Questions
Everything people ask before their first clean
If it isn't here, ring us. We'd rather answer it now than have you wondering.
Booking and access
- Do I need to be at home while you clean?
- No, and most of our customers aren't. Our 10am to 2pm window exists precisely so the house is empty. We agree access before the first visit — you let us in, we use a keysafe, or we hold a key.
- How do I book?
- Book online. You choose 2 hours (£70) or a 4-hour block (£120), pick a free weekday slot inside our 10am to 2pm window and pay through PayPal. Payment confirms the slot straight away — no waiting for a call back. Your Clean List comes afterwards, and the owner rings you to talk it through.
- Can I book a one-off clean?
- Yes. Deep cleans, end of tenancy, after-builders and pre-guest cleans are all booked as one-offs, usually as a 4-hour block.
- What if I need to cancel a visit?
- Give us 48 hours' notice and there's nothing to pay, so we can offer the slot to someone else. There's no contract and no cancellation fee for stopping altogether.
- Do you work weekends or evenings?
- Not at the moment. Dorset Clean is built around school-hours working, which is what makes the 10am to 2pm window reliable.
Trust and safety
- Are your cleaners DBS checked?
- Every cleaner holds a current DBS check before their first booking, alongside verified photo ID, confirmed work history and references. Nobody starts early while paperwork catches up.
- Why do you need to see my ID?
- Because our cleaners work alone in homes they've never visited. Confirming who you are and that the address is yours protects them, and it takes two minutes on the first visit.
- Are you insured?
- Yes, we carry public liability insurance covering our work in your home. If you'd like the policy details before booking, ask and we'll send them.
- How do you look after my keys?
- Keys are labelled with a code rather than your address, held securely, signed out on the day and returned the same day. Our full key handling policy is on the keys and security page.
- What happens if something gets broken?
- You'll hear it from us the same day, with a photo, and we'll agree how to put it right. We don't hide accidents.
The clean itself
- Do you bring your own products?
- We bring cloths and our standard product set. Where possible we prefer to use your vacuum and mop, because moving a vacuum between houses moves dust and pet hair with it — but if yours isn't available or isn't working, we'll bring our own.
- Can you use eco or fragrance-free products?
- Yes — tell us and we'll switch. We can work bleach-free, fragrance-free or with a plant-based range for allergies, babies and pets.
- What can realistically be done in two hours?
- It depends entirely on the house and the state of it, which is why we don't promise a set number of rooms. You're buying two hours of focused cleaning against your own priorities: we start at number one on your Clean List and work down it. If your list is long, book the 4-hour Clean or two cleaners.
- What is the Dorset Clean List?
- A written list of the jobs you want done, in the order you want them done. Your cleaner starts at number one and works continuously down it for the time you've booked, ticking off each job. The ticked list is left at the property so you can see exactly what was completed and where your cleaner got to.
- What if you don't get to everything on my list?
- You'll see precisely where we got to, and nothing is wasted — move the unfinished jobs up the list for next time, or book a longer clean. Our 24-hour guarantee covers jobs ticked as completed that weren't done to our standard, rather than jobs there wasn't time to reach.
- Will I get a regular cleaner?
- That's what we aim for — a regular cleaner who gets to know your home and your Clean List. When the rota needs cover, it's someone equally vetted, and we tell you beforehand with your list and notes handed over.
- Do you do laundry and ironing?
- Yes, in your home with your machine and detergent. Book a 4-hour block — wash and dry cycles need the time.
- Do you clean ovens?
- Yes, with non-caustic products, in place. Racks, glass and hob included. It's a 4-hour block job.
Money
- How much does a cleaner cost?
- £35 an hour on a 2-hour slot (£70 a visit), or £30 an hour on a 4-hour block (£120 a visit). Two cleaners doubles the price and halves the time.
- Are there any hidden charges?
- No call-out fee, no travel charge inside our area, no booking fee and no contract. What's on the pricing page is what you pay.
- When and how do I pay?
- Your first clean is paid for online when you book — £70 for 2 hours, £120 for a 4-hour block — through PayPal, using your PayPal balance or any card. Payment confirms the slot instantly. Regular cleaning is arranged with the owner after that first clean, and paid by standing order or regular bank transfer, set up by you and cancellable at any time.
- Do you charge extra for a first deep clean?
- There's no premium rate. A first clean simply tends to be worth the 4-hour Clean, or two cleaners, because there's usually more on the list.
Where we work
- Which areas do you cover?
- Weymouth and roughly ten miles around it: Portland, Wyke Regis, Chickerell, Upwey, Broadwey, Preston, Osmington, Martinstown, Winterbourne Abbas, Charminster and Dorchester.
- I'm just outside your area — will you still come?
- Ask. If the diary lines up with another job nearby we often can. We'd rather tell you honestly than take a booking we can't run reliably.
- Do you clean offices or commercial premises?
- We're a domestic cleaning service at the moment. Small offices and holiday lets, yes. Larger commercial contracts, not yet.
Still not sure?
Book a clean and we'll call you back to talk it through before anything is fixed.
Book a clean