going back to work & finding a cleaner

[Belle03]

I'm returning to work full time (have worked part time whist dcs were pre school)I don't want to spend every wekend cleaning- family time will be very precious. What tips can you give me for finding a decent cleaner? how do you manage to get them to do the right tasks? is a notebook a good idea? Also,the cleaner would be in the house on their own, do people do checks on background? Knowing my luck i'd let a convicted burglar in to clean!
TIA x

I found mine on Gumtree, check references properly - ask 'is s/he on time, reliable. What would you say are they good at and what are they not so good at'.

Provide a list at interview of what you expect doing in the time and say 'is that reasonable'. There is no point expecting your entire house to be cleaned in two hours flat. We have a cleaner for six hours a week, two three hour stints, she blitzes everything and it really takes the weight off.

You should also ask to see ID and ideally take a copy - just in case of problems, but it's a myth that most cleaners are light fingered. :)

Yep good advice from whomovedmychocolate! I found my cleaner from Gumtree as well. I tried an agency once and found them to be twice the price for half the job and the cleaners only get a fraction of what you pay.

The cleaners that I have found on gumtree have been friendly, reliable, hardworking and honest.

I always was at home the first few times they cleaned so that I could ensure that they did what I liked and that there were no problems or issues. I would then give them a key. I also had a cleaning checklist of all the things that I expected to be done on a weekly basis and then intermittent chores (i.e. Cleaning out Fridge).

Thanks, i'll have a look on gumtree
What does your cleaner manage to do in 3 hrs?
Also, what do you find is vital for you & DP to do every day to keep on top of things?

My current one, we found through a card in local shop window - she is ex prison officer, her partner current, so v reliable {grin]

Agree with them what the priorities are - in 3 hours mine does all floors, kitchen, sofas, tidies, bathrooms, makes beds, light dust round. She doesn't do door dusting/skirting boards etc, but then I am not worried about that.

A notebook is a good idea to leave info for her or for her to ask you to buy things

My cleaner does all the floors and surfaces, tidies up, polishes downstairs (alternates upstairs the second visit), all the bathrooms etc. Four bedroomed house.

Ok that all sounds fairly easy I'll got a couple of months before I start full time so will get organised- thanks