Cleaner

[Thefifthbeatle]

I'd be grateful for a quick sanity check from those who have been continuing to pay their cleaner throughout this, as I'm in a bit of a moral conundrum.

Have you agreed that your cleaner can now return? If so, what steps have you agreed that s/he'll take to keep you both safe? If not, are you continuing to pay your cleaner and for how long do you think you'll carry on?

My lovely cleaner's husband is a carer so potentially both she and he are in contact with a lot of people, in indoor settings. She also has 2 DC at different schools from each other and from my DC. Until now, she hasn't returned but we've carried on paying her. Unfortunately, I don't feel that we can carry on doing this indefinitely without a plan for her to return. I've generally been on the more cautious end of the scale - we haven't been to a restaurant or used holiday clubs etc - and I feel a bit anxious about her returning. That said, DH has pointed out that when my DC return to school next month, they'll be sharing a classroom (without even the smallest bit of social distancing) with lots of key workers' kids and so once we're back at school, we will already have accepted that level of risk.

[BikeTyson]

We carried on paying ours during lockdown but they’ve been back for a few months now, since whenever the rules allowed it (June?)

We generally leave the house while they are cleaning, or if not we stay at least 2m apart. Lots of windows open and wiping down surfaces after themselves. It felt pretty low risk to me so was happy for them to return.

[MRex]

Paid ours from beginning of March until July, then she returned with a mask (except ironing as we don't touch the clothes that day anyway) and open windows. She then decided she didn't want to wear a mask any more, so we've said a friendly goodbye. DH is a bit irritated that she took the money for lockdown and then changed the plan, but I can see it's annoying wearing a mask and she worked for me many years, so I don't mind the extra pay-out. She would be relatively higher risk for several reasons and we're home, so no mask wasn't an option for us. New cleaner wears a mask and has windows open, more convenient timing, still early days and slower as a result, but I like her a lot.

[zebrapig]

Our cleaner came back at the end of June. We're both still wfh so we just maintain social distancing and she used lots of antibac gel as she goes. DS was off nursery one week so I said she didn't need to come but she was still happy to and we maintained distancing as usual.

We're equally risky to each other - she also works in a shared office building and DC have been at school/nursery. We did discuss it before she came back though.

[sunandrose]

Ours has been back a few weeks now.
We’re out whilst she’s there, she wears a masks and we have windows and patio doors open. I make sure I antibacterial the mood handle, Hoover, etc when I get home...

[supadupapupascupa]

Mine is coming back as soon as our kids are all back at school. I only pay her term time but have even though she hasn't worked through lockdown.
I don't make my guests wear masks in the house so I won't ask her to. The house is spotless after she has been. I will ask her to anti bac her hands when she arrives but other than that just as normal.
But we live in the East Midlands where the risk is low.

[Toddlerteaplease]

Mine came throughout. I was still working full time and she was happy to come. I'm not sure I'd have carried on paying her for the hole of lock down though, if she wasn't coming in.

[thefemaleJoshLyman]

We paid from March, and returned in July. The DC and I go out and DH is in the study which isn’t cleaned. No masks. We had a boiler fitted in July too and he didn’t wear a mask so it seems pointless for cleaners.

[Thefifthbeatle]

Thanks very much, all. Sounds like I'm being a bit over-cautious.

[readingismycardio]

Ours has been back in June, we're never at home when she cleans, we either have coffee at my mom's or run errands. She irons our bedding, too, so I need her for my sanity so I never questioned her return

[BighouseLittlemouse]

Hi OP

I didn’t have my cleaner back as will be wfh for the foreseeable - felt it would be difficult having g her round when I’m working and her hours would also now partly coincide with the kids being gone from school and also could prob do the cleaning myself!).

I had been paying her throughout lockdown until the mid July. I contacted her to let her is I wouldn’t need her anymore and paid her an additional 2 1/2 months wages ( I’m lucky I could afford that and she has been a great cleaner).

[cheerfulcoconut]

Ours has been back for a month or two. She works for an agency, and they sent us a list of requirements - all windows to be open, us to not be in the same room, all internal doors open. She brings her own masks, gloves and indoor shoes.

[OverTheRainbow88]

We paid ours throughout and she returned July. She arrives sanitises hands and wears gloves and carries on. I go out for the 2 hourS with the kids and leave all the windows open for her.

[Realitea]

I’m a cleaner and know many other cleaners who all went back in June. I’m now busier than I’ve ever been, cleaning every day of the week after Airbnb guests. I think I would have stopped paying her in June if I were you.
The houses I clean are always empty but I open all windows and wear a mask, apron and gloves and sanitise everything at the end. I have someone do the laundry and ask guests to strip beds before I get there.
If you’re concerned about the risk, she could come back and you all remain outside the house while she’s there and leave rooms ventilated for a few hours after she’s left.

[FinallyHere]

We offered to pay throughout regardless and were very grateful that she felt she could come throughout. We are both WFT , no DC, no pets. We go out or stay upstairs til she is finished downstairs then go out while she is upstairs.

Twenty years plus service, would be lost without her.