How To Get A Job As A House Cleaner
House Cleaners provide a valuable service to working clients, and those who are physically unable to keep their homes clean and neat. Most House Cleaners have regular customers, who require their services once weekly for a complete cleaning. The cleaning usually takes from one half to one full day, depending on the size of the home. The weekly cleaning will cover vacuuming rugs, sweeping, dusting, washing floors, changing bedding, and thoroughly cleaning bathrooms and kitchens. House Cleaners may also do laundry, even ironing, as the customer requests. Thorough cleanings, which include washing down walls and cleaning windows is not usually part of the weekly job, but may be done on an irregular basis throughout the year.
Some House Cleaners work for organized cleaning businesses, but many work independently, finding their own clients, establishing their own routines, and running what amounts to a small business. House Cleaners who work in private homes usually work during the day, often when the home owners are at work. Cleaners who work in office buildings and hotels usually do their cleaning during the night or after the guests have left.
Being a House Cleaner is not easy work. It is physically demanding, requiring constant bending, reaching, stooping, twisting, kneeling, pushing, pulling, and carrying. Some cleaning products, which home owners may insist be used, are unpleasant to apply, smell, and breath. Some clients may be disrespectful and difficult to please. Although most home owners will supply the cleaning tools and supplies, this is not always the case.
To be successful, House Cleaners must be hard-working, honest, polite, cheerful, and prompt. They must have good communication skills, and good time management skills. They must also be well organized, obliging, and adaptable. House Cleaners must dress appropriately. If you work for a cleaning business, you may need to wear a uniform. Even when you are self-employed you must always appear clean and neat. Wear comfortable non-slip footwear.
Before any work is started, the House Cleaner must fully understand what work is to be done. If the cleaning is to be done weekly, then a routine must be established, so that tasks can be completed in order, and efficiently. House Cleaners may need to establish boundaries with some clients. When starting out they may need to comply with extra requests, such as extra ironing, picking up dry cleaning, or keeping an eye on the children. Some clients are wonderful, appreciative, kind, and generous. Others are just demanding. If extra requests become too time consuming, or burdensome to the Cleaner, there must be a meeting of the minds. If the House Cleaner is willing to take on extras, there must be appropriate remuneration.
Education
Those who wish to become House Cleaners should get their high school diploma. You may feel that it does not take a lot of book learning to clean houses, which may be partly true. However, if you want to be your own boss, and eventually own a small house cleaning business, you need an education. While in high school, take courses in English, mathematics, a second language, computers, and any available that are related to business practices.
While in high school, begin to get some experience in house cleaning. Offer your services to family, friends, and neighbors. Cleaning is a way for young people to gain a reputation while they earn. Act professionally and do the best job you can so that later on you can ask these clients for references.
Take some time to learn about cleaning products, equipment, and techniques.
Consider getting a college education, while you increase your client base. Study what interests you, but make sure to include some courses in business. This education will never be wasted. It will help you be a better communicator, and a better manager, and additionally, it can act as a back-up plan if you some day wish to retire from the cleaning business and move on to other things.
When you are ready to work full time, you will need to have a business plan. You will also have to do your own advertising, and keep your own records. You can start by putting together a resume, complete with client letters of recommendation. Have some business cards prepared to hand out to clients and prospective clients. Make sure to get insurance, and become bonded.
If you get more clients than you can handle yourself, you will need to hire a staff. You must check their references, train them, and then supervise their work. If you own your own business, you will need a business license. Make sure you understand what is required by the area in which you wish to work.
Always do your best to satisfy each customer every day. The most effective advertising, you can ever find, is the word of mouth praise for your work, that is passed from satisfied customers to their friends and neighbors.
