Problem with cleaner, am I expecting too much?

[Whatdoiknow31]

Few niggles with our cleaner and don't know if it's me? If so please set me straight (gently lol)

3 bed house, ensuite, Lounge, Snug, large kitchen diner, utility, cloakroom , conservatory. They are large rooms to be fair.

We don't use one of the bedrooms, the main lounge and ask her to leave the conservatory. So she's here to clean 2 bedrooms, kitchen/diner, snug, bathroom, ensuite, utility and cloakroom and the Lounge.

Pay her for 3hrs and give her extra for petrol.

Apart from hoovering, the house looks no different after she's gone. Last week told her not to worry about child's room as it was messy or the main Lounge. Instead I asked her to give the bathroom a good clean - it looks no different, still scale marks at the bottom of the shower door and fluff on the floor.

In the Lounge we had mold on the wall behind a chair (chair positioned so you can easily walk behind it to hoover etc) we were upset she hadn't brought it to our attention but cleaned it with mold spray and it hasn't returned. We had two bottles of mold spray, one had gone missing so we left the other bottle on the floor behind the chair. That's also gone.

We have mold on the inside of our window frames (in the corners), bins upstairs not emptied - am I not giving her enough time?

We have had Limelight go missing, 5 microfibre cloths, pack of sponges, toilet rolls, kitchen rolls and we get through a bottle of washing up liquid a month, even though we have a dishwasher and rarely use washing up liquid. She uses washing up liquid in a spray bottle and I know she's topping up her supply (she carries a little bottle in her cleaning bag) as the level always goes down a couple of inches or so every time she comes (minor but niggling as she's supposed to supply all cleaning products)

Very difficult one. How to prove? I took photos of all the cleaning stuff, toilet rolls etc one week as we had quite a few toilet rolls go missing the previous week. But nothing taken this time.

Is it possible that the cleaning stuff going missing is innocent and she's absentmindedly putting in her bag after using it (even though she's supposed to supply) without thinking it's not hers? If you're a cleaner do you know what's yours and what's your clients?

In a real quandary :-( Would like to see it from a Cleaners point of few as don't know if I've got consumed by the stuff that annoys me. As I said, don't know if it's me or this is normal. So please be nice 😉

[timeforabrewnow]

I don't understand what the quandry is?

It sounds like the cleaner is nicking stuff and not doing a great job cleaning.

Time to get a different cleaner.

[Whatthefreakinwhatnow]

3 hours might be a bit tight. This morning I cleaner upstairs bathroom and en-suite, hoovered and dusted 4 bedrooms, the landing and stairs and that took me over an hour and a half, so if I were doing the lounge and kitchen and dusting/hooveribg/mopping downstairs too it would defo be over 3 hours, and my lounge and kitchen are not enormous.

How often does she come? could she dis upstairs one day and downstairs the next?

Not sure on the products front, if she is meant to supply her own then she shouldn't be using yours?

[Whatdoiknow31]

Upstairs there's only two bedrooms, landing, bathroom and ensuite that need cleaning on regular basis.

Last time it was just the one bedroom - leaving extra time to do a deeper clean on the bathroom. But there was no difference to the bathroom. See pics of the bottom of the shower door - disgusting!

We've just sold an armchair, they've just picked it up. I was so embarrassed to find that mess underneath it. Is it unreasonable to expect an armchair to be moved occasionally and hoovered under?

[ZoFloMoFo]

So in summary...

"My cleaner is shit at cleaning and steals cleaning products and toilet rolls from me".

I think you need a new cleaner.

[ThanksSpanx]

She's clearly useless and stealing from you. I'd like to think I'm a nice person too but she's absolutely taking the

[Whatdoiknow31]

You're absolutely right, I am so crap at these things though.
Spoke to my Mother about it (who has seen for herself) and she said I can't do it before Christmas as that would be cruel. Which I agree on one hand but what's not cruel about taking someone for a mug and steeling from them? Think I'll sleep on it. Thanks for all your advice 😊

[Whatdoiknow31]

Oh and just to add, cleaned shower. Absolutely no effort at all and came up a treat. So no excuses there I'm afraid (was kind of hoping it wouldn't come off so I could excuse her)

[OlennasWimple]

What does your contract say about notice periods?

[futurelotterywinner]

Get rid!
You are spending money presumably to save time, come home to a nice clean house and have it cleaned at least as well as you could.
I went through three cleaners then gave up!!! I'm NOT overly fussy, just felt a mug paying someone else to do a half hearted attempt at something I could do better. 3 hours is long enough to at least do some of those jobs well.
Added to the fact she's stealing from you......get rid!!!!!!
Yes it's Christmas but don't be a mug, she's the one stealing and not doing her job properly!!!

[Hissy]

No. but you can tell her you won't be needing her to come back in the new year.

IF you think she'll take the piss even more, pay her as if she did work, in advance and call it a day now

[wowfudge]

She clearly thinks you're a soft touch. Sack her. Doesn't matter what time of year it is - she is stealing from you and not doing a good job. I think there are some things you probably do need to specify you want doing, but come on!

[wowfudge]

And if you leave it any longer she may take things other than cleaning products.

[Frouby]

If you don't want to sack her have a word. Tell her your concerns, what you expect as a minimum and raise the issue of stuff going missing.

[Whatdoiknow31]

We don't have a contract. She's been with us about 3 to 4 yrs though.

I do need to have that conversation with her, so she knows why I'm not happy. Think that's only fair. Otherwise she will just think it's me not wanting a cleaner anymore (which I don't after this experience, feel very untrusting of some stranger going round my house) Otherwise she might be doing the same in other people's houses and think that's ok.

Another reason I'm unhappy is that we've made a lot of home improvements. She has not commented positively on one thing, which seams to me that she's jealous? Do I want someone who's jealous of us with a key to my house? No, I don't.

Do I do it before Christmas or after? Great believer in karma and don't want this biting me in the bum. Omg I need some big girl pants! It's my flippen house for gods sake!

[wowfudge]

You think she's jealous because she hasn't commented on your home improvements??! I've heard it all now. More likely she thinks you have money and won't miss the bits and pieces she's taken. Sack her and don't let her work her notice - pay her for it if you must. Get the keys from her and change the lock barrels to be on the safe side.

[Whatdoiknow31]

Well when all she said is 'who paid for that' and 'is that some sort of patio' then yes I do think she's jealous. When people have things done I always notice and comment how nice it is etc. Perhaps I'm not normal? Is it not out of respect to that person for the money they've spent on their home and the choices they've made?

I don't expect people to go gushing over my home, but when such obvious changes have been made i would thought some comment would be made by someone who has access to all areas.

[wowfudge]

You didn't say she had made disparaging comments though, just that she hadn't said anything positive. I thought she had made no mention of the changes. You know she has to go - she's taking advantage of you and is a thief.

[Hissy]

Tell her you'll not need her as of the end of the year, no excuse, just that it's a decision you have taken

Pay her off

Job done

Get the key back there and then

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

If she hasn't provided you with a contract with her notice terms within you can stop using her services immediately.

Just hire another service instead.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Pay her till the end of the month, get your key back at the same time and get rid. The whole point of a cleaner is to make your life easier. She isn't. So that's that.

[Cluesue]

Yes she's taking the piss,get rid.

[Whatdoiknow31]

Well that went well - not!

She'd missed a couple of cleans for various reasons so we've decided to do it ourselves any way.

Made the decision today would be her last session. Pay her for today obviously, Plus Christmas bonus and for next session when she wouldn't be required.
We cleaned house yesterday so when she came I asked her to deep clean the bathroom again as there was scale left last time and clean the mold off the windows. She irrupted! Apparently scale at the bottom of shower door (see earlier pic) and the muck on the skirting board is a 'spring clean' - even though last time I gave her extra time to do the bathroom. Apparently I should be doing more cleaning and not leaving it all to her (but that's what I pay a cleaner for?) I should be grateful for the things she does do like getting the cobwebs!?! Oh and she was now going to my Mum's and she would not be happy! And She doesn't need to work. She was disgusted with me leaving the mold (as well as her other clients who don't do anything apparently)
Told her I am an adult I do what I want, not what my Mother tells me and that I had had enough of her insulting my home. Asked for our key back and she's now gone to Mum's to tittle tattle
Just to add, our home is lovely and clean - once I have got rid of the mold 😉😄

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

Wow - very professionals of her! Only not!

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

*professional

[JellyFishFingers]

Your mum is keeping her even though she steals and is a gossip and crap cleaner????