Any advice about having a cleaner ( for the first time)

I like and trust our cleaner, I have her for five hours a week, and rather than rushing through the whole house, she thoroughly cleans several rooms, which includes cleaning windows, taking down light fittings to clean, taking all books off shelves etc
This works for me, and I just do a few bits that may need doing at the weekend.
I make sure everything is tidy, make the children put everything away, empty bins, make sure I’m not paying her to tidy.
This works well for me, she has children which makes her slightly unreliable, but I just have to put up with that.

I like to think of a cleaner as ‘help’ and don’t expect miracles. As my MIL used to say “You have to do the finishing touches yourself”.
Every cleaner will have some little thing which might not be exactly as you wish, they’re human, just like our husbands/partners etc.

Make sure she is up to date with her vaccines. 3 cleaners ago that lady refused to be vaccinated so she went. The next one spoke no English and although I have two colours of cloths and many of them, I discovered blue which is for loos etc being used in the kitchen.
It is better also you decide what is thrown out, even cleaning solutions because otherwise you may be told the next time she arrives she needs x and you have zilch.
Specifiy which items of furniture are easy to move. I appear to have circular rooms with no corners and she has not moved one item of furniture, even washes around the door mat.
I am lucky, I live in London and there is no shortage.

Thanks everyone, this is all very helpful

I decided on a cleaner when OH had first hip op and found one by word of mouth.
I reiterate what others have said about making clear what you want them to do from the outset then no misunderstanding later.
Treat them with respect but not as a bosom buddy.
Lastly pay a decent wage. I pay mine if I have to cancel her and pay her if she is off ill.
I occasionally give her small treats, so that she knows she is appreciated. It’s a two way relationship.

I advertised in the local church when word of mouth wasn't working. My DD had found here's via FB.

I found making a list each week worked well - but don't expect the impossible.
It had essentials, followed by things that could be carried forward to the next week.

you really need to specify your expectations, and get agreement.
hoovering the stairs is clear, but what exactly do you mean by,
<doing the kitchen>, etc.
make sure you both understand and agree how what work is to be done.
good luck.

My cleaner was ok for a few months then just did exactly as she wished!
She once let herself in when we were out and borrowed our hoover to clean a neighbours house.
I only kept for so long because she had a daughter who lived over a delicatessen she called it a “ dellincontestant” it made me smile.

Set out from the first day just what you want doing. One of my sons had a cleaner who was just rubbish. The place needed another cleaning when she had gone. They dont have her anymore.

job!

Don't forget, it is you that is employing your cleaner so you call the shots (within reason). Sometimes cleaners will say 'I'll do this but I won't do that' etc. where, in another jon, they would be shown the door.

You need to decide exactly what you want her/him to do silverlining then be clear from the first day. Two hours is not long so need for tea breaks unless the cleaner wants one at the end of the two hours. Don't waste time chatting, he/she is an employee not a friend then you both know where you stand.
Don't fall into the trap of asking "can you just do" giving extra work, this used to annoy my daughter a lot when she had her cleaning round. As someone else said agree on equipment and products to be used at the outset. Good luck it's nice to have some of the work done by someone else.

Skybubble that’s an excellent idea. Thanks for that.

Try the “Nextdoor neighbour” app it’s a really good place to look for local recommendations. Wishing you a speedy recovery with your operation.

I have had cleaners for several years. The best way to start is with written instructions.

As I got older, I needed the cleaner to do more of the heavy work, like washing paintwork, skirtings, windows etc. it is really important to articulate clearly what your expectations are and get this agreed.

For example do you want things wiped over, just dusted or polished. Don’t expect the cleaner to read your mind.

There are cleaning checklist that you can print off and this will help you f you are not sure.

I completely understand silverlining and hope the op makes a world of difference to you.?

Having been a cleaner and now have one, be clear about what you want doing. It will take longer to do at first but cleaners speed up as they get used to your home. I don't mind if mine leaves early so long as everything I want gets done.
I always point out coffee etc and am happy for them to grab a cup just because it's kind. My cleaner doesn't take a break but will sometimes fill her travel mug.
She's been with us for 7 years now and is worth her weight in gold.

GSM I know what you mean but my upcoming hip operation has justified it for me. Drastic maybe but needs must.

I had a cleaner for a while after surgery. She didn’t like doing the bathroom, which was easy as I always cleaned the toilet before she arrived so just the sink and bath and vinyl floor. I asked her to do the kitchen before the bathroom. I often had hospital appointments on the cleaning day and liked to come back to a sparkling house but three visits in a row I came home an hour early and she had gone. I didn’t say anything but the next visit she kept suggesting I go out and leave her to it. I didn’t go out. She didn’t come back and I never tried a cleaner again. I’d like to but the negative experience put me off. I’ll need to get over that so I’ll be following with interest.
The cleaner also brought her child on inset days, what do others do when the cleaner needs the job but has no childcare?

Remember the thread about the cleaner who wouldn’t clean the shower trap? If you want that done say so straight away!

I agree with the comment about getting ‘stuff’ out of the way to make cleaning easier.

I’d love a cleaner but can’t justify it solely on the grounds of my hatred of housework and downright laziness!

Perhaps a check list with things you want done in order of importance. I would find it difficult to judge what they could accomplish in two hours as I am so slow these days. Good luck with the op.

Will check MN Welbeck Certainly most of my AC friends have cleaners.

Don't become too friendly, too much time will be lost chatting and it will be more difficult to say anything if you are not happy with some aspect of the work. Do not offer coffee, two hours is not long enough to need a break.

I dont think I would feel comfortable leaving her on her own here, not yet anyway.
Was thinking of asking her to do the kitchen, downstairs cloakroom, bathroom and hoover stairs regularly. No clue how long that woukd take.

there is a lot of discussion about the trials and tribulations of having a cleaner over on Mumsnet.
so you might want to take a look on there.
the main thing seems to be the need to clearly specify what is expected to be done, what is a must and what desirable, and whether if it takes longer to do the musts, you will pay extra to complete, or prefer to leave it and cut off strictly after 2 hours.