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Original poster

Would you expect your cleaner to clean up this mess? If you are a cleaner, would you?

113 replies

holishmo · 28/12/2022 19:12

I started up my own cleaning business (just myself) last month

I've got 2 really lovely clients and recently took on someone new

We live on the same NB estate so I popped round when she enquired and we had a cup of tea and a chat, was happy to take her on for the 3 hours a week

Anyway, I arrived today and there were nappies on the floor that needed clearing away, loo not flushed and very dirty, bloody and soaking with water? sheets on the master bed, take away tubs all over the living room and no toys put away at all, still loads of wrapping paper laying around

I tidied it all up of course and I didn't say anything. But then before I left she asked me where I'd put one of the coins that go to her baby's toy piggy counter, I said I hadn't seen a pig with coins at all (my own DC has it and I didn't see it there).

She said I must've seen it because it's in the toy box but one of the coins are missing?

I said I hadn't touched it, I hadn't. She wants me to replace it

What do I do? I feel silly for writing this but I'm doing it to fund nice extras for myself and disabled DC. I don't want bad words spread as my two other clients live on the estate too and I advertised myself on the FB page

OP posts:

NextPrimeMinister · 28/12/2022 19:50

If she's going to accuse you of a missing toy part, then you're going to be top of her list wĥen something expensive goes missing.

Have you been paid?

I'd not go back. If she does spread rumors she's going to look the odd one accusing you of stealing a toy coin!

Luredbyapomegranate · 28/12/2022 19:50

Replace it, and then tell her that you have some extra appts for your child so she needs to find someone else.

You shouldn’t need to replace it but it’s not worth risking your fledgling business.

You might tolerate a slob if they were nice to you, but this women has already proved herself horrendous. She’ll be accusing you of god knows what soon.

walk away

do get insurance BTW

gamerchick · 28/12/2022 19:51

Has she paid you?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cleaning

PatientlyWaiting21 · 28/12/2022 19:52

Nope Dutch her, you are there to clean not tidy!!

Mamette · 28/12/2022 19:54

gamerchick · 28/12/2022 19:51

Has she paid you?

I was also going to ask this.

H1Drangea · 28/12/2022 19:55

I’d not go back , nor would I replace the toy coin ,
If anyone asked , I’d say the house was filthy and she accused you of stealing and you’d rather not deal with people like her

Vitriolinsanity · 28/12/2022 19:55

Frankly I think you should've feigned illness the minute that you saw the state of the place. What a fucking slattern. I loathe people that take the piss out of cleaners. I have a dozen that work for me (school) and I'm very quick to pull up anyone that dismissively leaves mess.

catandcoffee · 28/12/2022 19:55

So she got you there under false pretences. As a cleaner I'd have walked straight back out the door.

How disrespectful to you or any cleaner.

As for the other issue do not give her any coin, she'll probably take that as a sign you stole it originally.

OP don't allow people to treat you like this.

sunshineandshowers40 · 28/12/2022 19:57

I wouldn't clean for her, the house sounds disgusting.

Namechangedfortodayspost · 28/12/2022 19:57

LadyClaude · 28/12/2022 19:26

If you replace it, she could use it as some sort of perverted 'evidence' that you are guilty of taking the coin, or losing it. So don't do that. I would tell her that you will not be replacing something that you have no need to replace as you never even saw the toy coin, and you will also no longer be cleaning for her, as quite frankly mutual trust is imperative if you are to be in someone else's home to work.

It's clear that this is not someone you can trust! Agree with PP, she is TROUBLE.

This.

I'd also be inclined to point out that you were taken aback at the state of the place - which has also contributed to your decision not to return - and must stress that this is the first time you've been expected to clean up after a client, rather than clean a house.

i've had lots of cleaners and I would never, ever leave a mess for them to clear up.

Albgo · 28/12/2022 19:59

PegasusReturns · 28/12/2022 19:28

I think MNers get a bit crazy about all the things that cleaners should never do.

In my view cleaners clean and as a cleaner you should certainly not expect to be cleaning only “spotless” houses.

that said this seems to be less about cleaning and more about accusations of theft: which would be a firing offence

But cleaners clean - not tidy!

35965a · 28/12/2022 19:59

Do not replace it. It’s not your problem her shit tip of a house is so bad she lost it. Bin her as a client. Cleaners shouldn’t be expected to deal with dirty nappies or blood, dust and general day to day cleaning absolutely but what you walked into is not acceptable.

2023willbemyyear · 28/12/2022 20:00

Don't replace the toy. Take a screenshot of the positive thing she wrote about you on Facebook,so if she tries to say anything,you can say "why would she write a positive review if I had done a bad job". Even if she tells people you stole some plastic coin, who is going to think that a cleaner would actually steal a plastic coin.

AllTheOtherNamesWereTaken · 28/12/2022 20:01

Say can she let you know in a couple of days if it's turned up and you can both go from there. Hopefully if/when she finds it she'll tell you??

AlwaysGinPlease · 28/12/2022 20:02

My cleaner does not tidy. I don't expect her to either. We don't leave a mess. You need to learn to stand your ground or this business will not last. She sounds revolting.

MysteryBelle · 28/12/2022 20:03

Yuck. That is unacceptable. Have nothing to do with her ever again. The state of her house and accusing you of taking something. I’m sorry, if her house was impeccable when she was luring you in, then was very nasty when you went to clean as you described, and accusations of stealing a toy coin...I’d be wondering if she were acting with malice. That is disgusting what she expected you to clean. Gross!

Psychonabike · 28/12/2022 20:04

You don't want this client. Cleaning doesn't bring in enough money for this bullshit. And good cleaners are in high enough demand not to have to put up with bad clients.

DH and I work long and antisocial hours, we have 3 kids (2 of whom have ASN), so we have been pretty reliant on having a cleaner for the best part of 10 years. I think we have had 3 different cleaners. 2 that lasted a year before moving on to different jobs and the same brilliant person for the past 8. People are constantly asking us to check if our cleaner has space because theirs "let them down". It's a small place so I hear from our cleaner why these friends were "let down". It is always about people not knowing the difference between cleaning and tidying and expect a cleaner to tidy up all their stuff. And leaving out totally disgusting stuff. My cleaner did accept a job with a friend of mine -went 3 times and gave up, for exactly this reason.

DH and I were both in halls at uni in the early 90s, where part of the fee was for mandatory cleaning. It was a rule that the evening before, you tidied your room, cleared all surfaces, stripped your bed, lifted everything off the floor etc so that the cleaner could sweep in, clean and vacuum all surfaces and leave without having to shift your stuff about. If you didn't clear the surfaces, your room didn't get cleaned and then you got a warning, then a fine. We definitely took the same understanding into our own home -the day before the weekly cleaner's visit everyone has to tidy their stuff away. We're not totally rigid with the kids -if they have something going on in their room that can't be moved, they can close the door and not have it cleaned that week, but that can't happen two weeks in a row.

Sometimes it is a real PITA, we can't always squeeze in a good tidy, but that's on us and we just adjust our expectations or leave a note suggesting deep clean of kitchen and bathrooms rather than whole house. Or leave a pile of ironing instead, by agreement.

I'd suggest that you give people a chance -explain what is expected of them in this, since loads of people don't seem to get it...but the leaving used nappies about and toilets in this state? That doesn't really suggest they have enough respect to start a good working relationship...

Cyclistmumgrandma · 28/12/2022 20:07

Old French house with septic tank where I couldn't flush sanpro (now know I shouldn't anyway). I had a bin beside the loo. I always emptied it (if one of the days it was in use) before the cleaner came. The very occasional time I forgot before dashing out to work she emptied it for me and nothing was said but I was very embarrassed! It was certainly not something I expected her to do.

LongLostTeacher · 28/12/2022 20:08

She sounds crazy. I know some pretty particular parents, but I don’t know any who would notice a small piece of one toy missing and assume it must be stolen, rather than lost in the sofa/stuffed in a bag/flushed down the toilet.

Add in the fact that the house was a bit of a shit hole when you got there and it makes even less sense.

Dont replace the coin ( it will twisted as an admission of guilt), just say there’s clearly a personality clash and you won’t be back.

CoorieInByTheFire · 28/12/2022 20:10

Do not replace the coin, too easy for her to draw the wrong conclusion if you do. Stick to your guns and just repeat that you didn’t see it, and if pushed point out the disgusting mess she left you to clear up, and that the coin could be anywhere in that. You’re there to clean, not tidy up after her and her pig of a family.

ThePoshUns · 28/12/2022 20:11

Don't relate the coin
And don't return.
Her house sounds disgusting and she won't think twice if accusing you of anything else's were mislaid in the future.

Bunnyfuller · 28/12/2022 20:16

Get her the replacement, but make it clear you did not take it and tell her you won’t be coming back. If she trashes you on FB, explain you had to drop her as the time she paid for didn’t cover what was needed for heavy soiling.

Hocuspocus99 · 28/12/2022 20:18

Sounds like this is a bit of a test. She knew you were coming , but leaves the house in a complete mess in order for you to complete and then throws you a curve ball about a missing coin ! Who leaves nappies randomly on the floor and blood soaked sheets out ! I’m a cleaner and never experienced that ! If she had the time to be counting how many coins were missing ,then flushing the toilet should not be a problem. Did she pay you ? Because if she didn’t I think she may have wanted you to wavier your fee to pay for the piggy bank .

caringcarer · 28/12/2022 20:20

I'd text to say you are very upset over accusation of theft and won't be returning.

KateBalesCardi · 28/12/2022 20:21

I would send her a message saying that, on reflection, you won't be returning to clean for her. Point out that the accusation that you stole something of no value (why would you?!!) and her subsequent comments were ridiculous and batshit crazy beyond what you are prepared to tolerate in the course of your job, as was the state of her house. Finish by saying you strive to build good relationships with all your clients and that it has become obvious that isn't possible in this case so it's best you move on. Any negative comments on FB and I would respond calmly with the truth about the state of the house and use the 'not a good fit as a client' line, that should tell people all they need to know about whether her review is fair.

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