Tag Archives: domestic cleaning agency

Cleaners of the month (March)

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Last March, the new cleaners of the month were nominated at http://www.amycleaning.co.uk. This time is the turn of Dorina and Sarnai.

Dorina was nominated last month by several of our colleagues. Due to the high number of customers sending positive feedbacks about her job as well as her attitude we have decided that it is time to give her the recognition for her hard work.

Since Sarnai started working for us she has been amazing, with customers ordering regular cleanings after their one offs and praising her for the excellent service she provides.

It will always be great to work with you! Thank you for the hard work!

 

Cross cultural communication (3)

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Do’s and don’ts to avoid a fight with your foreign domestic cleaner:

1- Do not think that there is only one right way (your way!) to communicate.

2- Learn from generalisations about your cleaner’s culture, but do not use these generalisations to creat stereotypes.

3- Practise, practice and practice!. If you don’t, you do not learn.

4- Do not think that communication problems happen because other people are on the wrong. Always search for new ways to make that communication work.

5- Listen actively and empathetically. Put yourself on her shoes and you will improve your communication skills.

6- Try to look at the situation as an outsider. Analysing the situation as a “third person” will give you more in depth and will help you to resolve the problem quicker.

7- Remember that cultural norms might not apply to the behaviour of your particular domestic cleaner. We are not only shaped by our culture; the ethnic background, the family or the education influence how we grow as individuals.

Cleaners of the Month (February)

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The Cleaner of the Month Award has been up and running for quite a while already at http://www.amycleaning.co.uk. From this month we will be updating the blog on this matter as a big thank you for these cleaners that always go the extra mile to help the customers. So here they are, the Cleaners of the Month for February!

Margarita. She has been with us for a while already. The feedbacks from the customers are great and we even had a new client recommending his friend to join because of Margarita’s outstanding service.

Maricela. She started several months ago. Since she got the first job she has proved to be a really good cleaner (and person!). Customers are very happy with her services and she also kept some holiday replacements as permanent clients.

Cross cultural communication (2)

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On this post you will find some explanations about why your cleaner does not act and react on the same way as you do. Please, do not learn them by heart; as with all researches regarding culture and human behavior it is impossible to decipher the truth. Use them as a way to start knowing and understanding your cleaner with open mind.

1- Communication styles. Cultures use language on different ways. A yes in one part of the world can mean a no on the other side; this can create communication problems. Non verbal communication is also important. A gesture can be rude in one culture or a sign of friendship in another. For example, it may be that on the first meeting with your domestic cleaner you will consider appropriate to keep a physical distance between you two, but in some cultures, such as African or Hispanic, people tend to get closer from the beginning as a sign of friendliness and acceptance of the other.

2- Attitudes toward conflict. Some cultures consider conflict as something that has to be avoided; other cultures think that it is a positive thing. In a lot of European countries, conflict is consider embarrassing and needs to be tackle quietly, avoiding discussion. So, there are more possibilities of an east European domestic cleaner accepting quietly your concerns or complains regarding her work than someone from a Latin culture, who will try to speak with you to find a common solution. Again, this is a general idea and does not mean that there are cultures that will find conflict at any cost leaving their work on one side.

3- Approaches to completing tasks. Asian and Latin cultures tend to consider more important to develop relationships at the beginning on a new job, leaving the completion of the task for the end. European Anglo-Saxon cultures tend to concentrate on the task first. An Asian or Hispanic domestic cleaner would tend to speak with you more often, not because they do not want to do the job, but because they consider essential to get to know you better. This does not mean that domestic cleaners from different cultural backgrounds are more or less keen to do their job or value relationships more or less; it just means that they do their tasks differently.

 4- Attitudes toward disclosure. In some cultures, they consider that being honest about your own feelings or thoughts is not appropriate. Keep this in mind when you are talking with your domestic cleaner regarding a complaint or any other issue of her work; be aware that your domestic cleaner may not be comfortable revealing some information and a question that is so common or natural for you may not be for her.

Hope this helps a little bit on your way to understanding your domestic cleaner. Do not use these cultural differences to create prejudices but to create a better relationship with her.

Keep checking the blog for some tips on how to positively develop your cross-cultural communications with your domestic cleaner!

Cross cultural communication (1)

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Knowledge is the key for an effective cross cultural communication with your domestic cleaner.

How many times did you have issues with your domestic cleaner because she did not react on the way you expected? Do not worry! It is not the end of the world! It does not mean that your cleaner does not listen to you! It is just Culture.

In the UK there are a lot of domestic cleaners from all over the world, from East Europe to South America. At http://www.amycleaning.co.uk there has been a lot of issues regarding cross cultural communication. Recently, a customer called us concerned about her new domestic cleaner. She considered her too loud and invasive while on the first meeting. When talking with the cleaner, from a Mediterranean origin, she was confused; she did not understand what went wrong!

Communication between people of different cultures can cause anxiety. Yes, it is your cleaner, but most of the times you do not know a lot about her; sometimes you cannot even locate her country on the map! This “knowing nothing” cause a lot of uncertainty, thus making you scared and destroying the bases of your relationship.

Therefore, to avoid uncertainty and problems with your domestic cleaner you will need to know what the differences are between your culture and hers.

Culture differences can be found on:

1- Communication styles (how people talk and interact with others).

2- Attitudes toward conflict (how people resolve problems).

3- Approaches to completing tasks.

4- Attitudes toward disclosure (how people express opinions).

Would you like to know more? On the next post I will explain a little bit about each of them. Don’t miss it! It may give you the answer you were waiting for!

The benefits of the economic crisis

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Everyday we are bombarded with news regarding the economic crisis and the deteriorated labour market. Thousands of people are loosing their jobs regularly, increasing the percentage of job seekers and thus, debilitating the once strong welfare system.

As everything in life, there is always people that loose and people that gain from a crisis.

At http://www.amycleaning.co.uk we have seen a huge increase on the number of applicants looking for a domestic job. While this could be overwhelming, it can strongly benefit the business.

For instance, the percentage of experienced applicants is very high. This means that during the recruitment process we can put more emphasis not only on tangible skills (e.g. domestic cleaning experience) but also intangible qualities (e.g. willingness to work hard, flexibility with travelling or loyalty). So we are taking on board the best of the best.

The quality of the domestic cleaners working with us has always been very high. But at this moment of economic crisis their quality of work and customer care is even higher, hence the high number of positive feed backs we are receiving from our customers.

I know I need a domestic cleaner when…

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– I cannot think of cleaning the bathroom when I wake up on a Saturday morning.

-I do not know the difference between a polisher and a hair spray.

-My job and work projects are “eating” most of my time away.

-I have spare time to go shopping, to do some sports, to walk the dog… but not to clean the house!

-My back is aching so much that I have no strength to hold the hoover properly (I call it health problems!).

-I can consider myself a great professional… but, honestly, a really bad cleaner.

-I stand in front of the dirty oven and there are voices inside my head telling me to run away as quickly as possible.

-I spent the whole weekend doing an “after-party cleaning” while taking paracetamol every two hours to stop my hang-over getting worst.

-I realize that the dust in the sofa is not part of a new trendy decoration.

-I cannot see the difference between a white tile and a black tile.

-after 6 months and 17569 sneezes I convinced myself that I do not have flu but dust allergy.

How to do an “after Christmas” kitchen cleaning

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We have finished with our Christmas season and we are back to normal life. It is now when we realize that having a 10kg turkey and roasted vegetables and pudding and ice cream… has paid off, not only on us but on our kitchen also!

Do not worry! Doing a deep clean of the kitchen after your Christmas fun it is not at all difficult.

First of all, make sure you have everything that you need, chemicals, cloths and so on. Have them ready on top of the table, so you do not waste time looking for the oven cleaner when you are half way through the cleaning process.

Secondly, make a list of what you have to do. This way you can make sure that you tick all the boxes when you finish your job.

When you think about doing a deep clean it is important that you think “top to bottom” and “left to right”. This means that you will need to start, for example, dusting the ceiling and will need to finish moping the floor.  If you follow a structured work, it will be easier and quicker to finish with the cleaning.

Here is a check list to help you with your deep cleaning:

  1. Dust ceiling and corners of wall.
  2. Dust ceiling fan.
  3. Clean windows inside and out.
  4. Wipe all wooden works: wooden door frames and window ledges.
  5. Clean all walls.
  6. Clean in/outside all kitchen cupboards and drawers.
  7. Clean in/outside microwave, oven and fridge/freezer.
  8. Clean washing machine, tumble drier, dish washer, kettle, toaster, mixer.
  9. Remove all grease and grime from worktops.
  10. Wash and de-scale sink and taps.
  11. Wash worktops.
  12. Dust and clean chairs, table.
  13. Sweep, mop, vacuum underneath movable furniture.
  14. Sweep, mop, vacuum floor.
  15. Empty and wash bin.

This list can be longer if your kitchen needs it. Be flexible with it and feel free to add new tasks, such as deep clean of the fan, if you feel strong enough!

The last advice we can give you: Get your music up! Listening to your favorite songs while you clean will put you in the mood and the time will pass by.

The chemicals list: what do I need to have in my house.

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Here you can find some advise on the necessary chemicals and utensils to have in your house for the weekly cleaning. Whether it is your domestic cleaner or yourself doing the house work, there are always some essential tools to get the best results.

We can make a difference between “the essentials” and “the advance option”, depending on your preferences. If you are not a cleaning maniac and consider other parts of your life more important than having your silver cleaned every week, then the “essentials list” would be enough for you. If, on the other hand, you take care of your house as if it was a golden chamber, then it would be better to add some extra chemicals/tools that will add up sparkle to your cleaning life.

Let’s go with the “essentials list” first:

  1. Gloves. Do not expect your domestic cleaner to brush your toilet without them; it is not only disgusting but a health and safety risk. If you do not want your house cleaner to use your washing up gloves, buy another pair for her.
  2. A vacuum cleaner. This will not be used on carpet only, but all floors around the house. It is quicker than the broom, thus saving time for the cleaner to do other things around the house. Remember that every vacuum is a different world so do not leave your cleaner to explore it without you; give her some tips on how to use it and how to change the bag!
  3. A broom. It is always advisable to have a back up plan in case the vacuum cleaner breaks down.
  4. A dustpan. If you have a broom you will definitely need a dustpan.
  5. A mop. Cleaning the kitchen and bathroom floor on your knees is not easy. Having a proper mop and bucket will ease the job enormously.
  6. Several dishcloths. We are again talking about Health and Safety. Your domestic cleaner will need to use different cloths for each task and room (it would be better if they are color coded), otherwise we can create cross contamination, putting your health in danger.
  7. Yellow duster. It is the cheapest cloth you can buy on the market, and the best one to do the dusting and polish the furniture. You can wash them and re-use them with no problem.
  8. Nylon cleaning pads. They work much better than sponges to clean stubborn stains but they do not scratch the surfaces.
  9. Bin liners.
  10. Kitchen towels. They absorb the water extremely well and are great to clean glass and shiny surfaces. It will help your domestic cleaner and will leave your house like you have never seen it before!
  11. Wood or laminate floor cleaner.
  12. Glass cleaner.
  13. Toilet cleaner.
  14. Oven cleaner.
  15. All purpose anti bacterial cleaner. You can buy bathroom and kitchen cleaner if you prefer.
  16. Furniture polish-wax free.
  17. Limescale remover.
  18. Hob cream cleaner.

What about the “Deluxe” list? Apart from the chemicals and utensils listed above you will need to add this ones:

  1. Micro fibre cloths. The best thing about them is that you can clean your windows with no chemical at all! They are a little bit more expensive but they are re-usable, so at the end you are saving money.
  2. Lambswool flick duster. It attracts dust the best and you can reach high corners and top of wardrobes and doors.
  3. Silver cleaner.
  4. Granite and marble cleaner.
  5. Wax polisher. For wooden furniture and antiques.
  6. Degreasing cleaning spray. Very useful for the kitchen; it does not only clean but takes the grease out of wardrobes and surfaces.

Every house is different and people’s preferences change with time, so do not take this lists as a must have. It is always advisable to share the list with your domestic cleaner and see if she is comfortable with the list.

How to resolve problematic situations

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Here are some excellent tips on what to do if you are having problems with your cleaner

“The house does not look clean when I return home; I think my cleaner is not doing her job properly”.

If you are in this situation, first speak to the cleaner to raise your concerns, try to understand and get an explanation from her of why she is not able to do a professional job.

Normally your cleaner will give you great information and the problem is easily solved.  However if not, speak to your agency, for example  http://www.amycleaning.co.uk have a group of professionals able to re-train or coach your domestic cleaner to improve her job.

“My domestic cleaner does not pay attention to detail; she always forgets to hover underneath the bed and sofa”

Before you rush to blame your domestic cleaner for the state of your house when you return from work, ask yourself some questions:

  • Are my expectations too high? 
  • Does she have enough time to clean my house?

Sometimes your domestic cleaner can struggle with the hours and the amount of work that she has in your house. All cleaners, even the best ones, will find it difficult to finish on time and do a good cleaning on the first visit.

  • Is she wasting time doing things that are actually not important to me ?

Very often we find that the cleaner is spending a lot of their time doing something that is not important to that specific customer.  This is often something that one of their other customers wants, but you do not feel is important.  Once they do this task less often, then they have time to do what you actually want. 

For example your cleaner may be deep cleaning your oven on every visit, when actually you only want it done once per month.  this change means they now have lots of time to iron all your shirts.

 
 
 

 

 
 

It is always a good idea to leave a note with the tasks that you want your domestic cleaner to follow. This way she will find it easier to re-organise her work the way you expect it.

If this “soft” approach does not work, call the agency to explain them the situation.

“She keeps re-organising my stuff!”

You will need to do some preventive work on this one. Speak with your domestic cleaner on the first visit to establish some rules: “if you find something underneath the bed, put it on top”; “if there is any paper/documents on the desk, leave them on the same place”; “dust the shelves in the bathroom but leave bottles on the same place”;…

Each customer will have different requirements on this issue and without communication the cleaner has to guess which one you like, sadly the odds are never high on guessing what you like.

“The watch has disappear from my room”

There is never an excuse for theft.  If you use a good agency that has vetted your cleaner then this is not something that happens.  This usually happens when someone has hired a house cleaner from an ad in a newsagent window and has not taken the time to vet them properly.

This is a concerning issue though and an event like this is very distressful.

If you are thinking of hiring a domestic cleaner then it is always right to minimize temptations.  It is not nice for the cleaner if there is money, expensive jewellery and other things about.

Do not leave your valuables on sight. It is not about not trusting your cleaner, but trying to avoid temptation.

If you already have a domestic cleaner and suspect that she has taken something, make a list of everything that have gone missing and contact the domestic cleaning agency in case you hired the cleaner through them.

However do always be careful to check things out first, as most accusations are later followed by the client finding the item in an unexpected place.

 “It is impossible to speak with my cleaner, she does not speak English and she does not understand me!”

It will not take too much time until your domestic cleaner starts having good level of English. Meanwhile, just make sure that you leave a note for her with the tasks that you require for the day; always write short sentences that would be easier to understand.

It is far easier for a cleaner to read and write things as they can do this at their own speed.  This is because with verbal communication the cleaner has to keep up with the speed of hearing what is being said and giving a prompt verbal response.

Generally domestic cleaners with not a lot of English knowledge tend to have strong domestic cleaning skills; they know they need to give their best on their job as they have no possibility of finding work on any other sector where English is required.

“I have lost so many days off work! My domestic cleaner is never on time!”

Prevention is essential on these situations. When you first meet your domestic cleaner make it clear that time keeping is essential for you, that you will not tolerate any unexcused absence.

If there are any issues, it is always best not to ‘tell your cleaner off’, just express that regrettably you are not able to work with them if this issue happens again.  There is no need for conflict, it is simply that you are not able to wait around as you have other things to do.

If your domestic cleaner is still arriving late to the appointments, you may need to think about changing the cleaner if you hired her directly. If you use a domestic cleaner through a house cleaning agency, it is even easier to change your current cleaner for a more reliable one.