Hiring housekeeping help advice sought

I tried hiring some help for cleaning our vacation rental in a nearby city. Her first clean was a disaster. Used toothpaste still in the sink, dust and hair on top of baseboards - I checked and finished before the next guest then let her know how in guest ready it was. She quit. Next person I'm trying is willing, but needs me to tell her each thing to do. That is not going to work.
What approach has worked for those of you who use a cleaner for a vacation rental outside your inn?
It takes me between one and two hours to clean myself, mostly depending on if they cooked. I'm offering a flat $40 per clean. It's a studio apartment.

Should say: how NOT guest ready it was after her 'clean'

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her.

see where I am lots of selfcatering places so cleaning services that specialise in this - trouble is getting one that can do add hoc ie easy to get one which is a full clean every monday morning difficult to get someone to do as and when.

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15

Jcam said:

see where I am lots of selfcatering places so cleaning services that specialise in this - trouble is getting one that can do add hoc ie easy to get one which is a full clean every monday morning difficult to get someone to do as and when..

Click to expand...

I'll usually have the schedule 1 to 2 weeks in advance and am still planning on doing some of the cleans myself, so I can restock and take care of problems that crop up.

Anon Inn said:

Jcam said:

see where I am lots of selfcatering places so cleaning services that specialise in this - trouble is getting one that can do add hoc ie easy to get one which is a full clean every monday morning difficult to get someone to do as and when..

Click to expand...

I'll usually have the schedule 1 to 2 weeks in advance and am still planning on doing some of the cleans myself, so I can restock and take care of problems that crop up.
.

Click to expand...

as I recall your vac a is in a biggish city? have you tried searching for air change over cleaning company? or similar as there are cleaning companies specifically targeting that market.

Independence costs money. If you want someone to operate without oversight, you will have to pay a premium.
A checklist helps, but only to remind someone already conscientious.

Tom said:

Independence costs money. If you want someone to operate without oversight, you will have to pay a premium.
A checklist helps, but only to remind someone already conscientious..

Click to expand...

Thanks Tom. That's it exactly. I need to not always make that drive. I've got two independent people pending so keeping fingers crossed.
Have to add even if it was just extra help here at the inn, it would need to be unsupervised. The whole point would be to free my time for other things. I hire few chores out but have never had to tell a mower or landscape person how to do their job. Bit of a shock in the cleaner world. Like I tell my husband. "Clean is clean". Seems a pretty black and white - easy to delineate thing to me <chuckle> There's always more to learn isn't there?

Anon Inn said:

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15
.

Click to expand...

I walk them through it and we clean it together. I spray the toilet while they watch, the cleaner wipes the toilet and then I get down and inspect every detail. After the person had gotten that down we do the shower, etc. I spray, they wipe, and then I inspect with them standing right there…. Every inch of the room is done that way. In the end they know how I want it done and I'm serious.

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15
.

Click to expand...

I walk them through it and we clean it together. I spray the toilet while they watch, the cleaner wipes the toilet and then I get down and inspect every detail. After the person had gotten that down we do the shower, etc. I spray, they wipe, and then I inspect with them standing right there…. Every inch of the room is done that way. In the end they know how I want it done and I'm serious.
.

Click to expand...

Thank you Duff. Sounds like this is routine procedure for you and the best way to go. I've been cleaning so long, first at home then in restaurants as side work, then doing the fussy cleaning rack equipment and computer keyboards (never delegated to regular cleaners) at various broadcast facilities that cleaning is just second nature. It's not second nature to me to explain to someone else how to do it <grin>

Anon Inn said:

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15
.

Click to expand...

I walk them through it and we clean it together. I spray the toilet while they watch, the cleaner wipes the toilet and then I get down and inspect every detail. After the person had gotten that down we do the shower, etc. I spray, they wipe, and then I inspect with them standing right there…. Every inch of the room is done that way. In the end they know how I want it done and I'm serious.
.

Click to expand...

Thank you Duff. Sounds like this is routine procedure for you and the best way to go. I've been cleaning so long, first at home then in restaurants as side work, then doing the fussy cleaning rack equipment and computer keyboards (never delegated to regular cleaners) at various broadcast facilities that cleaning is just second nature. It's not second nature to me to explain to someone else how to do it <grin>
.

Click to expand...

Maybe start out with saying, I know you probably know how to clean, I just want to show you how I want it cleaned here, etc. The first one I trained, rolled the eyes at me on the step to step instructions and put on a bored look that clearly said, I know how to clean.
Update: I would recommend reading Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell. It helped me to lay out a plan of attack on cleaning which will help them not to forget something and to explain how to clean to someone else. You can pick up the book on amazon or the library.

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15
.

Click to expand...

I walk them through it and we clean it together. I spray the toilet while they watch, the cleaner wipes the toilet and then I get down and inspect every detail. After the person had gotten that down we do the shower, etc. I spray, they wipe, and then I inspect with them standing right there…. Every inch of the room is done that way. In the end they know how I want it done and I'm serious.
.

Click to expand...

Thank you Duff. Sounds like this is routine procedure for you and the best way to go. I've been cleaning so long, first at home then in restaurants as side work, then doing the fussy cleaning rack equipment and computer keyboards (never delegated to regular cleaners) at various broadcast facilities that cleaning is just second nature. It's not second nature to me to explain to someone else how to do it <grin>
.

Click to expand...

Maybe start out with saying, I know you probably know how to clean, I just want to show you how I want it cleaned here, etc. The first one I trained, rolled the eyes at me on the step to step instructions and put on a bored look that clearly said, I know how to clean.
Update: I would recommend reading Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell. It helped me to lay out a plan of attack on cleaning which will help them not to forget something and to explain how to clean to someone else. You can pick up the book on amazon or the library.
.

Click to expand...

Love that book. Read it years ago when I worked way too much and tried to do all housecleaning too.

Anon Inn said:

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Duff2014 said:

Anon Inn said:

Morticia said:

Is there an actual cleaning service in the area? You might pay $10 more, but it might be done right.
If you're still looking for an independent, put keywords in your ad: independent, self-starter, ability to work without oversight. Sometimes team player works but I don't like that one.
We're not able to pick the wheat from the chaff, either. History has proven that!
Our worst debacle was the one who couldn't find the quilt (in the closet she didn't check for guest items) and who also didn't wash the tub even tho she was 'done cleaning this room!' She deliberately (I think) did things exactly the opposite of what I told her..

Click to expand...

Do you take them through the room and let them see how you clean it, or do you let them do it then 'judge'?
I've got a couple who say they've done vacation rentals and motels, so am hopeful, but cant give it a test until my long term moves out on Feb 15
.

Click to expand...

I walk them through it and we clean it together. I spray the toilet while they watch, the cleaner wipes the toilet and then I get down and inspect every detail. After the person had gotten that down we do the shower, etc. I spray, they wipe, and then I inspect with them standing right there…. Every inch of the room is done that way. In the end they know how I want it done and I'm serious.
.

Click to expand...

Thank you Duff. Sounds like this is routine procedure for you and the best way to go. I've been cleaning so long, first at home then in restaurants as side work, then doing the fussy cleaning rack equipment and computer keyboards (never delegated to regular cleaners) at various broadcast facilities that cleaning is just second nature. It's not second nature to me to explain to someone else how to do it <grin>
.

Click to expand...

Maybe start out with saying, I know you probably know how to clean, I just want to show you how I want it cleaned here, etc. The first one I trained, rolled the eyes at me on the step to step instructions and put on a bored look that clearly said, I know how to clean.
Update: I would recommend reading Speed Cleaning by Jeff Campbell. It helped me to lay out a plan of attack on cleaning which will help them not to forget something and to explain how to clean to someone else. You can pick up the book on amazon or the library.
.

Click to expand...

Love that book. Read it years ago when I worked way too much and tried to do all housecleaning too.
.

Click to expand...

They have put out other books since I got mine I saw. I have been cleaning since I graduated school with my dad in businesses, homes, offices, a retreat center, and now at a B&B. Its a rewarding job when its done.

Anon Inn said:

Tom said:

Independence costs money. If you want someone to operate without oversight, you will have to pay a premium.
A checklist helps, but only to remind someone already conscientious..

Click to expand...

Thanks Tom. That's it exactly. I need to not always make that drive. I've got two independent people pending so keeping fingers crossed.
Have to add even if it was just extra help here at the inn, it would need to be unsupervised. The whole point would be to free my time for other things. I hire few chores out but have never had to tell a mower or landscape person how to do their job. Bit of a shock in the cleaner world. Like I tell my husband. "Clean is clean". Seems a pretty black and white - easy to delineate thing to me <chuckle> There's always more to learn isn't there?
.

Click to expand...

We are who we are