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AIBU?

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Is my cleaner overstepping?

151 replies

CoffeeBooksRats · 05/08/2026 21:02

A couple of months ago me and DH finally gave in to the various pressure of work and parenting three kids and dogs and got a cleaner. She comes for four hours per week, cleans, changes bedding and does some ironing. In many ways she’s been amazing, and does a brilliant job.

However… every time she comes she moves things… I don’t mean just tidying up I mean things like moving small items of furniture to different locations in the room, moving things like laundry bins from bedrooms to bathrooms, rearranging cupboards of personal items in bedrooms, moving the kettle/toaster/knife block/herbs and spices to the other side of the kitchen etc… it feels a bit like she thinks she knows best how to organise our home and just does it. Every week I get back from work and go around the house putting everything back where it’s meant to be. Some times it’s taken me several hours to locate items she has moved.

Is this normal? Having not had a cleaner before I don’t know whether this is usual practice - if so I think we’ll need to not have a cleaner as I’m finding it too intrusive and annoying! A couple of times I have mentioned it in a light hearted way “took me hours to find the kettle lol” and she’s just laughed it off and continued… maybe she genuinely thinks she is helping?

Would appreciate thoughts if you have a cleaner or are a cleaner! She is a really lovely woman and I don’t want to offend her.

OP posts:
EnglishRain · 20/09/2026 20:26

Have you spoken to the cleaner yet, OP?

That would drive me mad.

I am particular about how photo frames sit, and lampshades not touching the walls etc. After my cleaner has been I reposition a few frames, and swap the soap and washing up liquid round as often they’ve been put back the other way, but no actual inconvenience.

I think some cleaners put things the wrong way round or leave them slightly out of place to evidence they’ve cleaned there, or that’s the impression I’ve gotten over the years. But I’ve never had anybody rearrange anything. Often they clean around things as opposed to move them, so I try to tidy beforehand as they only have so much time.

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