does anyone use one of those expensive agency cleaners?

[hatwoman]

the type that have their company name of their car? are they worth the money? by that I mean do they know what to do beyond dust, hoover, mop the floor, clean the bathroom? do they do under the beds and on top of the pictures and round the skirting boards without being asked?

I don't think they are worth the money tbh.£76 for 2 people for 90mins.They only "do" were they can see and I reckon the two I had must of been blind!Luck of the draw though I suppose.Who were you thinking of getting?

i used agencies when I had cleaners. you don't necessarily get a better standard of cleaning but you do get insurance, someone in charge to complain to if they don't do it properly, more flexibility, someone always turning up and less tea-and-chat. Was definitely worth the extra £3 an hour to me

No don't touch them with a ten foot barge pole! I havve used 3 or 4 different agencies in my time and they were all over priced and awful.

Ornaments not dusted or moved out of the way, toilets not cleaned properly, wouldn't clean anything they couldn't reach without standing on a chair and never did the number of hours you had paid for.

Much better to get a recommendation for a nice "lady who does" like the one I've just found (£11 an hour) and she has her own insurance too!
YAY!

hmmm. so what does one do to get a decent cleaner? one with initiative? we are contemplating a temporary move for a couple of years and will live near my uncle who has Mrs Barlow to do. she is amazing. My Uncle's house is immaculate (and his freezer gets filled with scones and mince pies at christmas; and Mr Barlow comes to unblock his drains and hang his pictures) and I am sure my Uncle never gives her a single instruction. I am unhealthily excited by the prospect of asking Mrs Barlow if she has a few spare hours. but I fear a pit of despair when we return to London. where do posh people get their cleaners? I'm sure they don;t have to tell them what to do.

We used them briefly and they were so very much more expensive and less reliable and less good than the ordinary ones I gave it up.

I found it better just to advertise in the local paper.

my experience was similar to Octavia's

much better to just use these agencies to do a spring clean once a yr or something,when you can leave a list of what needs done and they can quote you exactly.
Otherwise personal recommendations of a local lady is much better value.

I used to work for one of these companies and i would agree with ggirls comment to be honest. With a spring clean they will be doing a massive list of stuff BUT it will cost a fortune!!

Also it's because so many people are taking a profit out of it. I did some work with one once and they were paying a fee on their turnover to the national franchise they set up the business under. Then the owner was taking his profit. Then the cleaner was paid too. if instead you're just paying one cleaner you can see why it is so much cheaper.

Standard of cleaning is so individual to the cleaner. Would rather find a local cleaner who is good and honest, than use an overpriced agency cleaner.