How to Find the Right Domestic Cleaner

Is the housework becoming more than you can handle? Are there not enough hours in the day to tidy up? Do you struggle to relax in a messy home that you can’t keep clean? Then it’s time to invest in a little help by hiring a domestic cleaner. 

Hiring a professional will save you time, eliminate your stress, and leave you with a sparklingly clean home, but if you’re going to allow a cleaner into your home then you had better make sure they are the best person for the job. The domestic cleaning industry is unregulated, and there is no legal requirement for service providers to be insured, so, make sure you do your research and take the time to find the right domestic cleaner for you with this step-by-step guide. 

Understand Your Needs

Having a good understanding of your needs is the best way to set expectations from the beginning and make sure that both parties have a clear understanding of your requirements. 

You should sit down with your family and discuss the following: 

• How often does the house need to be professionally cleaned? Once a week? Once a month? Or maybe even once a day? 
• What type of cleaning does the house need? Should it be a regular deep clean, a full house tidy, or a one-off specialist clean e.g. oven cleaning, carpet cleaning, mattress cleaning etc. 
• Would you prefer to hire one cleaner directly or to contact an agency to hire a cleaning team on your behalf? 

Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s time to start searching for the right house cleaning service provider in your area. 

Ask for Recommendations

Searching for a domestic cleaner isn’t the same as searching for a cleaning team to clean your business premises or tidy up your garden. You will be allowing this cleaner direct access to your home and private spaces, so you must be sure that they will respect your privacy and your belongings. 

One of the best ways to make sure you hire a cleaner you can trust is to ask your friends and family for their recommendations. The domestic cleaning sector is rapidly growing and it is very likely that at least one person in your circle will have a regular cleaner that they can refer you to. They will also be able to give you their honest feedback on the service that they received and also on how accommodating and reliable the cleaning team is. 

If you can’t find a cleaner this way then it’s time to turn to the Internet, but don’t start your search by simply typing ‘domestic cleaner’ into Google and clicking on the top link. Instead, go to an agency website that lists reputable cleaning companies or to a public forum that discusses people’s experiences with local cleaning providers. Read their recommendations to narrow down your search and keep an eye out for any insights into how each cleaning service operates: for example, are they always on time? Do they communicate well with their clients? Are they fully insured and registered with HMRC? 

Verify Their Credentials 

As we have already stated, the domestic cleaning industry is not regulated by any authority or governing body. This causes problems for companies that operate with the relevant legal protections as they have very few ways of distinguishing themselves from unreliable companies, but also for clients who may not know what to look for when hiring a cleaner. 

At the absolute minimum, the cleaning company that you hire must have public liability insurance, as this will protect your interests if any accidents occur. Accidents can happen, but if a cleaner stains a carpet, knocks over a keepsake, or breaks any fixtures, then both you and the cleaning company will benefit from the same legal protections and the insurer will cover the cost of the damage. 

Once you’ve verified that the companies you’ve shortlisted are insured it’s time to take a look at their cleaning certifications. These credentials, though not essential, signify the reliability of a cleaning team and their commitment to high standards, so keep an eye out for them when conducting your research. 

Clarify Your Expectations 

Now it’s time to make your final choice. Make sure that your preferred cleaning team fits into your budget and has no hidden costs, and then reach out to them directly to start your cleaning package. They should offer you a contract to sign, but if they don’t then it’s important to request one, as this will detail your expectations and their obligations. 

Let them know: 

• What times you would like the house cleaned, such as mid afternoon whilst everyone is at work or during the weekend when everyone is away. 
• Which areas of the house you would like cleaned and which areas you would prefer to clean yourself. 
• About any expensive or delicate items that require special care and should not be moved. 
• How you would like them to secure the house once they leave, including locking the doors, setting the alarm, and closing any gates. 

And get all of these agreements written down in the contract, along with the steps that the cleaners will take to keep your home safe and secure e.g. keeping their copy of your house key in a safe place at all times. 

Contact a Nationwide Provider 

If this all sounds like more hassle than simply cleaning the house yourself, or you’re worried that you won’t be able to find a reliable cleaning team, then it’s a good idea to get in touch with a nationwide provider. 

These providers oversee a network of cleaning teams that operate under their guidance and supervision and offer more protections than a single cleaning team could. Their cleaners must be fully insured, professionally trained and committed to maintaining the high standards of the provider, and they will all be listed on the providers website so you can find the best domestic cleaner in your local area without having to search for them yourself. 

Does this sound like the best choice for you? Then find your local Domestique team today – the only local cleaning service with a written guarantee.