Don’t expect the products your cleaner brings to be organic, or not to irritate your allergies. Get the supplies. It’s the courteous thing to do anyways since supplies are pricy.
A housecleaner is just that: a housecleaner. Do not ask yours to fix a hemline or pick up your kids from school. If he/she offers that service, it’s probably not included in the housecleaning rate.
Clear your belongings off your countertop so your housecleaner can clean those countertops. Pick up things off the floor so your housecleaner can vacuum. If you leave items everywhere, don’t get upset that it takes your housecleaner longer to clean—he/she didn’t account for picking up after you.
If you’re going to move to another city or are downsizing your home, let the post office know, let your friends know, and let your housecleaner. He/she counts on that income and needs proper notice to find more work.
Being treated well encourages a housecleaner to work well. He/she might be more inclined to stay ten extra minutes to clean up a spill if you gave him/her a gift card at Christmas, or offered him/her coffee sometimes.
If your housecleaner has a child, where do you think that kid is while your house is getting cleaned? With a sitter. Spare your housecleaner that expense and allow him/her to bring the child to work.
Even if your housecleaner could use more money, he/she probably doesn’t need an abusive employer. Don’t recommend your housecleaner to potential clients you know won’t pay fairly, or who will be rude.
If you want your house cleaned your way, do it yourself. Otherwise, remember that a housecleaner cleans professionally because he/she is a professional. Don’t try to hand out cleaning tips.
Your housecleaner probably keeps your dog company while you’re away, talking to the dog, petting it, giving it treats. Keep that in mind.
Don’t forget to say thank you! Leaving a check on the counter feels cold to your housecleaner. Attach a note that says, “Thank you!” or say it in person.
You can’t expect a housecleaner to charge the same to clean your 5-bedroom house as he/she does to clean your neighbor’s one-bedroom apartment.
If you have furniture that requires special care, notify your housecleaner. Don’t assume that if it gets ruined, your insurance will cover it. Your insurance will assume it’s the housecleaner’s responsibility to cover the repairs, and your housecleaner may not have the money to do that.
So he/she can bring a better lunch! Offer up some space in your fridge for your housecleaner so he/she can live off of more than granola bars when at your house. Even offer up your stove or microwave. It will get cleaned, after all.
If a document is of life or death importance, don’t leave it on the dining room table. Your housecleaner isn’t responsible for remembering where he/she placed your items, so that he/she could properly clean.
Your housecleaner can tell a lot about what kind of parent you are based on how your children treat him/her. Raise your children to say “hi” to your housecleaner, offer him/her a glass of water, and just generally treat them with kindness.
