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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

5 hours

35 replies

beepbeep · 20/04/2025 12:46

Not sure i’m iabu or not!

we pay nearly £400 a month for cleaners to come once a week for 5 hours. I know we are fortunate to have them but ….

we have a 4 bed, 3 shower room house. They don’t clean 3 of the bedrooms (kids are responsible), but may vac them.

we have a playroom, lounge, downstairs loo & kitchen.

(have office & utility room where dogs sleep - they don’t do these rooms)

all rooms are left v tidy / no clutter, so easy to crack on & clean.

I am still having to dust for cobwebs on ceiling (a lot!) I put a feather duster with cleaning stuff. They don’t wipe down the tiles in the showers, I’m doing that now as have got grimy. Dirt builds up at base of taps, I put a small brush with their cleaning stuff, but they don’t use it.

they do a basic clean which they do well but don’t move anything on shelves, or get into any crevices.

I just think in 5 hours I’d expect a bit more. I’m not home when they come, but when I have left message to ask them to dust the cobwebs I’m told they don’t have enough time.

I hate clutter, so each room in pretty minimalist (lounge has 2 sofas, coffee table, tv stand and piano), playroom - sofa and 2 closed sideboards

i just think every few weeks they could dust cobwebs or skirtings

AIBU?

(edited for spelling!!)

OP posts:
S0j0urn4r · 20/04/2025 13:26

beepbeep · 20/04/2025 12:58

Thanks all. I am cleaning the main bathroom now as have touched up some paint & it’s minging! So giving it a deep clean.

will look at leaving a list, but things like cobwebs & shower tiles are basics aren’t they? (Even if things like cobwebs once a month)

Think of it as a job description. Hard to say they're not doing it right if you haven't established what 'right' looks like.

roses2 · 20/04/2025 13:20

You need new cleaners, 5 hours and they don't leave the bathrooms sparkling or touch the bedrooms?

AnotherDelphinium · 20/04/2025 13:17

YANBU, you need new cleaners.

I have a similar sized house and arrangement (the only bedroom cleaned weekly is mine) the others are rotated and done once a month.

My cleaner does a weekly clean (three hours @ £20) for three weeks and the fourth week a deep clean (four hours @ £25) so monthly I’m paying ~ £300 in the South east.

And she does an incredible job!

beepbeep · 20/04/2025 13:01

Just taken towels off radiator & this is the build up of dust. It just needs a hoover out or use of radiator brush (also left for them!)

5 hours
OP posts:
beepbeep · 20/04/2025 12:59

SummerIce · 20/04/2025 12:57

We have the same size house, plus a dining room too, and our cleaner comes for only 3 hours a week and gets everything done no bother. Even includes folding any laundry and putting it away. Every now and then she does an extra hour for the oven, etc.

Sounds like you need a new cleaner. A good one is like gold dust.

I know!! I feel like we’ve been through a few!

DH thinks I’m bu & that if I want more then we need to increase hours!

OP posts:
beepbeep · 20/04/2025 12:58

Thanks all. I am cleaning the main bathroom now as have touched up some paint & it’s minging! So giving it a deep clean.

will look at leaving a list, but things like cobwebs & shower tiles are basics aren’t they? (Even if things like cobwebs once a month)

OP posts:
SummerIce · 20/04/2025 12:57

We have the same size house, plus a dining room too, and our cleaner comes for only 3 hours a week and gets everything done no bother. Even includes folding any laundry and putting it away. Every now and then she does an extra hour for the oven, etc.

Sounds like you need a new cleaner. A good one is like gold dust.

S0j0urn4r · 20/04/2025 12:54

I think you need to agree on a specific list of tasks and when they should be done. I'm surprised the cleaning company didn't request this from the start. 'Cleaning' means different things to different people.
Once the list is in place, see if it improves. If it doesn't, find a different cleaning company.

lnks · 20/04/2025 12:54

“rooms are left v tidy / no clutter” is subjective. My father’s idea of very tidy is completely different to mine.

DisplayPurposesOnly · 20/04/2025 12:51

I would complain about the dirty taps and shower tiles. Probably also the unmoved stuff on shelves since yours aren't cluttered

I think cobwebs and skirting are not weekly tasks (no doubt someone will correct me...) so those sorts of things I'd have on a rota. First week of the month is x, second week is y, etc.

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