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If you've never hired a house cleaner before, you might be wondering what it is they actually do. It's tricky to boil down to a single definition, as different cleaners offer different services. As a general rule of thumb, a standard cleaning service includes lighter work, like vacuuming, dusting, mopping, and wiping commonly used surfaces. Beyond this, the scope of duties is huge, including anything from making beds to polishing silverware - it all depends on the specific services your cleaner provides and your requirements.

While cleaning your home can be a satisfying task, it can also be a time-consuming job that takes a lot of effort. Having a professional to help means you can come home to a clean house or apartment and relax. It can also help you keep on top of regular cleaning and create a welcoming environment in your home.

Not only will your house be a safe and clean space, but a professional cleaner will help to maintain this cleanliness week after week, saving you hours of upkeep and giving you more spare time to spend doing the things you love.

Neglecting regular house cleaning not only creates an unpleasant environment in your home, but can be harmful to your health, too. One thing that may affect you and your family are allergies, and in particular, dust. Dust is a common issue in many homes and can contain allergens that cause symptoms such as a runny nose or itchy eyes. An experienced cleaner will be able to use specialised equipment to make sure your home is kept dust-free.

Tools such as High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters (within vacuums) are used to thoroughly clean home environments. But they don't just work wonders on carpets and floors either - they are so effective that they can even gather dust particles hanging around in the atmosphere. Dust, debris, and dead skin nesting within your home are picked up in one fell swoop.

A proper cleaning professional will get to deep cleaning bathrooms and kitchens as well – two areas in particular where harmful bacteria thrive. Think mould and fungi - we're sure you'd much rather have these swiftly removed from your home.

The arsenal of equipment cleaners carry is nothing to be sneered at, either. Long dusters and a range of sponges and mops are typical fares, but advanced cleaning agents mean that difficult contaminants are erased for good. You'll be surprised at how much easier you breathe after some deep cleaning.

Attention to detail is very important in a cleaning service. A professional cleaner will have high standards, and will cover all of the areas you expect, plus extra space, nooks, and crannies that are easy to overlook.

One fault that is easy to make when cleaning yourself is using the wrong chemicals on surfaces. In particular, putting the incorrect cleaning agents on woodwork can be a nightmare and cause irreparable damage to furniture. Your cleaner will know what is appropriate for every windowsill, tile, mirror, and ledge in your home. Furniture and picture frames are well-accounted for too, leaving your belongings not only clean but in great condition.

With a professional cleaning service, you can be assured that your house will be kept spotless, while you handle your day-to-day tasks in confidence. Less stress is great, but having more time on your hands to spend with your family is priceless.

It depends on the cleaner. Some prefer to bring the products themselves, others will expect you to provide them - it’s best to discuss this with your professional beforehand, so you're both on the same page. In any case, most household cleaners will expect you to have basic tools, such as mops and hoovers, so if you can't provide these make sure to let your cleaner know in advance.

Remember, if you aren't sure which products are best to use, always ask your professional. They have the experience to be able to advise on which products are best for different surfaces, as well as which chemicals can be potentially harmful. Don’t opt for dodgy supplies bought online that could contain harmful toxins, leave it to the expert to make the call!

No matter how much we adore our pets, no one likes their fur lingering around the house. If you're looking to banish hair from your home, the best place to start is with your pet. Make sure you regularly groom your furry friend to prevent excessive moulting.

To tackle fur that is already lying around the house, invest in a pet blanket that you can pop in the washing machine once a week. If you don't want to ruin the aesthetics of your home, a vacuum cleaner will do the trick. You can even get hoovers that are specially designed to remove stray hair!

Most house cleaning services don't require you to be at home, as long as you've discussed how your cleaner will be able to enter the property in advance. If you aren't going to be at home, always meet your house cleaner in person beforehand to gauge how trustworthy and reliable they are.

As long as your pet is comfortable with new people, it should be no problem having them roam around the house as usual when your cleaner is in. It might be a good idea to introduce your pet to your house cleaner before they come on their own, to avoid any unpleasant encounters. This is especially important if your animal doesn't react well to strangers or gets easily stressed. If you've got a particularly frosty pet, you might want to pop them in a separate room for the duration of the house clean.

A regular clean is lighter work done every two to three weeks, like mopping, vacuuming, tidying, wiping surfaces, and dusting. It maintains a general level of cleanliness in your home. Deep cleaning services get below the surface to tackle those stubborn stains and grime. It involves all of those tricky jobs that you've most probably been putting off, like cleaning behind ovens, removing limescale from bathrooms, and window cleaning.

Homes come in all shapes and sizes, so it’s tricky to know just how long it will take to clean one. It depends on several factors, including whether you want a top to bottom deep clean or a quick once-over. As a general rule of thumb, the number of rooms you have will reflect the hours required to clean your home. So, a two-bedroom house will take roughly two hours to clean, whereas a four-bedroom home will take around four hours to clean.

Most home cleaning services charge by the hour, although some may charge a flat fee, especially for one-off services like end-of-tenancy cleaning. The hourly rate can increase or decrease depending on the type of service required and the condition of your property. Need to stick to a budget? You can always ask your cleaner to put a cap on the number of hours they work.

Definitely not! Most cleaners don't require a contract, so you can hire them as little or often as you like, whether that's for a one-time, bi-weekly, or monthly service. If you do require your cleaner to come multiple times, make sure to ask about price packages. These offer discounts on the hourly fee if you require domestic cleaning on a regular basis.

So what should you think about when hiring a house cleaner? Bark makes it easy to look at different professionals and get quotes from them, too. You can narrow down the hiring process to a few of your favourites, but you should ask a few questions before you do so.

Vetting your prospects is important, and will make sure you end up with a professional that can handle the types of cleaning you require in your home. Here are some things to check before you make your decision.

• Testimonials or references: It's a good idea to take a look at reviews or testimonials from previous clients before you decide to hire. You can check out their profile page on Bark.
• Liability Insurance: For peace of mind in case of accidents.
• Supplies: Ask which supplies the cleaner intends to use and whether they are suitable for your family and pets, especially if someone in your home is allergic to certain chemicals.

Take a look at the above points, and think of some of your own. This will help you to pick the right cleaning professional the first time around. It’s always a good idea to meet your cleaner in person before you commit to anything, as this will help you gauge whether they are trustworthy and reliable.