Grow Your Own Magazine

Very nice kitchen Wayne!! Wish mine looked like that!

Thank you.

It didn't always look that way....

This side:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...t/IMG_0831.jpg

used to look like this:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7.../IMG_07841.jpg

and this side:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7...t/IMG_0835.jpg

used to look like this:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l7.../IMG_07871.jpg

All we seemed to have done since we moved in (about 3 years ago now) is renovate. Pretty much done now though! I think.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

hmmm i wouldnt be happy with the list of cleaning products to use in my own home either, are the products even environmentally freindly, are they the higher priced brand, at the end of the day every house is differant surely the cleaner would understand that, i never had a problem with what i was asked to do, at the end of the day they paid me, if a note was left asking me to do somthing extra i would be paid for it, but the cleaning product thing bit orf,

and yes loverly kitchen btw

Hey nice work! We've been renovating our house for about 8 years now. Got to finish it quickly now, coz our self build house should be ready soon!!

the cheek,giving YOU a list,it's your home and you pay the bill,her intitlement is suggest or advise any product,not tell you get this or that,unless she is alergic to something you have,and that should have been declared at onset of contract,things will no doubt settle down,you try telling the boss at work what aftershave ext to use.

Hi HeyWayne Sorry to hear you did not like your cleaners finishes on black work surfaces I work for someone with the same stuff but twice as much area. I dont do many hours but I bring all my own cleaning materials because I have sensitive skin and cant use just anything. I also swear by E-Cloths from Lakeland. Not cheap but last forever. You use one wet and polish with the dry thinner one. So no chemicals. They leave no marks on granite or stainless steel. I also use Stardrops on the floors and paintwork. If she was really good she should have left the kitchen immaculate. If she is no better next week I should ditch her. I must say your kitchen does look fab.

Hi HeyWayne. Just thought I would enquire how your cleaner was getting on. Have you still got her?

Hi Catrina

Yeah, she's still working for us. I think we were maybe being a little too picky - the whole point of us getting a cleaner was for us to be able to relax. So we're relaxing a bit more about the standard of cleaning. It's still clean, but it's not "clean" clean if you know what I mean...

I have an aversion to smears I think.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

Sorry HeyWayne, playing Devils Advocate here.... if you're relaxing your cleaning standard to accomodate a cleaner, why not clean youself, but to the lesser level, save some money and not be so stressed about being super clean?

I only ask because this is excatly what I 've been toying with since thinging of getting one myself

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Shortie

"There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children; one of these is roots, the other wings" - Hodding Carter

No I dont think that you should relax and accept what she is providing. Just explain nicely what you would like. I think if you have a cleaner she should clean to your standards. You want to be able to see that she has been. Dont accept what you would not be happy with yourselves.

If she is a good cleaner she should not be offended if you steer her in the direction you want. Explain about the smears. Otherwise you will always feel stressed when you come home to her cleaning. In my earlier post I mentioned about certain cleaning products which dont cost a lot. Maybe you could suggest she try them i.e. Ecloths which dont leave smears. If you have to provide all your own cleaning products why not try HG products available from any good hardware stores. The bath cleaner is called "white bath" ? cleaner and is very concentrated and only needs a very small amount and cleans very well. They also do a window cleaner which again dilutes and only needs a small amount and if you use it on a glass shower screen leaves no residue add it to water and then wipe over the window or screen and scrape off with a squeegee and a quick wipe. Very good products.

If all else fails use good oldfashioned Stardrops in a spray bottle topped up with water. It will clean almost everything. Dont accept second best. You are paying!

The main thing is, LadyWayne's happy with her. We've got one more week and we'll evaluate it then.

Thanks for all the feedback and suggestions - I'll put them to LadyWayne and see what she says, it's her call really. It is quite nice coming home to a clean home once a week.

I'm uncomfortable criticising truth be known.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

hello

we have a cleaner who comes once a week for two hours. in that time she only does the communal areas, so no bedrooms basically. we decided to get a cleaner because me and OH have very different ideas about cleaning, I do it once a week and try to stay on top of it, he is of the mindset that you should leave it till its really bad then have a good blitz. so, I was doing all the cleaning all the time. hence the cleaner. I am a bit like you HW...our cleaner doesn't clean to the standard I would, but I am so happy to walk into a clean and tidy house once a week and i realise that i am a bit of a perfectionist....so actually I don't mind at all that it isn't exactly how I would do it because the stress is totally taken away from me. its almost like if it was my responsibility it would have to be completely perfect, but because it isn't, I don't feel bothered by it at all. not sure if that makes sence? as for cleaning products...i generally buy what I like but if Carol recommends something in particular I'll give it a whirl.

My sediments exactly! Makes perfect sense.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 11th June

http://www.sloganizer.net/en/style2,HeyWayne.png

I think the reality is nobody will do it as well as we do ourselves, its just a case of finding someone that you feel takes the effort to ensure its done properly.

I'm happy with our current cleaner, though she does nag an awful lot, I try my best not to comment on any shortcomings for fear of having to do it myself.

Blimey...
Ours still comes in, once a fortnight, does the house for £24, I have a clean house, no smears, she uses all her own environmentally friendly products; she even cleans the computer keyboard! The only thing she doesn't do is the higher up dusting [our rooms are very high] and the windows; seems everything else she whizzes through.

No nagging, no problem, clean house, and I am a very happy bunny. Admittedly, I make sure I am out of the house when she is here as I don't want to interrupt!

Perhaps you need to trial a different cleaner HW; I certainly wouldn't be buying product on a trial!!! Perhaps if you were happy and agreed to proceed but never on a trial!

Can't believe she turned up late on the first day as well.

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Andrea :wavehello

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...logs/zazen999/

moon trial underway with onions, lettuce, tomatoes and calabrese.