Finding a great cleaner for your home can be a hassle. So are cleaning apps the answer?
I’ve been looking into the pros and cons of booking through a cleaning app, to help you decide.
Booking Your Clean
This sounds straightforward – choose the cleaning tasks, hours and frequency of cleans. What could be simpler?
But here’s the thing. A professional cleaner won’t approach cleaning your home the way you do. How often do you actually clean your whole home in one go? As busy people, we will usually clean “on the go” and then tackle a deeper clean of the bathrooms, or kitchen, for example when we have more time.
Your first professional clean will almost always take longer, as some areas will need more attention (when did you last vacuum under the beds?)
So while you might have an idea how long it takes to clean your home, you might be under- (or over-) estimating.
And that might mean that when you book your clean through an app, you don’t get the cleaning results you are hoping for.
How professional is “professional?”
Most cleaning apps state that they ask for 6 months’ professional experience from cleaners signing up. But what does this mean in practice?
You might expect that your cleaner has been trained on how to carry out cleaning tasks efficiently, effectively and hygienically. If you have delicate surfaces in your home which require special care (marble worktops or real wood flooring, for example) you’ll have greater peace of mind if you know your cleaner has received the right training.
When you book through a cleaning app it”s not always clear what training is provided, if any. Which brings me onto the next question.
Who is cleaning your home?
Let’s face it. Your cleaner is coming into your private space. They may be cleaning your home when you are out at work.
When you book your clean through a cleaning app, you may be able to request a regular cleaner so you can get to know each other. But it may not always be possible to book the same person each week. Cleaning apps have a high turnover of cleaners, and holiday and sickness cover can mean a different cleaner every time.
This doesn’t just mean an inconsistent clean. It also means you can’t build a relationship of trust with that person coming into your home.
Are you covered?
Even with the most careful cleaner, accidents can occasionally happen. So if you need to repair or replace something as a result of damage during a clean, are you covered if you booked through a cleaning app?
It’s well worth digging around in the T&Cs of your cleaning app to check this. Some offer cleaning credits up to a maximum amount, as “goodwill.” But this may not solve your problem if you need to replace a carpet. Always make sure your own insurance covers you in this situation.
How is your cleaner paid?
Major cleaning app Housekeep states on their website that cleaners earn between £12.50 and £13.50 per hour, plus any tips. The London Living Wage is currently £13.85 per hour, so the Housekeep hourly rate falls short of this.
The local advantage
Booking with a cleaning app is like booking a taxi through Über (which is scary enough). But your Über driver is not coming into your home and touching your belongings.
Alternatively, consider arranging your cleaning through an agency. The joy of local agencies is the human touch. They work to develop a deep relationship with both their clients and their cleaners. They get to know your home and your cleaning needs, to match you with the perfect cleaner. And by ensuring your cleaner is professionally trained, enjoys decent working conditions and receives fair pay for their work, a local agency can provide you with consistent, high quality cleaning every time.
