The first time a cleaner comes into your home can be a little daunting: you're excited about the prospect of not having to keep up with the housework yourself any longer, but you might be wondering how best to ensure that both you and your cleaning professional are happy with the process. To help things go smoothly and ensure that you're as pleased as can be with the result, here are a few do's and don'ts for having your home professionally cleaned.
DO:
- Do make sure you find out in advance what your cleaner will be bringing with them and what you need to have already. If your cleaning service has an option for "bring own cleaning materials", this will generally cover cleaning agents, cloths, dusters and the like--but you'll probably still need to have a vacuum cleaner, mop, bucket, dustpan and brush of your own available for them to use.
- Do decide before your cleaner arrives which rooms you'd like them to clean, what you'd like them to get done, and how you'd like them to do it. If there's anything you don't want them to do--a particular room you'd rather they left untouched, for example--make this clear to them before they begin.
- Do go through each room of your home with them before they start work, pointing out to them what needs to be done. Explain anything they need to know about your home to them, like how to work the shower for bathroom cleaning and where they can find anything they might need.
DON'T:
- Don't try to micro-manage your cleaner. If you don't want to leave a stranger in your home unattended, that's fine--but watching over them like a hawk will stress both of you out! This is a treat for you; sit back, relax and enjoy the experience of not having to do all the work by yourself.
- Don't be afraid to make your preferences clear. If you'd rather your home was cleaned using certain products (green or organic ones, for example), your cleaner will be able to accommodate this--just so long as you tell them in advance! Be prepared to provide anything specific you'd like them to use.
- Don't try to arrange something "off the books" if your cleaner is from an agency. They've chosen to work that way because the flexibility is good for both them and their clients, and it is usually breaching the terms of their contract to enter a private agreement--so don't try to pressure them into doing it.
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