Disappointed with Cleaner – Is This Normal?

[NurturingNebula]

Hi everyone,

I hired a cleaner for 4 hours to clean our 4-bed house, which has a large kitchen diner, 2 bathrooms, and 1 toilet. I specifically asked her to prioritize the kitchen diner and bathrooms, and I expected at least a thorough cleaning of the kitchen windows from the inside and the bathrooms.

After the session, I noticed she only cleaned the outside of cupboards, wiped the worktops, hoovered, and mopped the kitchen floor. She did some very superficial dusting in the living room, leaving dust in some areas, and hoovered. The bathrooms and bedrooms weren’t touched at all, and while she did clean the toilet, it was done poorly – I know it can be cleaned much better. No windows were cleaned, except for one glass door.

I paid £15 per hour and provided my own cleaning supplies. She’s meant to come for 4 hours fortnightly, and I mentioned I know she won’t be able to do all the rooms, but I at least expect the kitchen/diner, bathrooms, and one bedroom to be properly cleaned. I’m feeling really disappointed, as I expected more given the specific areas I prioritized. Is this normal for 4 hours of work? Would love to hear if anyone has had a similar experience or advice.

Thanks!

The kitchen and bathrooms should've been done as priority. I wouldn't expect a regular clean to include windows though.
She doesn't sound very good. I think you're just going to have to give her a checklist of things she must do, and show her how to do them, then give her a chance to improve. One chance. Then if it was a case of her not understanding what was required she can rectify it. If she's just lazy and rubbish then you'll know and should part ways politely.

Cleaners do not usually clean inside cupboards. And a lot of them don't do windows., I think you expected quite a lot. Still see what other people think.

It sounds like you laid down your expectations and she didn't meet them.
You need to think about getting a different cleaner.

But they don't generally do windows, and when I want the inside of my cupboards done, my cleaner comes specially just to do that.

Generally, cleaners don’t do windows. They do a surface clean - so counters, vacuum, table tops, toilet and bathroom, dusting, etc. When it comes to windows, most cleaners put that in the deep clean category.

It looks like you had unrealistic expectations but also they didn’t do a good job. Whether that’s because they ran out of time (either 4 hours not enough or they’re slow) or because they’re just not very thorough, time will tell.

I wouldn't expect windows and inside cupboards to be done unless specified. I'd have expected bathrooms cleaned though. Maybe make a list in priority order for what you want done. Then if you think she's too slow you could get someone else

Windows isn't generally included in a house clean I don't think, unless you specifically asked for that

Hard to say as it really depends on how cluttered your rooms are how dirty surfaces were to begin with. On balance it sounds like a problem both sides. Your expectations are too high for the amount of hours but she could have definitely done all the rooms to a reasonable standard if not expected to do windows and the insides of cupboards. Whilst also assuming that the rooms are tidy and not cluttered to begin with.

Well you get what you pay for I think. 15 quid an hour is a bit crap.

When I did domestic cleaning, I wouldn't have done windows and inside cupboards are a deep clean. But I wouldn't need 4 hours for a 4 bed house and that includes skirtings unless there was a load of clutter and tidying up first. I had once cheeky bugger wanting ovens, ironing and beds changed. Pay a housekeeper FFS.

Get another one and pay the going rate.

Honestly I've never been overly happy with any cleaning I have done
My theory is that because you know your home, you concentrate on the areas you like clean and know makes the home better
If that makes any sense!

I'm not a clean every day person but my house looks better when I do it rather than paying someone

In four hours, as a first clean, in a house that size with a "large" kitchen...

You're either asking her to cover ground cleaning a large area or you're asking her to target smaller areas for a deep clean. You can't have both in a property that size, especially for a first clean. The amount of clients I had who's houses "looked" clean (and they called themselves OCD/clean freaks/houseproud) and then when i got stuck in it was really quite grim under the surface, was astonishing.

You've effectively asked for both, and she's tried to do both, in the four hours available, and i can see from your post that just isn't possible.

Either get rid of her and manage your expectations with someone else, or bring her again with a clear list of priorities, with #1 as a non negotiable.

Or allow her to blitz more areas with less attention to them.

Our cleaners don't do windows or inside cupboards. I wouldn't expect that. They don't even do under the sofa! They do a superficial clean.
I find it odd yours didn't do the bedroom. Did she do the full 4 hours?

Slightly smaller house here, but similar. Cleaner does all that in 3.5hrs

Inside cupboards would be a deep clean though. Misread that bit

Thank you all for your replies. I’d like to clarify a few points regarding my experience with the cleaner:

I decluttered the house before she arrived and also wiped down the worktops myself. While I wasn’t expecting her to clean inside the cupboards (which we didn’t discuss), we did agree that she would clean some windows during her visit.

Regarding the rate, I didn’t set a price; she told me her charge, and I agreed to it. She comes highly recommended by a friend, which is why I chose her.

What primarily disappointed me was that the shower rooms, toilet, and sink weren’t touched at all. I understood that she might not have time for the bedrooms, but I expected the bathrooms to be properly cleaned.

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts.

I wouldn't expect a lot for £15/h. Ask the company to send another lady and see if it's a better fit.

You wanted a large kitchen/diner, bathrooms, and one bedroom deep cleaned in 4 hours. I think that is expecting a bit much for a first clean. First clean will take longer to get the house to a certain standard. Only every fortnight will be a bit like starting from scratch each time though imo.

Cleaning inside cupboards would be a deep clean/occasional job not least because it takes ages to decant everything, sort, clean and re-stack. Similarly I would not expect cleaning inside oven or fridge.

Windows too could easily take four hours if fully done. (I just used to ask our cleaners to glance over them and rub off any obvious marks like child's fingerprints!)

I definitely would expect all clear surfaces to be dusted/cleaned including floors and accessible skirting. I didn't expect cleaner to move furniture or other stuff (it was my job to leave the space clear) so they tended to dust around items which was fine with me. It got me into good habits though as I massively decluttered and minimised to get the most out of the cleaning. I haven't had a cleaner for a few years thanks to a huge renovation project and I really need another declutter before I get another one.

I think you are right to be disappointed that she didn't do the bathrooms and bedrooms. Unless your rooms are huge four hours should have been plenty of time for a normal (not deep) clean.

The main issue I had with our cleaners was that they did not seem able to open their eyes and see what needed doing. They wasted a lot of time wiping surfaces that were already clean and taking the liner out of the bin (we clean down our kitchen after dinner every night so the worktops, sink etc were never dirty for the cleaners and the bin was empty or just a couple of items in it). They'd miss some really quick and easy wins by failing to lift/plump the sofa cushions and sweep out any crumbs and by not polishing the coffee table which takes seconds and is the first thing I notice when I walk into the living room.

But they'd skip off without mopping the bathroom floors because they "ran out of time" when it clearly needed doing (and I hate doing it) and leaving the bins with no liner which I'd realise after my kids had lobbed something mucky in, grrrr. I don't think I'm a massive moaner but I felt like I was telling them off every week. It was almost a relief to give them up.

I have a cleaner that comes once a month to do the jobs I CBA doing.
She does the windows, oven, woodwork all glass.
But no cleaning of specific rooms.

Yes she did 4 hours, I’m just surprised she spent most of it on the kitchen as it takes me less than an hour to do the same work.

I find they get faster once they know the house so maybe give her 3 weeks before deciding.

Mine cleans weekly for 3 hours. She does the kitchen, utility, living room, dining room if I’m not working in there, hall, toilet, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Also £15, which is very normal if on the higher side round here. Kitchen and bathrooms are always spotless and our bedroom lovely. Dc bedrooms less so but that’s due to them not cleaner.