How To Find A Cleaner, Gardener, Cook, Pet and Childcare

One in 10 households employs domestic help, according to the Work Foundation. Longer working hours and hectic social lives mean we have less time for the chores. So if you've had it with cleaning the bath, check out our guide to finding help around the home.

By Sarah Jagger

Finding A Cleaner

The Work Foundation says one third of domestic help is found through word of mouth, so ask friends and family for recommendations. Otherwise you can hire a company or self-employed individual, you can work with an agency to hire an individual or you can find someone on your own.

Using An Agency

Hiring a cleaner through an agency has its advantages. The agency should have already checked out references and you will have cover if your cleaner is ill or goes on holiday.

UK-wide Maid2Clean offers two levels of service. A weekly clean costs £8 to £9 an hour with a minimum two-hour clean required. Or you can opt for a 'One-off Blitz Clean'. This costs £6.75 an hour for the cleaner plus a one-off £30 agency fee.

Hiring A Cleaner Yourself

If you find someone on your own, get references. It's important your cleaner is reliable and trustworthy and previous employers will be able to tell you this.

Remember if you pay your cleaner in cash you are not deemed to be breaking the law provided you make it clear that money includes any tax due. So it will be down to your cleaner to declare the tax to the Revenue. Suggest a trial period of say, four weeks so that you can get to know each other and assess if it's working for you both.

A cleaner will vacuum, iron, dust and clean but won't generally do the washing. It's worth taking him/her through the house to tell them what you expect before they start - in other words, do you want the beds made; should the skirting boards be wiped down; will they be expected to polish the windows?

Ironing Services

London-based Zoots will launder your clothes. It will collect garments from your home or office and return them after either ironing it, or washing and ironing or dry cleaning. Trousers cost £3.45 for iron, £4.95 to wash and iron or £4.95 to dry clean. A silk dress costs £9.95 to wash and iron or £12.50 to dry clean. Collection and return is free for a three working-day turnaround and costs £5 for a next working day delivery. There is a £2.50 charge if your order is under £10.

If you just want a nice crease Allironedout.co.uk operates in London, East Anglia and Wiltshire and charges £5.50 per kg (around 5 shirts). It's cheaper if you use them on a regular basis and loyalty discounts are on offer online. Minimum charge is £20 plus a £1.50 charge for collection and delivery which includes all protective garment covers and hangers.

Use Ironing Services UK to find a service in your area.

Or, take a trip to your local high street - most dry cleaners will wash and iron - or just iron - shirts, trousers and skirts for a per item fee.

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How To Decorate

How To Find A Cleaner, Gardener, Cook, Pet and Childcare

Finding A Cleaner

Using An Agency

Hiring A Cleaner Yourself

Ironing Services

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