If you’ve watched Mary Poppins Returns, you’ll probably remember the scene where the beloved nanny effortlessly tidies up the children’s room with just a wave of her hand. Seeing everything fall into place so perfectly makes you wish maintaining our own homes could be as easy. But magic belongs to fairy tales. True magic isn’t real, and the closest we can get to it in cleaning is by using natural methods.
London depends on a diligent workforce of cleaners, whether employed by companies like ours or self-employed, finding work through personal recommendations or local ads. These hardworking individuals strive to make other people’s homes spotless, often for modest wages. Many start their days before sunrise or work late into the night, especially in commercial spaces, to accommodate their clients and make ends meet. In all the years in the cleaning business, we’ve had wonderful clients who treat the cleaners with great respect and consideration.
However, occasionally we encounter clients who lack empathy. Cleaners can be taken advantage of in many ways, and we aim to raise awareness. We hope to encourage those with unrealistic expectations to reconsider their attitudes towards their
cleaners.
EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM YOUR CLEANER
Just like you or we might occasionally help someone out as a favor, your cleaner may also be willing to go the extra mile now and then. But it becomes problematic when the request turns into a command rather than a favour. None of us would want to do extra unpaid work regularly, especially if we felt we couldn’t refuse. Unfortunately, many cleaners face this exact situation and, fearing job loss, feel compelled to agree. It’s perfectly fine to occasionally ask your cleaner for a small extra task, provided you make it clear they have a real choice in the matter, and you’re prepared to pay extra for their time and effort.
EXPECTING MORE FOR THE SAME TIME
In any job, if you know you can only finish four tasks in an eight-hour day, you’re not going to be thrilled if your boss expects you to complete six tasks in the same timeframe. If you want occasional extra jobs done, try alternating or rotating less critical tasks over several weeks. This way, three or four jobs get done once or twice a month instead of every week.
For tasks that need attention during every clean, the best solution might be to extend the time your cleaner spends with you each week and adjust the pay accordingly. This keeps things simple and fair for everyone.
TURNING SMALL ISSUES INTO BIG ONES
Having a cleaner is fantastic because it frees us up to focus on the things we enjoy. However, it’s not fair to give them more work than they can reasonably handle. Some people tidy up a bit before their cleaner arrives! Yet, others do the opposite and leave a mess that’s beyond the usual level for their home, and then get upset when the cleaner can’t clean to their usual high standard in the time available. We don’t expect you to clean your house before our cleaners arrive but tidying up extra clutter isalways a good idea. This way, your cleaner can do the best job possible. It’s beneficial for everyone involved!
BEING KIND GOES A LONG WAY
Starting a new job or joining a new company involves a learning curve to understand the workflow, locate resources, and adapt to your boss’s preferences. It’s all about figuring out the little things, from where the washrooms are to where the supplies are kept. Your cleaner faces a similar situation when they step into your home for the first time. Regardless of their experience, they still need to learn where you keep cleaning supplies, what methods work best for your surfaces, and establish a routine that allows both of you to work efficiently without getting in each other’s way. Just as we wouldn’t be expected to know everything on our first day at a new job, we shouldn’t expect our cleaners to have all the answers right away.
RESPECTING CLEANERS’S TIME: WHY CONSISTENSY AND TIMELY PAYMENT MATTER
Another aspect of treating cleaners fairly is respecting the agreements about their work schedule, whether they are individuals or a cleaning company. If you have agreed to weekly or bi-weekly cleaning, it’s not good to frequently cancel visits or constantly change the day and time. Just as you wouldn’t be happy if your employer regularly cancelled your work and didn’t pay you, cleaners feel neglected and dissatisfied when this happens. You are their employer, and they earn their income from cleaning. If they don’t clean and must stay home, they won’t get paid. If you cannot guarantee consistent work and timely payment, it’s better not to book their time. Contact them only when you can be home and pay them.
As humans, we should strive to show respect and kindness to each other, including those who provide services in our homes. If you’re using a cleaning service, think about how you can support your cleaner to ensure they can do their best work.
Kindness makes a difference, and when you show it, everyone benefits.