How much would you pay?

[ConflictedBeagle]

I would really appreciate honest opinions please.

I booked a cleaning company for a deep clean, 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen/diner, utility, WC bathroom and en suite. It has been a couple of years since my previous (fantastic ) regular cleaner retired and I have been struggling to keep on top of things like cleaning doors, skirting boards etc.

I have been charged for 8 hours deep cleaning. Skirting boards are dusty (shows on finger when wiped), door frames not dusted, shower heads not cleaned, shower plug holes not cleaned, water marks on taps, visible marks on coffee tables, doors etc. They did hoover throughout, cleaned windows and cleaned bathrooms but not to a good standard. They also did not wipe or empty kitchen bin, which she says is not included in a deep clean.

Business owner sent the same people straight back when I complained but I was putting my son down for his nap and asked to reschedule with lots of flexibility. I also felt uncomfortable having the same people back but appreciate I may have had to get over that. The owner says she has no availability and that I have a negative attitude and should still pay for the time although she accepts the photos show things aren't cleaned but says my house was in a bad state (although the cleaners themselves had made the opposite comment on arrival).

We have left it that she has asked me to make up my own mind whether to pay or not but to keep in mind she is paying her staff for 8 hours as that is how long they were here (2 cleaners for 4 hours).

Obviously I will pay something but what do you all think would be reasonable in the circumstances? I have never had an issue like this with cleaners before and have used a few!

Many thanks

All these threads lately about crap cleaners and not being able to get one, I may start a cleaning company!

They've not even cleaned those taps; not a single bit of cleaning spray has touched those.

Not knowing how bad your house was, did this company not look beforehand, or did you not get a message saying before they started to manage your expectations if it was that bad?

But really, 8 hours, if I didn't clean my house for a month, I'd do it on my own in 8 hours!

Well, now she's just being aggressive.
I hope you're not paying them anything?
Also hope you leave factual reviews wherever you can.

I'd pay for the 7 hours and take my business elsewhere. Somethings are just not worth the grief.

Wow, she is being disgraceful!

I'd transfer 50% of the bill and be leaving reviews everywhere possible to warn others.

That’s poor. I had an end of tenancy clean done and they left the property gleaming.

All these threads lately about crap cleaners and not being able to get one, I may start a cleaning company!

Honestly - good cleaners are like gold dust! So hard to find.

I have paid the 7 hours just to be done with it but have sent a message to say that half would be generous and that I don't know how her conscience allows her to accept it, given the standard provided.

I have said that I feel sure she would not be happy for me to share photos and the cost of this 'cleaning' but I honestly don't want to risk a public online argument which wouldn't resolve as anything.

Please do start a good cleaning business and let me have the details 🤣

I would share the photos and how you were treated when you pointed out the their 'cleaning' service was poor.

Madness they expected you to run a damp cloth round first!!! Why?! That’s their job!!

I bet that cost a fortune OP. I hate it when people mess you around like that

I no I wouldn’t want them back in my home at all.

Id have paid them half at most. But understand the need to just get rid of them. I would post reviews though.

She gave you a choice of paying but then demanded 7 hours! I really wish u didn’t pay. You should’ve paid half. I once had a cleaner; I specifically asked if all the doors upstairs can be cleaned, she didn’t touch them! And then when I mssgd her about it, she just never responded back!

I'd love to know what you paid, or what the original cost was. Let's call it, erm, market research.

You said you lost your regular cleaner a couple of years ago, has your home not been cleaned properly in all that time? If so and realistically even a deep clean for 4 hours x 2 would not be enough. We have a client that has been living where they are for 6 years and was never cleaned, ever! We do a deep clean for 2 hours fortnightly. A clear and ongoing conversation of what can be achieved in this time is had before each visit such as inside window enclosures etc, but each visit is grim. They know they are messy, hoarders etc and love what we do, but as it is a fortnightly there is only so much that can be achieved. Some people just leave it down to us and do not help themselves expecting bags and bags of rubbish piled up for a week or two for us to take them out, we do not do this, nor deal with animal mess or litter trays either, unless previously agreed which is rare as this is biohazardous waste. Same if we come to clean and there are clothes all over the floor, we're not a maid service so will pile the clothes up, clean and put clothes as they were, don't take the piss with cleaners, simple. And we're in demand so can quite rightly refuse to service your home. You need to be specific in what your priorities are so they are addressed. Making beds are extra, as is moving furniture. Their approach has been unprofessional by what you have said but people like to paint themselves in the best light on a one way trajectory. And going by the photo of the sink tap, that is neglect or a cheap fixture. Cleaners are cleaners, not DIY SOS. Good luck finding a good cleaner and when you do, have specifics that need to be addressed on each service so you both have a clear understanding of objectives and expected outcomes

Of course I have been cleaning since my professional cleaner left! I just haven't had a professional deep clean done in that time which is why I employed someone I thought would do it to a better standard that I would as a non-professional.

Not sure what you mean about the tap being neglected or poor fixture, I gave it a quick spray and wipe and it was sparkling. What you can see on the picture are just water marks that wipe away easily.

I was given a list of things included, skirting and door frames listed and as this is in addition to a standard clean, surely bath taps and showers were included. The business owner herself accepted the things highlighted should have been done.

Oh also there were no piles of clothes or anything, bathrooms had been cleaned by me the previous week, all furniture pulled out 2 weeks previous and no real dirt as such just some dust and fingerprints on doors and frames from children.

Managed to add a pic of the taps after a 10 second spray and wipe. They are perfectly well maintained, just had not been wiped.

We started our new cleaners after two years off cleaning and having a toddler in the house.

They did their first two cleans as 3h, and did the ground floor plus bathroom first time and the upstairs plus kitchen second time. Place was absolutely spotless.

Our first cleaner came after we'd had plasterers in and similarly left the place spotless in 3h.

A deep clean can be harder because of engrained dirt, but the end result should be the same.

Looks like a Bristan, sad that I know (or think I do) from a past life. It's a 300 quid tap..

Luckily I am now with @40YearOldDad new cleaning business - got my whole house sparkling within the hour 🤣

As the owner sent the cleaners back and you sent them away, I think that you should pay the full amount

That's so interesting to me, the cleaners had 8 hours and did not do what they were supposed to, why would I be obligated to be inconvenienced the rest of the day when I had booked a time that would be suitable? I would have accepted a rearranged appointment any other day but not to turn up on spec at a highly inconvenient time when the work would have taken another couple of hours.

Much was it per hour?

£20, which is very much standard (or slightly above) for the area so £160 was what she wanted to charge.

Well this has taken a very sinister turn. Received this message:

One review from you isn’t going to effect my work your just being plain nasty to be honest! I won’t let you put me down your just out to cause trouble so go ahead and do your worst cos that’s clearly the person you are! Hopefully I don’t bump into you in person anytime soon ! Bang out of order how you’ve gone on with me and you want to keep pushing me please go ahead but don’t be surprised when someone reacts to you pushing them