I know I'll probably get flack for this, but does anyone on here have a cleaner?

We've got a lady coming round tonight to quote us for a weekly clean (meaning LadyWayne and I have more time to do other things ).

Any hints/tips on what to look for in a cleaner?

I'm not wholly comfortable with the idea, but if it means LadyWayne and I get more hours in the day, I'm all for it.

*prepares for barrage*

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

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Sure, what kind of product does she use, is she all eco friendly, or does she use old classics, like white wine vinegar to clean mirrors.

I would expect a cleaner, to hoover, and wipes down all the surfaces, mop, dust & polish, and clean silver and Brass, plus once a week to spring clean a single room throughout. She should be able to tell you how to get different stains out of things from carpets to curtains.

Do you want her to do laundry aswell, washing up, washing and ironing, all things are possible, she will charge by the hour and this cost will vary dependant on location.

The most important thing to find out is, is she a gossip. You don't want your dirty laundry paraded around for all and sundry.

a few years ago i used to clean for a lovely lady,the secret is trust on both sides,what she did initialy,was leave small change about in various places,to test my honesty,she was more than kind to me,when it was spring clean time,as in draws and closets out,i came across the odd valuable,but this was only until she got to know she could trust me,just bare in mind that it is as bad for your prospective cleaner as yourself,i was given some small jobs to do as a try out to see if we were both compatable,as for you thinking you might get it in the neck from others don't worry,you are after all giving someone a much needed job,,good luck

I know how you feel HW, I would - I think love a cleaner....we both work and find weekends are just about jobs!
What we have to do, what we really ought to do and what we should try to get done. This leaves very little play time.
Good luck, I really hope it works out for you, LadyWayne and your cleaner.

Thanks dolly, the lady in question lives two doors down from us. LadyWayne was talking to her last night and she said she'll get her boss (a friend of hers) to come round tonight and give us an idea of cost.

Thanks for the pointers too Mikey. I guess there are different levels of cleaning - once a week "going over", once a month more thoroughly, that kind of thing.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

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Hello Wayne

We have a cleaner. We use an Agency who get references on our behalf. We pay The Agency £20 per month and our cleaner £10 per hour. I was hesitant about getting a cleaner at first, but now I think of it as a win win situation, I get my house cleaned and our cleaner gets employment.

I would advise that you write down everything that you want her (or him) to do. If you or Ladywayne will be in whilst the're cleaning beware the overly chatty cleaners as they don't get as much done and you can't get on with your work. I'm on my 5th cleaner now, the most difficulty I've had has been when I had a cleaner that really wasn't a very good cleaner, but she was really nice and I didn't want to upset her. I was really relieved when she left for a more suitable job.

You'll not look back once you have a cleaner, good luck.

Tracey

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to be honest if you can afford it go for it as lottie says your giving somone a job i used to look after a lady and cook for her 3 times a week as her daughter lived a way and she would visit on the other days, never bothered me i washed her clothes and did general stuff,

couples who lead busy lives do need to spend more time with each other, these days relationships can be easily lost to lack of time good luck to you even if its just one day a week at least it takes some of the mundane stuff and makes way for more fun

think ya a posh git for getting a cleaner though

I've never had one (except Mr Bluemoon, when he can be persuaded) But my mum loved her job and when she was getting on a bit it became a choice between having a cleaner or retirement. There was a lovely lady in the village who had been an industrial cleaner all her life and, like mum, the job was getting too much for her. It was ideal, the lady 'retired' then did three mornings a week for Mum, enabling Mum to carry on with her job until they virtually had to kick her out, change the locks, forcibly confiscate her car-park permit...... well, perhaps not that bad, but she was 66yrs and 51wks old when she finally accepted that she couldn't creatively read the company's policy on retirement any longer. The lady still 'does' for Mum one day a week, but from what I can gather, apart from wiping the skirting boards which Mum has trouble kneeling to reach, it's more of a social thing, they drink lots of tea and it's the way Mum gets to hear all the gossip. The one thing I'd suggest is that you have a definite idea of what needs to be done and let the person you employ know what his/her duties will be. I know that in the early days of Mum's arrangement she left it to the cleaning lady and found that the jobs she really needed doing were being left and things that didn't need doing were done instead - she once took some plastic carrier-bags which were stuffed in a drawer and washed and dried them, Mum came home to find them flapping from the line.

i was was given different tasks each time,it depends on what YOU would like doing,after all you are paying the bill,the lady herself supllied all the relevant materials,and tolled ME what was to be done,i liked it better that way,after a while you all settle into a routine,apart from her home,i also periodicaly cleaned for a relitive of her's,when the rented properties were vacant,every nook&crany,polish,wash walls,oven,every thing,i was given trust with the keys to go and do what ever was needed,is all down to trust,she respected me and i her,is strange at first,you learn how to put things away lol

I don't have a cleaner at the moment but have in the past. I had one lady for five years and although she wasn't all that good I kept her because I was too soft. My advice would be, dedice with Mrs H what it is you want doing, don't leave it up the the cleaner. You could write her a rota for jobs that don't need doing every week, so, once a month she washes the windows, once a month the inside of the oven, once a month cleans the chimney (joke!) but you know what I mean. The other advice I would give is to say at the beginning that you only want help for a short time (twelve weeks) whilst you are busy on a work 'project', this will be your 'get out' clause if things don't go well, and it saves you from saying 'you're on trial'. If she proves invaluable after this time then you can always extend the contract further. This I feel is esp. important as she is a close neighbour. To be perfectly honest I wouldn't use a close neighbour, I'd ask the agency boss for someone further afield, but that's up to you, if you know that you're going to have a fab working relationship for a long time to come then go ahead. Best Wishes, S.

I'm the cleaner in our house, as I'm the part-timer, although the OH does help out. However if I was working full-time, I would deffo consider a cleaner. Time is precious. Go for it I say!

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Imagination is everything, it is a preview of what is to become.

Yep - me

I'm not being a martyr, as I work from home I find I can spend far too long in front of this 'pooter thing so getting up to put washing in/start supper/ironing etc gets me away from it for a short break.

Well, you can't just up and walk to the coffee machine when you want to chat with colleagues when you work alone ....the cat thinks I'm nuts as it is and as for the post man he throws the post in the door and makes a hasty get away

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aka
Suzie

I dont have a cleaner but would willingly pay for someone to do the blessed Ironing I hate it at the best of times and with my shoulder I cant reach very far.
Oh bliss for someone to change the beds hoover dust and generally clean then I could spend more time at the Lottie !!!
I used to clean for a lady doctor when my kids were small mum looked after them. My mum used to clean holiday cottages at weekends and I helped her.
Then when my sister was ill I did all her housework.

We've been thinking about getting one. We had one 4 years back when I was training and working long hours (though on reflection my hours are as long now!), but unfortunately she left after 2 months due to health problems. she was great: of the old school and did a great job (skirting boards etc.) We tried someone else afterwards who only came for one visit.
I've recently picked up a card from the PO for a cleaning lady and don't know whether to go for it. My reluctance is due to said person being allowed in our home when neither of us is here - she'd have to either have a key or have one left out for her. there is an agency a mile away but they quoted about £17 an hour, which I think is hellish expensive.

Really useful thread, thanks HW

I don't have a cleaner but I'm seriously thinking about getting one. My autistic son can be a handful at times and doesn't really have any concept of 'clean', 'tidy' or 'put away' (I'm being polite... to be un-pc, imagine living with a goat, albeit one you love to bits! ). I've been thinking that someone to help with keeping on top of things would be good but have been a bit uncertain as to how to go about it, or what is reasonable to expect.

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Stand up now diggers all

Well, we're gonna give her a go (she lives in the next street, so timing should be ok). £25 to clean all the floors, vacuum, clean the kitchen, bathrooms, and dust everywhere. Seems a nice lady, we'll see I guess.

Left LadyWayne to it, I felt a bit uncomfortable to be honest - but I'll get over it.

Thanks for all the hints/tips.

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A simple dude trying to grow veg.

http://haywayne.blogspot.com/ - UPDATED - 8th May

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We've been thinking of getting one too. We both work from home but find during the week by the time we've got all our work done, made the dinner, cleaned up, then our days are over and weekends are spent doing the cleaning. This means we get very little "quality time" together, i know it seems an extravagence (sp?) but as HW says - if we get more hours in the day & time to do other things. Just have to go about finding one now!

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Newbie,
keen but clueless

hi - I had a cleaner and she was fab. I used to pay her £10 (for 2hrs)per week. Each week she'd alternate between (1st week - cleaning downstairs and doing the ironing), (2nd week - upstairs and windows or something else that might need done). I loved getting home on a Friday to the smell of bleach/cleaning stuff! Fantastic! Unfortunately she gave up due to ill health at the time....saw her today actually, might ask her again! I think I was better at tidying up when I had a cleaner. Not that I cleaned up for the cleaner coming, just better at not leave a load of stuff lying around!

Recommendation - get your cleaner in on a Friday - leaves the weekend for more enjoyable things!

D