questions to ask cleaner

pippa80

After recent job changes and promotions leading to less spare time and more money, the OH and I have decided to get a cleaner in for a couple of hours a week.

I have found a local mum who is looking to do some extra cleaning work while her son is in nursery. She says she has references.

We've arranged to meet her over the weekend. Does anyone have any advice about what we should ask etc?

Thanks!

Newly_retired

Sorry, this is not a question for you to ask her, but do you plan to be at home whilst she is working there? If not, you need to think about insurance.
This is why I used an agency and/or somebody I know and could absolutely trust.
Even if you are going to be there, what if she breaks something? Is she covered for this?

Errata

Just walk her though your house and ask her to tell you what she would do daily and weekly; what cleaning products you and she would prefer to be used; how much holiday will she take and when; what happens when her son is ill and she has to stay home with him.
Then the biggies! How much does she want paying, what will the insurance position be.
HTH

pippa80

Eek thanks both. I hadn't thought of insurance! Is it normal for private cleaners to have some kind of indemnity/accident/injury insurance?

meercatsunited

arrange to see her in her own home to get an idea of her cleaning skills.

She should also have a police check as you would if you worked for companies entering others homes. I believe it costs about £70 but its her resposability to pay and obtain it. She would be self employed and should have public liability insurance, its not costly.

I have had experience of cleaners who like you to tidy everything away before they come and some just hoover around anything on the floor, never move furnitur, mop floors as well as the kitchen table and chair legs.

would they use the same cloth for the kitchen sink and toilet, it happens

gratefulforhelp_2

I would do what you are expecting her to do in your normal time, see how long it takes, and then ask her to do the same in the same time. I would specify what needs doing, maybe with a list. Ask her in advance if there is anything she is not happy doing, and also discuss in advance if you want the same things doing each week, or to vary it and how to communicate this to her.

Establish whose cleaning products/equipment will be used, which products on which items, and where these will be stored and who will maintain them.

Mojisola

meercatsunited wrote: »

arrange to see her in her own home to get an idea of her cleaning skills.

If I was a cleaner and a potential client asked for this, I would tell them to look elsewhere for a cleaner!

pippa - Do go through what you want to be done and put it in writing. Do a regular review because, unless you find yourself a total gem, you'll probably find that some things slip as the months go by.

pippa80

Thank you, that's a very good idea to have a list I think! This is what I tend to do when I blitz it on a weekend. It's quite a small flat. I've never actually 'washed' my floorboards, but am vaguley aware that they should be cleaned/treated occasionally?

How is this for a job description/list of tasks? Does it seem reasonable? Am I missing something obvious?

2 hours per week at £8/hour.
We will supply cleaning materials (detergent etc and vacuum cleaner) – please leave a note to let us know when we are getting low on any supplies. Tasks are weekly unless otherwise stated.



Hallway:
· Vacuum floor
· Dust front table
· Dust skirting boards
· [once per quarter, wash/treat floorboards?]
Spare room/study:
· Vacuum floor
· Dust surfaces
· Dust window sills
· Dust skirting boards
· Once per month clean inside of windows
· [once per quarter, wash/treat floorboards?]
Bedroom:
· Vacuum floor
· Dust surfaces
· Dust window sills
· Once per month clean inside of windows
· [once per quarter, wash/treat floorboards?]
Kitchen:
· Mop floor
· Clean surfaces
· Clean sink
· Clean cooker top
· Clean inside microwave
· Once per month clean inside fridge
· Once per month clean inside cupboards
Bathroom:
· Mop floor
· Clean toilet
· Clean bath/shower
· Clean basin
· Dust window sills
· Once per month clean inside of windows
Living room:
· Vacuum floor
· Dust surfaces
· Dust window sills
· Dust blinds
· Once per month clean inside of windows
· Once per month clean under sofa cushions

Tropez

You've created a list, which is a good start. It is very important that both you and the cleaner know exactly what is to be cleaned and when as some cleaners are more like housekeepers and are happy to also help with chores like changing the bedding, whereas others will not do that.

You say that you will be providing the products, so you could come to an agreement over whether it is appropriate for the cleaner to provide any of her own products at any time, or perhaps pick up something that she has discovered you have run out of. This will also come into agreeing over whether specific products need to be used. Some people, for instance, might want a particular fragranted product used in one room, and a different one in another.

You should get a CRB check done. If you have children, you should get an enhanced CRB check.

Someone has mentioned insurance - you need to clarify this position.

You need to come up with a reasonable strategy for dealing with illness, injury or holidays with your cleaner.

You need to be aware that if you are forgoing hiring from an agency then you are their employer (or one of them). As a result, you will have tax and accounting obligations to fulfill including registering with HMRC as an employer.

Emmzi

Well it sounds like you may need more than 2 hours for some of the bigger quarterly etc jobs, what do you want her to do if she isn't finished in 2 hours?

Errata

AFAIK only employers can request a CRB check. Cleaners can be self employed, contract their work to whoever, and sort out their own tax, NI contribs etc. I've only ever had cleaners under SE terms, don't want the hassle of being an employer.