Want to hire a cleaner but have a few qualms

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

I am recovering (slowly) from PND, back at work four days a week and trying to juggle this with looking after my 15mo and 5yo DC. DH is away a lot. Basically, I've realised something has got to give! So for the sake of my sanity I'm thinking of hiring a cleaner but I don't know where to start and I'm worried about getting ripped off.

How do you go about finding a cleaner that is reliable and trustworthy? My PND has made me anxious and I would need to give them a key so they could let themselves in when we're at work, so trust is important.

Is it better to hire an agency or a cleaner who works for themselves? If I hire an individual instead of a company how can I make sure they're paying tax? Should I expect them to have insurance? How can I make sure everything is above board?

From the googling I've done most cleaners seem to charge by the hour. How many hours would you expect a cleaner to take to clean 3 bedrooms, family bathroom and one downstairs wc, living room, dining room and kitchen, plus hoover small hall, stairs and landing? I wouldn't want windows, ironing or bed changes doing, just the basics really. I usually manage it in about 2 hours if it's already tidy (which it would be) but would they expect longer?

Do cleaners generally prefer to use their own cleaning products or would we provide these?

The whole point of hiring a cleaner would be in an attempt to reduce the stress I'm currently experiencing but I am concerned that if I choose the wrong person it could create an added stress instead! So any advice, experiences or tips for how to go about this would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

I would suggest an agency or someone recommended personally. From my own experience, I found an independent cleaner better value for money, but an agency will eliminated personal transactions. Most will send a different cleaner if you are not happy, and that's obviously not possible if you employ someone who works alone.

Most cleaners will use your vacuum cleaner. Some bring their own. Some bring own cleaning products and some don't. Most will be flexible about this if you have a preference.

Your house sounds similar to mine, but mine is an old house with a lot of stuff. Two hours would be OK if you didn't want beds changed etc. We paid for three hours a week to include windows and one or two beds stripped and remade every week.

That's really helpful, thank you.

I would say 2 hours for what you've described as long as its tidy which you've said it would be.

If you're anxious I'd use an agency, it's easier to change your cleaner if you're unhappy that way. There is alot of trust involved in letting someone you don't know into your home.

Agency will have insurance, cleaners working for themselves it will vary, I do but others don't

Hope you find a solution that works for you and reduces your stress rather than causes you more.

I found a small local agency worked best for me after trying all the various options.
It was a real boon when set up and running.

Go for an agency as a starting point. They're insured and tend to show up when they're supposed to if nothing else but they are expensive.

I've gone both ways and currently have a local girl I got from Gumtree (iykwim) but there's no cover when she goes on holiday or is sick. She's lovely and I don't know what I'd do without her (and praying to god she's not going to bugger off back to Europe).

I've tried both and I feel the agencies were more interested in the money, and the independent cleaners more interested in the cleaning - took more pride in their work and got more done in the same time.

I'd go with a recommendation from a friend or colleague. I've heard people say an independent cleaner is better as it's their own business

If you’re feeling anxious, generally or specifically about hiring a cleaner, an agency is the way to go. There is a buffer between you and the person or people who come to your house. They will show up when they are supposed to and, if you’re not happy about something, you can email the agency. It is a usually a little more expensive per hour but if you’re trying to make your stressful life easier, it’s worth it.
The agency we use sends cleaners in pairs so the cleaners are here for half the time - they’re here for 2 and a half hours instead of the 5 that it would take 1 person to clean. If you’re trying to stay out of the way because you’re home with a poorly child (for example), this can be really helpful too.