What Do Cleaners Do? Know What You're Paying For

When it comes to hiring professional cleaners, the question that plagues many people's minds is 'what do cleaners do?' Obviously, they'll come and clean your house but like with any service there will be some things they cover and some that they don't. Understandably, before you're willing to part with your hard-earned money, you need to know exactly what you're paying for.

Here we'll talk you through the rooms and tasks included in a regular domestic cleaning service. We'll give you an idea of the level of service you should expect to receive and offer pointers on what to look for in a cleaning service, to make sure it meets your needs.

What do cleaners do in your home?

Generally speaking, a regular domestic cleaning service should cover the following:

• Bathroom cleaning (including toilet cleaning)
• Kitchen cleaning
• Vacuuming throughout the property
• Cleaning of bathrooms
• Cleaning of kitchen

Some domestic cleaning companies (like NG1 City Cleaners) may also offer upgraded cleaning packages that include:

• High and low-level dusting
• Polishing glass / mirrors
• Mopping hard floors throughout the property
• Making beds
• Emptying bins and replacing bags

And if you're willing to pay a little more for your cleaning service, you can also benefit from premium extras like:

• Internal window cleaning
• Steam cleaning of hard floors
• Cleaning fridge and microwave seals
• Deep cleaning oven
• Polished finish throughout

Some cleaning companies may also offer 'add-on' services such as spot treatment carpet cleaning and washing machine hygiene treatments. Usually, you'll need to pay for a cleaning package and purchase these additional services on top, hence the name 'add-on.' The great thing about add-ons  is you can pick and choose the services you want, so you only pay for what you really need.

Do cleaners do dishes?

This will generally depend on the cleaning company you use or the relationship you have with your cleaner. Some companies may offer dish cleaning or dishwasher loading as part of a domestic cleaning package, however, this service isn't usually offered as standard.

Do cleaners do laundry?

Again, this will vary from one company to the next. However, laundry isn't usually classed as 'home cleaning' and therefore won't be included as part of a basic package.

Some cleaning companies may offer a separate laundry cleaning package.

If you work with an independent cleaner and don't have a set 'cleaning specification' as such, you might be able to ask them if they are willing to do your laundry too.

It's important to make sure you are both on the same page and your cleaner is aware of your expectations. For example, do you expect your cleaner to just do the laundry that you leave the basket or do you require them to collect and wash your towels and bedsheets too? It might be a good idea to make a list of your cleaning requirements and check your cleaner is able to meet them.

You will likely need to pay an additional fee (or hourly charge) for laundry services.

How about tidying up?

One of the most common questions people have when hiring a cleaner is whether or not they need to tidy up beforehand. Some cleaners may be happy to include tidying as part of the job, whereas others will only clean. Personally, we don't include tidying up as part of our cleaning services.

It's important to keep in mind that if your cleaner needs to tidy up before the clean, it's going to take a lot longer and will, therefore, cost you more. Alternatively, if you've only paid for 'x' number of hours cleaning, and your cleaner has to tidy first, the rest of the job might be rushed or parts of your home might not get cleaned.

Leave your property neat and they'll be able to focus all of their time on thoroughly cleaning your home to a high standard.

We're not saying you need to do a huge tidy-up but rather make sure the surfaces are free from clutter and clothing / toys etc aren't left out on the floor.

What do cleaners charge per hour?

Now we've answered your question 'what do home cleaners do?' you may be wondering what a domestic cleaner costs?

Cleaning services can be priced in several different ways. Some cleaners will charge an hourly fee, whereas others will charge a set fee for their cleaning package.

Independent (sole trader) cleaners tend to charge an hourly fee, averaging around £10-£15. The more experienced a cleaner is, the more they are likely to charge. It's important to find out whether you will be expected to supply cleaning products and equipment or whether the cleaner uses their own.

Cleaning agencies may charge slightly more per hour for their services. You may be given the option to hire more than one cleaner to attend your property at one time.

Cleaning companies are more likely to charge for a set package, rather than an hourly fee.

Here at NG1 City Cleaners, we calculate our prices by the size of your property and the service level requested. Our prices include any cleaning materials and equipment we supply for each job.

READ MORE: What should a domestic cleaner cost?

How to choose a domestic cleaner

When hiring domestic cleaners, it's important to choose a company that will meet your needs. Here are a few questions to ask:

1. What's covered? - Make sure you know exactly what your cleaner will and will not be cleaning. This will help you decide whether or not their level of service meets your needs. Remember, cleaners are only human and can only do so much in a set time. Try and be realistic with your expectations.
2. Do they offer add-on services or take special requests? - If you need extra cleaning services like steam cleaning or internal window cleaning, find out if this is something the cleaner or cleaning company offers. Some cleaning companies might be willing to offer 'one-off' cleaning services or meet individual requests for an additional fee.
3. How much will it cost? - Price is always going to influence your decision whether or not to hire a cleaner. Compare quotes to the level of service provided to decide what's fair.

What do commercial cleaners do?

Commercial cleaning services are designed for business premises and often take place outside of working hours. A commercial cleaning specification is likely to include:

• Wiping down surfaces with antibacterial cleaner
• Sanitising kitchens
• Sanitising bathrooms and cleaning toilets
• Wiping down phones, IT equipment, shelving, desks
• Dusting blinds
• Cleaning floors with vacuum / steam cleaner

Here at NG1, we produce a bespoke specification for each of our commercial clients, which must be signed off every visit. For more information, visit our Commercial and Office Cleaning service page.

We hope we've answered some of your questions about what cleaners do in your home and the different types of cleaning services you can benefit from. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our friendly customer care team. Email: info@ng1citycleaners.co.uk