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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to expect a cleaner to clear hair from plug holes without being asked?

109 replies

Alpsk1 · 07/04/2026 21:36

AIBU to expect a cleaner to empty the plug hole of hair etc as a standard part of a clean?

I thought I’d treat ourselves to a cleaner and they came for the first time yesterday to do a 6 hour clean on a 4 bed house. This initial clean was meant to be for longer than what they will do going forward. 6 hours vs the 4 hours they said they’d need ongoing every fortnight.
I had expected them to clean the oven on this first clean but they didn’t (however although I asked if they cleaned ovens, we hadn’t agreed they would specifically do this on the first clean). - so that’s my fault for not specifying.

I also found that not all the skirtings were dusted and even though they specifically cleaned the blinds, there was still dust on them in places..

YABU - you’re expecting too much
YANBU - a cleaner should do all the dusting and empty the plugs as standard

OP posts:
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ThatFairy · 11/04/2026 20:54

Yerroblemom1923 · 11/04/2026 17:47

I highly recommend it! Your oven will look like new.

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I was just thinking it sounds like easy money. I talked to my niece who has done cleaning work and she told me you can charge £50- £60 per oven

Coconutter24 · 11/04/2026 19:40

WearyLeader · 10/04/2026 16:36

Wonder why an oven cleaning person is more expensive. And a gardener. Hmm. Could it be because usually they’re men?

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I had my oven cleaned last year by an oven cleaning company… it was a woman. The reason they are more expensive is because it is a specialised clean

LiveLuvLaugh · 11/04/2026 17:54

Nickyknackered · 07/04/2026 21:50

I think that's one if those things, along with stripping beds and cleaning the skid marks in your loo, that you should do yourself.

Agree.

Mintchocs · 11/04/2026 17:52

TheChosenTwo · 07/04/2026 21:48

I think a list might be helpful at the beginning outlining your expectations - to answer your question, yes I would expect plug holes to be clean.
We have a separate oven cleaner who comes twice a year, it takes him 3 hours a time and does a very thorough job - were you just expecting a cursory wipe over to be done in that time?

My DH is cleaning our oven at the moment and it is taking ages 😄. I thought oven cleans were a separate service?

I think it just takes a long time to clean a house. Maybe 6 hrs just isnt enough? Did they do the stuff they did do well?

CremeEggThief · 11/04/2026 17:50

Very unreasonable indeed OP.
I would not go back and I would warn all the other cleaners I knew about you.

Yerroblemom1923 · 11/04/2026 17:47

ThatFairy · 10/04/2026 22:49

I didn't know you could hire an oven cleaner

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I highly recommend it! Your oven will look like new.

ConstantlyFuriosa · 11/04/2026 05:36

Plug hair is gross. You can get that yourself, c’mon.

ThatFairy · 10/04/2026 22:49

WearyLeader · 10/04/2026 16:36

Wonder why an oven cleaning person is more expensive. And a gardener. Hmm. Could it be because usually they’re men?

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I didn't know you could hire an oven cleaner

CelticSilver · 10/04/2026 19:19

WearyLeader · 10/04/2026 16:36

Wonder why an oven cleaning person is more expensive. And a gardener. Hmm. Could it be because usually they’re men?

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My last oven cleaner was a 6'6" hairy biker with biceps the size of Brussels. The oven was cleaned to within an inch of its life. Brilliant job.

Morepositivemum · 10/04/2026 16:55

Sorry op Id never ever expect someone too or take hair out of a plug hole (unless they were cleaning for someone fully incapacitated)

Hankunamatata · 10/04/2026 16:37

Nickyknackered · 07/04/2026 21:50

I think that's one if those things, along with stripping beds and cleaning the skid marks in your loo, that you should do yourself.

This

WearyLeader · 10/04/2026 16:36

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/04/2026 15:29

No. Clean the shower tray, yes, not the drain.
The oven wouldn’t be included as it costs a lot more for an oven cleaning person than the cleaner.
Missing dust on blinds, it happens, my dog groomer misses bits of long stray hair. I just trim them.

Wonder why an oven cleaning person is more expensive. And a gardener. Hmm. Could it be because usually they’re men?

WearyLeader · 10/04/2026 16:34

And this is why, when a woman comes on here and says her DP is not pulling his weight, the answer cannot simply be: hire a cleaner. It’s not enough.

Coconutter24 · 10/04/2026 16:29

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 16:25

That's still higher than the£12.44 befores tax

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It is still higher correct, however a self employed cleaner will get no holiday or sickness pay. Someone on NMW that is employed will get both of those benefits

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 16:25

Coconutter24 · 10/04/2026 15:27

Take of the tax and NI from £20ph that’s down to around £16

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That's still higher than the£12.44 befores tax

gamerchick · 10/04/2026 15:32

You're supposed to leave your house, tidied and surfaces cleared. You speak about expectations right at the start and never assume.

Leaving hair in a plug hole for someone else to get rid of brings up pictures of a midden of a house.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 10/04/2026 15:29

No. Clean the shower tray, yes, not the drain.
The oven wouldn’t be included as it costs a lot more for an oven cleaning person than the cleaner.
Missing dust on blinds, it happens, my dog groomer misses bits of long stray hair. I just trim them.

Coconutter24 · 10/04/2026 15:27

PokHas · 10/04/2026 12:01

Please can the posters tell me where cleaners charge minimum wage, I’d consider moving house. In my area it’s £20/per hour (way more than my hourly pay).

Take of the tax and NI from £20ph that’s down to around £16

Coconutter24 · 10/04/2026 15:25

Thechaseison71 · 08/04/2026 23:17

And if you physically can't do it? What then?

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You tell the cleaner you can’t physically do it and ask if they can add that to the jobs list

Yerroblemom1923 · 10/04/2026 15:22

MrsVanilla · 09/04/2026 20:52

I don't think it's part of her job to clean up your body mess, so no poo, drain hair, soiled sanitary pads etc. I have a cleaner and I do a quick whizz round before she comes. I just feel it's a kind of respect for another human being really.

100% this!

Yerroblemom1923 · 10/04/2026 15:20

PokHas · 10/04/2026 12:01

Please can the posters tell me where cleaners charge minimum wage, I’d consider moving house. In my area it’s £20/per hour (way more than my hourly pay).

Usual agency cleaners only receive minimum wage but the company will charge you a lot more. It's always best to find a local SE cleaner via word of mouth. Good cleaners rarely need to advertise.

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 12:02

Yerroblemom1923 · 10/04/2026 11:47

Dusting blinds takes forever as well as you have to wipe over each individual slat!

That is such a PITA job. Got to be one of my most hated

PokHas · 10/04/2026 12:01

Please can the posters tell me where cleaners charge minimum wage, I’d consider moving house. In my area it’s £20/per hour (way more than my hourly pay).

ThatFairy · 10/04/2026 11:52

Eew no ! You clean your own plughole hair !

Yerroblemom1923 · 10/04/2026 11:47

Dusting blinds takes forever as well as you have to wipe over each individual slat!