Do you have a cleaner?

**Mikey** · 24-04-2008, 04:46 PM

Sure, what kind of product does she use, is she all eco friendly, or does she use old classics, like white wine vinegar to clean mirrors.

I would expect a cleaner, to hoover, and wipes down all the surfaces, mop, dust & polish, and clean silver and Brass, plus once a week to spring clean a single room throughout. She should be able to tell you how to get different stains out of things from carpets to curtains.

Do you want her to do laundry aswell, washing up, washing and ironing, all things are possible, she will charge by the hour and this cost will vary dependant on location.

The most important thing to find out is, is she a gossip. You don't want your dirty laundry paraded around for all and sundry.

**lottie dolly** · 24-04-2008, 04:49 PM

a few years ago i used to clean for a lovely lady,the secret is trust on both sides,what she did initialy,was leave small change about in various places,to test my honesty,she was more than kind to me,when it was spring clean time,as in draws and closets out,i came across the odd valuable,but this was only until she got to know she could trust me,just bare in mind that it is as bad for your prospective cleaner as yourself,i was given some small jobs to do as a try out to see if we were both compatable,as for you thinking you might get it in the neck from others don't worry,you are after all giving someone a much needed job,,good luck

**Headfry** · 24-04-2008, 04:55 PM

I know how you feel HW, I would - I think love a cleaner....we both work and find weekends are just about jobs!
What we have to do, what we really ought to do and what we should try to get done. This leaves very little play time.
Good luck, I really hope it works out for you, LadyWayne and your cleaner.

**HeyWayne** · 24-04-2008, 04:55 PM

Originally posted by lottie dolly View Post

a few years ago i used to clean for a lovely lady,the secret is trust on both sides,what she did initialy,was leave small change about in various places,to test my honesty,she was more than kind to me,when it was spring clean time,as in draws and closets out,i came across the odd valuable,but this was only until she got to know she could trust me,just bare in mind that it is as bad for your prospective cleaner as yourself,i was given some small jobs to do as a try out to see if we were both compatable,as for you thinking you might get it in the neck from others don't worry,you are after all giving someone a much needed job,,good luck

Thanks dolly, the lady in question lives two doors down from us. LadyWayne was talking to her last night and she said she'll get her boss (a friend of hers) to come round tonight and give us an idea of cost.

Thanks for the pointers too Mikey. I guess there are different levels of cleaning - once a week "going over", once a month more thoroughly, that kind of thing.

**Tracey** · 24-04-2008, 04:58 PM

Hello Wayne

We have a cleaner. We use an Agency who get references on our behalf. We pay The Agency �20 per month and our cleaner �10 per hour. I was hesitant about getting a cleaner at first, but now I think of it as a win win situation, I get my house cleaned and our cleaner gets employment.

I would advise that you write down everything that you want her (or him) to do. If you or Ladywayne will be in whilst the're cleaning beware the overly chatty cleaners as they don't get as much done and you can't get on with your work. I'm on my 5th cleaner now, the most difficulty I've had has been when I had a cleaner that really wasn't a very good cleaner, but she was really nice and I didn't want to upset her. I was really relieved when she left for a more suitable job.

You'll not look back once you have a cleaner, good luck.

Tracey

**areia** · 24-04-2008, 05:01 PM

to be honest if you can afford it go for it as lottie says your giving somone a job i used to look after a lady and cook for her 3 times a week as her daughter lived a way and she would visit on the other days, never bothered me i washed her clothes and did general stuff,

couples who lead busy lives do need to spend more time with each other, these days relationships can be easily lost to lack of time good luck to you even if its just one day a week at least it takes some of the mundane stuff and makes way for more fun

think ya a posh git for getting a cleaner though

**bluemoon** · 24-04-2008, 05:10 PM

I've never had one (except Mr Bluemoon, when he can be persuaded) But my mum loved her job and when she was getting on a bit it became a choice between having a cleaner or retirement. There was a lovely lady in the village who had been an industrial cleaner all her life and, like mum, the job was getting too much for her. It was ideal, the lady 'retired' then did three mornings a week for Mum, enabling Mum to carry on with her job until they virtually had to kick her out, change the locks, forcibly confiscate her car-park permit...... well, perhaps not that bad, but she was 66yrs and 51wks old when she finally accepted that she couldn't creatively read the company's policy on retirement any longer. The lady still 'does' for Mum one day a week, but from what I can gather, apart from wiping the skirting boards which Mum has trouble kneeling to reach, it's more of a social thing, they drink lots of tea and it's the way Mum gets to hear all the gossip. The one thing I'd suggest is that you have a definite idea of what needs to be done and let the person you employ know what his/her duties will be. I know that in the early days of Mum's arrangement she left it to the cleaning lady and found that the jobs she really needed doing were being left and things that didn't need doing were done instead - she once took some plastic carrier-bags which were stuffed in a drawer and washed and dried them, Mum came home to find them flapping from the line.

**lottie dolly** · 24-04-2008, 05:15 PM

i was was given different tasks each time,it depends on what YOU would like doing,after all you are paying the bill,the lady herself supllied all the relevant materials,and tolled ME what was to be done,i liked it better that way,after a while you all settle into a routine,apart from her home,i also periodicaly cleaned for a relitive of her's,when the rented properties were vacant,every nook&crany,polish,wash walls,oven,every thing,i was given trust with the keys to go and do what ever was needed,is all down to trust,she respected me and i her,is strange at first,you learn how to put things away lol

**Marthaclematis** · 24-04-2008, 05:28 PM

I don't have a cleaner at the moment but have in the past. I had one lady for five years and although she wasn't all that good I kept her because I was too soft. My advice would be, dedice with Mrs H what it is you want doing, don't leave it up the the cleaner. You could write her a rota for jobs that don't need doing every week, so, once a month she washes the windows, once a month the inside of the oven, once a month cleans the chimney (joke!) but you know what I mean. The other advice I would give is to say at the beginning that you only want help for a short time (twelve weeks) whilst you are busy on a work 'project', this will be your 'get out' clause if things don't go well, and it saves you from saying 'you're on trial'. If she proves invaluable after this time then you can always extend the contract further. This I feel is esp. important as she is a close neighbour. To be perfectly honest I wouldn't use a close neighbour, I'd ask the agency boss for someone further afield, but that's up to you, if you know that you're going to have a fab working relationship for a long time to come then go ahead. Best Wishes, S.

**lainey lou** · 24-04-2008, 05:28 PM

I'm the cleaner in our house, as I'm the part-timer, although the OH does help out. However if I was working full-time, I would deffo consider a cleaner. Time is precious. Go for it I say!