Cleaners

[user1472151176]

I'm struggling to keep on top of the housework. Juggling children and work with a fairly large house is just all getting a bit too much.
I'm considering getting a cleaner. I've been having a look and it seems they all charge about £12 ph. Does that seem like a lot? I was thinking about weekly but now wondering whether fortnightly would be better and if that's enough. Trying to stick to a budget but I need my sanity too. I want to enjoy spending time with my kids not always doing chores.
Do any of you have cleaners? If so, how much do they charge and how frequently do they visit your home. Do they tidy or just clean?
Thanks mumsnetters

Hello! We have a cleaner who comes for 3 hours every other week and does a deep clean of kitchen and bathrooms as well as hoovering and whatever else she can fit in! It's a god send with the kids (6m, 6 & 9)

That's what I'm thinking, every couple of weeks to do a good clean of the kitchen and bathrooms. And dusting because I hate dusting! Does your cleaner clean your oven and fridge? Is the price about right? Can I ask what you pay?

£21pw for two hours. Relatively easy house to clean though - wood floors throughout, no kids, left I'd say 99% tidy - maybe the odd mug or so.

She cleans the bathroom, kitchen, floors throughout every time, then prioritises jobs herself, or does what specifics we ask for (like windows etc).

£10 - £12 per hour is at the lowest end range usually for solo cleaners and this ranges up to around £25 per hour for premium services. It just depends on the service level you would prefer and can afford really.

greenhills2015, Do you live in London? Is so, do you mind sharing your cleaner's contact details?
thanks :)

Hello sorry! No we live north east and pay £10 an hour

She doesn't do fridge and oven but if I asked her she would, she normally asks me what I want doing

£10 an hour in london. Lots are cheaper but I think it’s a fair price and she’s nice and reliable and quite a good cleaner. She does 4 hours a week.

I pay £13.00 per hour. Of this, £4.50 goes to the agency and £8.50 to the cleaner. The agency stipulates a minimum number of hours 2.5 hours per fortnight, which is what I get as can’t afford weekly. £8.50 per hour for the cleaner sounds like very little but she is normally done in 1.5 hours but still gets paid for the minimum contracted 2.5 hours. So, she gets £21.25 for 1.5 hours’ work. Things I wished I’d asked my cleaner before I took her on: what happens if you can’t come one week. Nothing more annoying than them missing a clean and not being able to come for a further 2 weeks as they have othe jobs scheduled in between, leaving you with no cleaner for a whole month. Also, how much notice do you give for holidays. Ideally they would tell you a long time in advance. Another thing I would say about a fortnightly clean is that if your family is anything like mine then the house will be back to its original dirty/messy state in a couple of days’ time so you will still need to do some (or quite a bit) of cleaning in between cleans - how much depends on how much dirt you can tolerate really! But at least I don’t have to worry too much about the bathroom which is the job I least like to do.

I pay a lady £45 for 4 hrs work every two weeks in London. That is for a three bed house. I'm not the tidiest person and am trying to keep on top of my clutter but I do like her doing the bigger jobs like mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom very well. I do agree with @bgp22 in the sense you do need to keep on top of the things in between if you can as mine becomes a tip after two weeks. If you get someone good, stick with them! I've been through quite a few, mainly getting slack and saying they did things but didn't. This was my number one irritation.

Yes that seems a good price. I have fortnightly for 4 hours. You do need to tidy before they come.

Best bet is to ask someone to come round, say what you want doing and ask how long they need for that.

I have a list of things I want doing each time they come, things I want doing every other time, and more occasional things like the fridge and inside of windows. I tick what I want doing from the list each time. The occasional things are usually done when we are on holiday and so the house needs less cleaning.

If your oven needs a good clean I would get a professional oven cleaning company in. They cost £50 ish and it will be sparkling. Then you can keep on top of it with those oven cleaning bags you. An buy. Also put some of the liners you can buy in the bottom. Cost very little and saves having to get rid of burnt on food.

£10 p/h with a self employed cleaner, we provide materials.

I have paid £13 per hour before though, and through an agency anything from £15 upwards. They have largely provided own materials.

We have 2.5-3hrs per week at the moment. House is technically 4 bed with 3 loos (extended 3 bed semi) but she only cleans 2 of the 4 bedrooms but all bathrooms and downstairs.

Then anything else she has time for - it is up to you what they do.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Still haven't hired a cleaner. Had a look through Facebook for local cleaners and google. I don't know anyone who has a cleaner so I can't go by word of mouth. I obviously feel a bit uneasy about leaving a complete stranger alone in my house. Any advice?

Join your local area community page on Facebook, and ask for any recommendations for a reliable cleaner. When contacting a cleaner, ask if they have a dbs and are insured. Just going to the effort of having insurance and a dbs shows that a cleaner takes their job seriously.