What should I expect from my cleaner?

[0asisGal]

I pay £60 for a cleaner to clean my house. It’s 5 bed, 2 reception rooms, play room and the usual. Cleaner didn’t quote me per hour but how long it would take to clean my house.

They used to clean for a longer period 2 hours in total (1 hour with two people) which didn’t seem like very long at all given the house isn’t small and it’s now reduced to 45 minutes (1.5 hours). Now, I’d have no real issue if the house was left spotless but it’s not.

Am I being unreasonable to expect as follows:

• things are moved to antibacterial/ polish e.g. bread bin, toaster, tea and coffee, stuff on window sill in kitchen
• Hoovering under free standing bed
• moving Rugs to hoover and mop
• remove dust from skirting boards

cleaner cancelled this week so I cleaned and I was really surprised at how grotty things were when I moved things (not furniture, things on surfaces).

also, £60 seems like a lot for the time being spent. AIBU, what should I expect?

That's not enough time to clean a house of that size. I recently hired cleaners for my house of a similar size but am sacking them off. They clean superficially and rush the jobs e.g a floor is mopped but not hoovered properly. So I end up doing it again. But then they waste time doing silly things like folding toilet paper ...

But it's a service that you're purchasing. You wouldn't go into a restaurant and not order your own meal, or not complain if they sent you the wrong item, simply because you're not a chef.

You need to ask them what a house clean entails.

£60 should equate to 3-4 hours, as you’re not getting that, I’d move to a cleaner who offers an hourly rate with a clear guide on what they can complete in that time.

Personally I doubt anyone can clean a 5 bed house including under rugs, skirting boards etc in 4hrs. But I would expect someone to lift a toaster etc to clean underneath.

I think communication is key here, if you want the answer you’ll have to ask the question.

I was a self employed cleaner for many years which is different to working for an agency. I think the amount of time they are giving you for that money is ridiculous.
I guess where you live makes a difference but I would do 3 hours for £60 taking all my own clothes and good quality cleaning products. So 3 hours might not be enough for your house I don't know how many kids you have or not or how tidy you are.
But I would think 3 to 5 hours would do a good job. If you are a busy home you would get into a routine of deep cleaning certain rooms on a monthly basis.and doing kitchens and bathrooms vwell every time - if you use all the bathrooms..

So you need to know what you want doing and communicate it to them.
Them saying £60 and we can get it done in this time is no good.
I know agencies can charge a lot but you can still tell the agency you want certain things doing or they're not doing it enough

They’re charging you £40 ph! I don’t think it’s worth getting into the minutiae of what tasks they do or don’t do, because 1.5 hours simply isn’t enough time to get the job done. There will always be lots that doesn’t get done, no matter which tasks you ask them to prioritise.

These cleaners are treating you like a mug. You need a new cleaner, who’ll do more hours, and therefore more work, for that £60 you’re paying.

This is good advice. I had a fast cleaner who whizzed around my 4 bed 2 bath house in 3 hours but she did not clean corners, behind the bin was filthy and the hoover had very little dust in it every week. I tried to ask her to hoover a bit slower but she didn't so after a few months I told her it wasn't working, moved to a cleaner who spent 5 hours per week and I can see from the hoover dust she collects it is about 3x more.

You can't whizz a hoover over a carpet and expect it to suck up dust as it won't pick it up if it's moving too fast.

Oh yes and 2 people doing 2hours is 1h 40 by the time they get in to the house and stop for little chats. So 2 people doing 45 mins is probably half an hour work each in reality.

We have a 5 bedroom, 2 reception, 2 bathroom house and our cleaner now comes for 3 hours every week. But that's because she doesn't need to clean two of the bedrooms and one bathroom regularly, now that our DDs have left home. When they were at home she did 5 hours per week (including changing all the beds) and every 3 months would come for the whole day and do a deep clean.

At best your cleaners are only doing a quick flit clean, and they know it. You need to get new cleaners who do what you tell them to do.

Oh I had that nonsense with our previous cleaner. Arsing about arranging cushions prettily and folding loo paper into a point. But wasn't able to clean the bath thoroughly and still leaving crumbs on the kitchen table!

I wanted her cleaning out the kitchen bins and hoovering under the sofas so that I could fanny about arranging cushions.

I think it is important to have a good quality, well functioning hoover, mop and mop bucket though. And to change the mop heads regularly. That's unless the cleaner says they'll supply those things too.

1.5 hours isnt enough for a 2 bed house to an immaculate standard! Sounds like you could do with 3 hours x 2 per week so 6 hours weekly to reach your high standards as a dr.

Our cleaner comes for 3 hours and only does downstairs (I work p/t, so clean upstairs myself). The kitchen is spotless, but I do find skirting boards get left and she doesn't do the window sill or windows in the front room. The bits that she leaves, I just do now and then.

You don't say how many bathrooms/ toilets you have but it sounds like your house has at least ten rooms. If they're only doing 90 minutes of cleaning per week that's an average of 9 minutes per room, maximum. That's not really enough to clean properly (vacuuming & dusting under things, wiping skirting boards, walls, cupboard doors etc).

I suggest you ask these so-called 'professional' cleaners to write down a list of what they are actually doing in each room, then assess (a) whether this is actually happening (b) what else you would like to have cleaned every week/month/ whatever.

If they're not prepared to clean to the standard you want, find new cleaners. Be prepared to give them a list detailing what you expect, so they can tell you how much it'll cost.

Sorry but I think you’re very unreasonable and unrealistic, although I think your cleaner was too. I’m a cleaner and have several house of your size. 2 are 3 hrs and 1 4hrs.

The 3 hrs are fairly clean houses to start with so they get all of the above done. The 4 hr does require a little bit more tlc so somethings don’t get done every week.

I think you need to have a chat with your cleaner and arrange a proper time frame and what jobs you want/ expect done.

Several years ago we had an amazing cleaner. We live in a four bedroom house, and she did 2 hours per week - one week upstairs and one week downstairs. She was great, and did a fantastic job - but didn't do windows, skirting boards etc as there wasn't time in two hours. I was gutted when she moved away.

So I really can't see how your cleaners can be even close to doing a whole 5 bedroom house in 1.5 - 2 hours. I would expect that to take around 5-6 hours if doing it to a decent standard, although still without deep cleaning. And you being totally ripped off with the price- you are paying £40 an hour! The going rate around here (Midlands) is about half that.

Wow !!! East Midlands area here , I charge £15 an hour but I do all you quoted as you expect ie rugs are lifted to be hoovered and mopped etc that’s not deep cleaning that’s just cleaning , kitchen tops are stripped cleaned and stuff put back all wood is dusted and polished and untidy as I go ie pick toys up tidy magazines etc . I also empty bins strip and remake beds if linen is left out for me , skirting’s and light fittings are done as standard and inside windows if time allows . Deep cleaning for my co is ovens and fridges etc . No wonder were in demand and have no vacancies

Did she help you out with the treatment plans?