Cleaners, how long would this take you?

[ethelb]

I'm looking for a cleaner for my one bed flat and have been asked how long I want to book for after sending through a list of requirements to an interested cleaner.

How long would this take you and how long should I book a quite experienced cleaner for?

Bedroom

Hoover
Change bed linen
Dust skirting boards, windowsill, surfaces

Bathroom

Clean bath
Polish taps
Clean shower
Clean glass in shower
Clean shower fixture
Clean toilet
Clean sink
Clean surfaces
Clean mirror
Clean floor
Change bathmat
Wipe down towel rack

Hall

Hoover
Dust skirting boards

Living room

Hoover
Dust skirting board
Dust appliances
Dust surfaces
Clean table
Hoover stairs (we have stairs running from living room to garden)

Kitchen

Clean sink and draining board
Clean surfaces
Clean appliances
Hob
Clean microwave
Clean floor

Every other week

Clean inside of windows/clean oven

I would want 2 1/2 hours with room for tweekage. But calculating for myself I would just do everything on that list and time how long it takes.

Thanks gamer. It takes me about three, but I am crap at cleaning! The bathroom is entirley chrome, mirror and glass in a hard water area. Would that take you longer?

I honestly don't know. We're not hard water but mirror and glass doesn't take long.

If it takes you 3 then I would go with 3. When I get given a new site after few goes of it you develop your own routine which knocks time off. I can fly through my own house in 2 1/2 hours and it's a 4 bed but I would think it would take somebody else a wee while longer until they were used.

Course I don't do much private cleaning so bumping for you.

Thanks. I have someone coming over on Friday to pick up a key for an appointment on Monday. However, what do I need to ask for? She said she would bring her 'documents'. I want a reference, are these normally requested?

3 hours is way too much for that! My cleaner gets round our 4 bed, 3 bath (hard water area) house in that time, and the only thing on your list that she doesn't do is change the bedclothes. She does scrape up the muck deposited by my teen DCs though.

Go for two hours and ask how she is getting on after 2 weeks, then leave her a pile of ironing to fill the rest of her time.

Cleaning at that level builds up over time, so she will get quicker and quicker at it.

Ask for a reference from a current/previous employer and, if possible, from someone "known in the community" who knows her. (Local councillor, shop proprietor, community nurse, teacher, etc.) Verify their phone number independently before calling if you can, rather than just taking the number she gives you.

Thanks. How do I verify a mobile number?

You can't (mobile dinosaur here ), but when you call, try asking questions that could only be answered by the recipient.

"Ms ABC has given me your number as a reference for a cleaning job. May I check what your role is? And how do you know her? And for how long?"

You'll soon work out if you've been given the number of a stooge.

I suggest that you throw the question at her without giving her a chance to pre-plan the contacts. She may honestly have no such person to give as a referee, but then you need to find other ways of being sure that you are happy for her to be in your home.

The cleaner gave me two referees without any fuss. She is coming over on friday to have a chat, see the flat and show me her 'documents' (maybe crb??). I spoke to one who was great and talked specifically about how trustworthy she is without me even asking and told me how long she had been working for her which I can ask the cleaner to verify on Friday. Will try and catch the other one tomorrow! I will be handing over (a none copyable key) so want to be sure!

A CRB and references would be good, but a personal recommendation is important if you can get one.