Employing a cleaner on an irregular basis

When I needed help with a blitz involving heavier jobs I used a company which specialise in one off cleans of rental properties when tenants move out. I found their details through a local letting agent.

You could ask for a deep clean now and again which is a different thing to a cleaner coming in now and again. The cleaning companies may be more receptive to this.

I googled and found in my city several firms that do one off deep cleans whole house about £130-£150. Probably an all or nothing thing with these firms.

My cleaner comes on an ad hoc basis when I need him. However he is a friend of my nephew so its an entirely informal arrangement. Sometimes I need him to do something not connected with cleaning. One week he cut my toenails! Hes also taken parcels to the post office.

News week he is coming just to hold the ladder while nephew does a job on the security system. He says he doesnt mind so long as he gets paid for the hours he does.

biglouis- how lucky are you? Wish I knew someone like this, as it is I have to ask my son to give me a hand and don't expect to pay him!

I think you will struggle to get a 'private' cleaner (ie one who's not working for an agency) to come ad hoc. I wanted one to come monthly to do things like clean picture rails, skirting boards and mirrors - basically high and low things that my knees make difficult, as I can do the rest myself - but we both realised that this would mean that I'd be vulnerable to being bumped if she got a weekly contract instead. I didn't blame her - she needs to make a living, and a weekly client is going to bring in more money.

We compromised, and she comes weekly for an hour and a half, but is willing to negotiate 'overtime' if I need something doing that will take longer. It's not ideal, but I'm happier with that than using an agency, which I'm less comfortable with.

In the small town where I live, there are numerous small cleaning businesses that offer ad-hoc cleaning, as well as the “deep cleans” previously mentioned. We have a Facebook ‘Sales & Services’ page and availability for such one-off cleans is often advertised there.

Hopefully you can find something similar in your area. Personally, I think a smaller business might be more amenable than a bigger agency.

We've a cleaning team of two women. They come on a schedule. If I want something special accomplished I ask in advance. Next time they fit in the task by leaving something(s) undone, I do undone task(s) myself.

Some companies will do one-offs, or occasionals. When I came out of hospital after 3 weeks last year, I remarked on the lack of dust, thinking dh must have been busy. No, he’d got a cleaner in!

I would advise to be mindful of these one-off cleaner teams........we had our home rewired recently and the electrician said he would book the team he normally uses to undertake a deep clean after his work was finished as there would be lots of dust etc.
They were bl***y useless - when we moved the sofa we found they had simply swept the dust and debris underneath it in the lounge. Needless to say, their fee was deducted from the cost of the re-wire.

I lament the loss of the "cleaning lady". The person who needs a bit of extra cash. Not these cleaners who rush in and whizz round so they can be off to the next job.

My lovely cleaner who came to me for over 20 years was a gem - about once ever 6 weeks or so she'd stay longer and do those "not so regular" jobs. Sometimes I'd just ask her on the day if she could do an extra half an hour and usually she could.

The trouble is, anyone can be a business these days - a Fb page and a mobile phone and Bob's your Uncle.

I've been disappointed way more times than I've been pleased with these new style cleaning businesses.

Do you have the NextDoor app for your area? Our one often has people advertising one off cleaning jobs.

ferry23 - you are so right. I had the most wonderful cleaning lady, who did everything that needed doing, and beyond. She has to give up only because her partner needed her to look after his business.
Now I have a father and daughter who come, whizz through the house, take the money and are off like a shot.
I’m sitting here now, looking at the skirting boards and they are disgusting 😩

This is why I prefer a regular who isn't working for an agency.

Thank you all. This has made interesting reading and had focused my thoughts somewhat.
I really would prefer someone local who is just looking for a regular, decently paid position.

Having spoken with my husband today, we really could manage to find work for someone on a weekly basis.

I am trying to think of anyone I know who might help in recommending such a person. There must surely be capable people out there who enjoy cleaning and would like to work for a couple of hours, perhaps to fit in with school times.

I'm unsure about using the Next Door app as no one seems to have references available or feedback on their work.

Anyway, this really has made me have a rethink. The fact is that we definitely need someone and it may be that we have to go with an agency in the end but I really would prefer to employ someone on a personal, permanent basis.

The thought of people whizzing through without doing a good job is what I dread - having to dismiss them if they're not providing a good enough service.

Oh I feel a headache coming on!

My headache will join yours Staro. In the past I have had brilliant local cleaners. I used to work for a care agency, which provided cleaning services. Allegedly. 90% of the employees did not know what a feather duster or a bottle of bleach was all about. Also, the mark-up for fees was horrendous. The useless cleaner would be paid £10 per hour. The care agency would charge £25 per hour. Wrong. Try to find someone local and independent. Don't forget the DBS check. You need to ensure that whoever enters your house is safe.

Good luck.

Is there a local FB page you could use to ask for recommendation, OP? That's where everything happens where I live . Missing cats, plumbers, cancelled trains and more - everything gets its 15 minutes of fame on there.

I used to clean for a few local houses before I took early retirement. Some only wanted a Fortnightly clean. I used to answer adverts in my local post office, so you could give that a try

How about contacting Age Uk? My sister has used them to find people to do jobs.

I am so sorry I didn't check back to see the last few messages but thank you all for the pointers.
Updating to say that I have managed to find a local lady from our community group who seems to be a good fit and I am awaiting references.
She has agreed to come fortnightly and is happy for me to give her a list of tasks, in order of priority, on the day and she will get through as much as she can. She is also happy for me to be at home when she cleans - I'll leave her to it of course.
It's sounding positive so far so fingers crossed.
It will be a great help and I have listed the sort of jobs I can no longer manage.
Thanks again to those who posted.