Employing a cleaner - any tips?

Liney_2

I pay my cleaner £30 for 4 hours work - its tax free cash in hand!

She does 1-2 hours of ironing and the rest of the time is spent vaccuuming, dusting and other stuff like, mopping, cleaning some windows, the oven occasionally.

She was recommended by a couple of friends who subsequently fired her for ruining clothes, smashing the odd ming vase (just kidding). I still keep her, she has ruined a few items, the most recent is she melted my baby's steriliser by putting the hot iron next to it but I wouldn't be without her. I totally trust her, ,she has a key and intercom and alarm codes. She also likes my two dogs and doesn't mind cleaning up after them if one has had an accident (rare but has happened).

Sarahsaver

lolly5648 wrote:

He certainly does - how long does all that take you? I pay my cleaner £7 ph and she is very good at what she does but she won't do ironing or move furniture

About 3 hours
but I don't stop, I am a ninja warrior when it comes to this kind of thing, and I would never do 'cash in hand' I am just too honest.

vivaladiva

Sarahsaver wrote:

I do someone's cleaning, tidying, laundry and ironing once a week. I am paid £30.
I dust, hoover, clean mirrors, take out the rubbish and clean the loo and bath, iron loads of clothes and bedlinen. I do the whole flat, I have a key and the alarm code. I have a CRB check and am also insured to £1 million in case of accidental damage.
I think he gets good value for money;)

I have a couple of cleaning jobs too, but I've never bothered with insurance - where did you get yours and does it cost a fortune?

Rachie_B

betterbargains4u wrote:

I feel totally undervalued after reading some of these posts and what people get paid.
I have a part time job as a housekeeper for a very rich couple who own a very well known company.
I clean the entire five bedroomed house(she doesn't lift a finger!!!!)
I wash all of their clothes
I shop for all of their food
I cook sumptious meals (for them to just heat up every evening)
I iron all of their clothes
I work constantly for 25 hours per week (do not take any breaks at all) for a measly £8 per hour!!
I would dearly like to give it all up, but the money comes in very handy....but the work is killing me.She is a very nice lady....but VERY VERY picky and pedantic.
What would you do??
I would like to ask for a pay rise...but am really not very good at that sort of thing.
She has told me on various occasions that I am doing an excellent job and they are very pleased with me....but praise ain't enough!!!
HELP!!

i think you hit the nail on the head there
its not worth risking your health / wellbeing i dont think ?

could you not take on a few smaller jobs for say £7 an hour instead of this one BIG job a week ?

other small jobs you could do eg dinnerlady ? ironing from your own home ? generally about £10 - £15 per black bag

put ads in shop windows etc ,get yourself some free ( only pay P&P ) cards printed up from Vistaprint
also check out the jobcentre website http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk/Internet/setLocale.do?country=GB&language=en&page=/initialise.do

ive found 2 cleaning jobs on there so far both very flexible with hours so suit me around the kids school / other jobs etc

Good luck

Sarahsaver

Bizzimum wrote:

I have a couple of cleaning jobs too, but I've never bothered with insurance - where did you get yours and does it cost a fortune?

I got it through an insurance broker £63 a year. Can't remember the name of the broker, will post it later when I have rooted through my paperwork.