Hate cleaning your house? No onecould blame you: There’s precious littlefun inscrubbing toilets. Or wiping down grime-streaked windows to the point where your elbows are sore for weeks. Andyou probably cringe when you thinkabout your living room’s floor-to-ceiling built-in shelves, whose upper levels haven’t seen a dust rag since Tony Soprano faded abruptly to black.
Enter the humble housecleaner—here to save you from yourself! You can hand over your most hated tasks and wash your hands of cleaning.
But if you’re hiring a housecleaner to do the hard work, don’t make the jobeven harder. Following these insider tips from cleaning experts will not only help ensure your status as a decent human being, they can also help you save some cash.
Here are seven tips for keepingyour cleaning from turning into a dust-up.
1. Precleaning will save you money
If you’re anything like us, you probably do a little precleaning for your housecleaner. And then, if you’re like us, you wonder how much of that is truly necessary—after all, that’s what the housecleaner isthere for, right?
Here’s the deal: You should do whatever you can to help them help you.No, you don’t need to bust out the Clorox, the Shark vacuum, and the Miracle Mop, but youshould tackle those dirty dishes, throw out the takeout containers, and pick up that pile of clothes. If you don’t, you may findthat your wallet’s been cleaned out, too.
“Picking up clutter does make our job a lot easier,” saysMegan Sentner, the manager at Greenapple Cleaning in Ottawa, Ontario. “That being said, we have no problem picking up clutter as long as the clients understand that it takes more time and costs more.”
Think it all comes out in the wash? Let us do the math for you: Ifyour housecleaner charges you $30 per hour (the average rate) to clean, then a half-hour spent decluttering will cost you an extra $15—or $390 for a year’s worth of twice-a-month cleanings.Instead, straighten upthe night before and save that cash for something else.
2. Give specific directions
Unless you’re ordering a top-to-bottom scrubbing every week, your cleaners need direction. Is the bathroom looking a little grungy? Ask them to spend extra time on the shower.Request extra attention to your baseboards. Sic them on yourson’s room, now that he’s finally off to college.
“If they don’t leave full instructions, there’s a chance they’ll be disappointed,”Sentner says.
If you’re new to the world of professional housecleaning, you might not know exactly what your homeneeds most. Mostmaid serviceswill happily stop by for a consultation so you can learn exactlyhow dirty you are.
3. Deal with your pets, please
Your dog runs in terror whenyouturn on your Dyson, so why would you leave ithome alone when all the floors are getting vacuumed? Not all pups need to be boarded during housecleaning, but if you already know your pet hates strangers or loud noises, at least put itin the backyard or a comfy crate.
“We don’t mind having pets in the home while cleaning, but some pets don’t like having us there,” Sentner says. “It’s stressful for our team members to have a dog barking for three hours.”
Aggressive pets can also mean your house doesn’t get cleaned:Housecleaners aren’t expected to sacrifice their own safety to clean your home, and if they’re faced with an angry animal, they mighthave to bail on the job, Sentner says.
4. If you wouldn’t touch it, they won’t either
Yes, housecleaners will scrub away that nasty builduparound the bottom of your toilet seat. But they also have a limit:They won’tpick upyour dog’s poop.
Or—and yes,Sentner says it’s happened—yours.
“Sometimes there are expectations that we can clean it, but we don’t,” she says. “We don’t expect our team to handle any waste above the usual cleaning of the bathroom or the toilet.”
5.Allot the proper amount of cleaning time
Don’t feel ashamed if your house is in dire straits. Life happens. Work picks up, a kid or two comes along, and suddenly you have no time for more than the bare minimum.Cleaners (probably) won’t judge you—but you should expect thejob to take a bit longer.
Be honest with your housecleaners about the home’s current state so they can allocate enough time on their schedule.
6.Use an insured cleaning service
Housecleanerscan’t avoid touching your most valuable belongings—Grandma’sheirloom teapot needs dusting, too. But sometimesaccidents happen.
The best way to ensurethe safety of your preciouspossessions is by selecting an insured cleaning service. It’llhave provisions in place to quickly rectify the situation.
“If we made a mistake and caused damage, it’s our responsibility,”Sentner says.
Bu it’s your responsibility to make sure things are in line and prepared for your housecleaner’s visit. That includes removing anytruly priceless valuables—and making sure your home (however dirty) is a welcoming environment.
7.You’re not entirely off the hook
Hiring a housecleaning service doesn’t mean you can skipall of the cleaning. Well, sure: You probably can, if you’re willing to pay for the serviceto do the basics every time it comesby. But if you want to cutcosts, make sure you try to keep up your home’s appearance in between cleanings.
“Minor maintenance can be the difference between us cleaning for three or five hours every two weeks,” Sentner says.
Simple DIYtasks include wiping down the front of the cabinets after cooking, squeegeeing the shower, and sweeping the kitchen floor. Integrating them into your day-to-day routine can save youa fewbucks on your bill.
