27/05/2025
Let's talk about what you should look for in a cleaner, and what to avoid!
💚 Experience & product knowledge. Not all products can be safely used on all surfaces, and a good cleaner will know how to clean different areas safely. For example - viakal on marble counter tops will cause damage, and toilet bleach on stainless steel will mark it!
💚 Insurance- this is so important. Accidents can happen, and hiring a cleaner who does not have insurance can be dangerous & costly. Many home contents insurance policies will not cover damage caused by tradespeople. Feel confident to ask to see a copy of your cleaners insurance certificate.
💚 Make sure any prospective cleaner undertakes a walk through & offers a guideline quotation. Not always necessary or possible for last minute work, however regular cleans should always begin with an initial meet and greet consultation.
💚 Bagged cloths & disposables for individual clients to avoid cross contamination. I use a colour coding system for my cloths to keep things sanitary, and all my regular clients have their own designated cloths 🥰
💚 Cleaners who know their limitations. I am not trained to clean ovens inside to a professional standard (yet!). I also do not touch TV/monitor screens or chandelier type light fittings simply because I am not confident to do so. I will always endeavor to do my best, but I want to minimise risk to your home and myself as much as possible.
🚩 Very low hourly rates. This is a sign of a cleaner being inexperienced in the profession and working without insurance. Be aware of people offering very cheap cleaning services, or people who say they can complete cleans in very few hours. A high quality DEEP clean on a 3 bedroom house with 1.5 bathrooms will take anywhere between 6 & 12 hours dependant on condition.
🚩 Offering immediate availability without meeting you first - never feel pressured to accept a cleaner into your home without feeling 100% trust in them.
🚩 Upfront payment in full for adhoc / one off services. A deposit is sufficient, usually around 50%, but never pay for services in full before the work is completed. Sadly I have heard many horror stories of people finding cleaners, paying them in full, and then the work is either not completed or has been completed to a poor standard.
🚩 Dirty or messy cleaning caddys, or arriving with products & cloths in a carrier bag. It just looks sloppy, and professional cleaners would not work in this way.
🚩 Not discussing the safe use of bleach with you. Bleach is great, but only for specific purposes. This is the number 1 way I have seen people to cause damage in a clients home. I will always check if you are happy for me to use bleach, and explain the areas I limit it to.
To summarise ; sadly there are some 'cowboy' cleaners out there, as with any other trade. Some people think cleaning is easy & anyone can do it. This is not correct - you are trusting someone in your personal space, and should expect the highest of standards. Always fully vet anyone you are welcoming into your home, and be curious - we are never offended 🥰 happy cleaning 🫧🧼🪣🧹
