Whether you are looking to become a housekeeper or hire one from a house cleaning company, there is a lot to know about house cleaners and what it means to be one. For both parties, a better understanding of the daily routine, challenges, and other aspects of the job description will help build stronger, long-lasting bonds.
The more you know about the life of house cleaners near you, the more insight you will have into what it really takes to be the best housekeeper around. It’s not an easy job, but it’s sure rewarding when the end result is satisfactory for both homeowners and house cleaners.
Daily House Cleaning Services by a Professional House Cleaner
Searching online for house cleaners near me reveals countless local cleaning services, leaving you overwhelmed by endless choices. Thereafter, it’s time for the house cleaner to spring into action!
The Everyday Routines of House Cleaners
When you hire a cleaning service, they assign a cleaner and provide all service details and needed instructions.
The cleaner must be punctual and presentable, and handle requested tasks, including add-on services that may incur an extra charge.
Here is a brief look at the daily, room-by-room home-cleaning routine a housemaid typically follows. Bear in mind that standard house cleaning services vary from one cleaning company to another. Some even offer customized daily home cleaning packages.
Living Room Cleaning
The living room can get pretty dusty and disorganized due to the amount of activity it sees. It might be due for a deep clean before you hire a standard or regular cleaning service in your area. Nevertheless, regular cleaning and tidying are necessary, and typically include the following when you hire a housekeeper:
- Dusting the furniture, shelves, and other surfaces in the room. Cleaners begin by dusting high surfaces so that falling dust lands below, making it easier to clean afterward thoroughly. Then from the lower pieces of furniture.
- Depending on the cleaning checklist followed by the house cleaning service. Your house cleaner will wipe or wash the interior windows in your living room.
- Cleaners straighten and neatly arrange your sofas and couches. They may also vacuum the upholstery for a fresher, cleaner look.
- Cleaners neatly organize all items on the coffee table and end tables.
- Vacuuming of carpets or area rugs (some house cleaning services offer steam cleaning if the carpet requires a deep clean).
- Sweeping/vacuuming and mopping the floors.
Kitchen Cleaning
Daily kitchen use means spills, splatters, grease, and grime are inevitable. Cleaning the space thoroughly usually takes extra time and effort. Here’s what a house cleaner does daily in the kitchen:
- Remove grease and stains from the stove top and range hood.
- Wipe down the backsplash.
- Clean the exteriors of kitchen appliances, such as the toaster, kettle, coffee maker, and oven.
- Wipe down the fridge door and disinfect the handle.
- Clean the microwave interior and exterior.
- Wipe down all counters, tables, and shelves.
- Clean the kitchen sink and the surrounding area.
- Wipe down stainless steel surfaces.
- Load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.
- Clean the floor (s) (sweeping + regular mopping or steam mopping).
Bathroom Cleaning
When cleaned daily, bathrooms are quick and easy to maintain. Of course, deep cleaning once every other month is important to eliminate hidden germs and built-up grime in nooks and crannies. For bathroom cleaning on a daily basis, house cleaners generally follow the process below:
- Clear out shower items and countertop accessories to properly wipe down surfaces.
- Scrub and wash wall tiles.
- Clean the sink.
- Scrub the toilet bowl clean inside and outside.
- Clean bathtub surfaces.
- Wipe down bathroom fittings, faucets, and other fixtures.
- Clean the mirror and bathroom vanity.
- Wash and dry the floor tiles.
Bedroom Cleaning
While it’s important for a housekeeper to remain professional and respectful at every step of their daily cleaning routine, in the bedroom, they must show a little more sensitivity and respect, as it’s a very personal space for the homeowner. With that in mind, the house cleaner goes about cleaning bedroom spaces in the following manner:
- Cleaners neatly make up the beds if requested.
- They tidy and organize dressers and tables.
- Cleaners wipe down all furniture, including bed frames.
- Cleaners dust ceiling and wall fixtures.
- Cleaners vacuum carpets and area rugs.
- Cleaners clean mirrors and windows for a clear, streak-free finish.
- Cleaners vacuum and mop floors to complete the cleaning.
Common Challenges Faced By a Professional House Cleaner
Aside from difficult cleaning tasks involving stubborn grime or stains, other aspects of the job pose challenges. It is therefore advisable to acquire some form of professional training in order to foresee these challenges and rise above them. Learn more about these below.
Not Having The Right Equipment
If you don’t have your own cleaning tools or need to use the apartment owner’s, the house cleaner might not have everything needed to get the job done well. Talk about this before the service so the cleaner can work efficiently and won’t be blamed if the right equipment isn’t available.
Encountering Health Hazards
There are quite a few areas of house cleaning that pose health hazards, including exposure to hazardous substances/chemicals, slips and falls, and labor intensity (carrying and handling heavy cleaning equipment/machinery). Professional cleaners must be wary of these things and always be prepared with protective gear when needed.
Cleaning a Cluttered Home
Homeowners can’t expect the cleaner to tidy up a cluttered home unless the service includes that. They must also understand that it is much more time-consuming and difficult for housekeepers to clean around clutter, which, in turn, affects the overall cleanliness of the space. Depending on the agreed terms and conditions, if the house cleaner is not informed of the property’s current condition, they may refuse to provide the service.
Lack of Guidance/Cleaning Instructions
Some people prefer to have their house cleaned in a particular way and, therefore, must provide proper instructions and guidance for the cleaner to follow. It’s often the case that the homeowner is left dissatisfied with a service simply because they were not clear about their instructions from the get-go.
Language Barrier/Poor Communication Skills
Even if both parties speak the same language, having poor communication skills (on both parties) can cause misunderstandings and unnecessary problems. House cleaners must work to improve their communication with clients, ensuring they are polite and respectful, especially when representing a cleaning service. If this is not reciprocated by the homeowner, it will create a very challenging and stressful work environment.
The Importance of Time Management & Detailed Cleaning
The whole point of hiring a home cleaning service is to have your house cleaned thoroughly and on time by professionals. Particularly with cleaning companies that have an impressive average rating of 4/5 stars, you can expect an excellent job on every occasion! Of course, this is where the house cleaner that is assigned to the job must shine.
Following a Meticulous Cleaning Process
Paying close attention to detail is crucial in house cleaning, and every trained or experienced housekeeper knows that. It should also be noted that there is a difference between a deep cleaning and a regular/daily home cleaning service; however, both require a meticulous cleaning process to achieve the desired result. Every last detail matters in housekeeping, including the type of product/solution, the equipment used, and the technique.
On any given day, a professional cleaner is required to uphold a high standard of cleanliness for clients, which can only be achieved by a thorough cleaning of the property. This means cleaning crevices like tile grout and other areas that are out of reach and out of sight.
Time Management Strategies
A professional maid can complete an entire house cleaning service in half the amount of time it takes the average homeowner. In a big way, this is owed to practice and experience; however, other factors aid in efficient, ‘speed cleaning’.
Some of the time management strategies used by cleaning crews include pre-treating areas and surfaces that require the cleaning solution to sit for a while to clean effectively. While the product is put to work, the cleaner will move on to other cleaning tasks before returning to finish these specific areas. This saves a lot of time while ensuring a proper, effective clean.
CONCLUSION
The daily routine of a house cleaner comes with its own challenges, yet can be highly rewarding and self-satisfying when it ends with a job well done and a happy homeowner! It takes a level of professionalism to carry out a thorough, whole-house clean that meets one’s requirements and expectations, but this is often guaranteed when you’ve picked one of the best house cleaning services for the job.
For individuals who wish to become professional housekeepers, it is advisable to take a cleaning course to gain experience and certification. This will help you get employed by house cleaning services or hired independently by clients in Canada.
