if you have a cleaner, what do you ask them to do and how long does it take?

[oregonianabroad]

??

5 hours, 2 times a week (total of 10 hours)

Change bedding and launders bedding once a week,
Clean bathrooms, cleans kitchen (including fridge, oven, cupboards as needed), hoovers, cleans floors, dusts all surfaces, polishes silver, hoovers upholstery, cleans mirrors and windows as needed, tidies all rooms, ironing, empties bins and recycling

4 bed, 3 bath semi

sofaqueen - can i ask how you work it. does she do set jobs one day and completely different rooms the other.

im a cleaner and i have one lady who likes to 'spotless' house - as in drawers, cupboards. im finding 5 hours isnt enough to the standard she wants in. must add i work for lots of others people where 3 hours is enough so i knows it not me lol. think this might be the answer but not sure how it would work.

thanks

merryberry - can i ask are your cleaners private? i need to put my money now ive been with the family a year but not sure how to handle it. thanks

kylesmyloveheart: she does all rooms twice a week. The drawers/cupboards are done only on days when there is no ironing to be done, or I have her skip something else. They are not done even done every week, as it truly would be too much. It is quite a bit of work, and it would be extremely unfair for her to do everything all the time. I do tell her to use her judgement in terms of low-use rooms (like most of the "nice" reception room. There is no need for her to do a thorough job twice a week there.

I do like a very clean/tidy house, but not necessarily spotless (impossible to maintain!), but also know that it would be unfair if I expected my cleaner to make my house spotless and I do nothing to help her out. Perhaps you can work something out with your employer. Have a list of things which obviously need doing every week, and a second list of things which can be done fortnightly. Split the fortnightly things into 2 and do one half one week and the other half the other (cupboards, silver, upholstery, lampshades). I find communication really is helpful.

yes kyle,m they are private in that they just work for themselves. every 12-15 months i get a little note, clearly photocopied around all the other clients they have, stating what the intended date and new rate are and asking for discussion if this is not OK. this year's is the biggest increase (10%!) yet, but the last 3 years were below the rate of inflation so fair do's.

sorry kyle, they always say it is to meet the rise in the cost of living: rent, transport and food.

Thats one thing i am terrible at.....I have had some of my customers for 9 years and not asked for an increase at all in that time

Thats one thing i am terrible at.....I have had some of my customers for 9 years and not asked for an increase at all in that time

Sorry

Sofa - thanks for that. the lady i work for does like her house 'super clean'. it is newly renovated and amazing. she has 2 small kids and has only just gone to work due to the recession. i should imagine she kept it to a very high standard when she was a SAHM. she has stressed numerous time its not my work. and even as im going round i can see i need to do something and just know i havent got the time. its 4 storey with 6 bedrooms/office etc.

i think the way forward it so do it twice a week. maybe i will start at the top one day and the bottom the other. lol tbh after i have cleaned it properly for 5 1/2 hours i dont feel like cleaning it anymore. and then theres the ironing.

blossom - i havent worked for anyone for a year yet but when i do im going to send an email asking to put it up from £9 per hour to £10. my first lady i will do it to is lovey. has helped me out loads giving me £80 tesco vouchers, £80 at xams. so hopefully if she says yes it will give me courage. shes a laywer so maybe will understand. im lucky shes fantastic to work for as well so dont want to push the boat.

can someone help me out with the rate of inflation. if im charging £9 per hour and raised it with the rate of inflation how much would i then charge. thanks

anyone help? thanks

Inflation is currently 3% I think. So an inflation rise on £9 would be 9 x 3% = 27p. So if I were you I'd round it up to £9.30 or possibly £9.50 if that is a reasonable rate where you are.

oh thanks dont think i will bother lol. will put it up to £10 as thats what i charge my new jobs anyway. thanks for that.

reading this thread, i want one

When we both worked we had a cleaner who did two hours every Mon, Wed and Fri. She did all the washing up, laundry (including putting the clean clothes away), picking up dirty stuff and cleaning. It was a two bedroom house.

Now we are both at home raising a kid in a 5 bedroom house. Our current cleaner does 3 hours a week, cleaning floors, bathrooms and the kitchen.

I would go up to £10 if i were you kylesmyloveheart! Wish i could practise what i preach!!! At the moment i am abit worried about losing my customers by putting the price up, i know lots of them are having job problems etc.,