Questions for cleaners or anybody who has had a cleaner.

[LilllyLovesLife]

I am looking to hire a cleaner locally. A few on NM are advertising at around £10 per hour. Although also going to look into how much extra it would be to go via an agency.

Just want to work out exactly what I want done and how long it should take - but I am a bit clueless!

I think my main list would be:

• Clean bathroom and downstairs shower room/WC
• Clean kitchen
• Is it OK to ask her to load/unload the dishwasher if it needs doing? I am not saying I would leave it to pile up for days but with a family of 6 it's not always done as we go? We put it on at least once a day so wouldn't be loads.
• Hoover everywhere
• Mop hard floors
• Bit of dusting (10 mins max worth)

Am I forgetting anything obvious? How long do you think this would take? We have a 3 bedroom house which is average size.

Should I be paying to have a deep clean first to get on top of things?

How long do you think it would take? 2 hours seem reasonable?

got a quote for a "spring clean" through molly maid and it's nearly £450

How long does it take you to do that? Do it all in one go at some point this week and time yourself.

4 bed town house minus bathrooms takes two people 2 hours here

We have a 3 storey 4 bed with 2 bathrooms (but are only using 2 beds and one bath regularly) and we have 3 hours once a week. We pay £10 an hour. An agency we used at one point was charging £16 (yes, you read that right) and it was no better - if anything it can be worse because you don't necessarily get the same person each week.

I have a 3 bedroom house and my cleaner does all the jobs on your list save the dishwasher. There are only three of us so there is no tidying to do but it takes three hours.

time yourself. use that as a guide. People work at different speeds, and the first time someone comes it always takes longer anyways.
Decide on whether you want her to 'clean' or 'clean and tidy' The two are very different.
be adaptable and flexible

Mine probably does more than that in two hours. £10 ph.

we get kitchen, living room floor washed, stairs hoovered and bathroom done in two hours

10 an hour but some on agency fees

had the same cleaner for 4.5 years through agency, she's great

My lady does 2 hrs/week, £10/hr we are in the north.
Sitting room, Hoover, dust, is always tidy anyway
Downstairs shower room, (h does inside shower)
Hall, mopping
Kitchen, surfaces, dusts (dresser/TV/sofa), mop & Hoover
Stairs & landing Hoover
Bathroom, mop and surfaces
I strip our bed and leave linen out, she will make up bed, dusts and hoovers same. Usually will do one other bedroom as well if used or empty ( joy of teenagers).
Keeps house nice and tidy even if cleaning not 100%.certainly worth my sanity.

I'm a cleaner, ask for quotes and people to come round to view your house and sit down with you to understand exactly what you require.
I'd say a standard three bed, two reception roomed house takes me three hours. ...but I'm s great clesner .
Good luck.

Not great on typing in bed on my phone though

My cleaner does all that except cleaner (& only downstairs toilet, no shower) in 2 hrs for £10/hr. If you can find a non-agency cleaner with space for you, I would go for that. The cleaner will get paid more for the work they do, you won't have different people tramping around your house each week and if you read the terms& cconditions for the insurance, it's not worth the paper it's written on.

Except cleaner?? I meant except dishwasher. I also make sure all surfaces are clear and house is very tidy before she cones so she cleans not tidies.

4 beds, 1 bathroom, 3 hrs once a week £7 per hr (South west)

Depends a bit how tidy you are. If she spends half the time moving things then it'll take longer. I'd expect about 2.5 hours but best to ask what she thinks.
It might end up being 15 mins less once it's she's familiar with your house and has got it all under control. You don't need a deep clean first.

Thank you all. I think I am going to go for a local lady, several have replied from NM, all seem to be £10 an hour.

If I won the lottery, the first thing I would do would be to hire a cleaner to come every single day! I hate that my entire life seems to be housework based at the moment!