Getting a cleaner for the first time

[trrk]

I'm getting a cleaner for the first time and was wondering what is realistic and appropriate to ask her to do in 2 hrs? We are in a flat with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and open plan living room and kitchen so not a large house. I plan to ask for vacuuming and/or mopping of all floors and the bathroom and kitchen to be cleaned, basic dusting etc. Not sure how long all this will take and what else I should ask her to do? Are there any typical jobs I shouldn't ask her to do?

Also, if not going through an agency how to you decide whether you can trust someone with the house keys etc? The cleaner who I have found comes as a personal recommendation but from someone I don't know that well. Should I also ask for additonal references? I will be home the first few times as I have a new baby and am not going out much at the moment.

My cleaner does all that and changes beds in just under 2 hours. Some cleaners do an oven clean but others aren't keen because of the expense if its damaged. And you can ask them to clean inside fridge, but I like to do my own. (I don't fancy having someone cleaning my fridge after they've cleaned the bathroom). Don't ask her to move heavy furniture or get down on her kness to scrub!

Just to add, my cleaner irons and tidies for some of her customers.

Ours could do that in 2h with some time spare. We ask for them to alternate dusting one week and wiping out the fridge the second week (not all cleaners will agree to this though, some charge extra for fridge cleans).