Getting a cleaner

[emilyjane29]

Hi all,

My husband and I are considering getting a cleaner this summer, for two hours a week. Could I ask for some advice from those who have cleaners. We have never had one before so it is a bit new to us.

• Is every week the norm? I know some people do every other week and wondering if every week is too much.
• What would you expect to be covered over the course of 2 hours every week?
• Do you provide cleaning supplies, or do they tend to bring their own?
• Do you provide a list of what you would like covered for that week, or do they go ahead and just do what they think needs done?
• Would cleaning inside of windows be covered?

For reference, we live in a 3 bedroom detached house, with 2 reception rooms and a kitchen and dining room. So there would be quite a lot of space to cover over the 2 hours.

The reason I'm asking is that I wrote out a list of tasks and my husband seems to think I'm expecting too much! Although I think some things could be done one week, and not needed the next etc. He seems to think they'll come, and do just a general clean of the floors/dust and that's all they would have time for. He also doesn't think it would be polite to give a weekly list of things we would like to be focused on.

I would hate to be rude/ask too much. But really would love some help with the cleaning too.

I realise this is a very privileged "problem" to have, but any advice/experiences you have had would be good to hear!

I think you are overestimating what can be done in 2 hours, especially re the windows. We have a smallish 3 bed that is cleaned weekly for 2.5 hours. But they would usually assess how long it would take to do your house at the start.

@dinosforall

I think you are overestimating what can be done in 2 hours, especially re the windows. We have a smallish 3 bed that is cleaned weekly for 2.5 hours. But they would usually assess how long it would take to do your house at the start.

Thanks.

Yes, I wouldn't expect windows to be done done in a weekly clean, was more wondering if that's a reasonable task at all, say once a month or so. Mainly for the reason that it would mean them having to climb up on a chair to reach. Figured it's maybe too dangerous.

It is very useful to be given a list of must dos and if time duties. Otherwise the cleaner won't know how to prioritise based on what you want but just what they would want or other clients which may be different. I have always used a rotation system with some jobs to be done each visit (eg bathroom) some every other (skirting boards in X room) and some quarterly (top of all furniture, internal windows).

Hi OP. Currently our cleaner is arranged via an agency, which has taken a lot of the stressful people side of things out of it (she turns up, we say hi and get on, but I don't need to ask her to do things because the agency owner sat down with her before she started). At one point she was unwell for several months, the agency sent substitute cleaners and one was really bad (partially mopping a dirty floor before hoovering, then partially hoovering and getting damp dirt everywhere) and the agency owner had the awkward conversation to move her on, not us.

In terms of your questions:

Is every week the norm?
We have once per fortnight for 2.5 hours, 2 bed, 2 bath, kitchen, living room and stairs (we stay in the third bedroom to keep out of her way, and clean that ourselves).

What would you expect to be covered over the course of 2 hours every week?
Depends what you want. Ours does the above in the 2.5 hours and everything is spotless. She doesn't do windows, we do those, and doesn't go inside cupboards, microwave etc. She cleans everything that's on show / out and dusts / hoovers underneath things but doesn't, e.g. get all the seat cushions off the sofa.

Do you provide cleaning supplies, or do they tend to bring their own?
Provide our own.

Do you provide a list of what you would like covered for that week, or do they go ahead and just do what they think needs done?
I agreed a regular list of 'every fortnight' items and sometimes when she's running ahead (we have no pets, no kids, very tidy house) she does a few extra bits.

Would cleaning inside of windows be covered?
IME, no. That comes under 'deep clean', not unreasonably, as to do it properly takes ages.

I started by having a one-off two day deep clean three years ago, following some building work, and was so impressed by how much better she was than us, and how much time and stress it saved, that we fell into a fortnightly pattern. She's definitely in my top five favourite people!

Oh and my cleaner brings their own apart from toilet brushes but past ones have also asked for them to be supplied.

*brings their own products sorry

I have three cleaners that come at the same time once a week. Total time is usually 4.5hr-6hrs but because there's the three it only works out 1.5/2hr which is great. It's a big house but they whizz through and it's spotless.
I "inherited" the cleaners when we moved in from the previous owners who used to have them every fortnight but I am lazy was so impressed I upped it to weekly.

I would say inside windows is not standard BUT one of them had finished all her tasks before the other two today so instead of standing doing nothing she cleaned the kitchen inside windows.

They bring all their own appliances and products.

If I have something specific I want doing I would ask at the beginning but that works because we don't have times set in stone. If I insisted on exactly 2hrs a week then they may not be able to fit it all in

You can't expect cleaners to stand on chairs; if they can't reach, you need a proper step-ladder.

@notmethenwho that setup sounds fantastic! Are you able to share roughly how much it costs for all three cleaners? And is it arranged through an agency?

@HouseyHouse21 it's 14.25 per hour and it's not an agency, it's a local woman who has set up her cleaning business and has 4/5 women who work for her.
Sometimes she (the boss) will come along to make sure they're keeping up her super high standards. They do things like fold the loo roll end into a triangle and I've even had a towel swan before honestly I love them. I'm so easily pleased.
Three of them were here today for less than two hours but it worked out as 5hr30 for the total cleaning time which meant £78ish this week. It's not always that expensive but I'm happy to pay as they are lovely and so thorough.

Thanks, that sounds like very good value.

My cleaner is Weekly. 2.5hours (id be surprised if they can do the whole house in 2 hours) 4 bed 2 reception rooms. Won't do windows but would expect very sticky handprints to be cleaned with glass cleaner. General dusting, Hoover throughout, mop kitchen and bathrooms. Clean toilets sinks baths, cookers etc. Won't clean light fittings or skirting boards, will empty all bins and fold my loo roll into points!

I provide cleaning equipment. She prefers her own Hoover.

Prepare to be disappointed as they dont clean as well as you would. There's a lot of variation in cleaners. A lot leave early if you aren't in. Mine is very honest and does the full time but I've had loads say "oh you need 3 hours" then leave half an hour early.

I think the main thing is the whole house gets a once over whereas it takes me hours to clean properly so I'd never do it all at once.

I gave her a full list when I first met her but she has "lost it" and doesn't do absolutely everything. It's fine I just say on certain weeks "can you clean x" e.g. job good that doesn't get cleaned often.

I used to have a cleaner strip beds and do laundry. That was great.

Job good = hob hood

I love our cleaner and can't wait until she's back (currently shielding) as we miss her!

We only have her 2 hours a fortnight but she dusts, vacuums, wipes down surfaces and mops the hard floors in that time. (Three bed semi, 2 adults & 2 cats).

Occasionally we'll book her for a longer session to help us spring clean or tidy up after building work. She would do inside windows if asked /on a longer session but there's not time in a 2 hour visit.

We are usually out when she comes and we have a notebook, we'll leave a message if there's rooms that don't need doing/areas we want to have a deeper clean and she'll let us know if we are running low on any cleaning products etc.

Does anyone have a reliable cleaner in Crouch End who has a free slot?