A nice problem to have...

[Iveputmyselfonthenaughtystep]

So DP and I are discussing moving in and have decided that for the sake of harmony, and because we'll have a higher income when combined, we will look at getting s cleaner.

Now, I have never had a cleaner. He has never had a cleaner. My mum has never had a cleaner. The having of a cleaner is entirely new territory for me.

So please, can anyone provide any tips or guidance to choose a good one in the first place and then how to maintain the most useful relationship with them. Do spell it out as if talking to someone very stupid indeed.

I have some thoughts about what to ask for and how to go about it, but it's all guesswork and I'd like to benefit from your experience.

Also, what's the going rate? We're a rural village vaguely commuting distance from London, but not really, if that makes any difference...

I’m a cleaner, so if you have specific questions that you’d like answering, I will do my best.

I charge £16 an hour and live in the south east. I’ve had the same clients for about 6 years now.

I would definitely ask your friends for recommendations, or ask for references when you do find a cleaner. Word of mouth is how I’ve found a lot of clients.

How to maintain that relationship is (in my experience) treat them with respect. I’m always respected by my clients, which is why I’ve stayed.
I’ve dropped a few clients who see me as a skivvy. I’m there to clean, not tidy up after kids etc.

They trust me with their house keys, so I’d say trust is really important. That comes with experience with the same person.

Also, I’d say communication is vital. If they have an issue, they know they can talk to me about it, and vice versa.

Anything else I can help with?

How do you decide what to clean? Do you do it by the amount of time or jobs requiring doing?

What you've said so far is helpful, thank you

Good points above!
Ask if they have insurance? You may wish to only employ someone who has a dbs? Ask on your local Facebook page for recommendations. Decide if you would prefer an agency/firm of cleaners so someone can cover for holiday etc, or if you would prefer a solo self employed person, who may not be able to provide cover when ill/holidays.
If you do have a cleaner-it is helpful to tidy things away before they come. A cleaner who has to tidy up before cleaning, will get less cleaning done in the allocates time.

I've had many cleaners over the years. I find it so stressful. I prefer doing it myself even if it takes longer!! No one cleans my house like I want them to!!!

Be really clear. Decide what your red lines are. Room by room: this is what I want you to do.
Who provides products snd cloths? How are they washed? Are they insured if things are broken? Do you have proper verified references? Can you do a trial week and check first you are happy? Do you want laundry put away? Beds made? Furniture moved? Think about it all first.

They’ll tell me (via email if they’re at work when I arrive) what they want me to focus on that day.

Most of the time they want me to focus on bathrooms and the kitchen, plus the floors (hoover and mop).

The minimum time I will do is 3 hours, which is normally the right amount of time for those to be done, but it depends on the size of the house, and how dirty it is before I arrive.

Generally speaking, clients will tidy up before I arrive, so that means cleaning is much quicker. If I have to spend 30 mins picking up toys etc before even starting to hoover, it’ll take longer.

Some days they’ll ask me to focus on other things, such as (requests I’ve had before):
-cleaning out the pantry
-washing all the windows (inside, and outside in ground floor)
-cleaning walls and skirting.

I also do other things that I don’t charge for, because I know the family well if I’ve worked for them for a long time. Such as letting their dogs out, ironing, washing etc.

I would suggest you decide what you want cleaning. - eg. Bathrooms and kitchen but not children’s rooms, or entire house. Then decide what you want tackling. Eg every week dust, hoover, deep clean the bathroom, not clean the cook, fridge. Or maybe some discussion about occasionally booking longer for inside window cleans, spring clean if a room etc.
Have a think about what you want them to do, and discuss with a cleaner who has availability and you feel comfortable with.
Put it in writing what you want doing and price and time agreed as a reference point if things don’t go to plan.

I'm making notes!

@housework1977

Be really clear. Decide what your red lines are. Room by room: this is what I want you to do. Who provides products snd cloths? How are they washed? Are they insured if things are broken? Do you have proper verified references? Can you do a trial week and check first you are happy? Do you want laundry put away? Beds made? Furniture moved? Think about it all first.

This is something I forgot to mention, so thanks for raising it.

My fees include all cleaning cloths, and the laundering of them.
The clients provides the hoover, mop, cleaning products etc.

If they would like me to use my own cleaning products, I will do that and don’t charge extra.
But most of my clients don’t mind me using mine. I have 2 clients who are vegan and I must use their vegan eco friendly products only.

I have PLI to cover me for any breakages/damage, which I’ve not yet had to use. But I am always upfront about any breakages or damage.

Our cleaner comes for 2 hours. She brings her own hoover and cleaning products, and goes through every room. It suits me as everywhere is then surface clean for the week, and I then just hoover a couple of times/ do the more thorough cleaning when I've got time to.

I've never discussed anything with her......... she came recommended by a neighbour and just gets on with it!

Treat anyone as you would like to be treated:

Be clear about what you want

Any misunderstanding, always take responsibility for not having been clear but then expect it to be redone to the requirement.

Anything that goes wrong is a misunderstanding.

Expect your heart to lift when you come back to a clean and sparkly house. If it doesn't , don't be afraid to say 'this isn't working'

To give myself backbone, I imagine that my mother is coming to visit.

My original instructions were to have the house ready for my mother to visit. Cleaner told us how many hours a week that would take and off we go.

Remember her birthday, small tokens fir Christmas etc. Good cleaners will really transform your life, treasure them.

be very clear, specific and realistic. ask in your village for recommendations.