You likely see agency cleaners every day of the week, on the bus, train, tube, stuck in traffic, and at work cleaning away. You may be wondering what makes an agency cleaner tick? What do agency cleaners get up to throughout the day? After all, you may see them clean your office or home, but is that it? Do they go home after cleaning your office and put their feet up? Today, we’re taking a look at agency cleaners, finding out who they are, how much they clean a day and loads more. First, though, let’s find out who agency cleaners are, shall we?

Who are agency cleaners?

Agency cleaners are a wonderful group of people who keep the UK clean, tidy and safe. An agency cleaner could work for a huge agency that provides work in many sectors and take cleaning jobs from this agency whenever they come in. Other cleaners who work for agencies may get hired by one company through an agency. These cleaners will then work for that company and provide all of the cleaning that company requires.

Unlike self-employed cleaners, agency cleaners don’t need to look for work themselves; the agency finds the work and offers it to the cleaners. This does mean that the agency takes a cut from the cleaner, but a respectable cleaning agency will still make it worthwhile to the cleaner! Most cleaners who work for an agency are able to pick and choose the jobs they go to. Some cleaning agencies only send cleaners jobs that are local to them, making it easy for the cleaner to get to the job.

So agency cleaners are hard-working folk that travel to homes, offices, shops, hotels and a great deal more and give them a good clean, and they get the jobs via the agency (or sometimes agencies) they work with.

Are agency cleaners trustworthy?

Agency cleaners are extremely trustworthy. Most agencies (we can’t speak for them all) vet their cleaners. All cleaners will require references, and much of the interview will be based on the customer experience, which is an extremely important part of cleaning. Having the skills to clean is one thing (most cleaners will be provided with full training when they are hired). However, hard work and good interpersonal skills are vital to being a good cleaner. So, agencies do tend to vet their cleaners for these skills.

If you are worried about a cleaner being trustworthy, it is worth hiring a cleaner from an agency. Not because cleaners from agencies are any more trustworthy than a self-employed cleaner or a one-person show. But because most cleaning agencies have really good insurance and want to resolve any issues extremely quickly for you. So, if you are worried about trusting a cleaner in your home, an agency is a good choice. Plus, if you meet your cleaner and they don’t clean to a level you are happy with, or you don’t get on with the cleaner, an agency is likely to have another cleaner in your area who you will like. If you don’t like a self-employed cleaner, you need to start from scratch and find someone else.

Agency cleaners vs self-employed cleaners

If you’re looking for a cleaner, we would suggest an agency cleaner rather than a self-employed cleaner for a few reasons. We have nothing against self-employed cleaners by any means. There are some fantastic self-employed cleaners around. However, using an agency gives you a bit more control.

Firstly, if an agency cleaner is suddenly ill and can’t make your cleaning appointment, the agency can send someone else out straight away. You won’t have to wait until the cleaner feels well enough to clean your home like you would with a self-employed cleaner. Also, if an agency cleaner is on holiday, another cleaner can take their place, unlike a self-employed cleaner.

By using a cleaner from an agency, you are making sure that your cleaning is always done on time, whether it is by your usual cleaner or a replacement. Also, as we said above, if you don’t get on with an agency cleaner, you can call the agency and get a replacement one straight away. If you don’t like a self-employed cleaner, you need to find another one as quickly as you can.

Are agency cleaners paid fairly?

A lot of agency cleaners are paid fairly, yes. The Living Wage Foundation is paving the way and changing the way many sectors pay their employees now. Cleaning agencies from around the country are signing up and taking the pledge with the Living Wage Foundation to provide a good wage to their cleaners. We must say that not all cleaning agencies have increased their cleaners pay, though. So, it is worth checking the Living Wage website to see if the cleaning agency you want to use is paying their cleaners a fair wage. After all, the cleaner is doing the work and working hard for you, so you should check they are getting a good amount of what you are paying.

We hope this look at agency cleaners has helped you understand how important they are and how to choose the right cleaning agency for your cleaning needs. Cleaners are a hard-working, awesome bunch, so the next time you see a cleaner in the wild, give them a salute and thank them for their hard work, agency or not!