Are you wondering about the cost of hiring a cleaner for your home?

A clean and orderly space is essential for a comfortable and healthy style. But with busy lives, it can be a challenge to fit in a thorough cleaning routine. Is it time to call in the professionals?

The cost of hiring a cleaner

Your first consideration might be the cost of hiring a cleaner. How much can you expect to pay, and how long will your cleaner stay?

Of course, paying for cleaning in your home is an additional regular expense. And at a time when we are all watching our budgets, the cost of hiring a cleaner might feel painful.

Peace of mind

But the peace of mind of having a clean home (and your weekends back!) is priceless. Knowing someone reliable is taking care of your cleaning can feel like a giant weight has been lifted from your shoulders. It can give you more time to relax, or to get other things done. You no longer need to feel stressed about your home, because you know it is consistently and thoroughly cleaned.

Calculating the cost

The cost of hiring a cleaner in the UK can vary significantly. Your location, the size of your property, and the level of service you need are all factors in this. On average, the hourly rate for a cleaner in the UK in 2023 is £18.75, with a range from £12 – £33ph. However, this figure should be higher in London and larger cities, and lower in more rural areas.

• Basic tasks like dusting and vacuuming generally cost less than more specialised tasks such as deep cleaning, washing windows or cleaning upholstery.
• Regular cleaning appointments (e.g. weekly or bi-weekly) may cost less per visit compared to one-time or occasional deep cleaning sessions.
• If you require additional services like laundry, ironing, or oven cleaning, these can add to the overall cost.
• If your home is larger and has more rooms, this will obviously take longer to clean. So you can expect to pay more, accordingly.
• Some cleaners bring their own cleaning supplies, while others may ask you to provide them. Again, this is a factor in the cost of your clean.

How long will my cleaner stay?

On average, a standard cleaning session usually lasts between 2 and 4 hours. A larger property will take longer. But here are a few more things to think about when you consider how long your cleaner should stay.

• A regular, maintenance clean may take less time than a more intensive deep clean
• If your home has several bathrooms, this can impact the duration of your cleaning session
• A cluttered space will take longer to clean – so a quick tidy round beforehand will speed things up for your cleaner
• If you have asked for extra tasks such as ironing or oven cleaning, this will extend your cleaning visit.
• A more experienced cleaner will often work more efficiently – giving you a faster, better clean.

Do your research

Before you hire a cleaner, it’s a great idea to research cleaning providers in your area. Get recommendations from friends and neighbours, and check out reviews on Trustpilot.

Arranging your cleaning through a reputable provider will give you peace of mind and ensure you have a clear point of contact if you have any concerns. It’s also great to know your cleaner is being paid fairly and treated with respect.

Take a look at the different services available and see what suits your needs and your budget.

Many cleaning services offer an initial consultation to assess your needs. They can provide you with a free quotation for the cost of hiring a cleaner through them, and how many hours of cleaning you need.

Final thoughts

Remember, the investment in a cleaner not only saves you time and effort but also contributes to a healthier and more enjoyable living environment. Whether you opt for regular cleaning or occasional deep cleans, having a cleaner can be a game-changer, making your home more relaxing and welcoming. Isn’t that well worth the cost of hiring a cleaner?

In the ever-evolving landscape of gender roles and expectations, it’s disheartening to witness that even in 2023, women often find themselves shouldering the majority of household chores. A Guardian survey shows that they feel they end up doing all of the housework. Covid lockdown revealed that between 60-70% of women and girls assumed a greater responsibility for housework and cooking than their make counterparts. Despite the progress made in various aspects of gender equality, the division of housework remains a prevailing issue. Surprisingly, the guilt associated with seeking external help for domestic tasks adds an extra layer of complexity to the situation. In this blog, we delve into the root causes behind this. We explore ways to challenge these norms and enable us foster a more equitable and supportive home environment for everyone.

Understanding the Household Gender Divide

Historically, societal norms have assigned specific roles to men and women within the household. Traditional gender roles have perpetuated the notion that women are primarily responsible for maintaining the home, while men focus on external responsibilities. Despite significant advancements towards gender equality, these deeply ingrained stereotypes continue to influence household dynamics.

The Emotional Labour Factor

Beyond the physical aspect of housework, there’s another dimension at play: emotional labour. This refers to the mental and emotional effort involved in organising and managing a household, including planning, delegating tasks, and remembering various responsibilities. Women often find themselves disproportionately carrying this burden, which can lead to burnout and a sense of emotional exhaustion.

Societal Expectations and Pressures

Societal expectations further exacerbate the household gender divide. Women may feel judged or criticised if their homes don’t meet certain standards. This can be the case even if they are juggling multiple roles and responsibilities outside the house. As a result, they may internalise the belief that seeking help signifies a personal failure, rather than a pragmatic decision to alleviate the workload.

Breaking Free from the Guilt

Recognise and Challenge Gender Norms: Acknowledge that traditional gender roles are outdated. Both partners in a relationship can (and should) share household responsibilities in a way that suits their individual strengths and preferences.

Open Communication: Encourage open and honest conversations about household chores and the emotional labour involved. Discuss how each partner can contribute effectively and support each other in maintaining a balanced and harmonious home.

Seeking External Help is Empowering: Embrace the idea that seeking professional cleaning help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a practical step towards reclaiming time for activities that truly matter to you.

Share Responsibilities Equitably: Create a schedule that allocates tasks fairly, considering each person’s availability and abilities. Rotate responsibilities regularly to ensure a sense of shared ownership.

In 2023, it’s crucial to challenge the norms that perpetuate the gendered division of household labour. By fostering open communication, challenging stereotypes, and embracing external support, we pave the way towards a more equitable and guilt-free future for everyone. At Just Helpers, we have a mixed gender team. We provide top-notch cleaning services to households across London. This contributes to a fairer distribution of responsibilities and allows individuals to reclaim their time and energy. 

Together, let’s build a society where everyone can thrive. Let’s stop being weighed down by outdated expectations and make sure that the womenfolk are not left holding the baby while doing all the housework.

One of the biggest challenges in the cleaning industry is finding software to support smooth operations.

With the cost of living crisis, as cleaning businesses we want to keep overheads low. And we are all facing challenges in recruiting both cleaners and admin staff, so efficiency is more important than ever.

That’s why we are creating “Justly” – a specialist cleaning industry software solution.

As the founder of Just Helpers, the ethical cleaning agency in London, I know the challenges involved in running a cleaning business. So I’m working with experts to develop a cleaning industry software solution that works for me. And it will work for you too.

We are talking to colleagues in other cleaning businesses to understand their needs, as we develop this brand new cleaning industry tech solution. 

Justly will free you from juggling spreadsheets, giving you more time to build your business. And a tech solution which makes everyone’s life easier will keep your team happy too.

Features

Justly includes features such as:

• Customisable onboarding stages for clients and cleaners
• Smart scheduling for your cleaning business
• Time tracking for cleaning operatives
• Intuitive Matching for clients and cleaners
• Programme optimising for your team – to reduce travel time and carbon footprint, and maximise efficiency.
• Plugins to your favourite accounting packages
• Apps for cleaners and clients

Justly has been developed especially for cleaning businesses like yours. Plus you can customise Justly to suit your needs. It’s intuitive and easy to use, and makes communication between your team members a breeze, wherever they are.

Accessible for All

We want Justly to be accessible to all cleaning businesses, whatever their size. So Justly has a “pay as you grow” model, You pay per scheduled hour of cleaning in the system. And this means that even micro businesses will be able to benefit from Justly. 

Get Involved

We would love to know – what would YOU like to see us incorporate into Justly?

What would be your dream features in a cleaning industry tech platform?

Sign up to get involved and to keep up to date with Justly as we develop. 

Right now, we have a national shortage of cleaners. At the same time, we are in the midst of a cost of living crisis. Is cleaning about to become a luxury only affordable to the super-rich?

Cleaners are in high demand, and pay for cleaners is spiralling. A recent report from the British Cleaning Council highlights a “perfect storm” of staff shortages in the cleaning industry. Migrant workers from the EU and Eastern Europe returned home following Brexit, former cleaners didn’t return after furlough, and others moved into other jobs. This has resulted in a record number of vacancies in the cleaning sector. And this raises some interesting questions about pay for cleaners.

How much should cleaners be paid?

At Just Helpers we have campaigned for years for cleaning work to be valued and recognised with decent working conditions and fair pay. All of our colleagues receive in excess of the London Living Wage, and we have championed the LLW across our industry. 

With the shortage of cleaners nationally, the value of their work has dramatically escalated. We are in exciting, uncharted territory when it comes to pay for cleaners. 

But perhaps we should also be asking – how much SHOULD our cleaners be paid? If we get caught up in the scramble to attract and keep cleaners, are we at risk of contributing to the cost of living crisis affecting all of us?

Cleaning and Affordability

Anecdotally, we are hearing reports of cleaning agencies in London offering £20 per hour to cleaners. This could mean that their clients are paying upwards of £25-£30 per hour for their cleaning – unaffordable to many households.

Is it right that cleaners are paid more per hour than a teacher, or a nurse? While cleaning is skilled work, most cleaners have not undergone formal qualifications. So how should pay for cleaners compare with these professional roles?

A new situation

In the current climate, the debate is not about whether cleaners are paid the minimum wage, or the London Living Wage. With their services in high demand, many agencies are willing to pay cleaners much more.

But if this wage inflation fuels the cost of living crisis, then cleaners, and all of us, feel the impact. As an ethical business, we have to ask whether letting cleaners’ pay spiral, is the right thing to do.

How much would you pay for your cleaner? 

Congratulations to her Majesty to Queen on her Platinum Jubilee.  At Just Helpers we’re celebrating by taking a trip through 7 decades of cleaning trends  – the products, the fads and the ads!

The Fifties

In this post-war decade we were looking towards a brighter future. And what could be more futuristic than the Space Race? The Hoover Constellation vacuum cleaner with Sputnik-inspired styling, actually took off – floating over the floor on a cushion of air. We have lift-off!

Back on earth, only around 33% of UK households owned a washing machine. But the growth in their popularity saw the launch of Daz washing powder – still going strong today.

The Sixties

A third of UK households had a fridge in the sixties, and twin-tub washers were the norm on laundry day. 

In the cleaning aisle Vim boasted your sink would be “the cleanest clean it’s ever been” due to it’s Clorox bleach-based germicidal formula. Did it smell as harsh as it sounds?

The Seventies

By 1970, 65% of households owned a washing machine – so it’s not surprising that this was the decade that saw the launch of fabric conditioner, to make all that laundry smell nice!

This decade also saw some of the most memorable TV ads for cleaning products. Who remembers the Shake n Vac ad, first shown in 1979? Can you still sing the jingle?

Astonish – one of our favourite brands – was launched in 1973, selling oven and cookware cleaner door to door.

The Eighties

This decade was all about convenience. We saved time cooking ready meals in the new microwave ovens, and whizzed through the washing with front loading, automatic washing machines. Ariel laundry liquid was launched in 1985, and Ecover, another Just Helpers favourite brand, started in 1989 in Belgium.

The Nineties

The nineties saw a cleaning revolution with the first bagless vacuum cleaners from Dyson. After struggling to get any interest in his design from UK manufacturers, James Dyson sold the first of his new cleaners in Japan – before taking the USA and UK market by storm.

Vacuum cleaning might have been undergoing a revolution, but traditional ideas about housework were still very common. The Daz Doorstep Challenge ads ran throughout the nineties, filling mums with the fear of their grubby whites appearing on national TV.

The Noughties

We saw more floor-cleaning innovation in this decade, with the rising popularity of the Roomba robot vacuum.

With consumers becoming more conscious of the environmental impact of cleaning products, there are more green ranges launched this decade. In 2001 Method launched their first products, and The Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste appeared on shelves.

The Tens

Instagram launched in 2010 and gained over 10 million users in the first year. And with it came the rise of the cleaning influencers, and their impact on cleaning trends. The “Mrs Hinch” effect saw 100 year old brand Zoflora floral disinfectant back in vogue, with followers eagerly sharing their favourite fragrances. 

The Twenties

We’re only a couple of years in, but it’s been quite a decade already! The COVID 19 pandemic unsurprisingly sparked a huge increase in global sales of surface cleaners. In addition, many people discovered the calming benefits of cleaning their homes during Lockdown. And we are seeing the rise of more eco-friendly cleaning trends – nicer for us, are homes, and the planet.

However you are celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we hope you have a wonderful time.

During this lockdown period I’ve been working on a really exciting project with Sussex Innovation Centre to look at the future direction of Just Helpers.  In particular I’ve been looking at our commercial cleaning service.

Exciting Opportunity

At a Female Founders Event in February, I talked with a member of the Innovation Centre team about Just Helpers. It was so exciting to reflect on where we have come from, with someone who was seeing the business for the first time – a “fresh pair of eyes.”

Following this event, Sussex Innovation Centre gave us 12 free hours of business coaching, as part of a project funded by the European Union.

This comes at a great time for Just Helpers. Over the last few months we have been  thinking about who our clients are, what we can do better, and how we can connect with more commercial clients in particular. We already provide a great service to a number of commercial clients, and our Helpers have been asking for more of this type of work.

I spent some time with Simon Chuter from the Innovation Centre where he helped me to really focus on what we offer to our commercial clients and what makes it special.

Our Commercial Cleaning Service

At Just Helpers we  really care about our service.  That means:

• Attention to detail and being responsive
• Supporting our Helpers so they stay with us – our high retention is rare in the cleaning industry
• Being an integral part of your team
• Contribute to a company’s CSR as with every hour of cleaning purchased, we donate to a B1G1 project
• Every Helper is paid the London Living Wage as a minimum
• Taking care of your cleaning so you don’t have to!

Reaching New Clients

Simon is going to be developing a marketing plan for Just Helpers to help us to reach more of the commercial clients we want to work with. I am so grateful for the European Union Funding which has made this possible.

We are looking forward to working with some new commercial clients in the future. So if you are:

• A business of 5-30 members of staff
• Looking for 6-10 hours of cleaning a week
• Located in Farringdon, Blackfriars, Holborn, Euston, London Bridge, Oxford St, Soho, Tottenham Court Rd, Islington, Victoria

please get in touch.

Of course we will still be providing our great service to our domestic clients too!

My Vision

Like many small to medium-sized business owners, I am often juggling many different aspects of the business – I often feel like a “jack of all trades”!   So it’s great to have real experts on board and supporting Just Helpers.

In addition, I will also be working with Anne-Fay Townsend looking at my role as a female founder, and my hopes and dreams for the future of the business – and they are big!

Involving the Team 

We’ll be holding a remote team training day for our managers in the coming weeks to look at how these developments can be rolled out across the business.  At the end of that day we will be having a whole team Zoom AGM involving the Helpers, to get their feedback and ideas.

Over the coming weeks I will be sharing regular updates with you.  Watch our for my Tuesday Thoughts, live on our Facebook page every Tuesday at around 6.15pm.

#EC1 #EC2 #EC3 #EC4 #E1 #WC1 #WC2 #SE1 #W1 #N1 #SW1

Cleaning the fridge is one of those tasks that’s easy to overlook. But a clean fridge helps to keep your food fresher for longer, and stops the spread of potentially harmful bacteria.

Just Helpers Founder Antoinette shares her top tips on how to clean your fridge with minimum fuss.

When to Clean Your Fridge

It’s a good idea to clean your fridge at most every 3 months. Of course, if something spills in the fridge it’s best to wipe it up straight away. This is especially important for milk, which will smell bad if it isn’t cleaned up quickly. Wiping up sticky spills as they happen will also make it easier to clean your fridge.

To clean your fridge thoroughly, you need to empty it first. So, it makes sense to clean your fridge before you go to the supermarket or before your delivery arrives. That way, you will have less food to store whilst you clean.

Before you Start to Clean Your Fridge

Now is the time to have a good sort through the contents of your fridge.

• Throw away any food which is out of date or inedible – don’t forget those half jars of chutney left over from Christmas!
• Empty your vegetable drawers and salad crisper.
• Take everything out of the door racks – get rid of flat fizzy drinks or the dregs in wine bottles.
• Put perishable food (especially meat, fish and dairy products) into a cool bag or box with frozen chill packs to keep them fresh while you clean.
• Finally, check the manufacturer’s instructions for your fridge for any special precautions.

How to Clean Your Fridge – Step by Step

1. If possible, pull out your fridge. Vacuum around, underneath and behind it, and wash the floor.
2.  Remove the drawers, crisper and shelves.  Leave them on the kitchen counter to come up to room temperature before washing. This is especially important for glass shelves which can shatter with a sudden change in temperature.
3. Wipe all the surfaces inside the fridge including the door. Avoid using bleach or strong-smelling cleaning products which can taint the food. A solution of bicarbonate of soda, vinegar or Milton is ideal. Bicarbonate of soda is also great for neutralising odours if a spill has gone unnoticed and resulted in a nasty niff!  Cotton buds are great for cleaning fiddly corners. Dry thoroughly with a clean tea towel.
4. If you notice a pool of water at the bottom of  your fridge, it’s likely that your drip-hole is blocked. Find this at the back of the fridge – a cocktail stick is useful to clean it.
5. Wash the shelves, drawers and crisper in hot soapy water (washing up liquid is perfect). Remember to remove the plastic guard strips from each of the shelves. These often need a good soak and a scrubbing brush to get to the bottom of the narrow crevices. Don’t be tempted to pop them in the dishwasher either  – it’s too hot. I also find that it leaves watermarks on the  plastic components.  Dry thoroughly before putting them back in the fridge.
6. Don’t forget the outside of the fridge. A micro-fibre cloth is great for getting a streak-free finish. Use a vacuum to clean crumbs and debris from the door seal and wipe with your bicarbonate of soda solution. Dry thoroughly.
7. Now you’re done! Let your fridge get back to the correct temperature before re-filling it (a fridge thermometer is useful for this).

Keeping your Fridge Clean

Now that your fridge is fresh and clean, you’ll want to keep it that way! Try these tips for fridge organisation.

• Wipe the outside and bottom of jars and bottles before you put them back in the fridge.
• Try to put everything back in an organised way so you can find things.
• Try to put food which needs to be used first closest to the front.
• Consider using labelled baskets or trays to keep similar foods together (cheese, yoghurts, jams etc)
• Organise your vegetable drawers, with tender products such as salad leaves separate from heavier, more robust veg such as carrots or sweet potatoes. This will stop them getting crushed and spoiled.
• Label your left-overs and plan when you will use them, or freeze them so they last longer.
• Write the date on jars or bottles when you open them – that way you can be sure to use them up while they are still fresh, and avoid waste.
• When you do your big shop, get into the habit of checking and pruning current items before adding more stuff in. Take this opportunity to give shelves and doors a quick wipe too.

There’s something very satisfying about sitting down to clean silver.

If you are lucky enough to have inherited a silver cream jug from Granny, or if you have silver jewellery, you’ll know that it can become tarnished very quickly.

But there’s nothing like bringing something dull and dirty-looking to a bright, shiny polish. Here are our tips on how to clean silver.

Before you begin to clean silver items

First of all, ask yourself whether the object actually needs cleaning. Sometimes a bit of tarnish is part of the design, to give it more character.  If you remove all of the tarnish you might spoil the appearance. You might not be able to see the details on engravings, for example, if you clean all the tarnish away.

Here are our Top Tips for Cleaning Silver

Wash it away

A simple solution of washing up liquid, or laundry detergent, can be enough to clean silver.  Wash the surface of the item carefully, then rinse and dry.

Rub it away

You can clean silver by rubbing the tarnish away using something mildly abrasive. Make a paste with cornstarch and water. Rub it onto the surface and leave to dry, then rub away with a cloth.  Toothpaste, and baking soda can also produce the same results.

Dissolve it away

Many people swear by tomato ketchup to clean silver. Squirt a small amount onto a piece of kitchen towel and gently rub over the surface. For more stubborn tarnish, leave the ketchup to work for a few minutes before wiping it away, then rinse in clean water and dry.  It is the vinegar in the ketchup which removes the tarnish. Lemon juice works in the same way.

Soak it away

This method uses a chemical reaction between aluminium foil and baking soda to clean silver.  Take an aluminium foil dish, add baking soda and boiling water, then place the silver items in the solution to soak for a few minutes. The tarnish should disappear, without affecting the silver underneath. Read more about how this method works, here:

How to Clean Silver Jewellery

If you want to clean silver jewellery, you will need to take special care.

• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to clean delicate fastenings and small areas.
• Do not clean jewellery over the sink it case you drop it!
• Put small items into a sieve or an old tea strainer, and clean over a bowl.
• Be very careful if your jewellery includes gemstones. Pearls can be easily scratched, for example.

How to Maintain Your Clean Silver

Now that you’ve cleaned your silver, you’ll want to keep it looking its best.

• Silver becomes tarnished by moisture so make sure it is fully dry before storing.
• Try storing your silver with silica gel bags.
• Chalk can also help to absorb moisture.
• Don’t wrap your clean silver items in newspaper; this can cause them to tarnish.
• Try wrapping items in silver cleaning cloths.
• Never clean silver items in a dishwasher.
• Remove silver jewellery before washing your hands or showering so that it doesn’t get clogged with soap or hair conditioner.
• Always take off rings before applying handcream or other cosmetics.

More Information:
For more great tips on how to clean silver and valuables, try these:

Good Housekeeping
The Victoria and Albert Museum

When it comes to cleaning, our Helpers have high standards. So who better to carry out a cleaning product review?

We asked our Just Helpers team to review Astonish Cleaning Products. Here’s the verdict.

Astonish Cleaning products are “cleaners with a conscience” – so they are perfect for Just Helpers! The products are approved by the Vegan Society . This means they contain no animal ingredients and are not tested on animals. Astonish are a UK family business, and part of their mission is to keep their road miles to a minimum. Their laboratories, manufacturing and packaging are all under one roof.

But do the products work? Our Just Helpers team put them to the test in some everyday cleaning tasks. Here’s what they said: 

Astonish Premium Edition Kitchen Cleaner (Citrus Grove)

• Tested in kitchen (including oven)
• Has a synthetic lemon smell
• Quite good at dealing with grease
• Effectiveness score 4/5

Astonish Premium Edition Multi-Surface Cleaner (Citrus Grove)

• Tested in kitchen and bathroom
• A lovely smell
• Good on grease
• Effectiveness score 3/5

Astonish Oven and Cookware Cleaner Paste

• Tested on oven and cookware
• Smells okay
• Less effective on old burnt-on grease
• Effectiveness score 3.5/5

Astonish Ultimate Limescale Remover

• Tested on bathroom and kitchen sink
• Smells lovely
• Effectiveness score 5/5
• Would definitely recommend – “Highly impressed!”

Astonish Bathroom Cleaner and Floor Cleaner

• Tested on bathroom and floors
• Lovely smell – “I’m really please with how Astonish smells”
• Effectiveness score 5/5 – “strong and very efficient”
• Definitely recommended – “I’ve already recommended it to a few of our customers”.

Astonish Window & Glass

• Tested in the kitchen
• Smell okay
• Effectiveness score 5/5
• Recommended

Astonish Mould and Mildew Blaster

• Tested in the bathroom
• Smells okay
• Effectiveness score 4/5
• Recommended

Overall verdict

We got some great comments about these products from our Just Helpers Team. Everyone agreed that the cleaning products were economical to use. They used about the amount they would expect, to get results.  Most of the team also liked the smell of the products.

Where to find Astonish Cleaning Products

We bought our Astonish products in Dunelm Mill, and Poundland. For more stockists, click here.