How do I go about employing a cleaner?

[AlwaysWatchingCastawayAt2am]

Sorry if this is old ground...i've never had a cleaner before (or employed anyone in fact) and i don't know the ropes. A girl is coming round on Wed who is advertising locally and was recommended by someone else to me. What do I ask her, and (assuming this is what she wants) is it usual to work with or without some kind of contract and if so, are there any sample ones on the net - i can't find one....

I assume as a minimum I need to discuss our cleaning expectations, and agree what happens on weeks we don't need her or she can't come re pay.

V scary i am so crap at cleaning i won't know what to ask her to do.... i just need it to be better than it is!

Glad someone else is asking this question! I too have the same query, so will be paying close attention to this thread.

You don't need a contract as such - it is usually quite a relaxed arangement. I would make sure you get her full name and address (say it is for the house insurance) as well as telephone number.

Show her round the house and tell her what you want done, in priority order, show her where she can get a drink and discuss how you will pay her (normally cash - although some take cheques). Show her where you keep your cleaning stuff and expain if you have any special requirements.

I would also say that if anything changes you will leave her a note -ie - perhaps you want one room done very well one week, perhaps you'd like the fridge cleaned one week etc...

Ideally she will give you a couple of contacts to call to get refs too.

Finally - show her exactly how to lock the door when she leaves ! I ahe had one that left my door unlocked because she "didn't know how to lock it !" !

Good luck !!

Good cleaners are hard to find !

Oh - as for weeks off - I have always gone by paying if I ask her not to come - someone ill or something - and not pay if she cancels - she is ill or car breaks down etc. Some will say that they take x weeks paid leave a year - personally I think that's a bit fo a cheek - but sometimes you have to live with it to get a cleaner !

I've found the best way to find a cleaner is by word of mouth - I found mine through a neighbour and the one before through a friend. If I found someone through an ad I would ask for a couple of references I could call.

Like scatterbrain I've always asked for proof of address (utility bill, etc) and a copy of their licence or passport. It's really just for my piece of mind but I always say it is a requirement for our house insurance. I've never had a contract or any formal agreement - have just given them a list of things I want done every week and once a month (like wipe out the fridge) and agreed a time and hourly rate.

I give mine a few weeks notice if I don't need her for a week and we don't pay her - we also don't pay her when she goes on holiday. I tend to give her a big Christmas bonus though and something for her birthday - have never done this for any of the others but she is a brilliant cleaner and worth hanging on to!

Having been a cleaner myself i would say be really specific about what you want done on a weekly basis. Really spell out what you expect to be done every time she comes, some cleaners will go off and do what they think needs doing but i always found most customers have a 'thing' that is particularly important to them, so make sure it is all clearly explained. Then like mentioned before, make sure she is willing to target a particular area when/if you leave instructions for her to do so, but expect her to leave something out to enable her to have time to concentrate on the extra task! In my experience if i was treated respectfully and kindly i always made more of an effort with those people, so maybe bear that in mind!!

Thanks every one very much for your tips - i've only just had a chance to get back to this. I'm busy doing a pre-cleaner interview clean.... gulp.