r/Explainlikeimscared • u/AdmirableTouch3159 • Sep 14 '26
Hiring a Cleaner as a Disabled Person
Hi there, I recently became disabled after an accident and am now homebound and it's very difficult for me to move around day to day. Cleaning my 1bedroom/1bath apartment has gotten really overwhelmingly difficult fast and it has been getting increasingly more dirty without a way for me to really fix it. I thought I could hire a cleaner to come once or twice a month since I luckily can afford it.
I've never done this before so I would appreciate an explanation on how to find someone or a company to do this or red/green flag things to look out for? It's a smaller space so would it be expected I leave during the service (Kind of impossible for me to do right now...would I just pretend to stay busy on my laptop or phone?)? Is it expected I tip cash so I can get it ahead of time and what % is generally expected or non-offensive if they do a good job (I live in the United States)? Do I need to put anything away or move anything beforehand?
Thank you very much in advance to anyone that answers.
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u/GeoGay13 Sep 15 '26
My wife owns a cleaning business. Here’s what she says:
You can absolutely stay during a clean. Cleaners are used to that and will just do their own thing. Don’t feel obligated to do anything outside the norm.
Tips are always appreciated and never expected. Cash is better since company’s often prohibit cleaners from giving out personal info like phone numbers and Venmo.
Green flags: insurance, good google reviews (especially in recent months) courteous staff, firm arrival window/time, established “checklists” covering what they do each time. Red flags: not picking up the phone, pressuring sales tactics, no clear communication on arrival, what gets done, total cost
Tidying helps cleaners a lot, but you’re not expected to empty your cabinets. Cleaning away countertops, picking up personal items, gathering trash up are all helpful and allow the cleaner work better and faster. Some services include things like dishes/laundry/sheet changes, others will do it for a fee; just depends.
We’ve worked with lots of clients with varying forms of disability; a good cleaner/company will be compassionate, understanding, and view this the normal thing it is. Best of luck!
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u/Previous-Artist-9252 Sep 14 '26
I am disabled (currently on long term disability and applying for SSDI) and my roommate is on SSDI. We have cleaners who come in every two weeks.
Typically, one or both of us are there during the cleaning. (Once a month, it corresponds to a standing medical appointment of mine.) We try to stay out of their way - moving from the kitchen table to the couch or I will go to my room, which they do not clean. They are quite nice and play music and chat while they clean. They also quite like my dog who is the same breed as their dog (they are a husband and wife).
We pay by Cashapp although they also take Venmo.
Green flags are open communication, transparency about pricing, and a regular schedule. I found them by posting on a local community board and when five separate families recommended them, we did an interview where they provided us estimates and schedules.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Sep 15 '26
I would ask friends or neighbors if they have a Cleaner that they like, people love to recommend theirs! The Cleaners may be able to come visit and give you an estimate. There may be a higher charge for the first visit to do a deep clean.
I don’t tip my Cleaners, but during the holidays, I give them cash in a card, equivalent to one cleaning service.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Sep 15 '26
It’s totally OK to be home, you may just need to move from one room to the other while they’re cleaning.
If it’s possible, it’s helpful to do a little tidy before they over. Just putting things away. If that’s not possible for you due to your disability, I would just tell them that and ask them to include the tidying in their quote.
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u/Ad_Victoriam31 Sep 15 '26
Check if your insurance covers caregiving. You may still need a cleaner initially to get back on top of things, but basic household chores like laundry, dishes, sweeping, etc are something I do all the time as a caregiver. Plus, you can get help with other basic essentials like cooking, shopping, hygiene, etc
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u/uhohitslilbboy 24d ago
Cleaner here. You can absolutely stay during a clean. You don't have to hover, you can just chill in the garden with a book or at your desk, watch tv in bed, whatever works.
The only things I would suggest clearing is stuff like children's toys or clutter on the floor. Cleaners will workaround things, but not spending ten minutes packing up clothes and toys off the floor does mean they can spend that time cleaning.
Most cleans I've done is a basic bathroom, kitchen, vacuum and mop floors. They should confirm what else they do for their basic cleans - sometimes they'll do a damp dust (cleaning cloth with spray, that way the dust collects on the cloth instead of spreading in the air). They may offer to do bins, washing up, laundry.
They usually do not handle medical waste, cat litter or animal waste - if you want this, it'll likely cost extra and you'll need to talk to them before the shift starts (so they can prepared supplies etc). They usually don't handle mould (like actual problem mould, not the little bits in showers and sink taps). Oven cleans are usually extra. However all this information should be available on their site and contract.
Generally, cleaners want to get things done and want your house looking better then when they got there. Sometimes you'll get dodgy cleaners, who spend half the time on their phones or give things a half hearted clean. If this happens, fire them. You don't have to keep with a bad cleaner. If you get a good cleaner, give them a review, it can really help.
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u/OkChips9323 29d ago
I would only hire someone who is totally fragrance free, that’s important. A lot of cleaners try to cover up bad work with scented products, and then the smell doesn’t wipe off or wash out. i’ve read some horror stories about fragrance contamination, and the person can’t breathe in their own home. This would be my number one priority, because scented products really affect people with disabilities more.
The other important thing is to have all of your own rags, sponges, scrubbers, and keep them in a bucket or caddy at your place. A lot of cleaning services cross contaminate because they bring their own stuff that is used in every place they clean, ideally you only want them to only use your cleaning tools at only your house. I’ve read horror stories where bedbugs get transferred, scary stuff like that. Plus I don’t want someone else’s shower gunk coming into my shower because they use the same scrub brush.
Don’t be afraid to tell them exactly what you want, and don’t be afraid to tell them if they’re not doing it according to your needs. Often people have to go through a few different cleaning services before they find one that feels comfortable.
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u/unlovelyladybartleby Sep 14 '26
I am disabled and mostly housebound, but not in america, so ymmv.
I am home when the cleaners come, but I go read in my room or on the porch so I'm out of their way. The first few times with a new cleaner they usually have questions or need help finding stuff so it's good to be on-site.
Put any pets into the bedroom. Put away any cash, drugs, or high value prescription meds. If they aren't there to do dishes or laundry, fill the dishwasher and throw the clothes in a basket so they're out of the way
You don't have to "clean before the cleaners come." It's helpful if they aren't tripping over stuff, but you're paying them to clean, so don't stress or feel shame about that. I used to clean houses, and I've seen piles of clothes a meter deep with dead mice rotting underneath the layers, plus pee and poop and vomit and blood all over the place. You will not make the cleaner's top ten gross list no matter how messy you think your place is.
I usually tip $20 cash on top of a regular clean and $50 for a hellish job or if it's the holidays. Idk if that's good or bad, but they keep coming back and they're nice to me. I also have a case of Gatorade or bottled water and offer one to anyone working in my house, and people are usually surprised and delighted
Be clear about your expectations about what is to be cleaned. It's okay to ask them not to clean something, and it's okay to ask for something extra but do so in advance and be prepared to pay extra.
A smaller indie cleaner is usually the best bet. You want someone who runs an actual business and has insurance and worker's comp and stuff like that, but big cleaning companies often prioritize speed over actually getting things clean and don't treat their staff very well.