Does anyone employ a cleaner?

I had a cleaner for my apartment before my GF moved in, only because I was working 50+ hours a week and liked to spend my free time doing things other than cleaning! She had her own key and I was always leaving valuables out etc never had a problem.
 
I had a cleaner once, cleaned the bloody house out. Insurance company coughed up thankfully.

Moto

Never employ your mum to clean your own house once you leave home.
 
Had one when I first moved to London - some polish student the girl I shared a flat with had found - she basically came round every Sunday afternoon and my flatmate was always in then so no hassle with giving out keys.

I guess you could make sure you're in the first few times she pops round or something then use your own judgment (subjective I know but i guess there is some truth to stereotypes etc..) - is she polite, punctual etc.. or does she have hoop ear rings and insist on a fag break every 15 mins... if you sense 'chav' then don't hand over keys otherwise if you're paying a decent rate and she seems 'honest' then I'd probably take the risk.
 
We had a cleaner in the UK, but made sure we were home when she was cleaning. She was a really lovely person and we trusted her, but we didnt like giving out our house keys to anyone except trusted family members.
Do you give any of your neighbours a spare key? One of our neighbours had a spare key in emergencies and vice versa so the neighbour would open the door for her if there were times when we werent home.
 
As others said, you probably don't want to give someone keys straight away, get them clean your place for couple of months and see what they are like, then give them the key and it should be safe. I have had a cleaner in the past and no problems whatsoever, also my friends have had no issues with their cleaners.

If you are worried get a cleaner from an agency.
 
Agency isn't really necessary but make you ask for a few references (I tend to to this on most people doing work on the house now) and follow them up.
Check your insurance policy too just to make sure.
 
Our cleaners have keys but I have had loads of cleaners over the years and usually take a little while to build up trust with them before handing over the keys. I have used agencies in the past and private and it all comes down to the person doing the acutal cleaning, you have to be comfortable with them in your house. Agencies can switch and give you a new random at any time.
 
Absolutely - she's a real star, really reliable and cleans our house and does the ironing for 3 hours every week - never misses. She has the keys and lets herself in if no-one around.
 
We have a gal that comes in twice a week. My girlfriend interviewed her and made sure she picked a really ugly and slightly overweight Hungarian girl so hardly any eye candy :( And yes, she has keys.
 
we have a cleaner 3 hours, tuesday and friday. I work from my office in part of the house. Although I might bob out while cleaner is here, she doesnt have keys, is regular as clockwork, does floors, wash and hoover, empty dishwasher, cleans windows. She dont do ironing, gardening or anyhting like that, nor washing or bed changing.She cleans cooker, polishes the hi gloss kitchen, and hoovers upstairs as well. £6.50 an hour, proper employed, by me.local village woman, a mum, we set the hours around her school run. works for all involved, and my puppy adores her!
 
platypus said:
Just get one on a recommendation.
Click to expand...

Exactly. My cleaner may not be the best cleaner in the world or the cheapest but she's a lovely girl, very honest and friendly so I know I'm not going to come home and find the TV missing ;).

Edit: She has a key. You don't want to be sitting there feeling like an idle git whilst someone else cleans your house. Much better to come home after a long day to your house smelling fresh and clean without you having to lift a finger!
 
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