I’ve had cleaning people on and off over the past 20 years. I do not give my house key to anyone. I’ll let them in and either sequester myself in my office, or leave and come back - as long as my husband is here. I also like to check to make sure they’re using the cleaning products I supply as I’m sensitive to chemicals. I thought I had a good service but ultimately had to fire them because they “snuck in” bleach and Comet several times. Seriously, they think it doesn’t smell?? I’m not cheap - I pay 50% extra to use my products because I know cleaning people usually have favorites. And some natural products require more effort. But I digress… I hide or lock up jewelry, medications, small electronics. I also straighten up the house and leave nothing in their way. In addition to my cleaning products, I give them sponges and rags to use (all in a bucket I keep for them) and hide my everyday ones. Who knows what they do — More than once they have left the trash can in the kitchen sink, while washing the floor; rags in the tub, and found my kitchen sponges in the bathroom. Yuck.

I own a cleaning service! We do not have a preference if you are home or not. My least preferred methid of access if a homeowner is not home is to have a key. We much prefer a garage code or something of the like.

Feel free to ask me questions!

I have had cleaning help for easily 40 years, off and on. They come and go....husband changes jobs, they age out etc. I had a wonderful cleaning person....but too late I found out she was stealing me blind....easily $10,000 in jewelry and various doo dads. Stuff I didn't miss. Took years to really reallize what was missing, like the little Battersea box in the book case, the silver dollars in the box with my childhood memorabilia. Even if you are home and never again will I leave when a house cleaner is in my home, lock up your stuff....but you can't really live and lock up everythign.

I have had my share of house cleaners. Some were so-so and some not woth a penny. I had one cleaning couple that did not clean, just moved things around and swing a feather duster in the air to make it look like they cleaned. That said, I now have a great housecleaner, recommended by friends at church that have her clean their homes. Her clients are people I know and I know they like a clean house. Even so, I stay home, keep out of the way and make sure that clutter is off the table tops, counters. Both previous posters have great suggestions.

The cleaning service I use sends a small team. And the number of people varies based on availability; sometimes two people and other times three. I pay the same amount regardless. They do a nice job cleaning and for the most part have been reliable. Sometimes I'll notice a slight variation in how they fold tissues etc. based on who comes, but these things are not meaningful to me. Everyone on the team is very trustworthy. In my last house, I had a single person clean for me.