How do you find a cleaner?

[HelenHungryCat]

I need one...

But what is expected of me? Do you tip? Do you stay in/go out?

How do you find someone trustworthy?

I'm a really shy person with a toddler who doesn't work (due to illness) but don't really want to spend my time explaining myself to a cleaner but equally don't want them to think I'm just work-shy or can't be bothered

I feel quite anxious at the thought of someone in my home but I really need the help

I found my first cleaner by advertising locally. I would do this and judge when you interview them whether you would feel comfortable with them in your home.

What experience they have, can they provide references, how many other jobs they do, and if they live locally. I did a walk past her house before I employed her because she only lived in the next street.

Write down a list of thing you want done, that way she can see whether she wants to work for you. I have had cleaners for many years, none of them thought I was lazy. Ask if they are happy to be flexible. Sometimes I ask them to change their normal routine to do a particular job. Is she happy to do this.

I think the most important thing is to treat her as a professional woman doing a very valuable job.

I've had a few - my first ones were from a small company, my next I met through Freecycle, and our current one had a card up in the local Tescos. She's been with us 5 years now, and is wonderful and very much part of our family.

Ask a neighbour, put a sign up in your DC's school on the noticeboard

In regards to references, I always wonder what to look out for here. I mean...technically you can get references from your friends... which means they might not be accurate and written as a favor. Right ?

Word of mouth is best. Do any of your friends have cleaners? No need to tip - it's not America!

We own a cleaning business and word of mouth brings in the vast majority of our clients with the website running a close second.

I would say word of mouth is the best option, as it is a a position of massive trust and this has to be the main concern. If you know nobody who can recommend, use google and read the testimonials on the websites they will tell you a lot, look for warm heart-felt testominials rather than just 'thanks for a sparkly house etc'. These will tell you that the clients are very fond of the company and trust the owners and staff, it should be a warm relationship because they are coming into your home, it is a very personal service and some providers forget this aspect of it.

Most importantly make sure they are working legally and are insured and registered as self employed (or a company) thus paying their taxes, if they are an unprofessional they may ask for cash in hand (which would refuse) and they will not be able to show insurance documents. This should not be an issue with a company but beware and check out individual cleaners, make sure they are legitimate and registered as you do not want to hire illegally and assume all that liability on you shoulders plus liability for their personal welfare in your home, these people will sue! Also an untrained unprofessional will not understand how to use products on the materials of your home, we have taken over clients from 'cleaning ladies' at and been horrified by the damage they have caused to expensive flooring and surfaces, they are then not insured to correct these errors. Cheap can work out very expensive in the long-run so be very careful they are operating in business and not 'under the table'.

that should read (which I would refuse)

Also I notice you mentioned a tip which i don't think is appropriate as their price should be inclusive and not require extra unless additional services (from the original agreement) are booked, however we do get tips at christmas like other trades do and that is a very nice gesture.

With regard to being home, we will service clients homes with them in if they agree to not use rooms to be cleaned during service and they stay in a room we do not have to clean, it's obvious when you think of what we will have to do in each room, also we do not work around children as we bring harsh chemicals and electrical equipment and we will not assume the liability, and obviously, we we would personally hate to see a child harmed because we allowed him to roam about during service. Plus the cleaning would not be very effective if children were around as it was being performed hehe.