T09:48:14+00:00

Wipe down woodwork door frames and picture rail in one room. Floors once over. Kitchen sides. Window sills. Full bathroom. Small house. Cleaner misses kitchen cupboard doors path panel nooks and crannies of dirt and dust. How much would you pay for this and is it a 'deep clean' ?

hmmimnotsurewhy · 03/08/2025 22:45

How many hours does she do? I always find it funny when people hire a cleaner for 2 hours every two weeks and expect anything other than a quick surface level job.

if you want a deep clean, they need the time to actually get to the deep clean after clearing the clutter and buildup from the last two weeks.

I have a cleaner 10 hours per week, who thoroughly deep cleans. She moves furniture, under beds, does skirtings, radiators, the fridge, and everything else. Whilst 10 hours a week sounds like a lot, if you want a deep proper clean then the cleaner needs time.

FinancialThyme · 03/08/2025 22:51

Fuelledbylatte · 03/08/2025 11:30

I pay £36 for a 2 hour surface clean fortnightly (Just North of London)

Some weeks they will spend longer on skirting boards or cleaning windows, then moving things off the side in kitchen to do behind in all nooks and crannies.

If they did what they considered a deep clean, it would be a £200 one off, lasting 4 ish hours where they’d pull out furniture, go under beds etc.

I think you need to find a different cleaner? This is our third time with a different company- they set the price and they are very easy to discuss concerns with.

Why do you pay £18ph for a regular clean but £50ph for a deep clean?!

fruitywineglass · 03/08/2025 23:07

FinancialThyme · 03/08/2025 22:51

Why do you pay £18ph for a regular clean but £50ph for a deep clean?!

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Why do you pay £18ph for a regular clean but £50ph for a deep clean?!

For a start, £18ph is too cheap anyway.

The £50ph you mention was not a price-per-hour, what the OP said was it that it's a one-off fee of £200 for about 4ish hours. I can see why someone may wish to quickly translate that as simply "£50 per hour", but it's not the same.

For a start, "deep cleaning" -whilst subjective as to what it actually is- is very hard work, dirty, less attractive to the cleaning operative (meaning anyone doing it will want more money to do it), often requires more products, and can tie-up a cleaner or cleaning company in a way that means they can't take other work on in that time. And if it is a per-job price, the cleaners will have to stay until the agreed work is done to the agreed standard, and not simply clock-off when the hours are up.

Added to which, this type of service by the very nature of it commands a higher price, and the service is in demand. Thus, there's no need or reason to charge any less than what the customer expects.

Childrenare4life · 04/08/2025 08:31

fruitywineglass · 03/08/2025 22:04

I have a cleaning business too. I charge a set price for each home, minimum of £45 per visit now, to turn up to do any cleaning. I do not charge per hour, and I provide all basic cleaning products plus equipment, though I will use the customers upright vacuum cleaner if they have a good mains-powered one (most do), to use alongside my Henry. Also customers have to provide any "irregular" products, such as limescale removers, as these can be expensive to use in the quantity required.

At the outset, I tell all of my clients to tell me explicitly what they are wanting from me, and what they expect their house to look like when I have been. A lot of elderly people do all their own dusting, even cleaning their kitchens, but pay me to rock up every four weeks to thoroughly vacuum (and by that I mean pulling almost everything out to clean under & behind), to mop floors, and clean the bathroom. As PP said, the bath panel goes without saying if I am cleaning that room.

Cupboard fronts would depend on what the client wants. All my clients want something different from the next person. It sounds to me like you need to make your requirements much clearer.

For a "deep clean" or a one-off or irregular clean, I insist customers write down exactly what they want, be this on paper or in a whatsapp message. I'm not a mind reader, and anyone could spend hours cleaning in even the cleanest home and still miss that one thing which gets right on their client's tits.

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Not sure why you've quoted me?

fruitywineglass · 04/08/2025 08:38

Childrenare4life · 04/08/2025 08:31

Not sure why you've quoted me?

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Not sure why you've quoted me?

Because I was followimg on from what you said and referring to your comment about bath panels.

You will see also that at the same time as quoting you, I also hit the "agree" icon on your original post.

TheAmusedQuail · 04/08/2025 08:43

I don't bother with a cleaner anymore because I can't get one that does a better job than me, and I'm not that good.

I've tried several and while it's nice, having someone else do it, won't pay if I can't get what I want done the way I want it. That, plus the leaving early, just makes it not worth it for me.

The things that count as a deep clean, for me, just aren't. And as I said, I'm not picky or a good cleaner myself. But washing the bathroom floor and not going behind the sink, or cleaning the toilet, and not cleaning around the pipes at the back, or wiping shelves in the kitchen once a month or so... NOT deep cleaning. Basic hygiene.

I want a cleaner that will come in, do 2 hours, from a list that I leave. Not do the standard cleaning pattern they have in mind each time. It's not worth having to my mind.

Trovindia · 04/08/2025 08:43

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 11:37

I'm a cleaner and door fronts are standard for me to clean and so is bath panel along with picture rails, windows, nooks and crannies.

Unfortunately, too many people start up as cleaners but don't actually clean to a high standard. They think it's an easy job and a quick way to earn a few pennies but in reality it's hard work, you need to give massive attention to detail and you have to stand out as the market is flooded with people claiming they're cleaners.

I agree. I've worked as a cleaner and had cleaners, and they are almost never up to my standard, they just vacuum, dust, wipe sinks and toilets, and swipe dirty water over floors, it's not properly clean and no matter how long I have then they never do the doorframes or doors or skirtings. It's like they think that's not their job.

I call that a "hotel clean" or a quick flick, it's not what I call actually clean. It's why I no longer have cleaners as I can't find anything who actually cleans properly but they want £25/hour for doing a substandard job.

fruitywineglass · 04/08/2025 08:46

Trovindia · 04/08/2025 08:43

I agree. I've worked as a cleaner and had cleaners, and they are almost never up to my standard, they just vacuum, dust, wipe sinks and toilets, and swipe dirty water over floors, it's not properly clean and no matter how long I have then they never do the doorframes or doors or skirtings. It's like they think that's not their job.

I call that a "hotel clean" or a quick flick, it's not what I call actually clean. It's why I no longer have cleaners as I can't find anything who actually cleans properly but they want £25/hour for doing a substandard job.

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Do these people work for themselves? There is no way I would do the half of what I do for my clients if I was working for them via a company, on minimum wage.

Ooothatsagoodone · 04/08/2025 08:59

MyNewFish · 03/08/2025 11:42

Yes, I want someone who will keep cleaning and know what needs to be done each time. So they will work on the doors or a stain on the floor over time. So I can not worry about it, but now I'm finding myself a bit angry when I see grime that I've paid to have removed.

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Next time have a chat with her. Tell her your problem areas, and what you want doing.

Hercisback1 · 04/08/2025 09:08

£100 how long is she there? I'd expect 3-4 hours which wouldn't be long enough to deep clean even a small house properly.

I think you expect too much with the time you are paying for.

Trovindia · 04/08/2025 09:18

fruitywineglass · 04/08/2025 08:46

Do these people work for themselves? There is no way I would do the half of what I do for my clients if I was working for them via a company, on minimum wage.

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Yes, I don't use companies, only self employed people.

Original poster

MyNewFish · 05/08/2025 10:11

fruitywineglass · 03/08/2025 22:04

I have a cleaning business too. I charge a set price for each home, minimum of £45 per visit now, to turn up to do any cleaning. I do not charge per hour, and I provide all basic cleaning products plus equipment, though I will use the customers upright vacuum cleaner if they have a good mains-powered one (most do), to use alongside my Henry. Also customers have to provide any "irregular" products, such as limescale removers, as these can be expensive to use in the quantity required.

At the outset, I tell all of my clients to tell me explicitly what they are wanting from me, and what they expect their house to look like when I have been. A lot of elderly people do all their own dusting, even cleaning their kitchens, but pay me to rock up every four weeks to thoroughly vacuum (and by that I mean pulling almost everything out to clean under & behind), to mop floors, and clean the bathroom. As PP said, the bath panel goes without saying if I am cleaning that room.

Cupboard fronts would depend on what the client wants. All my clients want something different from the next person. It sounds to me like you need to make your requirements much clearer.

For a "deep clean" or a one-off or irregular clean, I insist customers write down exactly what they want, be this on paper or in a whatsapp message. I'm not a mind reader, and anyone could spend hours cleaning in even the cleanest home and still miss that one thing which gets right on their client's tits.

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Great insight. This lady does the same, pay per job. I have actually said twice, she's been 3 times, that I need cupboard doors doing, and without wanting to correct her, I said 'whole bathroom including around toilet' thinking she would do the bath panel, but no. So I think she is just slacking. And I'm not wealthy, it's because I WFH, have two children, and thought it would improve my mental wellbeing so worth it.

But having had her three times and feeling like it's not that worth it, I'm more aware now of what I need doing and it's been like an expensive way to find out what I actually need to do.

I'm just going to do it myself but I did enjoy the refresh and would still pay for that, but now I'd have to ask her to come every 2 weeks perhaps and do a maintenance clean. Problem there is what would she do? Because what she's done is already a maintenance clean so she'd have to clean even less lol that would make it even less worth it.

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Original poster

MyNewFish · 05/08/2025 10:12

hmmimnotsurewhy · 03/08/2025 22:45

How many hours does she do? I always find it funny when people hire a cleaner for 2 hours every two weeks and expect anything other than a quick surface level job.

if you want a deep clean, they need the time to actually get to the deep clean after clearing the clutter and buildup from the last two weeks.

I have a cleaner 10 hours per week, who thoroughly deep cleans. She moves furniture, under beds, does skirtings, radiators, the fridge, and everything else. Whilst 10 hours a week sounds like a lot, if you want a deep proper clean then the cleaner needs time.

10 hours?! It does sound a lot. My house is tiny though, small rooms, really small bathroom, and she told me she charges by the job, not the hour.

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Original poster

MyNewFish · 05/08/2025 10:17

Hercisback1 · 04/08/2025 09:08

£100 how long is she there? I'd expect 3-4 hours which wouldn't be long enough to deep clean even a small house properly.

I think you expect too much with the time you are paying for.

Thanks. This is what I'm trying to work out because if I am expecting too much that's totally fine. I just don't want to pay a large chunk of my income without it being worth it.

She wipes down all woodwork but not cleaning grime off doors, but does leave it lovely. I just see grime when she's gone and think 'hm, should that be there?'

I've taken a bleach soaked cloth to my doors yesterday and the difference is amazing.

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fruitywineglass · 05/08/2025 10:32

MyNewFish · 05/08/2025 10:17

Thanks. This is what I'm trying to work out because if I am expecting too much that's totally fine. I just don't want to pay a large chunk of my income without it being worth it.

She wipes down all woodwork but not cleaning grime off doors, but does leave it lovely. I just see grime when she's gone and think 'hm, should that be there?'

I've taken a bleach soaked cloth to my doors yesterday and the difference is amazing.

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When I am asked to do a "deep clean", I make sure to find out what the client is already doing, so as not to repeat it. Otherwise, what is the point?

Most of the domestic work I do and have always done is on a two-weekly or four-weekly basis, and I go there to have a "good do" of the house, to supplement what the client has been doing. Many working people want the dusting done, but for a lot of older people who are retired, it's to do the work they can no longer do - not the kitchen surfaces, but floors, low and high level dusting, bathrooms, and other things they can't do any more.

For the weekly clients, it's always been more about keeping them going for another week and not much else, as they don't do much in between, and they haven't got the budget or else don't wish to pay for time spent on "maintaining" the house. They just need to survive another week. Granted I've had one for almost 20 years who has me weekly, lives alone, makes little mess, and pays enough to get the house cleaned thoroughly as well as allowing me to do other less frequent jobs, and never cancels when they are on holiday (which can be up to four weeks at a time) so has plenty of time for "deeper" cleaning, but they are rare.

It's like anything, there are great service providers and less great service providers. There is also a wide range of customer requirements and attitudes towards cleaning. As such, it can take any one person quite some time to find a cleaning service which meets their needs.

Dheops · 05/08/2025 10:42

It sounds to me like you should try someone else. You're not happy with this lady's work over several sessions but that doesn't mean it couldn't work with someone else. The next person's bugbears might align better with yours, or they might tune in a bit better to what you're saying, or just clean better.

Bath panels are not really on my list either but I do think I would scrub cupboard doors if asked. I have never in my life taken bleach to them though.

Original poster

MyNewFish · 07/08/2025 07:14

Childrenare4life · 03/08/2025 12:00

I think a decent cleaner will do that. I always do a deep clean for the first clean or even second, as I need to get the place up to my standard which is rather high. All subsequent cleans are maintenance cleans but I'm maintaining the standard of my deep clean. I'll move furniture etc but not necessarily each week maybe once a month. I'll even do the front door on the outside and pick up rubbish if in the front garden. The way I work is that I clean to the same standard as my own home. Some things may take a few weeks to get to the way they should look but I tell the customer so they know I've not missed something but whatever it is needs a lot of attention and will be gleaming within x amount of weeks. Sadly, an awful lot of cleaners don't see it how I do and think a quick wipe around is all it takes. I suppose I do it because I love cleaning and not because it's the only option open to me. I chose to clean where as for some it's the only thing they feel they can do.

I understand. I think I would be great at being a cleaner too as I enjoy the domestic labours of the home. I potter about all day working from home and tidying and organising and cleaning.

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