Between blogging 35 hours a week, keeping up with my two girls’ schedules, making dinners and trying to be a good wife, trying to find time to stay on top of all the household chores is nearly impossible for me these days. But the funny thing is I’ve had the hardest time finding a housekeeper, I guess no one wants to clean the house of a cleaning blogger. 🙂 I’ve had a couple housekeepers since we moved into our current home, about a year and a half ago, but one of them got pregnant and went on leave and the other didn’t last long either. So now I’m in the market and looking for a good housekeeper but after having two that didn’t work out I’m starting to realize that I need to ask more questions up front.
I think I’m too trusting, I just expect that all housekeepers will have my same standard of cleanliness but that hasn’t always been the case. This got me thinking that I should treat hiring a housekeeper just like any other job interview. I wouldn’t hire just anyone to manage my business so why should I hire just anyone to clean my house and be all up in my space. You know?
So today I’m sharing a list of questions to ask prospective housekeepers because I’ve realized it’s okay to ask questions, do my research and set the standards up front. By doing that everyone knows what is expected of them and everyone is happier in the long run.
#1 How long they have been cleaning houses and how many houses they are currently cleaning?
#2 Ask for references, other home owners they clean for, etc. Don’t feel bad asking them for this because after all they are a stranger that you’re inviting into your home.
#3 Are they willing to use your cleaning supplies or will they supply their own. I always prefer they use mine so if you’re the same way make sure to talk to them about that.
#4 Be upfront about what you will pay and what you expect of them. If they have a standard rate them make sure to ask them what they offer for that amount. If you are going to ask them to do additional tasks, like your laundry, make sure to offer them more money.
#5 Don’t be afraid to ask for a trial period of two to three cleanings. This will give you plenty of time to evaluate their cleaning style and if you feel like they are going to be a good match for you.
#6 It’s important to remember, when you’re interviewing, that they won’t automatically know what you want done in your home. Have a plan of what you need done and make sure to communicate that clearly to them. Let them know where you want them to clean and what you don’t want them to clean. Do you want them to wash the sheets, clean the blinds, etc. Make sure you are very clear of what your expectations are because each homeowner has different needs and the more you communicate yours, the happier you will be with your new housekeeper.
#7 And last but not least, when you’re interviewing them make sure to not do all the talking. Let them talk so you can get a good feel of their personality and how well they communicate.
These seven questions will help you find the perfect housekeeper for you and your home and it will keep everyone happy because the expectations will have been set from the beginning! Good luck on your search, if you find someone good, send them my way! 🙂
I find it’s also important to ask if there is anything they don’t/won’t do (one said “I don’t do baseboards & such. I clean all the normal stuff you’d usually do in a week.” Well, the reason I’m hiring you is to do all the bigger things that aren’t the obvious, everyday cleaning stuff, & also that which is more difficult for me to do!). Ask them if they clean by schedule, as in, do they clean your house every week, but then once a month take a room & deep clean that, in addition? I had a housekeeper like that, once, & she was a blessing!
I also found one who was pretty darned good…except she wouldn’t wipe the tops of any tchotchkes, bottles, ANYTHING! The dust piles up on those things, too!
Great questions, thanks Minta! 🙂
Really important post here! A housekeeper is someone you need to trust, and to do that you need to make sure they’re a right fit for you. These are some great questions to ask before you hire.
This is perfect timing. I just decided my 2nd housekeeper wasn’t going to make it. Too much $ and everything is just surface cleaned. I will say she LOVED to clean the blinds & did so every other visit.
Thanks for these great helpful hints.
A real housekeeper considers it her craft to make cleanliness of your home her business and will rotate needs/expectations on the paid time-slot basis. I say time slot because housekeepers are not average hourly employees, but usually are self – employed individuals who have to accomplish allot in any given hour and have to hone their skills to make that happen . Also, the amount of houses they do is the amount they can physically tolerate or work their way up to, so keep this in mind when she gives you your ” in home visit”. Also, they usually carry a well stocked cleaning tray of things they prefer to use. Preferences, of an experienced housekeeper could be because of personal allergies due to cleaning too many years or cleaning ability of a particular product for a specific job both saving her time and you money. The average hourly service hour for a professional housekeeper is $25 to $45 but keep in mind that includes no benefits. If she gets better or faster at cleaning your home, don’t think it strange if she leaves 15mins earlier or on the other hand if she extends certain courtesy think they work for less because they extend more. I say, ” she”, but some of the best are male housekeepers. I hope you find good housekeeping, now if only I could afford to pay myself for what I can accomplish for my clients in one day, I would have a beautiful house and I know I am worth every penny!