Finding Reliable/Good Cleaning Person

i'm at the stage at work where i do not have the time/energy to clean the house.  i need to have someone in every week- one week upstairs, one week downstairs.  it would take so much stress off my relationship & just make me generally happier.

i don't want to use a "service" as i have a feeling their quality of cleaning isn't up to scratch.  i've asked around and no one i know has a house cleaner/cleaning lady.  any advice on where to find such a person?

I have a cleaning woman, coming up on two years now.  We got her for the same reason, to much stress and I HATE cleaning.  It's well worth the money.  We go through a service, and I've been very happy with them. Plus with a service you are covered by insurance with them, so if anything happens to the cleaner etc. you are covered.

If you don't want to go through a service, word of mouth is the best way to find someone reliable. Do you know anyone else in your area who uses a cleaner?

(Edited because if I'd read your post properly I'd have seen that you don't know anyone with a cleaner. Sorry!)

I am at this stage as well and am about to do the same - either go with a service or find someone individually.  I am happy with either but want to use someone that is recommended ie from a coworker or friend.  I just asked the girl who sits opposite me and she's got someone she likes so I will start with that.

i've asked my friends and they all look at me like i have 4 heads.  why would you pay someone to do something that you can do yourself.  they really make me feel like a snob.  seriously, my "time" is worth more than £20/hour.  therefore, it is cost effective to get a cleaner.  sorry if i'm sound like i'm trying to justify this to myself, i guess i am.

most of my friends here are younger (early 20's, mid 20's) and i just don't think they've reached the point in their career, or had children, to know what buzy is.

i do have one friend at work who has a cleaner but she lives 25 miles from me so don't think that'll work out. 

andy (the boy) doesn't feel we need one.  but i don't see him cleaning toilets often (although he does do lots around the house in general, esp the dishes)

Does anyone know, ballpark, how much this costs through an agency?  I'd be looking to get someone for a couple of hours every week or every other week.

June

stacey-woudl you mind posting/pming the service you use?  perhaps they're national?

stacey-woudl you mind posting/pming the service you use?  perhaps they're national?

Sure, here you go:

http://www.bellecasa.co.uk/index_bellecasa.htm

Several of my friends have cleaners, don't worry about it.  They are not minted, or snobs, they are just busy people with social lives, and they figure that £20 a week, the price of a night in the pub, is worth it to have a nice flat with no hassles.

I would say that word of mouth is the best way of getting someone trustworthy.  Also, a friend of mine worked through an agency and was royally ripped off.  If you go direct to someone, at least you know that the woman doint the work gets the money.

Meggles, where do you live?  I might know someone.

Vicky

i live in peterborough area...

how many hours should i be budgetting for?  i have a mid-terrace, smallish house (at least according to US standards)...

there eat-in kitchen, living room, hallway, downstairs loo, 2 bedrooms, 1 upstairs box room/office, bathroom. 

i'm thinking 3 hours every week, alternating upstairs & downstairs?  or perhaps (6) hours every other week?  any advice on that one?

can't be any help I'm afraid.  I know someone great in South London, whihc is no good for you either Junes, sorry.

My friends' cleaner is there for about 4-5 hours a week.  She cleans, does his washing up (usually a week's worth!) and irons his shirts, and charges £20.  He has a small 2 bed flat.

Vicky

that's cheap as chips... £4-£5/hour.

oh i forgot about IRONING!!!! it would be great to combine house cleaner + ironer.  amazing!

Well, I suspect the lady in question doesn't inform the tax man about her little venture.  She cleans for 5 blokes who all live within 5 mons walk of her house so is probably on £100 per week cash for a 4 day week.  Not bad when you think about it!


Vicky

If I could afford a cleaning person right now I would hire one in a second! But with DH just finishing college it just isn't in the budget.

If you think about all the time and energy you could save just by having someone come in even part-time it would be well worth it. My house looks like a clutter bomb went off most days (but it's clean under the clutter  ). I just don't have the time to clean all the time, nor do I have the desire really. After work all I really want to do is spend time relaxing with DH and DD. Just fixing dinner and washing up does me in for the evening.

And you don't have to justify it to anyone, a lot of "regular joes" use them, but I guess it still seems like to some only the well off should have cleaning persons. 

that's cheap as chips... £4-£5/hour.

oh i forgot about IRONING!!!! it would be great to combine house cleaner + ironer.  amazing!

Oh my god I would pay someone like £100 an hour to do my ironing!!!