Beware of Common Problems with Professional Cleaners

The professional cleaning sector in the UK makes the list of top 10 industries. There are over 1.63 million people employed in this area, and this figure equates to around 5% of the total workforce in the UK.

In 2018, the cleaning industry added £55.5 billion to the economy of the United Kingdom, according to the British Cleaning Council. And after the advent of Covid, the cleaning & hygiene industry has only grown bigger.

But, not all cleaning services are equal, and some problems are worth being aware of if you are considering using professional cleaners in your home.

Are there advantages to using a professional cleaning service?

You can read about some of the problems with hiring professional cleaning services and whether you should use one below. But, it would perhaps be fair to first mention that there are many benefits too.

Hiring professional cleaners for the home or office can save time and money too. Below are some ways in which it can be advantageous to use professional cleaning services.

You save time

You won’t use up any of your own time cleaning or taking time from work to do so.

You won’t need to buy or hire equipment or products

There is no need to hire a steam cleaner, or stock up on different cleaning products.

They are insured and offer guarantees

If the service isn’t up to scratch, a good cleaning service will normally return to rectify the issues. And if something gets broken during the cleaning, then they should be insured.

They will do the jobs you don’t want to

Don’t fancy de-greasing the cooker? Then you should employ someone to do it for you.

They can make your home healthier

A proper deep clean can remove allergens and improve air quality. Understanding how to keep a home dust free can really help to make a home healthier.

What issues should you be aware of with professional cleaners?

Unfortunately, not all firms are the same, and while the vast majority of professional cleaning services are reputable, there are some things to be aware of.

Inadequate training

Any company that doesn’t care about its employees will have a high turnover of staff. This can lead to poor or inadequate training as workers are constantly replaced.

Hazardous chemicals

There are a number of toxic chemicals in certain cleaning products. A reputable cleaning company will be aware of the health effects of cleaning products and many now offer green cleaning options. They will discuss these with you and any concerns you have.

Arriving late

One of the reasons many people use cleaning services is so that they can save time. A poorly run cleaning service may not be as concerned about time-keeping as you are.

Hidden costs

Check that all the services you require are included in the quotation you receive. It is completely normal for extra services to be charged separately, but good cleaning firms will be transparent about this.

Not paying their staff properly

It may be tempting to go for the cleaning company with the rock-bottom pricing, but how good is the service going to be? If you are being charged little for cleaning, then how much are the staff being paid?

Tasks not completed

It is easy for a task to be missed when cleaning your home, but a professional service should have a checklist that they run through. To ensure you get the service you require, look for a company that offers a guaranteed return to fix any areas that have been missed.

Should you use professional cleaners?

You might think from the list above that it could be easier to clean your home yourself. But, there are many situations where paying for a cleaning service might be the best option.

Moving into a home

Getting a professional firm to carry out a one-off cleaning service on your new home can make the transition easier and much more comfortable. You can use a cleaning service to ready your home before you move your furniture and belongings in.

Moving out of a home

Equally, a professional cleaning firm can make moving out easier, and help you to get a deposit returned.

An end-of-tenancy clean is one service that many firms offer, and it can assist renters to get their security deposits returned in full. There are now more people renting than ever, so this area will likely grow in the cleaning industry.

Can you help yourself get a better cleaning service?

If you understand what services you’re receiving, and have proper expectations then the cleaning will go much better.

Understanding what is and isn’t included in the cleaning service is important. Don’t expect your dishes to be washed up and your kitchen bin emptied. You need to prepare your home so that the professionals can carry out the tasks expected of them without clutter around them.

Use online reviews and testimonials to choose a respected service, and take your pets and yourself out of the way when they arrive. Making life easier for the professionals will only help you to get a better service.

Summary

As with hiring any business, it is always worth understanding some of the aspects surrounding the services provided. Ensuring that the company is insured and offers guarantees is reassuring, as are good recent reviews.

Check that the staff is experienced, trained, and the services you desire are included in your quotation. Then you should not only avoid pitfalls but if you’re a tenant, you might see your deposit returned in full without having to clean a single thing yourself.