Do cleaners not do dishes?

Clutter, including dishes should be cleared.
if my cleaner has extra time I might find myself with a cleaned out toaster, or a freshly organized shoe area.

I've heard it said that tidying/dishes/laundry etc. is what a maid does whereas anything fixed down is what a cleaner does - think that's an American distinction but plenty seem to follow it here. Mine does a bit of both and I'm eternally grateful to her for that. Maybe ask and see what they're happy to do?

Wow, never knew a cleaner who doesnt put plates in dishwasher or washes them up if not. But I tend not to leave anything out like that as I prefer they concentrate on the biggies.

Yes I do ,can’t bear to see the dishes on the side . Yes it’s takes slightly longer, but sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference, especially when it’s only a few . It makes a difference to the whole appearance of the kitchen.

No. Ours might empty the dishwasher, but tbh we very rarely don’t do that first thing.

I was a cleaner for four years. Yes I did dishes! I later got a cleaner who refused to do anything apart from basically polishing surfaces. I don't really see the point of having a cleaner who leaves your windowsills sparkling when you have to spend hours tidying beforehand.

My current cleaner is so much more of a help generally - she does bedding and the pets and cleans out the fridge. If she sees that something needs doing she does it. She's amazing! I honestly don't understand what the difference is between scrubbing a bath or cleaning a couple of plates??

Mine does, first thing she does is empty the dishwasher and refill with anything on the side. if anything needs handwashing she does that.

Part and parcel of cleaning the kitchen I would say. Mine does it.

Why do you have a cleaner then?

If they come two at a time, it sounds like you've employed a company? They'll have a list of what they do and will do it, so they'll have cleaned the loo even if it's clean.

It wouldn't usually include dishes, unless you've asked. I might leave a note saying sorry the kitchen's a mess would you mind washing up instead of the downstairs loo this week?

I make sure the sink is clear for mine.
They shouldn’t leave early though

This!

Mine do. I try not to leave them out because I’d rather they spent the time doing bigger jobs but if there are a few breakfast pots still out when they come, of course they clean them.

@Fifi00 Then that may not charge you for the 30 mins on your next bill? (fingers crossed for you they are honest and don’t)

from your update I see suspect this will an ongoing problem and probably caused by two issues 1) Complete lack of training by the company on how cleaning should be done 2) A mismatch /miscommunication between customer expectation and what was relayed as required by the client to the end cleaners.
The only solution to this is to be extremely explicit on exactly what you want doing and how it’s to be done, with an additional wish list of extra time is available within your core billing hours.

The clue is in the name, cleaners are there to clean, not tidy away the shit you and your children cant be bothered to put away

Bold of you to outline the job specification of someone you don't pay.

If OP is paying then the cleaners remit is whatever she says it is.

It’s more a tidying up task imo, and it’s standard to tidy up so cleaners can get to the surfaces to clean them. If you turned the house upside down and shook it, everything that stays fixed is for cleaning – floors, loos, surfaces, the sink. All the contents – clutter, dishes, etc – is for cleaning around or if there’s too much, like too many dirty dishes, the sink goes uncleaned.

My old cleaner did them but she was also a saint in human form and generally kept the house looking amazing and put up with our messy untidy ways. I honestly miss her every day since we moved!!

im looking at getting a new cleaner now but I don’t think they are as comprehensive as our old lady was….

Why cant your child put away their own crisps they've left on the side?! How lazy!

The clue is in the name, cleaners are there to clean, not tidy away the shit you and your children cant be bothered to put away

my old cleaner used to do them if they were there, however it was once in a blue moon and a complete non-expectation from me with profuse apologies.

Her response was "dont be daft I'm doing the sink anyway doesn't take me a moment"

so i suppose its two sides - whetehr you take the piss and whether she's ok with it

In my opinion there’s always something else to do (in my house anyway!). I have a new cleaner who has left early both days she’s been here so far. I was at work and DH was wfh in calls, so although he heard her leave he couldn’t go down to speak to her. She hasn’t dusted under the TV or the windowsills or polished the mirrors or dusted the cornices. With the half hour she isn’t using I’d expect her to do some of that! She could also clean skirting boards and there are still a fair number of dusty surfaces. I’m at home when she’ll be here tomorrow, though, and I’m going to talk to her about leaving early.

My Mum worked as a cleaner, both in homes and offices. She always did washing up when she had time left over. She was paid to clean and they needed to be cleaned. She also did ironing when she had the time.

I find this really odd - maybe it’s a cultural thing? I live in Ireland and my cleaners have always done dishes - if I haven’t managed to get the dishwasher reloaded before they arrive they put them in. Surely cleaning a toilet is more “disrespectful’(???) than cleaning a few dishes? It is all cleaning after all.

oh and I worked as a cleaner in Germany when I was in college - the Germans had no qualms about leaving dishes for me to wash!!!

Mine does dishes.