Let’s face it, sometimes it’s impossible to clean your house. Between running errands, working, paying bills, and the thousand other things you need to do each day, cleaning sometimes falls behind. If you can afford it, you should definitely consider hiring cleaning help.
But, trying to find good cleaning help can be a challenge in itself. Challenges range from finding someone trustworthy that you don’t worry will run off with your valuables, to finding someone who you can trust to do a good job. Finding good cleaning help is the No. 1 difficulty when it comes to hiring someone to do the job. Sure, just about anyone can clean house, but like any job, not everyone is good at it.
So, how do you find that housecleaning gem? Try the tips below for finding good help – and more tips on what to do once you find someone.
How do you find someone to clean your house?
Go to church. Many times a church is a good resource for finding honest, dependable people. Consider advertising in your church or house of workshop for someone to come clean your house. Even if you don’t find someone there, there may be someone who worships with you that knows of someone to refer you to.
Put ads in small neighborhood papers. Rather than advertising in a large city newspaper, find those small neighborhood throws to find someone close by. This is a good start for finding someone who lives where you do and knows your neighborhood.
Send an email to friends and neighbors. Put your friends and neighbors on alert with one mass email that advertises your need for a reliable housecleaner. As always, the best employees are the ones who come referred from happy customers!
Interview national cleaning services. If you can’t find someone you feel confident with, consider interviewing a national cleaning service such as Merry Maids. Be aware that many national services use a “team” approach and usually send a squad that blazes through your house in thirty minutes or less. Make sure that you know exactly what you are getting and how long the cleaners will be at your house.
What do you do once you find someone?
Negotiate and communicate. It’s important that you have an open dialogue with your housecleaner. If possible, put together a list of all the things you want your housecleaner to do and all the things you DON’T want done. If it’s not important to you whether the clothes in the kid’s closets are folded, then tell your housecleaner. Explain what gets the priorities, such as sweeping, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, and dusting.
Define what needs special treatment. Perhaps most important, a new housecleaner may not know that silk oriental carpets should NEVER be vacuumed or that pendulum clocks should never be moved.
If you have items that require special treatment it is up to you to make sure that your housecleaner is aware of it so that no damage done. If you don’t tell your housecleaner that you should never damp mop your parquet floors, don’t be upset at anyone but yourself when they warp after mopping. Follow the rule of “no assumptions.”
Create an expectation at the outset. Explain what your budget is and ask how long the cleaner thinks it will take to clean your house. You may want to suggest that you will start on a trial basis of one month and then reassess how it is going for the both of you to determine whether or not you want to keep the arrangement. This gives you an “out” in case you don’t like the service you are getting.
Don’t sabotage the relationship. Remember, if this person cleans house for a living, it is important that you consider this person a professional. Stay out of the way and let them do the job. Don’t micromanage and insist they use a paper towel to clean the windows if they want to use a cleaning towel.
However, if you must use only certain cleaners, such as ceramic stove top cleaner for your stove, be sure to make the housecleaner aware of any special needs. Otherwise, if they are cleaning in a way that they are accustomed to and are comfortable with, they will most likely finish your house faster and better. If you expect someone to clean exactly the way you do, then you shouldn’t hire a housecleaner.
Ask what supplies the housecleaner prefers. Show the housecleaner what you have and ask if they would like any special cleaners or preferred products. Be sure to keep a good supply of products, such as cleaning towels, floor cleaner, all-purpose cleaners, window cleaner, cleansing/scouring powders, sponges, paper towels, buckets, extra vacuum bags, and toilet brushes in each bathroom.
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Kathryn Weber is the publisher of the Everydayclean.com Calender -- the calendar that helps you end the power struggle with your house. Keeping a clean home is about knowing what to clean when. Virtually everything that needs to be cleaned is on this calendar in a year-round cleaning schedule that helps you keep your house clean easier and faster. Click here for more information.
