10 Tips for Hiring The Right Perth Cleaner

Whether you’re looking for a Perth cleaner to clean your home or your office, finding the right cleaner can be a daunting task. After all, this is your space that you are asking someone to come into. Space that sends a message about how you are and the image you want to represent. Your cleaner will be airing out your dirty laundry (although only figuratively unless you pay extra for them to do a load of washing as well). You need to feel comfortable with them, and be able to trust and rely on them. Here’s ten tips to ensure you make the right choice

1- Plan ahead.

Most cleaning companies are booked well in advance for both one off and regular clients. Not only will it be hard to find a company who can complete a rush job, you won’t give yourself enough time to do the required research if you wait until you really need the cleaning job to be completed.

2- Ask for Recommendations.

There are plenty of places to ask for recommendations. While personal friends and business associates can be the most useful source of recommendations, you can also ask in local groups and online community pages.  

3- Do online research.

Find out if the company has positive or negative reviews. While one or two bad reviews may be explainable, a barrage of negative reviews is a pretty big red flag. Even checking the company’s website can tell you a lot about them. While a badly done website may not be an accurate reflect of the company’s quality of work, a well done website does usually reflect a commitment to professionalism.

4- Hire a cleaning company who is properly registered and insured

In Australia all businesses must have an ABN. If you can’t find this on their website, ask for it. This ensures they are registered as a business with the ATO. If they are specialised, make sure they have any necessary registrations and permits.

Since even the most highly trained and experienced cleaner can encounter unexpected problems, it is important that your cleaner has full and comprehensive insurance. While an uninsured cleaner may do a good job, it will be a disaster if things go awry.

5- Ensure they are the experts that you need.

Cleaning, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, can vary greatly in what is included. Each cleaner will have their own specialisations and different types of experience. Make sure the cleaner you are looking at is willing and able to clean all the items and areas that you want cleaned. Many cleaners won’t clean the external areas of your property for example, as this often requires additional specialised knowledge and equipment. Don’t expect a “cleaning firm” to be able to cover all bases. This may mean you need to be prepared to hire a specialised window cleaner and a gardener as well as an office cleaner.

6- Be prepared to pay for quality.

While a business looking for an office cleaner will typically have a better understanding of this point, it is common for families looking for a residential cleaner to undervalue the cleaning service. Since cleaning is an industry that can be tempting to get into as cash on the side jobs or helping out friends, it is vulnerable to offerings from less experience, poorly trained, or inadequately insured workers. If you want professional quality work, you should be prepared to pay for professional quality work.

If you need to understand this point more, consider that the minimum wage for a cleaner is $20.21, plus superannuation. A good rule of thumb is that for every chargeable hour worked an employee actually costs a company roughly one and a half to double their base hourly wage. This is especially true if the company is paying their staff ethically and investing in ongoing training- two factors you want in a good cleaner. Keep in mind that the income a cleaning company generates has to cover all of their employee’s work hours, not just their billable hours. This includes their leave time, training, travel time and administrative tasks. On top of that a company has penalty rates, allowances, insurance, education, equipment, materials, and other overheads to cover. Be suspicious of any cleaning company that doesn’t charge enough to cover employee costs, insurance, training, and cleaning supplies. If the rate seems too low then ask for an explanation. It may mean you are hiring a sole trader, or it may mean you are hiring a company who doesn’t ensure their staff are adequately trained and insured.

After all, remember that you are asking other people to clean your toilets….

7- Ensure you can align your expectations.

To ensure they can cover their costs different companies will have different policies on minimum charges, where they are able to travel to, and the level of work they will do. You may only want a 15 minute clean, but find that cleaning companies have a two hour minimum charge. Conversely you may be wanting a deep clean, only to find you’ve hired a company that only does general cleaning. Know what you want and ensure that the company you choose can work with the same expectations.

When it comes to cleaners one of the key points that need to be aligned is who is responsible for supplying the cleaning materials and equipment. Imagine the fuss if you hire a cleaner with the expectation that they provide their own cleaning materials, only for them to show up expecting you to provide them. Some cleaners prefer to use their client’s supplies so that they can ensure they are working with cleaning products that the client likes to use. Other cleaners prefer to work with their own products so that they can ensure they are working with cleaning products that they know and trust. Just make sure you are both on the same page before they show up to clean.

8- Make sure the cleaning firm is good with communication.

Sometimes things happen that are outside our control. This can mean that even the most organised and reliable cleaning company will have to reschedule. You do not want to be stuck with a cleaner who leaves you in the lurch without a word. Nor do you want one who just shows up two weeks later with a lame apology (and yes this has actually been known to happen). Clear, proactive, communication is an essential for any quality cleaning company. This will ensure you aren’t left frustrated, or wondering if they will ever show up.

9- Check That They Service Your Area

Perth is a large region. Most Perth cleaning companies will not clean every single location around Perth. A Balga cleaning company, for example, is more likely to service the North Perth suburbs than the south Perth suburbs. Since companies must pay their staff travel time, it is also possible that a cleaning firm will ask to charge a travel fee if you want them to clean outside their immediate service area. While this is an option you may want to take if you are set on a particular cleaning company, it may be an additional charge that you want to avoid.

10– Ask the right questions.

Utilise the above tips to ensure you have a clear, direct line of questioning.

Other than asking if they are reliable, trustworthy, and good with communication, you want to ensure that the cleaning company:

• Ensures they have properly trained staff
• Typically uses the same cleaner for your property every time
• Is adequately insured
• Services your area. Perth is a large expanse. Most cleaning companies will only service selected Perth suburbs.
• Has comparable rates for their inclusions (for example do they provide their own cleaning equipment and materials or are you expected to supply these).
• Are people that you personally feel comfortable working with

Make sure you know what you need and what it is you want, so that you ask the right questions.

The Sense of Smell and a Cleaning Service

Smell is a fascinating sense. You can thank your sense of smell for a whole host of experiences. From creating enjoyable experiences, to enhancing a pretty scene, bringing back memories or even saving your life! This is because bad odors alert you to danger. Any new smell stimulates your nervous system, which is what assesses the safety of your environment. Scientists have actually confirmed that we can pick up over a trillion distinct smells– that’s a lot of scent to process! It’s no wonder that smell naturally leads to the thought of a cleaning service. It can alert you to your cleaning needs even before the visually obvious.

Smell the dangers!

Throughout the day we trench in dirt. Bacteria and sweat typically give of a less than pleasant sense. Musty stenches are big red flags. The stink actually serves a purpose in alerting us to a build up of potentially harmful bacteria, bugs and other creepy factors.  Indeed smell is so powerful that it can even pass on emotions. If someone has felt fear or disgust their sweat actually leaves a distinct odor that is sensed by the person smelling it. Of course nobody wants to walk into a room and suddenly sense of fear or disgust. This all helps us to understand why we appreciate that fresh scent of cleanliness that a cleaning service provides. Naturally, our brains interpret the cleaner smell as being healthier and more relaxing.

Sensory Overload!

Every scent stimulates your brain. It assess danger, picks up emotions, raises curiosity, and otherwise helps us assess our situation. Unfortunately this constant assault on your nervous system can become pretty intense. That’s why your odor receptors can experience temporary sensory fatigue or adaptation to adjust. In simple terms, this means familiar or lingering smells soon become barely noticeable. This leaves your senses ready to focus on new smells that arise. There is an unfortunate side effect of this desensitisation. You can be unaware of a subtle build up of a smelly home situation! Even though your visitors won’t appreciate it. That’s why a professional cleaning service offers the solution. 

Put Your Feet Up!

Get on top of things by ensuring your home is regularly cleaned by a professional cleaning service. Your home will be healthier and you can avoid the oversight of a familiar stench. A professional cleaner will be able to come into your home with a fresh perspective. Their regular cleaning service will keep your place fresh and healthy. They are also more likely to sense the potentially offending hazards that you’ve become numb to. Home may be where the heart is. However it should also be a place where you can put your feet up without having to worry about an increasing level of stink.

To keep your Perth home or office smelling fresh and clean, contact CleaningBest for a professional cleaning service quote today!

Have you ever wondered how cleaning is like dancing? Only right now when you saw the blog title? Well let me free your mind from allowing the comparison to plague your peaceful day.  

1- Cleaning, like dancing, is a disciplined art form.

There are certain rules in place which guide the effectiveness and efficiency of what one can do, however there is a lot of freedom within those rules that enable one’s approach to be uniquely tailored.

2- Cleaners, like dancers, have a natural affinity for their practice.

Some people just get dancing. Their bodies have a natural rhythm and an affinity for movement. Other people just get cleaning. Their eyes automatically spot those hidden away corners that could otherwise mar the perfection of the whole production.  

3- The different types of dances, just like the different types of cleaning jobs, have their own rules.

These rules are practiced repeatedly, until they become second nature.

4- There is risk involved, in dance and in cleaning.

Dancers are aware of their risks and they do what they can to can to mitigate those risks through having safe dance floors, warming up, trusting their dance partner/s, and focusing on the movements that are within their skillset. Cleaners are the same. They develop a keen awareness of the potential hazards of the location in which they work. The products used are checked for safety, and they are trained in how to handle any dangerous materials. They also stick to the cleaning jobs that are within their skillset.

5- Dancers move around objects, space and other dancers to get their job done. Cleaners also skillfully navigate the space, objects, and other cleaners around them to get the job done.

Both dancers and cleaners jump around objects and take care to work within the environment in which they are placed.

6- Dancing and cleaning are both things that anyone can do. They just may not be able to do them well…

Everyone has some fun dancing around, but unless you are disciplined in the art of dance, there is a limit to what you can do. Cleaning is something everyone does, but unless you are disciplined in the art of cleaning, there is a limit to what you can do effectively and efficiently.  

7- Finally, and most importantly, cleaning, like dancing, is a work of art. One that, when done exceptionally well, gives the illusion that the wondrous output that has been created was done almost effortlessly.

When we watch a skilled dancer we appreciate their art. We admire the production that is put on and we understand that it takes a level of discipline that we can’t quite grasp. Breathing in a peaceful sigh of relief when we see our newly cleaned home or office should give us the same sensation. It is truly remarkable what skilled and dedicated cleaners, such as the cleaners at CleaningBest, Perth, can do.  

So basically this blog is here to remind you that cleaners should be admired for their work. Sure, they’re not up on a stage, they’re not making a big name for themselves, and they’re not in a highly desired industry. They are however, the backbone of our functional society. They keep things healthy and safe for us to do all our other work, including those dancers who need tidy, clean floors to safely dance on.

You don’t need to sweat through a rough cleaning job yourself when you can admire the experts.

If you live in the Perth area, book in your cleaning service today. Then be prepared to sit back and admire the final production. If you take the time to appreciate the work you will recognise that it truly is worth admiring.

Your floors cop a lot. When you walk on them you literally trek in dirt and grime from where ever you have been. They can also mask the dirt that builds up on them. This means they can potentially be building up a whole host of pathogens that can impact the health of your household.

It’s not just unsightly mess and obvious dirt that is the problem either. Small particles, untended wet patches, and dirt that blends in with the aesthetics can make it harder to realise the dangers. From asthma and allergy exposure to bacteria and parasites, the more your floors are left to fester, the more your family is at risk.

While we’re not talking about high emergency risk, it is important to recognise that unclean floors can impact you more than you realise, especially if there is anyone who is susceptible to breathing difficulties. After all, that’s why we all regularly clean our floors. Unfortunately some methods of cleaning not only miss dirty spots, they spread dirt and germs across the floor. If you want to test it out for yourself just clean your feet and take a walk across your floor. It’ll soon become apparent how easily dust and dirt builds up.

Regular floor cleaning helps remove that build up and ensures your environment is healthier, as well as shining with that more pristine look. A regular deep clean, particularly in areas that generate high traffic, takes the cleanliness up a notch to ensure better ongoing health for you and your household.

Whether you realise it or not, a clean office can impact the mentality of your workers and the impression that your business gives to clients. That almost imperceptible difference between a tidy office and a truly clean office can have both a mental and a physical impact on everyone.

For your office workers a properly cleaned space can:

• Help clear their minds, freeing them up to focus on the task at hand
• Reduce illness contracted from grime, mould , and germ build up
• Improve the impression that your business is professional and worthy of respect
• Create a clearer atmosphere to optimize focus and efficiency in performance

Clients will be more impressed with a cleaner office. It just looks and feels more professional when the air is clear and there’s a certain sheen to the place.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a place for a bit or disorganisation or personalisation. In fact messy spaces have been shown to enhance the creative mind (although not the productive mind). However this doesn’t mean dirt and grime needs to be a part of that space. It’s still important to have a clean foundation even with those “messy” spaces.

For that actual aesthetics there is not a one size fits all approach. However when it comes to cleanliness no one needs dirt and grime to undermine their work space.

Is cleaning your home something that you thrive on or just another thing that overwhelms your day? If you’re in the latter category, follow these six tips to help take back some control.

1- One thing at a time

The bigger the task, the more insurmountable it can feel. If you’re even half as easily overwhelmed as I am then thinking about all the things that need to be cleaned and feeling like you have to get it all done at once just makes it too hard. It reaches that point that there is so much to do it’s hard to even know where to start. If you are plagued by this barrier to cleaning then stop looking at the big picture and break it down. Focus on one thing at a time and just do that.

You can create small habits that help. For example anytime you get up, get into the habit of looking for something that you can pick up and put it away.

You can also apply it to larger cleaning challenges by picking a small area and decide to just clean that spot. Once that’s done, move to the next spot. Don’t make plans beyond the spot you choose, just keep moving on to the next spot when and as you are ready to.

Give yourself easy to achieve rules that you can confidently achieve each day, whether it’s ensuring you do one load of washing, one pile of dishes, or vacuuming one room. As you build up your routines and confidence that you can get these things done, you can start to increase your load.

2- Beware of the gimmicks

Whether it’s a viral mantra, the latest gadget or the the trendiest hack, gimmicks aren’t always all they seem. Something that works really well for one person can just add to your own junk pile and make things even more overwhelming. Make sure you really understand a product, service, or personal checklist before you jump into it. There’s nothing worse than being discouraged because you feel like the promoted solution to your cleaning woes was just something else you failed in.

3- Prioritise

Life is about choices. While it can be tempting to just avoid cleaning altogether, it’s not really practical, or hygenic to do so.

Create a list of things that need to be done and put them in order of importance. Ensure you have a list of what is important on a daily basis (such as having clean dishes to eat from and clean underwear to wear) and what is important over longer periods (such as reorganising a storage closet that you’ve hidden all the textbooks that you need for next year in).

When you prioritise you give yourself the freedom to work through the less urgent tasks at a slower pace. This can help reduce the stress of feeling like everything needs to be done at once.

4- Get the right supplies

Having the wrong tools for the job not only makes the job more difficult, it can make it impossible. Having the right storage solutions is just as important as having the right cleaning products and supplies. Ensure your cleaning tools are easily accessible and you know when you need to replace them.

5- Know that it’s ok to get help

Sometimes it takes more than we can manage on our own. It’s ok to accept that. Don’t let some sense of pride that you should be able to do it all yourself, hold you back from recognising when and where you need some help. Sometimes it’s just a matter of getting a hand to get back on top of things. Other times getting external help to stay on top of the regular cleaning is needed so that you can focus on your own strengths and priorities.

6- Find the Cleaning Style that works for you

There is a lot of information available to us on the internet, and lots of different options presented when you talk to professionals. Different suggestions for how to organise, how to clean, checklists to use, and a wide range of products and materials. Be a sponge and soak in the information, then squeeze it out so that you are only retaining what works for you.

It can take time to find your cleaning groove, and to get the right balance between what you can do yourself, what you get help with, and what products, tools, and storage options really work for you.

Don’t despair if the first thing you try doesn’t work out, or if you need more help than you realised. Just take the next step and try again. You will figure it out, and you’ll feel much better for it.

Now just breathe and pick one simple thing to do now. Doesn’t that feel better already?

Hiring the right cleaner for your home can change your life for the better. Whether you are busy with family, focused on work, dealing with personal issues, or just wanting to enjoy the precious time you have for yourself. Those time consuming jobs that can make your house sparkle eat into your day and drain the energy that you’d rather put into your life.

Ignoring that clean up work is a solution many people try. Dust and grime build up in hidden corners. Slowly, without even realising it, the house just starts to look a bit shabby. They probably can’t even put their finger on why. That is, until their finger literally lands on a pile of dust on that barely used shelf in the corner.

This is where having a regular cleaner makes all the difference. Not only do they free up your time to focus on what you want to focus on, they remove the stress of needing to work out all the bits and pieces that need to be taken care of, and they keep your home looking fresh and pristine.

CleaningBest can make this positive change a reality for your home.