The Housekeeper

Updated 18/02/2022

Latest Service update

Our services are now running as normal now COVID-19 restrictions have been removed. Whilst masks are no longer required some of our cleaners may continue to wear them for their own comfort and safety. Our cleaners are provided with guidelines on how to stay safe whilst carrying out their cleaning duties.

Updated 04/01/2021

Latest Service update

Following the latest Government announcement, we remain open for business and our services continue to operate but with some changes to ensure the health and safety of all our clients and cleaners during the outbreak.

Restrictions for England are changing on 5th January as England returns to a “National Lockdown”. This is similar to the March 2020 lockdown where business and schools were forced to close to control the rise in Coronavirus cases. The latest Government guidelines are clear in that cleaners can still work inside peoples’ homes.

Latest service update – 09/11/20

We remain open for business and our services are continuing to run but we have had to make some changes to ensure the health and safety of all our cleaners and clients during the outbreak.

Restrictions are different depending on which part of the UK you live in.  The restrictions for England changed on 5th November when England entered a month-long national lockdown until 2nd December.

The government guidance is that cleaners are permitted to work inside peoples’ homes as long as the government guidelines on social distancing and staying safe are followed.

Click here to view gov.uk source

We supply our cleaners with a set of extensive guidelines to follow during their scheduled cleaning visits as detailed here.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

For most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above you must stay at home and arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19.

Further government guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection can be found here.

For the safety of both Clients and Housekeeper’s, we have introduced the following rules

• Housekeeper’s must not clean if anyone in their household has symptoms (however mild), is shielding or self-isolating
• Clients must not allow cleaning if anyone in their household has symptoms (however mild), is shielding or self-isolating

What are we doing?

We want to inform you of the actions we are taking as a business to protect our team and our clients as far as possible during the COVID-19 outbreak. You will, of course, know the government have ordered people to stay at home wherever possible but with a few exceptions. On the other hand, we do not need to point out that a clean house is even more essential during these times.

Daily Health Check

• We speak with all our Housekeepers every day (prior to them starting work) to ensure they are fit and well and have not been in contact with anyone displaying symptoms of Covid-19
• If anyone is unwell, they will not be allowed to work.  All our Housekeepers are on permanent contracts and will therefore not feel pressured to work as we provide company sick pay
• If you or anyone in your household have any symptoms, please let us know as soon as possible.  We have also informed our cleaners to do the same if they or anyone in their household displays any symptoms.

Protective Equipment

• To ensure the safety of you, your family and the team, all Housekeepers will be wearing protective face masks and gloves for the foreseeable future.
• The Housekeepers have also been given antibacterial hand gel and disinfectant clothes spray to use before starting at each home

Equipment e.g. Cloths and Mops

• Will be clean and fresh and will NOT have been used in any other home

Antibacterial products

• We will continue to use antibacterial products to sanitise all surfaces and will focus on high touch areas (including all door handles)

When we leave your home

• We will ensure that we clean your front door handle, door knocker and/or doorbell
• Equipment is cleaned thoroughly after leaving each customer’s home.

Time of our visits

• You will always know, in advance, what time we plan to arrive, allowing you to move to another room ahead of the team’s arrival (if you plan to be home during The Housekeeper’s visit)
• Social distancing of at least 2 metres must be maintained at all times, 1 metre from 4^th July
• If there are specific things you would like the team to focus on or rooms not to enter – please leave a prominent note or contact us ahead of the scheduled visit

The Housekeeper would like to thank you for your continued support at this difficult time.

Latest government advice

• Work in the home like cleaning can continue provided the person carrying out the work has no symptoms and that no-one in their household is shielding or self-isolating
• Social distancing of at least 2 metres must be maintained, 1 metre from 4^th July
• Travel to and from this type of work is allowed
• No work should be carried out by any tradesperson who has coronavirus symptoms, however mild
• More details can be found on the government website here

All cleaners must follow our detailed cleaning and safety guidelines

These are based on the latest guidelines from Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland, and the NHS.

• Thoroughly wash their hands before, during and after their cleans with warm soapy water
• Surfaces should be cleaned using regular products and then where possible, disinfected using a product that is certified to kill 99.9% of germs, such as Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaner Spray or Xtra Protect Sanitiser
• Special attention should be paid to “high touch” areas such as door and cupboard handles, light switches, TV remotes, tables, countertops etc
• Warm water (not hot or cold) should be used when cleaning surfaces and mopping floors, to maximise the effectiveness of cleaning products
• Use disposable or machine washable gloves
• Open windows where possible for ventilation
• Wash cleaning cloths and mop covers at a high temperature (60°C or above) after every use
• Avoid shaking dirty laundry and soft furnishings such as bathmats and rugs