Embarrassed/ashamed of my council flat that needs cleaning

Yawny

(where do i start lol)

Hi, I live in a disabled council flat, im disabled but not quite disabled enough for a carer. My flat has barely ever been cleaned in the ten years I've been here and I need it cleaned, especially the dust as i have asthma. I have had two cleaning companies come round to assess what needs doing but they never got back to me to arrange to do it.
' The thing is , these companies are used to doing big posh flats and houses, so i feel so awkward and embarrassed because my flat looks so run down outside, inside is alittle better '. So i presume these companies don't get back to me because they don't want to be associated with a run down slum council flat. People keep telling me the usual: ' think positive, get over it, feel good about your self blah blah blah blah blah, that makes no difference.
Maybe I could text some smaller companies saying that I live in a council flat and they can decide if they are interested because its easier for people to say 'No' by text 🤔

Any advice or tricks to get around this would be appreciated , Thanks 

HampshireH

Advertise your need on Facebook community pages local to you (you can post photos and remain anonymous) companies who are then wanting a big job can reply and you can check their pages and reviews and message directly 

Flugelhorn

agree might be worth trying local community pages, there are plenty of small businesses around where we live where people do one off / end of tenancy cleans as well as holiday let cleans etc - they are not bothered where it is. When I see FB requests for things there are also some women who do cleans like this on a casual basis in school time as they are struggling to find jobs to fit round the school hours - quite often several will respond. 

ThisIsWeird

3rd the suggestion above.
A neighbour of my sil's, for example, does cleaning jobs, big and small, to an OCD standard. When she did mil's bungalow after she moved in, I had to take apart and reassemble things like the shower hoses, putting the washers back in the right place, as the lady had taken everything apart to scrub them clean.
There are plenty folk out there who'd welcome such a job, who find it genuinely rewarding to tackle what may be a larger task. With this, they'll be able to see the transformation.
References references references. And then listen to and observe the shortlisted few - go with your gut.

twopenny

Yes to the smaller companies. I've seen the vans around and photo the sides for the phone numbers.
It's the couple I see around and about a lot working. And working being the word. Not outside for a fag or on their phones 

If you've not long moved how full of stuff is the flat? The clearer you can make it look the more likely they would take the job. That may be a problem if you are disabled, depending.
Anyone who would help? A handyman for instance. You could ask the cleaning guys when they come.

And yes, clean and bright can make you feel much better. I moved into a dire bungalow, made a start then covid and a physical problem and only just got around to doing it properly. A bit at a time as I can manage and its surprising how it can change the way you feel.
Just not all at once unfortunately......

Mr.Generous

There's a community internet site called Nextdoor I sometimes go on, always has local self employed cleaners offering to do one off deep cleans.

Sea_Shell

Agree about the community groups.   You might even find volunteers that way, if you can't afford professional cleaners.

Does it just need cleaning, or do you also have a lot of stuff that inhibits effective cleaning?

Cleaners are unlikely to want to tackle an overly cluttered house.

Teapot55

Some people’s houses are like show homes and there’s nothing in them apart from the furniture - not mine 😁 - they have everything put away in drawers or cupboards and then they’re easier to clean. 

I believe there are also people who will come and tidy up and organise a person’s belongings. But it could just be what you said, that the big companies won’t touch the small jobs. 

If you use Facebook, always post as ‘anonymous’ for requests like this, as very often the public/ anyone on the internet can see posts. And definitely check references like said previously. If you get replies that look okay check out their profile - have they been on fb/ the local group for a while, do they have friends in common with you or people you at least know etc?

Bookworm105

use social media, there will be countless numbers of self employed one person cleaners who will be delighted to give you an idea of their charges for the work. If your social media group is good there will doubtless also be lots of people willing to suggest cleaners they have used themselves rather than you just sticking a pin in a list and hoping.

Yawny

Cheers, i forgot to mention which makes things even more impossible is that i have an indoor cat that can't go out so i would prefer professional cleaners as they wouldn't use harsh chemicals regarding my cat but they don't want to do it, and yes my flat is cluttered with lots of stuff because the flats too small and I obviously can't get a bigger place because have problems earning money/working , ' and i have plenty of money at the moment to pay someone or people lol

Yawny

Soz, me again 😃, i don't use social media and Facebook, maybe I could put alittle ad in the local post office window or would that be abit silly?, how would I word the ad ?🤔