Tips on briefing a cleaner

A tricky one this because it depends on the size and nature of your house. Most cleaners will supply a list such as the below of their serives, and an hourly charge (somewhere around £12.00 an hour) but few will commit to what can be achieved in an hour; because as I say it depends on the nature of your house.

Bathrooms

• Sinks cleaned in detail including around taps

• Baths and showers fully cleaned including removal of hard water stains

• Toilets thoroughly cleaned including all around base area

• Mirrors and fixtures cleaned

• Baseboards, ceiling fan, and open shelves cleaned

• Front of cabinets and windowsills wiped down

• Floor vacuumed and/or mopped

• Cobwebs removed

• Rubbish emptied

Kitchens

• Worktops and splashbacks cleaned with all items removed and replaced

• Front of cabinets and open shelves wiped down

• Sinks scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned including around faucets

• Stove thoroughly cleaned including drip pans, burner grates and knobs

• Microwave oven cleaned inside and outside

• Exterior of refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and small appliances cleaned

• Baseboards, ceiling fan, and windowsills cleaned

• Floor vacuumed and mopped

• Cobwebs removed

• Rubbish emptied

Bedrooms

• All furniture dusted on top, side and all accessible underneath areas

• Picture frames dusted

• Beds made and linen changed if left out

• Carpets vacuumed and hardwood floors vacuumed and mopped

• Skirting boards, ceiling fan, and windowsills cleaned

• Cobwebs removed

• Rubbish emptied

Other Living Areas, including Hallways and Stairs

• All furniture dusted on top, side and all accessible underneath areas

• Picture frames dusted

• Books dusted

• Glass tables cleaned

• Carpets vacuumed and tile/hardwood floors vacuumed and mopped

• Skirting boards, ceiling fans, and windowsills cleaned

• Cobwebs removed

First Time or Deep Cleaning

More on a one off basis:

• Blinds wiped down one-by-one

• Skirting boards and window sills deep cleaned

• Reachable light fixtures cleaned

• Spend more time performing standard detailed service to make the house sparkle

Additional Cleaning Services

• Inside refrigerator

• Inside oven

• Inside fireplace

• Inside cabinets

• Garage

So before commissioning a cleaner develop a list of requirements and estimate what you think is possible per hour to decide what you would be happy as a regular service. Priceatrade.com will provide you with fixed price cleaners, but you will need to specifiy exactly what you need doing in your house, so best to be prepared.