Five inside secrets from our star housekeeper candidates

Tiger Private is a housekeeping staffing agency who regularly meets some incredibly talented candidates. Their skills are vast and wide-ranging. We meet Private PAs who can secure 7* private travel deals for free, chauffeurs who can navigate their way around several cities around the world, and Personal Trainers who can trim down clients by several kilos in no time. This week, we asked our star butlers and housekeepers for their inside tips on maintaining a pristine domestic home for their Principals:

1. Experimenting with scents

Many of the commercial brands leave behind harsh chemical smells that are really unpleasant for those living there. Ed, Bristol-based butler, likes to mix essential oils into his products. “Obviously I experiment in my own home before trialling the products in my Principal’s residence”, he laughs, “but I use products like baking soda, Borax or vinegar as a base and then try mixing lavender oil, grapefruit or lemon scented oils in to produce a pleasant aroma. It’s much nicer than leaving a room smelling clean, but like a lavatory!”

2. Grab a toothbrush

Andi, Kent-based housekeeper, says, “I’ve tried lots of high-tech tools and products to get grime out of corners. When I have tough dirt to tackle in a tight corner though, there’s nothing better than a toothbrush. Just must make sure it has tough bristles though! That’s the secret”.

3. Smudge-free windows

Professional window-washers have their own secrets for cleaning windows and making sure they’re smudge-free. May, housekeeper in Cornwall, reveals, “A few years back I asked my go-to window cleaner what his secrets were. He explained that a solution of washing up liquid and warm water was superior to a chemical detergent which can be harmful to use. You should also invest in a good quality squeegee, a plastic t-bar with a washer on the end and some material to wipe down the edge of the window. Once you have all these, it just comes to technique. Use the water / detergent solution to wipe the entire window with the washer. Then wipe the window with your squeegee using an ‘s’ shape, and finally wipe down the edges to prevent water marks that your squeegee might have missed.”

4. Have a system

Don’t just walk into the room and clean at random. Like anything, you’ll achieve the best results by having a process that you stick to. It will mean you’re more efficient and less likely to be distracted by other things that need your attention! Debbie from London explains, “I work wall to wall, and then clean the floor from one corner to the door of the room. It’s also important to clean top-down, so that you catch any falling dust as it falls.”

5. Have the showerhead shining

Showerheads can be some of the first household items to attract grime and residue. The easiest way to treat it is to soak it in vinegar overnight. Rinse the next day and it will be shinier than new!

If you’d like some help recruiting excellent household staff, or if you’re a candidate looking for your next role, get in touch with our Private team today.

Author Tiger Contributor Tiger Recruitment Team