Professional cleaners answer the questions you've always wanted to ask

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Hiring someone to come in and clean your house is a bizarre and sometimes confusing experience. Are they wondering why you couldn’t do it yourself? Would they prefer you’re not home? How much cleaning do you need to do before they get there? Well, fret no more: here are all of your cleaner-related questions answered.

Be clear about what you want

“I find that people are different in their expectations,” says Sally Christou, who counts Lindsay Fox as one of her clients. “Say we do Lindsay’s house – money’s not an issue, as long as it’s spectacular when he gets there. But another customer’s main concern might be the dollar value. Some people want us to empty their dishwashers and other people don’t. Some people want you to go in and out of their personal wardrobes and drawers; others don’t.”

You should do a bit of pre-clean cleaning

If you don’t do a little maintenance between cleans, your cleaner is going to have to spend much longer scrubbing the soap scum from your bathroom, for example. Or putting dishes away if you haven’t done it. Your cleaner wants to just come in and clean.

A “general house clean” is a general house clean

This includes dusting and cleaning the kitchen, bathroom and floors – but not things like ovens, fridges, windows or cars (yes, people really request car cleans).

“A woman once asked me to clean a chandelier,” says Carolyn Hegarty, who’s been cleaning for 15 years. “I would expect to be paid more for that because it takes longer, it’s dangerous and there’s a risk of breaking something.”

If you do want a specific job done, make sure you book the cleaner in for this beforehand, and understand they probably won’t have time to clean the rest of the house as well.

Don’t stress about using rooms that have already been cleaned

Cleaner Hannah Brown* says she doesn’t mind if she’s just cleaned the kitchen and you walk in and make yourself lunch. “I know my job’s already been done,” she says.

If you don’t do a little maintenance between cleans, your cleaner is take much longer. Photo: Stocksy

It is usually better if you’re not home, and you don’t need to make small talk if you are

But not because cleaners want to slack off – rather, they can get more done if you’re not talking their ear off. They’re also more likely to move slowly and self-consciously if you’re watching.

On the other hand, Brown says she likes having a good relationship with her clients because they’re the only people she sees while working.

Communicate about what kind of cleaning products you want used, and who’s providing them

Some cleaners expect you to provide the cleaning products; others will BYO because they know they’ll get the job done.

If the cleaner is using their own, make sure you talk about what they’re using and where.

“I’ve seen cleaners use Domestos on kitchen counters, and someone’s going to be eating off that later!” says Hegarty.

If natural products are important to you, find a cleaner who uses those exclusively.

Keep in mind that pets add cleaning time so it’s best to book a longer clean. Photo: Stocksy

They don’t care if your house is a pigsty

“I’ve been cleaning for over 10 years so nothing really shocks me,” says Christou. “Some people do live differently to other people…and some people worry about their house and we’ve never seen a place so clean.” At the end of the day, the cleaner is paid for the hours they spend there, so the state of the house when they arrive doesn’t matter that much.

Pets add cleaning time

Be mindful of your pets and the mess they make. Vacuuming will take a lot longer if there’s fur everywhere, so either minimise animal fur in the house, or book your cleaner for a longer clean.

Watch the clutter

Christou says sometimes people don’t understand that it takes just as long to clean a cluttered cottage as it does to clean a huge minimal house, and Brown says that getting around people’s things is one of the hardest parts of the job – especially when it’s on the floor. At the very least, pick things up off the floor and don’t leave dishes or washing all over the place.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy.