So you’ve found a cleaner, and you’ve booked your first visit. But what are you going to ask them to do?
Defining the jobs cleaners do is not as straightforward as you might imagine. Ask a few friends who have a cleaner, and you are likely to get a range of different answers.
Of course, when you first book your cleaner, it’s a great idea to ask what they include in their “standard clean”. But it’s also important to be clear about the tasks you shouldn’t ask your cleaner to carry out.
Here’s my guide to the jobs cleaners do as part of a cleaning visit to your home.
Regular tasks
These are the tasks you can expect to be completed every time your cleaner visits.
- Vacuuming floors
- Dusting surfaces
- Cleaning kitchen surfaces
- Wiping the hob
- Cleaning the bathroom(s)
- Washing or mopping hard floors
It’s your home, so it’s a good idea to talk to your cleaner about what you would like to see when they have completed a cleaning visit. If coming home to a neatly made bed, or plumped up sofa cushions, is your idea of cleaning heaven, then explain this. But if you would rather your cleaner spent time putting away the breakfast pots or tidying the shoe rack, make that clear too.
Additional tasks
There are some jobs cleaners do that you might want to discuss when you book your clean. If these tasks are a priority for you, ask for them to be included in your regular visit. This might mean dropping other tasks, or alternating between tasks. Remember, your cleaner only has a limited amount of time in your home.
Additional tasks could include:
- Changing bed linen
- Washing and / or drying laundry
- Ironing
- Cleaning inside windows
- Vacuuming soft furnishings including curtains
Add-on Tasks
These are the one-off, occasional jobs cleaners do that can’t be completed as part of a standard cleaning visit. You know the jobs I mean – these are the tasks you really hate doing yourself because they are time-consuming and messy. But it feels so good when they are done! Ask your cleaner if they offer these services, but expect to book a separate visit and pay an additional fee.
- Fridge deep clean
- Oven clean
- End of tenancy clean
- Cleaning windows (outside)
- Deep cleaning of an area after improvement works or decorating, or even after a big party.
Jobs cleaners do not do
When you’re pushed for time and there’s an extra pair of hands in your home, it’s very tempting to ask your cleaner to do additional tasks that aren’t really cleaning. I’m thinking of things like:
- Receiving (and putting away) your grocery delivery
- Picking up your dry cleaning
- Looking after pets
- Walking the dog
- Cleaning up pet or human waste
- Supervising your children at home
- Collecting your children from school.
Your cleaner might be a lovely, generous person. They might offer to help you out with these tasks. But let’s face it – these are not jobs cleaners do. And on a serious note, your cleaner may not be insured should an accident happen.
Final thoughts
You have booked your cleaner because they are an expert in cleaning your home till it sparkles. So discuss your priorities with them, and let them stick to what they do best, so you can enjoy a clean calm space to come home to.
