Is it reasonable to ask the cleaner to do some of the gross jobs?

[Inthenick]

My cleaner comes once a week for 2 hours. I have her doing bathrooms (1 family one and 1 downstairs loo) and floors (washing and hovering). So she already cleans the toilets when she is here but I want to ask her to give the shower a scrub weekly (doesn't seem to do that now) and maybe once every two weeks, give the plug a clear out and clean. I hate this job and it is gross but I think it would be less gross if done regularly so is it unreasonable to ask a cleaner to do that as a standard job? I feel embarrassed enough to get someone to clean our toilets!

[QueenJuggler]

Yes to showers. Can't believe she doesn't do that in two hours, unless your house is massive. No to plug hole clean. That's disgusting and you should do that yourself.

[ToShelAndBack]

Perfectly reasonable, although you may need to pay her for a bit more time if you want her to do more tasks.

[Willow33]

Absolutely fine to get her to the plug holes - I ask mine to do them.

[Inthenick]

Shes been slacking off (or maybe the person she brings has, she keeps firing her helpers as shes not happy with them) but I feel she is not getting half as much done as I would in 2 hrs recently so I am planning to speak to her today to kindly point out a few things I would like her to keep on top of (grotty around the tap butts and dust behind the door and laundry basket that she/they have obviously just been skirting around) and I will say the shower needs a quick go over each week (should take 2 mins). Still unsure about the plug hole. A hotel cleaner would do it....

[twilightcafe]

I don't know. I class cleaning hair from plug-holes in the same category as skid-marks in the loo as gross jobs that should be done before the cleaner arrives.

[homeaway]

If it is done every week it will be fine.

[CaesiumTime]

Shower should already be being cleaned!

I'm meh about the plug hole - mine does it on her own initiative but in the past other cleaners haven't. It's up to them if they think it's part of their remit. She can always refuse if she doesn't want to do it.

[Damselindestress]

I'd be tempted to replace her unless you have a good relationship with her. I'm not sure about cleaning out the plug hole but other stuff like scrubbing the shower and around the taps should be standard and not even dusting behind the door is really lazy! You shouldn't really have to check up on her and explain this stuff when she's supposed to be making your life easier. Professional cleaning should be thorough, not out of sight out of mind! Sounds like she's taking advantage. Our previous cleaner did this and I found it really difficult to be assertive but the problem just got worse. At the end of the day you're paying for a service you're not receiving.

[Inthenick]

I agree Damsel, but I do like her and think she can do better so I've spoken with her and will see how things go for another month or so. She was better in the beginning so I'll give her a chance.

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

It sounds like she has trouble effectively managing her staff (which is not easy tbf)

It's not your problem but if her staff can't cut it then the service is going to be poor, she will learn how to get good staff eventually but first she has to 'feel the need' to learn.

You will be helping her to improve her longterm business growth if you complain nicely now. Take it from one who knows , you have to feel the discomfort to make the changes required to grow and succeed

One thing to remember - always complain to a cleaning service within 24 hours after the poor clean to give them a fair chance to rectify issues and re-train staff. This is in most service's terms and is essential for best service. Otherwise you are just presenting a problem when there's no real chance to correct it in time.

Complain fairly and in detail for best chance of good future relations with your service.

[ICanTuckMyBoobsInMyPockets]

It takes her 2 hours to clean 2 bathrooms and mop 2 floors?
I think I'd sort that out first before asking for further jobs.
That would take me an hour max.

[BackforGood]

She should be expecting to clean the shower. I'm curious as to what she does for the rest of the 2 hours though. My cleaner does a really good job on lots more than you have written, and gets done in about 1hr and 1/4.

[AmyInTheBoonies]

Well it's not on she is slow and missing bits. The shower should be done, that's should be included in a bathroom clean.

I agree though picking hair out of a plug is not an average cleaners job. Maybe if your paying top rate but I wouldn't ask someone to do that. Same as I always clean the loo before the cleaner arrives too.

[BananaPie]

What's the point in paying someone to do your cleaning if you clean before they arrive? I would expect a cleaner to clean to a reasonable standard in the time allowed. That would include plug holes and loos!

[Inthenick]

So I said two hours to clean 2 bathrooms and 2 floors but I meant 2 floors as in downstairs and upstairs. That's hoovering 10 rooms and the stairs and landing, and mopping 6-7 rooms. She does just whizz around and I'm feeling like she misses corners, goes around certain items rather than moving them. I'm in the house (work from home) but stay out of their way. Some things she does well, some things are looking a bit....half assed. Anyway, we'll see how she improves.

[Pallisers]

I don't know. I class cleaning hair from plug-holes in the same category as skid-marks in the loo as gross jobs that should be done before the cleaner arrives.

agree with this. I also check/empty the bathroom bins if my daughters are having their periods.

But I do expect my cleaner to clean the shower etc. She may clean out the plug, I don't know. I usually do this pretty regularly myself.

[PleaseNotTrump]

Could you do those jobs well in two hours? I'd struggle to do them myself to the standard I like in two hours.

[ElizabethHoney]

I'd absolutely expect the cleaner to deal with the plug hole...

A hotel cleaner would surely have to do that, otherwise it wouldn't get done. And likewise, it's part of cleaning.

I believe in paying well, giving generous seasonal bonuses, leaving the place uncluttered and being nice... But not in doing their job for them!

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

You have 17 rooms you want cleaned in 2 hours?! Are you Naomi Campbell?

[PinkiePiesCupcakes]

2 hours
60 mins per hour
120 minutes.
17 rooms

120 / 17 rooms. 7minutes a room, exludong stairs and landing.

That seems a bit tight to me? No wonder they're only doing a quick job tbf.

[ladygracie]

I think there are 2 of them aren't there? For the 2 hours.

[AnchorDownDeepBreath]

Yeah I think you're asking quite a lot. 7 minutes is about enough time to flick a cloth around and do a very quick Hoover or do a bit of a better Hoover, but it won't be perfect. Less than 10 mins per room will always be very rushed.