How to let the cleaner go..

[WendyFromTransvisionWamp]

… nicely? And it’s two ladies but I usually communicate with their boss through WhatsApp. The boss also occasionally does a clean here.

All are very nice but I find the standard of cleaning quite poor. They’ve been cleaning for us for about a year. I can’t be direct as they also clean for two of my neighbours so keep seeing them fairly often. I also don’t want to lie to say that our circumstances have changed as it just sounds like an obvious lie 🤨.

Dear X, I am giving notice that from <date> we will no longer be requiring cleaning services from yourselves. Thank you for the work over the last year and I wish you all well in the future. Wendy

No need for any more than that

This. No need to justify it, you just don't need their service any more.

Yes don’t explain anything. You sound like a people pleaser like myself!! Just be really nice to make yourself feel better and soften the message - the message above is perfect, maybe add something personal you know about them. Like I hope your daughter’s wedding goes well in June. I can’t thank you enough for your work ect… Are you going to hire another cleaner?

Watching with interest. What is the normal notice period? Is a month ok?

We just said we couldn’t afford a cleaner anymore and gave months notice

Thanks so much, I’ll try this. I’m very aware I have a tendency to over explain myself so wanted to avoid that!

Just put don't require cleaning services. 'From yourselves' is not correct grammar.

@Odras I’m definitely a people pleaser! But working hard for not to be.. I wanted to stop the cleaning few months ago but here I am, still struggling to let them go.

I’m not going to hire anyone new for the time being.

I don’t know 🤷‍♀️ I don’t have a contract with this current set up. They are actually due in today and come here fortnightly. I’d need to ask the owner lady what her desired notice period is.

I had to do similar recently.
We had a company who cleaned twice a week, the ladies were lovely for the most part, they were on a rota so it could be a different couple every time but we got to know them all fairly well. However there was one lady who just didn't clean to a good standard and she always complained. I actually felt uncomfortable in my own home.
I let it go for ages because like you, i just dont want to offend anyone or single a person out but eventually I had to highlight it because it was consistently a poorer job than the others and you know, we're paying for a service. I tried so hard to do it nicely but the boss went absolutely nuts, sent an onslaught of very abusive messages about us and our home (claiming it was too big and too hard) and then refused to clean for us ever ever again 😂

It wasn't very funny at the time but I can laugh about it now!

@Iknowaboutpopular Omg! How unprofessional! I had a small business for several years and would not have dreamed of behaving like that. I always strived to deliver the best service (not cleaning!).

The cleaning ladies have now been and I decided to mention it to them that I won’t need their service any longer. Just need to message the boss, will use the example @CMOTDibbler kindly offered me.

The ladies took it well, they’ll come for one more clean before Easter and that’s it. Thank you everyone for the moral boost. It’s difficult with the cleaners as it’s more intimate job them being at your home and most often done by women who rely on that money.

I'd be reluctant for them to work notice unless the contract insist on it. Chances are they won't do much. I would give them a weeks notice and pay them but ask them not to come. You really should tell the owner their standards are not up to scratch as they could affect her reputation.

I had the same cleaning company for about 15 years, different cleaners over the years obviously as some left, different ones started.

Their standards seemed to be slipping week after week but I let it go until one day the Owner of the cleaning company sent her daughter to clean as regular cleaners sick or away. The daughter was very glamorous and didn't look happy as I let her in!

I always left the house really tidy and even gave the toilets a quick wash the day before the cleaners arrive. When I got home I could see cleaning had not been done, you can just tell, toilets not freshened, floors not hoovered, smeary work surfaces. I politely said I wasn't happy, owner said daughter noticed there were no toilet brushes so hadn't cleaned but had hoovered and mopped (I hate toilet brushes, I use rubber gloves)... I said ... in 15 years you know I've never had toilet brushes and I can't see any cleaning has been done. She just emailed saying I was making it up!
I finished our arrangement there and then because she was really expensive and obviously didn't value my custom and loyalty. She actually made it really easy for me to terminate the arrangement as she was taking the piss.