Getting a cleaner

We have a man and wife, the wife does the in house cleaning and her husband does the garden and any little diy jobs. They are wonderful and make our life so easy. When we are away on holidays they change the curtains and clean the carpets and decorating. My husband is well paid so we are lucky to be able to afford them.

Thank you for the advice it’s very helpful. I will check out an agency as many have said and see how it goes.

I paid £12.50 per hour for cleaners last year when I sold my house, they were worth their weight in gold.

Funny you saying one of your cleaners bought her children Sara1954, my friend had a cleaner and wondered if her vacuum needed replacing, the carpet in the hallway always had stripes. She came home early one day - to find the cleaner pushing her baby backwards and forwards in the buggy in the hallway to get him off to sleep!

I had agency cleaners, and got through several before one suited, I knew they weren’t putting in the hours, and one girl kept bringing her children. Eventually we got someone who was amazing, more of a housekeeper than a cleaner, she always had everything under control. We had her for years till she emigrated, and we all miss her.
I tried for ages to replace her, but everywhere I tried didn’t cover our area, I’m now thinking of going down the deep clean route, as I’ve got a daughter and three grandchildren living here, and I’m never on top of things.

What Lucca said is a good idea.

I have cleaned a big old semi for a couple, she had a top job and worked long hours, he was a retired fireman.
She always left me a message with that day’s money by the kettle. So I always knew exactly what to do. I worked about six hours a week, half of that time was doing the ironing. Sometimes I had to carefully wash and dry her big tea pot collection!
I loved being her cleaner, but after I got a full time job I didn’t have the time.

Mine does my whole house in 2 hours! I would definitely use an agency. It's much easier if you can pay by direct debit or bank transfer.

That sounds good, Lucca
I thought of having cleaners come in to do a really good spring clean rather than someone to come in once a week for a couple of hours and do the kind of light housework which I can cope with.

Grandmadinosaur they should be able to do a really thorough job on three rooms in two hours.

I'd advise using an agency. More expensive but the staff will have been checked. Two hours should be plenty. I'd make sure you are nearby and not out of the house as you want to be sure the cleaner is staying for the time you're paying them for. Let them know where you'll be when they're there - eg in the conservatory/bedroom/office etc. It is also reassuring for the cleaner. My friend and I were cleaners at a huge house where the owner left expensive jewellery lying around and we were always terrified that we might be accused of taking something if she had mislaid it. Also make sure you are absolutely specific as to what you want them to do so there is no misunderstanding. Finally, always pay them once they've finished (unless it's agency staff) as there's nothing worse than your cleaner having to ask for wages if you forget - which happened to us a lot. Often the house owner would think she had paid us when in fact she hadn't.

As I knew other people,who employed them I left them to it.

I recently had a one off clean done. Two women came for two hours. Did both bathrooms all windows inside plus paintwork. Dusted lampshades. Vacuumed heavy curtains. Skirting boards etc. Cost £60. Well worth it and I’ll do it again later in the year! Personal recommendation.