How to organise a new cleaner

[PickledOnionMonsterMunchies]

I'm new to having a cleaner but as mum of a toddler with husband still wfh I have decided this is what I need in order to take off one thing off my to-do list and hopefully give me a bit more headspace! We live in a 2-bed place with 2 bathrooms. I was thinking of booking once a week for 3 hours, but is this enough? Is it better to have two shorter sessions?

My 15mo is full on and I don't enjoy long nap times where I get to do housework so I really struggle to do even the bare minimum at the moment. What day of the week is optimum for having a cleaner and how best should I organise it? Are there specific jobs which I should ask them to do to make life easier?

Sounds like a great idea!

A lot of people want a Friday clean so home is perfect for the weekend however that means it can be tricky to find a cleaner with a Friday slot. I used to like a Monday afternoon clean as then I could mess up the house at the weekend, and quickly straighten things up on Monday a.m. (as cleaner needs home relatively free of kids' clutter in order to clean otherwise time is wasted picking things up, and I preferred to have the beds made etc).

You need to decide with DH when is least disruptive to his work, and also pick a time when you might be able to pop out with your toddler so you arent in the cleaner's way.

I suggest you want a 3 hour clean once a week. You will still be left with interim vacuuming in main areas, tidying up, the laundry, groceries, cleaning loos and sinks as needed.

I would suggest:
WEEKLY:

• dust and polish
• Clean bathrooms
• clean kitchen (clean sink area, wipe tiles, counters, door fronts and appliances)
• steam clean or mop hard floors
• vacuum carpets
• change the beds
• water house plants

With any spare time/less often than weekly:

• polish internal mirrors, light shades, windows and door handles etc
• clean microwave
• vacuum sofas
• occasional light ironing (we would have a couple of DH's shirts to iron sometimes)

You could either get a cleaner through an agency (more expensive) or ask for recommendations from friends or on FB etc. When you invite the cleaner to see your home, I would have it tidied and cleaned to the standard you want the cleaner to maintain. Some people are meticulous, others not.

I would also have a major de-clutter first - it is a nightmare to dust if you have lots of toys and knick knacks everywhere. Make it as easy as possible to clean, then your cleaner isn't wasting time doing fiddly dusting which will leave you wondering why not much cleaning got done this week.

Most cleaners will use your cleaning supplies and appliances or will charge to use theirs. I kept a little crate of cleaning products for the cleaner, including about 20 microfiber cloths in different colours, as my cleaner loved using them all in different areas, and I would just wash them ready for next week.

@PennyWus thanks Penny, this is really helpful! Ooh I need to think about which day of the week in that case!

@PickledOnionMonsterMunchies: good cleaners are in demand, so likely to tell you when they can fit you in

I’d ask for microwave & vacuuming sofa weekly, 3 hours is generous for a 2 bed 2 bath so I’d expect home cleaned to a v good standard in that time

You may find that cleaners do a good job first 1 or 2 times then not so much .. it can take time to find the right cleaner

Friday cleans are the most in demand but to start with, just take what you can get. Once you have a regular slot you'll get first dibs as other slots become free. If possible go for a day/time when you are free to tidy up beforehand. I know it sounds silly but tidying up for the cleaner does help.

3 hours is ample for a 2 bed place.

Cleaner here.

Standard clean usually includes:

General feather dust high up areas, light fittings, picture rails and skirting boards
Damp dust/polish furniture and sills. Vacuum carpets. Sweep and mop hard floors and buff if high shine. All kitchen surfaces to include back splashes and cupboard doors cleaned and buffed. Job cleaned. External microwave and oven doors cleaned and buffed. Bathrooms sinks/baths/toilets to include all tiling/back splashes, shower screens cleaned and buffed, and cabinet fronts wiped down.

Bins emptied.

Clutter is put into neat piles.

Extra time left over (and generally a small house will take 3 hours to do well but depends on the state of it in the first place) will see windows and internal glass fronts being buffed, carpet edges, inside of microwave, washing machine and dryer exteriors cleaned, internal doors cleaned, radiators wiped down and cleaned behind.

Every house is different. Talk with your cleaner. It can take time to get the routine right for your house and your family.

Forgot soft furnishings - they tend to get dond in rotation too, but again depends on the house, your family, anc your particular needs.