Am I justified to ask my cleaner to do these things ?

[DeleteIt]

Cleaner has a long journey on public transport plus we are the last call of the day twice a week.
I have asked her to take shoes off in the house, please wash hands on arrival and to not hoover the doormat first as then she is hoovering round the rest of the house with the hoover head having been all over outside bacteria ? I’ve been rolling up the mat after she arrives as she kept doing it despite me asking !

I offered to provide some indoor shoes if she wanted but she declined. Am I being over the top?

You are a bit OTT. No offence.
I used to have a cleaner but she came when I was at work so I did not see the cleaning in action. I was just glad to come home and find everything clean, fragrant and tidy.

I don’t wash my hands before cleaning but I wash them after the last dirty job or coming in so my hands will be clean in my own house.

Yeah all of it. And I know the advice coming out of NICU with a preemie and it does not include disinfecting the hoover or making your own cleaner do it either.

Taking sensible precautions is obviously a good idea, so for my kids (one of whom was in NICU) we made sure to keep vaccinations up to date, I would try not to socialise with people who were obviously ill, we got plenty of fresh air, my house was reasonably clean and I was aware of how quickly babies could get ill so I was vigilant when they did have a cold in case it developed into something like bronchitis. I also breastfed so they got my own immunities too.

But I never disinfected the hoover, paid any attention to when I hoovered the doormat, used bleach or other strong disinfectants in the home. Because that kills everything including the germs that the babies actually need exposure to as they grow up. It’s very different being at home to being on the NICU itself (where even if your baby is reasonably healthy there are 24 weekers, babies going in and out of surgery etc). It sounds to me as though the OP either thinks that she needs to replicate NICU conditions at home and/ or has a bit of anxiety. Hence why I’ve suggested seeing her GP to get their advice too.

I'm surprised at the responses too OP, but maybe because we have never worn outdoor shoes in the house (might be a cultural thing) and have always washed my hands when I come in. I wouldn't have thought about the vacuum but it's a bit like using the same mop to clean up dog poo and then mopping the rest of the house with it. I would give her shoe covers, don't make them optional.

I came on here to say YABU until I read your last post about your 24 weeker. My nephew was born at 24 weeks and the first 18 mnths or so were horrid with worry due to the risk of infection/illness on his lungs that were not fully formed. I do understand the angst. Have you explained to the cleaner how vulnerable your baby is? I think that would help as she then won't be offended at your requests. If she is not told, she might think you think she is unhygenic etc which might cause reluctance/upset.

🫂

I sm surprised you bother to have a cleaner as you have very exacting standards. I must admit having a cleaner has never appealed to me because I like to clean things my way.

Sounds like you have a bit of a germ phobia or you wouldn't imagine the germs from her shoes which have travelled on pavements like anyone else's, infecting your house via the hoover head.

I do think shoes off in the house is normal however, I'd not dream of leaving shoes unless host explicitly said its fine.

Edited to add I now see you've revealed you have a good reason to be worried as you had a 24 weekend baby. Then that's fine and you'd need another cleaner most likely. But if that was in your op would have been more helpful.

If he is crawling he is no longer so vulnerable, DeleteIt.

Not taking off shoes is VILE

You need to do something about your over-protectiveness and anxiety about your DS. I understand preemies are worrying, but he’s now crawling. He needs to be exposed to normal everyday dirt and germs in order to develop his immune system normally.

It is absolutely not normal to wash hands before cleaning or need to hoover the doormat last. Shoes is possibly ok, our cleaner has indoor and outdoor shoes (we never asked her, she just does), but you need to provide shoe covers or a cheap pair of indoor shoes for her if she can’t bring her own due to logistics.

Mumsnet is so weird when it comes to cleaners - it’s as if cleaners are doing you a favour for coming in and asking anything of them is abuse.

On the topic - we are a shoes off (unless it’s a dinner party) and wash hands when we first come in house - so I expect the same from my cleaner and she is very happy to go along, as she is from a similar culture.

On the hoover, doesn’t matter if you are right or wrong in your reasoning - this is something she can easily accommodate, but maybe try to explain the reasons to her more clearly.

If you are a shoes off household, she removes her shoes. I would also wash my hands after using public transport. Perhaps get her to start on cleaning something which involves hand washing? My cleaner always starts in the kitchen and fills the bowl with soapy water for surfaces, the cooker top etc...

I think the door mat thing is daft because there will always be some residual dirt on the hoover. If you are washing the componant parts after every clean, you have OCD.

I think it’s because you are.

Most people would wash hands when get in, but not insist on others doing so.

Most people wouldn’t consider the order that here hovering floors up (as by definition, most will be “dirty” but not so dirty as to be a health hazard).

I’m the furthest person from a neat freak OP but I really don’t think you’re being unreasonable here. It makes sense to ask someone to wash their hands before they touch your cutlery etc - and it’s not something I worry about but I think your logic about the door mat is valid.

Regardless, you are paying for a service and I don’t think it’s unreasonable for you to request things be done in a particular way in your home - her or others’ personal opinion on it is immaterial. If she continues to ignore you that’s unprofessional and you’d be more than reasonable if you replaced her.

I agree with you about washing hands, I always do when I come home and definitely before I empty the dishwasher but that is why I wouldn't have a cleaner because the vast majority wouldn't do this.

You clean the hover head?! 🤯

She should be taking her shoes off and washing hands before unloading dishwasher, anything less is minging

Keep posting Lexible. I really enjoy your posts.

A solution might be to do the cleaning yourself (which will allow you to do it as you please and avoid a cleaner coming into your home) on one of your 3(+ weekend) days off. A baby carrier (material type) will leave you hands free to do it.

Whatever you do, please don’t make her feel “dirty” for using public transport.

Yeah but even if she does it last, it's not like she won't be hoovering with it again the next time?

No

I think asking to wash her hands
take her shoes off fine
and i would prob mention the doormat as if its filthy from bacteria/muck from outside wouldn't want that indoors
I shake the doormat in the black binbag i don't hoover it

My sister and I run our own cleaning business.

We travel in our own cars. I have never washed my hands when I enter someone's house because I am fastidious about cleanliness and always sanitise my hands before entering a property and leaving one. We do take off our outside shoes and have our own clog type shoes we use in people's homes.

I do think you are being unreasonable though and if you kept on I personally would drop you as a client.

She declines to take her shoes off? That's unheard of.

My cleaner uses flip flops while she works. How can you mop floors clean and do bathrooms whole traipsing outdoor dirt around?

Take doormat away so she can't clean it first. Then place it back at the end and then say oh can you do that now.

But failure to comply with basic asks is a worry. Is she very good or very cheap? Otherwise I'd be speculatively looking around for someone else.

I think it's fine to ask these things, you're paying and that's how you want it. She doesn't have to work for you if she doesn't like it.
I think a lot of the people replying to you must live in areas with no dog shit or piss on the pavements. Also, they've never smelt 'that bus smell' or they'd want to wash their hands as soon as entering anyone's house!
Good luck in finding a cleaner cleaner!

Exactly, she doesn’t sound like a professional cleaner at all