Hiring a cleaner

[TheGreatGarfield]

Yeah I would agree the sharing of the home is a massive red flag for me. If I thought my cleaner was sharing my home without asking I’d be really concerned

 

[lurkingaround123]

It’s so hard to trust someone! I had 2 women coming to my 2 bed apartment, one bedroom is a wardrobe and I live alone so it’s hardly a big job, it’s just nice to pay someone to mop/change the sheets/do the bathroom.

I came back the other day after they’d been and there was still the remnants of my bath bomb from the night before around the bath and the kitchen floor had chicken tikka on it which I spilt, noticed and thought ‘ah well cleaners are here tomorrow’.

How can 2 women spend an hour in a 2 bed flat and not have time to clean the bath or floor. Also they took photos of every room in my house and put it on the Instagram without asking more hassle than it’s worth

 

[super grateful]

Okay so she messaged me back… (picture attached). It’s completely different to what she said in our first messages (£12 per hour or £18 per hour if windows are included). Also remember she arrived at 1430 and left at 1645. (But maybe that counts as 3 hours now, if so I’ll be informing my own boss of that ASAP haha). Either her or I have misunderstood what per hour means, it seems.

I would be concerned and honestly would file a report with the police. I don't want to scare you but if she was showing her partner your house on FaceTime it could be so they would know what to grab and where everything was to break in in future.

This was my exact concern! I was upstairs working when I heard her on FaceTime and thought it was odd (could hear bits of the conversation) but then even weirder when she told me about it afterwards?! Like do I just go to bed tonight expecting to be burgled? So strange.

We've only had one, they were word of mouth. It was about £75 but we had a huge house at the time and they sent 3 women for about 3 hours and they did a brilliant job each time so more than reasonable.
Because you've implied the woman is a bit rough and she's shown her partner round your house I wouldn't kick up a fuss this time. I know you've asked for the itemised invoice but just say it was for your financial records if she asks. Just write it off as a bad experience and maybe get some extra security in your house.

That is reasonable!! I only have a 3 bed semi…

That’s good advice, thank you. Probably not worth the hassle is it. Just kicking myself as I’m usually very switched on and cautious!

Thankfully we have a Ring doorbell and my neighbours have good CCTV. So fingers crossed.

Thank you everyone for your replies!! Seems word of mouth is the way to go. I’ll get asking around.

 

[Noseyoldcow]

Wow that doesn’t sound right at all?
We have a weekly cleaner - it’s taken us AGES to find a decent one - we’ve had a few rubbish ones -one we found out was charging for 3 hours and leaving after an hour and a half, one was bringing her baby and letting it play with our kids toys etc whilst she cleaned (we had no idea!)
Our cleaner now was found through word of mouth she is worth her wait in gold - she is very fussy and has a brilliant eye for detail. She charges £12 an hour.

 

[Holidaybobs]

Sorry but you have definitely been had over. I wouldn’t trust her again. I agree, it’s hard to find a good cleaner, there are many you can’t trust. I’ve caught a past cleaner trying on my clothes before, which was slightly awkward when I walked into the room. I’ve also had one who missed two floors of my house, clearly thinking we wouldn’t notice as the top floor isn’t always used. I think it’s a case of trial and error. We have a lovely mother and daughter duo now. Also, everyone I’ve used has always had windows in the price. I’ve never seen this differently.

 

[Little_Red_Rides]

I used the app 'Handy' twice; the first time was the exact same experience as you - the cleaning felt a bit meh. Dust was still around, the oven seemed streaky and the carpets definitely hadn't been given a proper hoover - just seemed like a half arsed attempt.
The second time a 6 ft 6 man turned up and changed into a pair of heels to start the cleaning (before I left to go to work), he actually did a great job but I then never heard from him again!?

Maybe download 'nextdoor' (the app) and put a post on there about recommendations for a good cleaner? That's how we found our current lady and she's fab!

 

[Lola UK]

I would love a cleaner! Even someone to come twice a month would be lovely, but I’m definitely worried about trusting someone.

I used to Nanny and my nanny family had 2 cleaners who were paid for 3 hours a week, often I would take the baby out to get out of their way. One day I took the baby out, but came back after 10 minutes as I’d forgotten something and they had gone! They had only been there an hour and a half!

 

[dancingqueen5678]

I would be concerned and honestly would file a report with the police. I don't want to scare you but if she was showing her partner your house on FaceTime it could be so they would know what to grab and where everything was to break in in future.

Also idk where she's plucked £73 from but she has ripped you off for sure. I would hand her details to the police and never contact her again.
We've had many cleaners as we have them short term usually. Most we've paid is £28 for 2 hours and that was a company.

 

[Yel]

Even before covid finding a good cleaner was like finding hens teeth. Now so many more are working from home and probably can't face cleaning their home so cleaners are really in demand.

I've had loads of cleaners for one clean, so often they leave and i wonder wtf were they doing for 3 hours. Once they left I was so annoyed at everything missed I managed to do a better clean in an hour. The last thing you should be doing straight after a cleaner has visited is cleaning!

Usually a good cleaner is fully booked, but a bit of persistence should pay off

 

[Definitelyme]

Okay so she messaged me back… (picture attached). It’s completely different to what she said in our first messages (£12 per hour or £18 per hour if windows are included). Also remember she arrived at 1430 and left at 1645. (But maybe that counts as 3 hours now, if so I’ll be informing my own boss of that ASAP haha). Either her or I have misunderstood what per hour means, it seems.



This was my exact concern! I was upstairs working when I heard her on FaceTime and thought it was odd (could hear bits of the conversation) but then even weirder when she told me about it afterwards?! Like do I just go to bed tonight expecting to be burgled? So strange.



That is reasonable!! I only have a 3 bed semi…

That’s good advice, thank you. Probably not worth the hassle is it. Just kicking myself as I’m usually very switched on and cautious!

Thankfully we have a Ring doorbell and my neighbours have good CCTV. So fingers crossed.

Thank you everyone for your replies!! Seems word of mouth is the way to go. I’ll get asking around.

Has she ever done this before? Surely she doesn’t think that if it’s (example price) £10 per hour or £15ph for windows included that it’s actually both prices added together? Which seems to have been what she has done. Unless she somehow spent the whole time cleaning windows while cleaning everything else that’s just ridiculous

Don’t have her back. I have had two cleaners, now I just suck it up and do it myself as I’m never happy with the standard. First was a company and you’d get some great people, then some crap ones. Second was a very nice, very cheap lady who just did a terrible job and lasted 3 weeks.

 

[Rxt156]

WTF £73????
I thought it was one price for just clean… or the higher price for windows and clean of the house …
Not both added together

 

[LaurieLaurie]

Email and ask for a breakdown of the £73

Did you miss hear?

 

[super grateful]

Has she ever done this before? Surely she doesn’t think that if it’s (example price) £10 per hour or £15ph for windows included that it’s actually both prices added together? Which seems to have been what she has done. Unless she somehow spent the whole time cleaning windows while cleaning everything else that’s just ridiculous

Don’t have her back. I have had two cleaners, now I just suck it up and do it myself as I’m never happy with the standard. First was a company and you’d get some great people, then some crap ones. Second was a very nice, very cheap lady who just did a terrible job and lasted 3 weeks.

Yeah really weird. She has apparently had the business a long time and has loads of loyal clients (or so it seems. I’ve done a lot of Facebook stalking and the reviews on there, Google and Instagram seem to be from genuine people ). I just assume she has tried (and succeeded) to mug me off! I doubt anyone would become a regular with those prices / lack of common sense. I haven’t replied to the message, just kicked myself.

All seems quite hit and miss doesn’t it. Maybe just doing it yourself is the way forward! At least you know it’s done properly then.

 

[Idkk]

I’ve had 2 cleaners now and I was unimpressed both times. If I have to clean things after they’ve left, then what’s the point? The second one was a cheeky shit too. She was supposed to be here for 2 hours. After the first 45 minutes my husband told her he’d been called into work and said to let herself out when she was done. 5 minutes after he left, I heard her leave. She didn’t know I was in the house (I was working quietly in my studio). Of course we were still charged for 2 hours.

 

[judgejohndeed]

We've only had one, they were word of mouth. It was about £75 but we had a huge house at the time and they sent 3 women for about 3 hours and they did a brilliant job each time so more than reasonable.
Because you've implied the woman is a bit rough and she's shown her partner round your house I wouldn't kick up a fuss this time. I know you've asked for the itemised invoice but just say it was for your financial records if she asks. Just write it off as a bad experience and maybe get some extra security in your house.

 

[Purrrrrrr]

Oh, that does not sound like a good experience at all. Did she explain how it came to that much?

Word of mouth is the best way. I found my lovely friend through cleaning. She was helping me and became ill and now we are best mates. She charged me £10 and just did what I asked for and did it properly. if she stayed for 3 hours I paid £30

Showing someone your house? Nope discretion at all times. No gossip about you or your home.

 

[Booington]

I haven’t got a cleaner but wow, that’s not on showing someone your home on Zoom, shows utter lack of self awareness too that she told you (although at least you know!) I think it’s trial and error finding someone but you need to be very clear what you want beforehand I guess- how on earth does it come to that much? Surely it should be £36 max?

 

[disneys]

Oh that is so weird ! £73 is a rip off - we have a cleanser who comes once a fortnight and she charges £22 for 2 hours and does the windows for free !

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

I’ve never had a cleaner but have often considered it but having strangers in my home makes me a bit nervous so haven’t taken the plunge yet. I would do as others have said though, chalk it up to a bad experience and never use her again. Doesn’t seem worth the hassle and she seems really unprofessional. It seems like word of mouth is the best way to find a good cleaner, I often see people on my local Facebook groups asking for cleaner suggestions, maybe try that? I’d probably trust someone recommending a cleaner more than a cleaner replying and essentially recommending themselves.

 

[Caffeine Fiend]

Definitely word of mouth. I also find good cleaners are often fully booked. Not to say there arent good ones with spaces though.

Id interview first and ask how long theyve been going to the clients they go to. If theyre honest it should tell you a lot, unless theyre new to it of course.