Yes, most professional cleaning companies and established independent maids bring their own supplies and equipment (like vacuums, mops, and specialized solutions). However, expectations can vary, especially with solo cleaners who may prefer to use your vacuum or your preferred eco-friendly products.
You might find that some cleaners bring their own equipment too, such as hoover, mop, etc., but this isn't as common. There are a couple of reasons why cleaners bring their own products to a domestic job. First, bringing their own products means cleaners know they have everything needed to get the job done well.
Full-time domestic help (caregiver, personal chef, or full-time personal staff): Aim for between a week and a month's pay, plus a gift. Housekeeper: If they come once a week, the equivalent of a day's pay. If they come daily, the equivalent of a week's pay, and possibly a gift, too.
Surface Cleaning and Disinfecting: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, using an EPA-registered disinfectant. Follow the instructions carefully, including allowing the surface stay wet for the entire contact time indicated on the product label.
The 20 minute rule of cleaning is simple: clean for 20 focused minutes, then treat yourself to a 10-minute break. It's a guilt-free, feel-good way to tackle messes without burnout. The idea is rooted in motivation and reward, two essential ingredients for any busy homeowner.
From this perspective, $50/hour is generally considered above average but not unreasonable for professional services. It reflects a market service rate rather than a worker's wage, making it fair in many areas, especially when hiring insured companies or premium cleaning providers.
From our experience across hundreds of London homes, two hours is usually enough to cover a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom flat. A typical clean might include: Kitchen surfaces wiped and sanitised. Bathroom cleaned top to bottom.
The germiest object in your house is the kitchen sponge or dish rag. Because it is damp, porous, and constantly in contact with food residue, it harbors millions of microbes—making it vastly dirtier than a standard toilet seat.
Yes, Lysol is highly effective against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Both Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfecting Wipes are formulated to kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including RSV.
Cleaning with household bleach, detergent-based cleaners or Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered detergents/disinfectants (List H) will remove MRSA from surfaces.
Holiday bonus FAQs
It depends. For some employees, $100 might feel like a welcome gift, but in higher-paying industries, that amount may not boost morale much.
Assuming that your cleaner is employed by you, or is self-employed and is still working when you are on holiday then they should still be paid. However, there are a few other things to consider – whether you pay your cleaner when on holiday also depends on the terms outlined in your employment agreement or contract.
"A hairdresser would appreciate a holiday tip, but your house cleaner provides their services more often, and if you don't already tip them, they might appreciate it even more," she says.
Key takeaways. It's generally best to leave the house when cleaners arrive, as they can work faster, more thoroughly and without feeling like they're in the way. An empty home also prevents dirt from being tracked around and allows access to all areas more efficiently.
Items not recommended to store under the sink
Harsh chemicals, bug spray, paper towels, waxes, carpet shampoo, drain cleaners, polishes and paints. Even some cleaning products, including dishwasher pods and colorful spray bottles, can be dangerous and entice curiosities for paws or tiny fingers.
The 80/20 rule (the Pareto Principle) in cleaning dictates that 20% of your cleaning efforts yield 80% of the visible results. By targeting high-impact tasks first—such as clearing flat surfaces, wiping high-traffic areas, and making beds—you create an instantly cleaner environment without obsessing over perfection.
The following products are recommended to inactivate the FMD disease virus:
MRSA can survive on some surfaces, like towels, razors and furniture, for hours, days or even weeks. It can spread to people who touch a contaminated surface and can cause infections if it gets into a cut, scrape or open wound. Even when a surface appears clean, it can still have germs.
Usually, as an adult, when you become ill with RSV you have mild cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough and a headache. But sometimes, and for some people, you can become so ill you need to be hospitalized. And each year in the United States up to 10,000 older adults die of complications from RSV.
If you thought that your bathroom was the germiest place in your home, think again. The study revealed that the top hot spots in the home were in the kitchen.
Restaurant menus have about 100 times the amount of bacteria that is found on a toilet seat.
Around 70% of the world doesn't rely on toilet paper in the way we do, turning to water before tissue.
High-touch surfaces like phones, remotes, light switches, and carpets can harbor germs. Oft-overlooked items such as barware, ceiling fixtures, and bathtubs may be overlooked during standard housekeeping cleanings.
Cleaning a bedroom typically takes 15 to 30 minutes for light maintenance and 30 to 60 minutes for a thorough clean. The total time depends on the size of the room and how much you need to declutter. Heavily cluttered spaces or deep-cleaning tasks (like washing windows or moving heavy furniture) can push this to 90 minutes or more.
The household chores that burn the most calories are those that require heavy lifting, continuous movement, and intense exertion. Yard work and deep home maintenance top the list, burning anywhere from 300 to 500+ calories per hour.