Cleaner taking anywhere between 2.5 - 4 hours

[user189804830]

Hiya,
Our cleaner seems to take anywhere between 2.5 - 4 hours to clean 2 floors of our house (1 bathroom, 1 toilet, 2 beds, living room and kitchen). I just never understand why the time range is so variable - I usually try to tidy up and do a quick clean before she comes but even on days when I think the house is reasonably clean to start with it can take the longest time.

I'd much prefer having someone come for a fixed number of hours and they do what they can in that time. However, the setup with this cleaner is that I tell her what needs doing and she spends as long as she needs to clean it.

How do others tackle this?

I’m guessing she stretches it out if she doesn’t have another customer afterwards. I’d tell her that you want her to work a set number of hours and specify what she needs to do in that time.

Change to the set up that suits you. If the cleaner doesn't agree with set hours, get a new cleaner who does.

I think that's the problem - we've had this setup for a while and I'm not sure how to say it but perhaps I can just text her next time and say I need X hours and when she comes tell her to do whatever she can in X hours? Otherwise, whenever she comes I'm constantly anxious and looking at the clock wondering how long it's going to be this time, especially on occasions when I've already cleaned so it doesn't take 4 hours.......

She is thorough and does a good job but I can't really afford a 4 hour clean one day a week (if I'm paying for 4 hours I'd probably prefer it to be 2 2-hr cleans a week)

@user189804830

She is thorough and does a good job but I can't really afford a 4 hour clean one day a week (if I'm paying for 4 hours I'd probably prefer it to be 2 2-hr cleans a week)

If you can’t afford one 4hr slot, how would 2 x 2 hr slots be any better?

Talk to her, what you say depends on her reliability, quality of work, and if you think the longer times she’s genuinely working or taking the piss 🤷🏻‍♀️

I mean a 4 hr clean on one day isn't worthwhile for me - if I'm going to spend money on 4 hrs a week I'd rather it was spread out over 2 days.

Damn, hit post too soon 🤦🏻‍♀️

If she doesn’t want to do set hours, is it worth trying another cleaner/agency? Do you trust her? How long would it take to build up trust with another cleaner?

not that I’d know what to ask😂

Could it be that there are some jobs she does on rotation? For instance, pulling out furniture or cleaning fridge/oven etc?

@user189804830

I mean a 4 hr clean on one day isn't worthwhile for me - if I'm going to spend money on 4 hrs a week I'd rather it was spread out over 2 days.

Ah, I see! Sorry, possible heat fried brain here.

Conversation and see what you both can agree on?

What is she doing?

Dusting/hoovering/general clean for that size of house could be done in roughly 2/2.5hours. Is she changing beds/emptying dishwasher/hanging up washing/deep cleaning bathroom/doing skirting boards every week? If she isn't doing extras I think she is at it and is definitely taking the piss charging 4 hours!

So take charge here! Just say to her that you need to arrange a set number of hours a week rather than the current situation Decide how many hours you can afford and give her a list of "must do's" and then things to be done if she finishes. As you are in you should be able to tell if she is working efficiently or trying to drag things out to get extra hours.

Just say how many hours you can pay her and you can't afford overtime at the moment. Just make sure what you want done is realistic.

She sounds very flakey! And a bit of a con!
My customers usually want 3 hours. Kitchen and bathroom as standard and fill the rest of the time with obvious things that need doing. Or things that have been requested...

That's an insane amount of time. I have a house the same size and with weekly cleans on a tidy place, I could do everything in 2 hours easy.