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Let’s be honest: hiring a housekeeper is pretty appealing. Imagine coming home from work and having your house clean, laundry done, and dinner made for you. It sounds amazing! But there are many misconceptions about what a professional housekeeper and cleaner do for your home. By the way, these two are not the same.
So, what is the difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner when both are in charge of house cleaning?
We will answer it here!
What is the Difference Between a Housekeeper and a Cleaner
The terms cleaner and housekeeper are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same?
A housekeeper is someone who cleans the interior of a home or building. They are someone who becomes closer and more integrated into your home and family. On the other hand, a cleaner is someone you can call when you have a big task and want to get it done by a professional and in a hurry.
For example, you need someone to give your home a complete going-over before you arrive from your business trip. It would be best if you had a cleaner for that and not a housekeeper.
A cleaner is someone or maybe a group of people who come in, get the work done for some time, and then leave until you need them again.
Typical Tasks of a Housekeeper
A housekeeper is someone who comes to work daily and not short-term. She keeps things in order and does quick house cleaning. For example, she wipes down the kitchen counter, makes the beds, and dusts the furniture daily. A good housekeeper can cover all the bases in keeping your home running smoothly.
Here are their most common tasks:
- Laundry and ironing
- Making beds
- Shopping and running errands – restocking when needed
- Picking up clutter and general tidying
- Cooking and preparing meals
- Taking care of pets
- General day-to-day cleaning of the household. Including all the cleaning tasks performed by a cleaner
- Deep cleaning the bathrooms, including toilets, baths, showers
- Deep cleaning kitchens, including appliances, cupboards, drawers, ovens and the floor
- Steam cleaning carpets and upholstery
- Mopping and steam cleaning all floors
- Additional duties may even include light childcare or babysitting
What Cleaners Normally Do
Although housekeeping and cleaning duties might overlap, a house cleaner is in charge of cleaning the house from top to bottom.
Some of their tasks can include the following:
- Heavy cleaning of kitchens, including cabinets, drawers, the interior and exterior of appliances, sinks, countertop, inside and outside of microwave and ovens, vacuuming and mopping, and cleaning the work table and chairs
- Deep cleaning of sinks, countertops, walls, tubs, toilets, and floors
- Scrubbing, polishing, and sanitizing of bathrooms, showers, toilets and the rest of the fixtures
- Dusting of surfaces and light fixtures
- Cleaning the windows and sills
- Steam cleaning of upholstery
- Carpet cleaning
Working Hours
Housekeeping is a full-time job for most people, but it can be part-time or even a career. Some housekeepers even live in their clients’ homes! The hours depend on the size of your property and the number of people who live there. But usually, housekeepers must work enough hours to fill a full-time position. For vast properties, you may consider hiring more than one housekeeper.
A cleaner is someone responsible for maintaining a home’s cleanliness. Usually, this person has multiple clients who they work for and visits each client for a couple of hours each week. Cleaners either work for a cleaning company with a team of cleaners, or they work for themselves and personally visit each client. Multiple cleaners may visit each client’s house and work together to get the cleaning done quicker.
Cleaning Equipment and Supplies
When hiring a housekeeper, you should provide all the necessary equipment and cleaning products, which should be available at your home. Your housekeeper can be in charge of ordering/restocking these products. And you have the advantage that you can choose only to use your favourite products. Maybe, for example, you want to be eco-friendly!
Meanwhile, a cleaner typically brings their equipment and cleaning products to your house. You may be able to request certain products. But there is no guarantee that they will use them.
Choosing the Right Service
There is a big difference between a cleaner and a housekeeper and what they can do. You can determine the type of service you need depending on your lifestyle. If you are single or a couple living in an apartment, getting regular cleaners will help you stay on top of your household chores.
On the other hand, you can benefit from hiring a housekeeper for their home management skills for busy professionals, families, and living in a large house.
Conclusion
We hope this article has answered the question about what the difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner is. Housekeepers are more specialised, while cleaners focus more on daily cleaning tasks. If you’re still unsure what kind of worker will be best for your home, it’s worth considering your cleaning company needs and how much time they’ll require before deciding which option works best for you!
