Thinking About Starting a Cleaning Business—What Makes a Cleaner Truly Stand Out?

[RuxpinT]

I'm thinking of starting my own cleaning business, starting off with cleaning homes. For those of you that have a regular cleaner, or have had cleaners in the past, or who have switched between different cleaners... what is it that makes somebody stand out in your opinion?

I understand things such as reliability (not cancelling, turning up on time, sticking to agreed upon time frames etc), are crucial, but what really makes a cleaner stand out to you? Are there certain things that you particularly like to see, little flourishes like folding towels in a certain way, for example? Little things that go beyond your expectations?

Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

I disagree with this, I find it so unprofessional and even if hands free it will distract you and slow you down, people shouldn't be on their phones while they are working

You do you - mine is the most amazing housekeeper and plows through the ironing at a great rate and does it beautifully. It is such a boring job I couldn't iron for a couple of hours without someone to talk to or watching the TV so why should she? A bit of give and take means that she will do anything to help (eg cleaning out the airing cupboard which is my least favourite task...). May explain why she's been with me 15 years and is only my third in 30........

Agree with all the basics above about reliability, do bother to move stuff, don’t chat for ages etc

I have no particular interest in specially folded towels or loo roll triangles

The thing that really, really stands out to me is a cleaner who notices things. Many just do the same routine every week so eg if there are smears on the glass door to the kitchen, they will stay there because the door isn’t in her usual routine. But the smear is very obvious if you just take a moment to look round, and it’s quick to sort.

I also ❤️ my current cleaner because once she’d got quicker at doing the cleaning and had spare time, she looked round for extra things to do and started folding the clean laundry. I was so happy! She didn’t just leave early or string out the cleaning.

Like a pp we do pay well including when we go away and nice cash gift at Christmas

I think the less regular tasks are usually an add on if you get spare time - if it’s a big one then maybe factor in extra time each week to add eg a fridge/oven/window clean to the standard horizontal surfaces clean.

I worked as a cleaner and even doing the same house each week, sometimes I’d be done in 1hr 45 and other weeks it would take me 2hr 15. Often in hot weather it would take longer as my body was clearly a bit slower! So on the early finish weeks I’d bring in laundry from the line or do some extra jobs to take it up to 2 hours, but I never left jobs unfinished on a slower week, so would work 15 mins unpaid. I’d definitely address with clients whether they want it all done regardless (and to pay accordingly) of they want to pay a set amount, and whatever you get done is included in that price.

I once had a cleaner do such an amazing job on cleaning every inch of my shower that she got nothing else done. In 2 hours That was annoying!

I’ve had the chatty cleaner, who left her H, lost loads of weight and then seemed to be permanently glued to her phone texting a string of hook ups, which she’d then tell me all about. I’d hear the hoover stopping and starting endlessly upstairs while she was chatting. Drove me mad! She didn’t last long after that, which is a shame as she was great to start with.

I’ve had an absolute angel of a cleaner, who did occasionally bring her son with her when his carer fell through, which was absolutely fine, he’d happily sit and watch TV while she worked.

For me a fairly light touch just to keep on top of things is my ideal, but for others clearly skirtings and lampshades etc are important, so I’d maybe consider making different bands of cleaning eg

Silver - weekly horizontal surfaces, bathrooms and kitchen
gold - includes skirtings, dado rails, fridge clear out
platinum - includes laundry, ironing etc

and that way you’ll know what’s expected each week and can have a standard for anyone you employ in future.

Being on time.

Not being overly familiar.

Your phone switched off whilst working.

No bringing your child.

No personal remarks about anything in the home.

Asking if not sure about touching something.

No trying to make small talk with me.

Bring indoor footwear with you, no bare feet, socks or outdoor shoes.

Use the cleaning products that I have provided if I have requested a particular one.

Neat and tidy in appearance.

I would prefer the odd things were allocated time every week. So if you thing it takes 2hrs for standard clean, then suggest 2.5hrs to client with 2ish on weekly stuff, and 30mins on different things each thing depending on what needs doing. Maybe windows, maybe someone needs an extra bed changed or fridge cleaned or whatever

I’m a cleaner. I’ve been running my business for 13years.
The key thing is to set your way of working and find clients who are compatible with that.
For example, I charge per job. Not hourly. We agree the tasks that will be done at each clean and my list of tasks is comprehensive. It roughly takes the same amount of time each week/fortnight but no one is clock watching. So if I need to stop for a drink, it’s not eating into their time.
With hourly, if you run over by 15mins it tends to go unnoticed but is definitely noticed if you’ve finished the work quickly and go 15mins early another day.
Clients are welcome to book an extra slot for the additional/deep cleaning jobs like windows.
I bring my own kit because I know it works properly, is up to the job. I have over 20 mop heads so no one gets dirty mops.
I use my own chemicals because I know how they work and that I have everything I need. Plus you should have safety data/coshh sheets for everything you use which you can’t have if you’re using client products.
I wear shoe covers in clients homes. You need to protect yourself from standing on objects, kicking doorframes so shoes are a must.
I don’t move out large sofas for cleaning for two reasons - if I hurt myself I’m out of work, unpaid, until I’m better. And I don’t want to drag stuff and risk scratching clients floors.
Every clean is followed up with a feedback email which clients rarely complete because everything we have agreed to be done, is done.
I don’t have a high turnover of clients. I’ve had many for over 10yrs.
I give them consistency. They know what to expect from each clean.

Interesting thing about this thread is that whilst there’s some common ground different people like things done differently.

OP as a cleaner (or any self employed person) you don’t have to be all things to all people. Do things the way you want and find the people that appreciate it.

When my cleaner started I gave her a list of jobs/frequencies and she handed it back to me. She said let me work today and if you don’t like the way I work then we can change (I suspect she means she wouldn’t have stayed - but I didn’t find out she did a fab job and has done a fab job every day since)

My house it’s pretty immaculate (she does a lot of hours) but my youngest sons rooms can be awful - he can create an absolute horror of a space in few hours. If she hasn’t done it for a week or so she’ll insist. She has to tidy to get to the bed, never mind to Hoover. That suits us both but I can understand that it wouldn’t everyone.

Arrive on time, I have gone through several cleaners (not had very many to be fair) and they won’t commit to a start time.

Drives me bonkers, as DH and I both WFH, one upstairs and one downstairs and we ensure we don’t have calls on- or those where noise etc doesn’t matter. All goes to shit when the cleaner rocks up 3 hours later.

Also I live in very limescale heavy area, so I expect a cleaner to know how to tackle and keep on top of it.

Thank you for replying so comprehensively! It's really useful to get this perspective from somebody who has been doing the job.

Charging per job is interesting - do you mean you have a list of jobs and the prices for each one and the client essentially ticks off what they would like doing that particular week/session (or they have already discussed with you initially which jobs they want doing each time and would let you know if they want to make any change)?

I have also been thinking about the timings, obviously there would need to be time in between jobs to allow for travel etc, but I guess it's finding that sweet spot between fitting in enough jobs/clients per day and allowing some time for things taking a bit longer or whatever.

The safety sheets/coshh sheets is an excellent point also. I was also planning on using my own equipment but from this thread it seems that a lot of people prefer their own stuff to be used. I guess this is another thing that comes down to compatibility as you say.

Yes, you're absolutely right - everybody has their own preferences! It's been so useful to get an idea of the types of things that people are looking for, but yes, I absolutely won't be for everybody 😁

I've had the same cleaner for coming on to a decade, she's great.

She cleans nicely, and does extra things too, like:

• If there's clean laundry to be folded in the basket she'll fold it really nicely
• if there's dry laundry hanging on a clothes horse she'll fold it nicely
• some weeks she'll rotate additional things like cleaning the windows, doors, inside the oven, inside the fridge. She does it all without being asked, she'll just do that extra one nice thing which makes such a nice difference

Sometimes she asks to bring her child, which is fine, and she sometimes cancels last minute. But she's so good when she does come that I don't mind at all.

I hope she never leaves lol

Now you see, I don't like the idea of having to generate lists of tasks etc. For me one of the most valuable things about having a cleaner is not having to think about what needs to be done and make lists of things, that is head space and energy I need for work, what I want is someone to take those decisions off me and ensure that the house is nice and functional as well as clean, without me having to input into that. I am happy to pay more for someone to do the thinking for me about what should be done. But then the cleaner needs to be an observant and proactive person, someone who doesn't need telling that a fridge needs clearing out every so often, or that skirting boards, door handles and things above head height also need to be cleaned.

Any exceptions to this I will point out e.g. do not touch anything in my office apart from the dustbin or empty cups, no matter how messy or dirty it may appear. Everything else, use your initiative.

Yes, I think different bands of service is a great idea. As you say, everybody has different ideas of what they would like/what's acceptable and it's defo not a one size fits all thing!

similar to other people

turn up on time but most importantly do the agreed hours. ring doorbell does tend to give the game away!

actually clean - rearranging how i like things and making the house smell of zoflora but not actually cleaning does not go unnoticed by me

my house is very tidy so i hate it when a cleaner decides i should have x where y is. i just go round and put it all back again.

if you damage something, own up and offer to sort it (had that a few times)

no outdoor shoes in the house is a must - even if it's changing into 'indoor shoes'

be honest - if you aren't able to do something or there's an area trickier to clean than others, say so

once into a routine think about rotating which room gets a bit more attention each week

don't wash my dishes! i have a dishwasher and they will come straight off the draining board into the dishwasher (this seems an alien concept to many!)

attention to detail eg nooks and crannies, light fittings etc

i don't mind the cushions on the sofa being plumped and put back nicely after hoovering the gaps but i had one who would remake already nicely made beds to make them insta worthy but impossible to sleep in

don't take photos for your insta website or other SM without permission.

i have had amazing cleaners that have stayed years and some that lasted one clean.

i had one who lied about mopping the floors, one that got caught leaving an hour early on the doorbell, one who 'lost' my key for weeks until i said i would have to get her to pay for the lock to be changed and it miraculously appeared. one who cancelled every other clean, one who smelt really bad including of cigarette smoke and stood at my back door having a fag as it was raining outside, one who didn't agree with me breastfeeding and that i should be giving baby 'proper milk'. she lasted longer than she should have only because i was post c section and couldn't bear trying to find someone new at that time.

overall - get the client to be really clear what they want, what they don't want and be realistic about what you can provide.

oh and i don't want my toilet rolls made into fans or with stickers on or things embossed into them!

Really clear about what will be done weekly, fortnightly and monthly. Knowledgable about housekeeping and cleaning eg best ways/products to use and when things need doing.
Cheerful or at least not sullen or grumpy.

In return, I'm tidy, cheerful, not a micro manager and I'm very appreciative.

I see where you are coming from! I feel like this approach would also work for people who aren't quite sure what they want to start with. And then any changes/adjustments can be discussed.

On the 'elderly parents' board you'll see there is a vast market for cleaners who will also take on a kind of caring role - companionship, distraction, helping clear out cupboards, changing beds, staying in touch with massively overloaded relatives, putting away shopping, seguing into taking people shopping perhaps. I think there is a lot to think about for that- what responsibilities are reasonable, training, boundaries etc etc. But given that there are a teethgrittingly huge number of frail older people who refuse carers but will eventually accept a cleaner, and given that there's potential to charge more for that work, it's something to think about from a business perspective. The workers need to be resilient types who can cope with homes which are hugely cluttered but it takes weeks for them to be allowed to do any actual cleaning.

If you want to bring your own cleaning things (rather than the ones I supply) make sure they are actually good stuff - I would give you a good shark vacuum (incl pet hair attachment) and flash. You will give me a worse cleaning result with your ancient Henry and pound shop diluted cleaners.

This post but one above by @PermanentTemporary I 100% agree with.

Someone who isn’t exactly a cleaner, more of a ‘cleaner’, a flexible ‘Man Friday’ (is that right?), a friend/secretary/helper/interpreter/colleague, but one who also cleans.

Theres a massive need for people like this.

Yes. This.
If you don’t like the way a hairdresser does your hair/don’t like her appearance then you’d go somewhere else.
Other clients will be happy with her.

Same with a cleaner. If you don’t like the way they work/appearance/that they listen to music/use their own stuff - it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It just means they’re not the cleaner for you and you are not the client for them.

I have a sheet of what is included in a standard clean. It’s very detailed, literally down to cleaning the light switches. Every client gets one. They know they can expect all of those things to be cleaned each time.
They don’t tick anything. That’s what is done each time.

Lots of good stuff here.

id add being able to manage time and discuss expectations flexibly - like I want 3 hours a week, I don’t mind if the guest room isn’t done every week, but if I’ve left kids toys all over the floor I want you to pick them up and put them away (not tell me off! If I had time I wouldn’t be paying a cleaner!!) and do your best.

also being able to take feedback; I’ve never had a cleaner who says “did I miss anything or should I change anything I’m doing” and I think that would be incredible.

echo what others have said about putting stuff away sensibly or doing your best - like even if you don’t know where a jumper goes, can you fold it nicely?

Over familiarisation- definitely something to keep in control - different if you were in there 8 hours a day every day but you won’t be - 2 hours a week if you’re lucky- leaves no time for chit chat

I had a cleaner come to meet me and was put off when she talked at length about herself. She told me she loved fine dining and proceeded to tell me all the very very expensive places she had eaten. She quizzed me about a cookery book I had borrowed from the library. I was wondering why she was a cleaner if she can afford to eat in those places. It felt wrong somehow and I didn’t employ her. I didn’t get the impression she was keen on cleaning either! I looked her up on Facebook and her husband looked really menacing. He wasn’t smiling in any of the photos and looked severely pissed off. It just rang alarm bells.