Domestic cleaning in London

A regular domestic clean means a cleaner coming back to your home on the same day each week or fortnight. Every home gets its own checklist, and that checklist decides most of what this page is about: the jobs done on every visit, the jobs that come round less often, how the cleaner gets in, and which products to use or leave alone. Getting those settled at the start saves explaining them again on the doorstep.

What happens on every visit

The every-visit list covers the rooms you use daily. In the kitchen that means the worktops, the sink and taps, the hob surface and the fronts of the appliances, with the bin emptied. Bathrooms are cleaned and sanitised, from the toilet and basin to the bath or shower, the taps and the mirrors. Around the rest of the home, surfaces are dusted, carpets and rugs are hoovered, hard floors are mopped and things are tidied back into place.

A few small spots belong on this list as well. Light switches and door handles are touched by everyone in the house and pick up oil from hands. Taps, drains and the fittings around them gather water marks and limescale between visits, so they are wiped and polished each time.

What gets rotated in

A regular visit can't cover every surface in the house every time, so your checklist can hold a set of extra jobs that are done in turn. One visit the skirting boards and door frames get wiped down. On the next it might be the inside of the bins and their lids, which are out of sight and can start to smell, or the remote controls and keyboards that get handled every day. The inside of the fridge and microwave, window sills and the tops of wardrobes are other jobs that can go on the rotation.

On a fortnightly plan the rotation comes round more slowly. Tell us which jobs matter most to you and they go on your checklist in that order. If you want one done sooner, such as the fridge before family come to stay, mention it before the visit and it can be swapped in.

Handing over keys and access

Tell us how the cleaner will get in when you book, and have it written on your checklist. You can be at home to open the door, leave a key, give an entry or key-safe code, or arrange for a concierge or building manager to let the cleaner in.

If you leave a key, test it in every lock it needs to open, including a deadlock or the communal front door. Give the alarm code, say where the panel is, and tell us what to do if it goes off. In a building with a fob for the entrance or the lift, the cleaner needs that as well as the flat key. With a concierge, give the front desk the regular day so the cleaner isn't kept waiting in the lobby.

Note anything a newcomer to the house wouldn't know: a door that sticks, a cat that mustn't be let out, a room that's off limits, or which day the bins go out. The cleaners are DBS checked and insured, and the same cleaners go to the same address wherever we can, which keeps the number of people learning your routine small.

Products, preferences and sensitivities

Professional-grade products and equipment come with the cleaner, so you don't need to buy anything. You can still ask for particular products, or ask for some to be kept out of your home. You might ask because of allergies, sensitive skin, asthma, a new baby, or a dog that licks the kitchen floor. Surfaces can be a reason too. Natural stone such as marble should be cleaned with a pH-neutral product, because acidic or bleach-based cleaners can etch it, and wooden floors want a wood-safe cleaner and a cloth that is only lightly damp.

Put any of this on your checklist at the start. If you'd like your own products used, keep them together in one cupboard and label anything meant for one surface only. A regular cleaner will soon know where they are, and anyone covering a holiday can read it from the list.

Weekly or fortnightly

Weekly cleaning suits homes that get heavy use: young children, pets, several people sharing one kitchen, or someone working from home. Fortnightly suits a smaller or quieter home where one visit every two weeks keeps on top of things. You can start weekly and move to fortnightly once the home is in a steady routine. Visits can be booked between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week, so an early slot before work or a weekend visit are both possible.

"With two young children and a busy household, having a team we can rely on makes all the difference. Crystal Clear Cleaning are thorough, professional, and consistently leave our home feeling fresh and beautifully cared for. It's one less thing to worry about."

Donna Galliford, home owner

One-off cleans

A one-off clean is the same kind of visit booked once, with no repeat. People book them before guests arrive, after a party, when a new baby or an illness has put the housework behind, or to try a cleaner before settling on a regular day. Short-notice bookings are taken when a team is free.

There is no rotation on a one-off, so tell us which of the extra jobs you want done on the day, such as inside the fridge or the skirting boards, and the quote will include them. If the home hasn't had a proper clean in a long time, or you need built-up grease and limescale removed, book a deep clean instead. Moving out of a rented home is a separate job again: end of tenancy cleaning works to a checklist written around the inventory.

"Outstanding service from CrystalClearCleans! The team was professional, punctual, and left my home absolutely spotless. Highly recommended."

Jason Smith, regular home clean

Getting a quote

Use the quote form and send the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, how often you'd like the clean, and your postcode. It helps to add the rotating jobs you care about, how the cleaner will get in, and any products to use or avoid, so the written price you get back matches the visit you want.

Get a free quote