How do I find a reputable cleaner, and what should I expect to pay?

[VivClicquot]

Title says it all really! We had our PFB six weeks ago and as you can imagine, I am struggling to keep on top of keeping our house as clean and tidy as I'd like. DH does more than his fair share, but I think I'd rather make things easier on us both by getting somebody in to do a general top to bottom houseclean for, say, 3 hrs a day, once a week.

So where do I start looking? And what's the going rate? Am in South Manchester and live in a 3 bedroomed semi...

Congrats on the new one! Yes, do get a cleaner, three hours a week will help you keep on top of floors, toilets and the hard used areas, and give you more time to spend with little one.

I am a cleaner in Macclesfield, and to be honest, it seems like good cleaners are like gold dust. I charge my clients between 8 pounds to ten pounds an hour (new clients are charged 10 pounds) which seems to be the going rate around here. An agency would charge you more.

I advertised in post office windows etc - do you know anyone else who could recommend you one? Once you find a cleaner, treat her well, and she will look after you for as long as you need her!

Good luck, and I hope this helps. I am fully booked, otherwise I would offer you my services! Enjoy the baby.

I found my current cleaner via a card in the local Tescos, and she is a lifesaver. I pay £7.50 an hour, cash, and in 3 hours she does our 5 bed from top to bottom.

Thank you both! :) Dorothy - I was expecting something in the region of £10 per hour so good to know I was in the right ball park. I googled cleaning agencies in Manchester, but there are so many and I wondered whether they would be more expensive than someone who cleans independently.

i got my excellent cleaning lady from this agency which operates as a franchise, so it's a local lady who organises it. i pay the cleaner 7 quid ph, and a fee to the agency which iirc is about 2 quid ph on top.

www.timeforyou.co.uk/

I actually acquired some of my clients from postcards they had put in shops "Cleaner wanted in this area" - might it be worth trying that?

I'd get a friend's recommendation if I were you.

Congrats on baby!

I found mine using Maid2Clean. I'm not from your area but I think it's a nationwide company.

I pay £10 p/h. 6.50 to the cleaner and the rest to the agency.

Very happy with everything at the moment. 3hrs per week will certainly make a big difference. Congrats on your LO. I'm due to have DC2 in less than a week and am certainly glad to have finally taken the plunge and got a cleaner. It's helping to take the pressure of.