Would you dump this client???

[Tootsey11]

I'm a cleaner, work for myself. Household I've been with less than a year or so. Generally pleasant people, large house, with 10 rooms upstairs to clean and 2 downstairs and a few extra floors.

Now the issue, adults and children and pets in the house all the time I'm working. During school holidays, everyone is there. I am not allowed to start upstairs until they are up. The thing is, when I arrive, they are already awake as I can hear them all and the kids are running around. But I have to wait until they come downstairs which leaves me late finishing or only getting part of the job done. They don't seem to know to keep out of the room while I am trying to hoover/clean etc. One child is home schooled but won't remain in the one room, they move constantly around.

They bring guests round while I'm working, who walk through all the rooms while I'm working. One said to me last time, if someone walked over floors I was washing, I'd be so cross. They just continued doing it and laughed. They do not seem to have any concept of time. I am only there on a fortnightly basis, and it's regular, same time etc so they know when and how long.

I have the option of taking on a client I know well, would you do a swap and get rid of these inconsiderate twats????

In a heartbeat. They don't respect you.

Yes

Absolutely. They're not expecting you to work as a cleaner, they're expecting you to work as a maid with cleaning responsibilities.

Yes! Why wouldn’t you?!

Absolutely

Yeah I’d drop them for sure !

Yes. As you say you work for yourself so it’s entirely your decision.

Yes, get rid of them.

Yep, get rid.

We have two adults WFH while our cleaner comes, plus a dog. We stay upstairs out of her way while she cleans upstairs, dog in crate. Then we swap and she goes upstairs. I don't want to be getting in her way.

Gosh yes, that sounds so annoying. That's one of the advantages of being self employed.

I have the option of taking on a client I know well, would you do a swap and get rid of these inconsiderate twats????

Do it! Such an easy decision. Not only are these people annoying, but you already have a replacement client lined up.

Let them clean up after themselves for a bit, while you work for some people who know how to behave.

I would swap, yes. I'd never dream of treating my cleaner like this! She's worth her weight in gold and I fully respect her and her working conditions.

Why wouldn't I? I'm always worried about cancelling clients, income etc. I know I have someone else to go too, but hate cancelling work with everything going on with increasing costs of food. You never know what's round the corner. Another client could cancel then I would be down earnings. I'm a perimenopausal indecisive mess atm!

Yes I would. In a heartbeat.

Drop them immediately! How awful for you

They are treating you like a skivvy. They have zero respect for you, definitely drop them.

When DH and I are both WFH when our cleaner comes, one of us usually goes out and works from a café while the other stays in the home office (which she doesn't clean) to stay out of her way. On the rare occasion she comes when the children are home (school holidays when I haven't taken them out for the day), I make sure they stay in the living room while she cleans the rest of the house and then we swap over and I take the children upstairs while she cleans the living room.

Your clients have zero respect for your working conditions, I'd definitely drop them.

I can relate to the peri menopausal indecisive mess! I'm now fully menopausal, so add in complete brain fog & heating the planet!!

I also have had my own business & relate to the worry about dropping a client. But I got immense pleasure out of dropping one in particular who was difficult, rude, lied & acted like she was a cut above.

enjoy the feeling of looking after yourself!!

GOOD cleaners will never be out of work! Word of mouth will fill any vacancies you have

Yes, dump.

Tell them why if you can be asked - education is always useful.

Cleaner here. Ime being self employed means you take on people who give you the least stress!

You are only there once a fortnight which doesn't seem long enough for the amount of cleaning needed anyway (I assume). Leave them, its not worth it financially or mentally.

Added to that you have another possible client so the only thing you would lose is the stress. Walk away.

Thanks everyone, I have contacted new client with a start date timings etc. Will have to go back one last time to clean as they owe me money.