Is my cleaner cheeky and should I hire a professional cleaning company?

[Skyl]

Hello- I have trialled many cleaners over the last year or two and have never once walked into the house and had that lovely feeling you're supposed to get where you can tell straight away that the cleaner has just been. I initially thought I was expecting too much as I didn't offer my cleaners enough hours. So, I hired a new cleaner recently and it was her second visit a few days ago. I gave her 7 hours to clean a large 5 double bedroom house with 4 bathrooms, 2 living rooms and large kitchen and utility room.
I came home and saw that the house looked pretty much exactly the same as I'd left it, apart from the floor having visibly been hoovered and the sinks and one bathtub looking clean. There was some clutter untouched (fine) but mirrors were streaky, TV screens had finger marks on them, top of microwave and desks had coffee marks on them and these are just a few examples.
Anyway...i am wondering am I supposed to just give her more feedback and make an effort to manage her or is she just cheeky and lazy? I am thinking it might be better for me to just get a professional cleaning company come in once a month and just do a really deep clean instead of wasting money weekly on people like this.

I doubt they're all lazy and bad. Give her feedback and set expectations. If she still doesn't meet them hire a service. And give them feedback too

Thanks @dollypartin yes I am starting to think it's me doing something wrong as surely it can't be a coincidence that all the ones I have hired have been terrible

Ok. So you have given her 13 rooms, plus stairs and hallways to do in 7 hours. That’s less then 30 mins per room.

can you clean a room to the standard you want, including getting out and putting away (or moving to another room) all the cleaning materials in just 20-25 minutes. Then keep up that exact pace for all the others room which may well be larger/smaller without a break for a drink or toilet. She is allowed a 20 minute break by law - so that would also need to be factored in.
You now know what a cleaner can do.

please note: I am assuming you are able bodied.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 - thanks. I should have mentioned in my OP that the bedrooms weren't touched at all.
But even so...thanks I will give this some more thought

That's a lot of rooms for 7 hours, assuming common areas as well? How did you work out that 7 hours is enough time to do the level of cleaning you are looking for?

13 rooms over 6.5 hours (cleaner needs breaks unless she's staying longer than 7 hrs to accommodate that) is 30 mins per room max. And it's back breaking work.

My cleaner does 2.5 hours for one living room, hallway, downstairs loo and large open plan kitchen/ living room/ diner. It's spotless when she's been.

I don’t think that’s enough time by quite a way. You need to tell her what you want prioritising.

With a bigger house you would be better employing two or three cleaners working together. One cleaner cant keep going for 7 hours.

Thank you. I asked for bathrooms and floors to be prioritised today. I guess I was just disappointed that the bathrooms weren't done properly and then no other rooms looked like they were touched at all. Only the floor was done well.

I think that’s plenty of time. I have had cleaners for ten years, over that time I’d say I’ve only had a couple who cleaned properly. We’ve been through many, given instructions, works for a bit but always ended up back to norm. Similar size property cleaned in three hours here.

Just occasionally did it ever improve.

30 minutes per room is loads. Your cleaner is taking the piss. But I also think 7 hours in one house is a lot. I’d book a four hour clean and expect it to be mostly done but not 100%.

@Viviennemary - this is a great idea. I think you might be right.

@heyyouitsme - yes I guess this is why I expected a lot. Because I've heard of others getting a fair bit done so wasn't sure if I was being unfair.

@WeCome1 i don’t have a cleaner. I am a professional cqc grade cleaner! Even in the hotel we allow 20 mins for a twin room e suite and 40 mins for a king size room. That does include remaking the beds but not stripping them though and they are en-suite. 30 minutes isn’t loads when doing a proper clean (not a deep clean!).

It is enough time .. Our cleaners take 2 hours with 2 people to clean every room of our 4 bedroom house .

Agencies tend to use 2-3 cleaners. So would be better and it's less time. I hire a fantastic team I specified from the start that I require housekeeping and cleaning hybrid if they didn't want to do this then I would look elsewhere I do pay more than the local going rate. You have to be really thorough about what you want from the beginning , a list helps.

I've had quite a lot of cleaners over the years. If it was her first clean I'd say it should be to a high standard as generally things slip. If you didn't ask for the whole house the areas you wanted focusing on should be sparkling. I wouldn't be inviting anyone back who didn't do a thorough first long clean as it lays the groundwork for them to maintain it.

@Skyl It takes me 3-4 hours to clean two-bedroom two-bathroom flats to holiday let standards. I am quick (don't have coffee breaks etc), but very thorough. Just for comparison's sake.

That seems like a lot. How much do you allow for the bathroom?

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 - I would have been happy with even a basic clean. Thats the problem, even the basics aren't done.
And sorry forgot to mention that 2 of the bathrooms are en suites and 1 is just a toilet. There is only 1 main bathroom.
I am a lot clearer on what I should be expecting though.

That’s dreadful for 7 hours!!!!

Sack her and move on

she should need 5 hours tops

@Skyl so you didn’t ask for the entire house to be cleaned? Just specific parts?
Apologise I understood from the op that it was a total house clean, not just some portions.
but still - clean a room to your standards and see how long it takes, write down all that you did, and make that your requirements going forward. A) you will know what is achievable B) the cleaner or firm will know exactly what and how you want it done - and most importantly they know you know it CAN be done in that timeframe to your requirements.

We have a 4 hour clean. To indicate size of house - there are 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 sitting areas, tiled hallway, kitchen and one flight of stairs.
4 hours is the right amount of time for kitchen, all 3 bathrooms, common areas and 3 of the bedrooms (the ones we use regularly). Sometimes I say to leave part of the living areas and clean the fridge/oven. The sheets on one or two of the beds are changed as well each week.

You’re asking 1 more bathroom, 2 bedrooms and a utility - in 3 further hours. (Or 2.5 with a break).

I think it does sound achievable but that is such a long slog, I guess it’s not surprising it’s as you would like it. Would be better with a team.

@WeCome1 the hotel rooms are all en-suite - as such they are included in that timeframe. It really isn’t a lot if done properly. (And that’s part of the problem - so few people know how to do it properly.)

But you said 30 minutes per room is too tight, when you do 20 minutes for a bedroom and a bathroom.

It’s a shame because I’m all for supporting someone’s small business and going with an independent person but after having a similar experience I think a cleaning company is a better option. My friend uses someone from a big company and she’s had to ask to change the cleaner before due to issues with timekeeping. The cleaners have to be accountable to someone this way, as it does seem to be a job (from all the stories on here) where people just take you for a mug. I thought with my cleaner it was because most people weren’t in or were elderly so she’d go late and leave 20/30 minutes early but she didn’t appear to care at all if I was there or said I’d be back at a certain time, she’d be away early anyway leaving my house unlocked 🙄 I eventually plucked up the courage to ask her not to come back

@WeCome1
I said we give 20 mins for a twin en-suite - it’s the equivalent of a box room with toilet and a sink - not comparable with the op large double rooms plus extra bathroom which (I assume) in a house is somewhat more spacious and has a shower or bath as well. The op rooms being bigger will take longer! I did say longer for king size beds with en-suite.
The industry hotel standard for a suite - nearer the equivalent of op home, is 45 minimum.
As an aside: hotel rooms are not cleaned daily, in this time frame to a standard I would accept in my home.