What Can a Cleaner Do in 3 Hours?

A three hour-long cleaning session is just the right amount of time for your cleaner to work wonders in your home. So, what exactly can you expect a cleaner to clean in three hours? 

The simple answer: Quite a lot actually! 

You can expect a cleaner to complete the following tasks in three hours: 

• Hoover the floors in every room (without having to move heavy furniture).
• Clean the kitchen counters (without moving too many items).
• Clean the toilet. 
• Clean the sinks and taps in a home.
• Dust TVs, mirrors and cabinets.
• Change bedding (in all bedrooms). 
• Steam floors (bathroom and kitchen for example).

You could also exchange a few of the tasks listed above for some of these tasks: 

• Wiping down windows from the inside.
• Cleaning the top of the cooker. 
• Loading or unloading the dishwasher. 
• Washing a few dishes in the sink.
• Emptying the bin/recycling bin. 
• Dusting lampshades.
• Wiping down skirting boards. 
• Cleaning window sills.

Note: The above lists are quite extensive, however, you should keep in mind that not all cleaners will be able to achieve the above in a three hour-long cleaning session because of factors that will be discussed below. 

Additionally, you should always communicate with your cleaner, just to make sure that they are happy to complete the tasks you’ve set out for them. Some cleaners aren’t always happy to carry out certain tasks. 

Do not ask your cleaner to:

• Do the shopping for you.
• Babysit your kids.
• Take your dog(s) out for a walk. 
• Tidy your house before they can actually start working on their actual cleaning tasks.
• Do some gardening.
• Work in poor conditions – no kneeling on hard surfaces to clean or going up ladders, for example.

Always do the following when hiring a cleaner:

• Talk to your cleaner.
• Discuss what tasks you need your cleaner to complete.
• Respect your cleaner and their boundaries. 
• Remember that your cleaner is a human and not a wizard, so hand out realistic tasks. 
• Give your cleaner a checklist to follow, so they know exactly what they have to do. 
• Be kind, your new cleaner has to learn how you like things done. 

 

What Factors Impact How Much Cleaning a Cleaner Can Do in 3 Hours?

Three hours is an ample amount of time to complete many cleaning tasks. Nevertheless, you should keep in mind that the following factors will directly impact what can actually be achieved in three hours. 

• A cluttered and unkempt home – If your home is messy and there’s stuff all over the place, then this will make a cleaner’s work more difficult.
  For example, if they need to hoover the hallway but it’s littered with bags, shoes and coats, the cleaner will have to move these items and put them away before continuing with their actual task
• Does the cleaner know what to do? – If you’ve not been clear in your instructions, your cleaner may not complete the tasks as you’d like. Always be clear and concise. 
• The individual cleaner or agency – If you hire a private cleaner, they may do things differently to a cleaner who works for an agency. An agency would likely have a set way of cleaning things and their cleaners follow the rules, this may not be the case for a private cleaner.
  Additionally, how experienced your cleaner is will have an impact too. A relatively new cleaner may work a lot slower and might not be able to achieve as much, in comparison to a cleaner who has years of experience. 
• The size of the home – Bigger houses with more bedrooms and bathrooms are going to take longer to clean. So, think about what rooms you actually need cleaning in the three hour-long cleaning session, and ask your cleaner to clean them. 
• Distractions – If someone is at home when the cleaner is there they may be tempted to go and have a cuppa and a chat with them. This claims precious cleaning time, plus, the cleaner may lose concentration and might make errors.  

 

How to Make the Most Out of a 3 Hour-Long Cleaning 

This is what you can do to make the most out of a cleaning session with your cleaner.

Plan and prepare in advance what you want your cleaner to do

Find out for yourself how long certain jobs take by cleaning your home. In the end you’ll know what work can be completed in three hours. 

Then create a detailed and priority-based checklist that you can hand over to your cleaner. 

They can then follow this list throughout the three-hour session. 

In addition to this, you should prepare any tools you want the cleaner to use before they arrive, so they don’t have to go hunting for equipment. 

Chat to your cleaner

Find out if they have concerns about the tasks you’ve set out for them, discuss with them how you like your cleaning done, ask them for some cleaning tips, and give your cleaner feedback when they’re done, so they can learn ready for next time. 

Chatting to your cleaner will help to build rapport and trust! 

Tidy your home before the cleaner arrives

Although it may sound counterintuitive to clean before a cleaner arrives, it can actually do the world of good. If you clean your home, even just a little, before your cleaner arrives, they can get to work on the tasks that really matter. 

If you leave your house in a state your cleaner will have to work around/through the mess, and this is not only time consuming but hazardous too.