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 used to do one humongous kitchen/sitting/utility. Deep clean 4 bathrooms all with showers two with bath and shower, and a hallway and hoover two sitting rooms and all the way down 3 flights of stairs in 3 hours. Literally not stopping! If the lady wanted the two sitting rooms doing fully she used to tell me to leave out one of the bathrooms. All big rooms too it was an old mansion house. I was on my arse by the end of it! I was doing it as a stop gap - couldn't have continued.

I disagree- 7 hours is plenty of time!! Get a cleaning company to send someone weekly. It's much easier to complain if you're not happy.

Why don't you give her another go, but suggest you do a walkthrough together afterwards. This is what I sugested when I started cleaning for the lady I mentioned earlier and that way it gave her chance to mention anything specific. I also specifically asked whether there was anything I had missed. Just being open works well I think.

Dealing with cleaners can sometimes feel like a maze, right? It's like, are they being cheeky or just not getting the job done right? Personally, I'd say if you're feeling iffy about your current cleaner, maybe it's time to scope out some professional cleaning companies nearby. I mean, they might bring a bit more reliability to the table, you know? Check out some reviews, ask around for recommendations for cleaners near me, and see if you vibe with any of them. Sometimes a fresh pair of cleaning hands can make all the difference!

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 I'd love to know your routine / schedule please so guide me and stop me getting distracted. And to get streaks free glass 😣

@Polkadoteyes if it’s for your home - there are a lot of guides as to schedules for cleaning. I think the popular (or was) is the organised mum method? Professional cleaning usually entails doing everything in a set order every single time so nothing is missed. Personal home cleaning is somewhat different as it’s personal to you and your needs. Example: I clean my kitchen daily, but my sitting room once per week, whilst at work I would do both daily.

windows: use three microfibre cloths clean. Use a window spray. First dust the window with first cloth. Second use the spray and another clean cloth to clean the window. Third use the final dry cloth to buff the window dry and streak free. Helps if cloths are three different colours.
Outside of the windows I do not use spray, I use hot soapy water, and a window pole with sponge and squeegee attachments.

Rooms: get everything you need together to clean. Shove it in a bucket for ease! Tidy the room of stuff that should not be there and empty the bins/make the bed etc. Start at the top left hand corner of the room and work your way around the room. I divide the room into three top, middles and bottom and do three circuits of……. Dust cobwebs/ walls and doors/ work surfaces/light fittings/switches/table legs/chairs etc. Wipe windows if necessary/doors and walls. Dust skirting boards. Hoover/sweep/mop as appropriate for floor. Exit room. Optional to leave window open to air room. (Don’t forget to mop/wipe swivel chairs from top to bottom).
Bathrooms: I do the same. Clean the suite using one cloth for sink, then shower/bath, and separate clean cloth for the toilet. If you have pets, use a cloth to dust all the porcelain first before cleaning the porcelain as it is just easier Imo.
kitchens: just add in wiping the fridge and cleaning the oven/microwave. Cabinets will need a wipe over.
If cleaning is kept on top of and especially if things are tidy, it’s very quick and easy to do. Put some upbeat music on and once you’ve learnt your own routine it will just flow.
Deep clean for me would involve moving heavy furniture, cleaning carpets and curtains with machines, emptying cupboard and drawers and wiping them over and relining with paper.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 this is so helpful. I follow TOMM but the actual how to bit is what I struggle with. I can for example, scrub shower and wipe down and rinse and then dry , yet it still be streaky. Or wet dust and dry but still feel like there's dust there. The order and number of cloths is so helpful. I feel very humble asking all this but so so grateful. And also terrified at why you won't stay at a hotel. It's a bit like driving I guess. You can't believe how bad some other drivers are and I guess some guests are vile.

@Polkadoteyes I know too well what actually happens behind the scenes in hotels in housekeeping! Time constraints/lack of investment in even basic cleaning equipment/wages/training/ hiring freezes/lack of maintenance and chemicals Etc.
Guests are not the issue as why I wouldn’t stay in a hotel.

cloths: At home I prefer microfibre cloths in different colours - makes it easy to keep track. Change cloths regularly otherwise you are just smearing dirt from surface to surface. Don’t mix and match between kitchen and other rooms or bathrooms. I don’t use any cloths which shed fibre, so if you reuse old clothes make sure you hem the edge - eg cutting up an old fleece for window cleaning. Never ever wash any cleaning cloths with fabric conditioner, the conditioner makes them more prone to smear when used.

We have a large 6 bed house. My cleaner comes 7 hours twice a week but I don't expect her to clean the whole house in that time. In a typical visit she will do 2 bedrooms (and change beds), one dressing room, 2/3 bathrooms, hall, kitchen, one reception room and ironing.

It sounds like you've put a lot of effort into finding the right cleaner for your home, but it's disheartening when the results don't meet your expectations. Communication is key in situations like these. Providing specific feedback to your cleaner about the areas that need improvement could help them understand your standards better. It's possible that they're not intentionally being lazy, but rather they may not fully grasp what you're looking for in terms of cleanliness. However, if you've already given clear feedback and you're still not seeing improvement, it might be worth considering a professional cleaning service that can provide the level of thoroughness you desire, even if it's on a less frequent basis. Ultimately, finding the right balance between cost and quality is important in ensuring your home stays clean and comfortable.

How much do you pay for 7 hrs? I need a cleaner but not sure how much is the average hourly rate.

Why start this up again @Edamartinny ?

As if there aren't enough threads going already?

ZOMBIE

I would definitely use a cleaning service and give feedback as and when so they know who to send to you.