I’ve recently made the decision to hire a cleaner for our home. A few years ago I had a cleaner for a short period and she was amazing, I always looked forward to finishing work and walking into to a sparkling home. Unfortunately she became unwell and couldn’t work anymore. Fast forward a few years and I’ve tried out a few that all have come highly recommended but while the basics are done- toilets, bathrooms, floors etc There doesn’t seem to be the attention to detail and It’s the little things that my last cleaner did that made such a difference- the couch cushions fluffed, rugs replaced and straightened, bottles in the shower neatly lined up, tops of the light switches wiped, etc.
It’s a big chunk out of the family budget to still have to come home and feel like I have to go around finishing up myself.
So I thought I’d ask the sisterhood- if you are a cleaner or have a cleaner, What is reasonable to expect from a regular fortnightly clean?
Are my expectations of a cleaner too high?
Are my expectations of a cleaner too high?
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FAQ
13 Replies
I'd really only expect a sparkling home for a bond clean. Other than that as long as the main stuff is done I'm happy. I don't hire a cleaner now I'm working because the house doesn't get as messy compared to when I was a SAHM. Maybe just bring it up with the cleaner that you'd like those extra things done as well.
I think if you haven’t told the cleaner that’s what you expect then how would they know?
It’s not a bind clean so it’s not gonna be scrubbed to an inch of it life
Just say hey I’d really like if x y z were done while you cleaned
However be prepared to pay more
You're after a particular service, there's nothing wrong with that.
Communication is key though.
What you need to do is write a list of everything you'd like done.
You then need to discuss this with your cleaner, negotiate prices and hours etc - Your budget may require that you sacrifice certain tasks (the cushion plumping and fresh throws perhaps).
You do need to be willing to pay for the little extra bits though.
I feel exactly the same about cleaners. I had 1 years ago who did all those little things and the house smelt clean when I got home. Every cleaner I’ve had since, I feel like they really do a half ass job. It’s like I have to clean before they come and then again after. I have given up, I do it myself. I did try leaving a note with things I wanted done and said I was happy to pay more per hour if it was “above and beyond” (which I don’t think it is, it’s not that hard to line kids teddies up on the bed or wipe the front of the fridge) and they wanted to charge for an extra 2 hours to do the little things I wanted done which I thought was unreasonable. It’s so hard to find a good cleaner who goes the extra mile
I was a cleaner, for the right customer I used to go above and beyond. By the right customer I mean she left me choccies and sometimes slice that she had made, she'd ocassionally make me lunch. She was awesome. I had a few clients and one added extras to the list and never ever offered to pay more but still expected the list to be done. This included polishing her wood table and chairs, emptying her daughters room bin and picking up after the daughter including the sanitary producers she just threw on the floor at the age of 14. I told that client I would no longer come. I also don't remove dog/animal faeces. She would leave steamers her dog had done in the morning for me to pick up. I would fluff pillows and put them back nicely, line up shampoo bottles when I cleaned the shelves. But I wasn't a mind reader and I preferred it when I had a list of things to do.
As a paying customer, I’d only do nice things like leave out food and lunch if you went above and beyond. After all, I’m paying you to do the job. And extra things on my list means extra time you are there, so why should they offer more money when you’ll be getting it anyways?
See I don't think that's above and beyond. All of my cleaners have been that good and that's what I expect because I'm paying them. My last one cleaned bathrooms, toilets, vacuumed, mopped, cleaned kitchen and play room, changed sheets on all beds, conditioned the leather couches, took bins out every week. If she had extra time she would clean walls, the fridge, my pantry or a cupboard, put clothes I'd washed away or mop my deck. That was when it was her for 2 hours. When she had an assistant she only came for 1 hour but was more efficient so she would also wood polish antique furniture and my stairs. I paid $50 per week. I used her for 3 years.
As a cleaner too I agree with you. Some clients treat you like crap and you are not going to do extra for them, only if there's time to spare. There's a family I clean for who are so lovely and always leaving me vegies from their garden so I usually sweep and hose down their back patio for them, I go over time but I don't charge for it. It's the same with any industry, good things get returned!
I’m the OP. For the record, the house is always tidy before she comes, beds made and all surfaces and floors clear.
She
-dusts (but doesn’t move any ornaments etc.)
-cleans the bathrooms and toilets and does a great job but leaves the bottles from the shower in the middle of the shower floor, and doesn’t empty the bins or anything
-wipes over the kitchen bench
-vaccums, and mops the tiles.
I pay $30 an hour and she comes for 3-4 hours
You're being ripped off.
I would expect all that to be done in 2 hours at the most and I'd expect the bins to be emptied and bottles to be put back - that's honestly just lazy for a cleaner!
Some cleaners won't move ornaments etc though just in case they're sentimental and breakable.
I'd get a new cleaner tbh, she's doing bare minimum!
There are good ones out There, sometimes you've just got to sift through the duds til you find one that suits.
You get what you pay for! You could always write a list of things to get done if there's time to spare. You wouldn't ask a plumber or sparky to do more than the work the were paid to do, no different for cleaners.
I say yes. I hate with a passion what my co-workers call clean! I can only clean my work area once a week very well and it bugs me until it’s done thoroughly as the quick clean isn’t good enough for me but the same level as others thorough clean. I also cleaned professionally and charged a lot less than people who would offer less services. I think you had an amazing cleaner who went beyond what was actually normal for the services you expect m.