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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Not happy with cleaner

29 replies

BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 14:55

Moved into our house a few months ago and previous owner was very good friends with the neighbour who also cleaned weekly for her, so when we moved in as i was going back to work thought it would be a good idea to ask her if she wanted to carry on, which she did. Neighbour is a lovely lady and we often chat over the fence

The house is a small 2 bed terraced. (2 receptions and kitchen downstairs and 2 bedrooms and bathroom upstairs)

We usually ask her to do 2 1/2 hours and always say to her i would like her to do bathroom and kitchen and hoover all rooms and then dust if anytime left. Always make sure house is clutter free before she comes in and generally have a bit of a clean during the week so it's not a particularly dirty house

We went out whilst she was here this morning and have just come home. It looks like the only room that has been cleaned downstairs is the kitchen. (although Kitchen workflow, tiles behind the cooker, fridge door not been wiped etc) Neither reception rooms or hall have been hoovered and no dusting. Upstairs bathroom all clean and hoovering done, also our room has been dusted but not DD (also DDs room has a large rug which has been hoovered round and not under)

So i guess what im asking is am i expecting her to do to much in 2 1/2 hours or is she taking the piss? She charges £10ph

First thread in AIBU!

OP posts:
Robotindisguise · 25/09/2011 15:00

She is taking the piss. Plead unexpected removal bills mean you can't have a cleaner after all, wait a few months and find another one.

ElsieMc · 25/09/2011 15:01

I think it was a mistake to employer your neighbour as a cleaner full stop but that doesn't mean you are wrong on this. I don't think you are asking too much and she does have a good amount of time to get it done in and the rate is good.

No matter what you do, you are in difficulty as you have to live by her.

giraffesCantChaChaCha · 25/09/2011 15:05

I would end it now - make up some reason. If for no other reason than even if you sort this hurdle out in the future if things get messy could be akward.

pallymama · 25/09/2011 15:07

Another vote for taking the piss. Maybe I'm over estimating, but in a small clutter-free house, I'd be suprised at of that all taking more than 2 hours.

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 15:08

I agree about the not employing a neighbour. If it was an agency i would have been on the phone by now. Am really tempted to ask her why she didnt hoover downstairs and to top it all off im sitting in the garden and can hear her hoovering!!! Thinking we might look at an agency as they seem to charge about the same.

OP posts:
pippilongsmurfing · 25/09/2011 15:10

I have a house of similar size and I can do the bathroom, kitchen and downstairs and vacuum whole house in just over 2 hours. And that's proper cleaning, not just fuck it, that'll do.

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 15:11

We used to have 2 hours but with that she said she only just about managed to do it and she never managed to dust so changed it to 2 1/2 hours.

Previous owner used to have her for 3 1/2 hours per week and the previous owner was single and VERY clean and tidy but think she did that more to help her out

OP posts:
slavetofilofax · 25/09/2011 15:14

She is taking the piss. I'd end the agreement and find someone else.

frutilla · 25/09/2011 15:26

10 pounds is a good rate, she is being lazy. From what you say she used to do an ok job and is now slacking off. Another thing you can try if you don't want to look for another cleaner is to be present when she's there, she'll work much harder, then you can test the situation again by leaving her alone again in a few weeks time. She might get the message!

strictlovingmum · 25/09/2011 15:45

How about the list of things you need her to do, every week different things, exception being kitchen and bathrooms, those are fixed for every week.
I did that for years with our cleaner, there was never any confusion as what needed doing.
e.i
Please hoover, whole house
dd room, please move the rug and hoover under it
Dump dust everywhere including window ledges
bathroom, all sanitary wear and wash the floor
Kitchen tiles, quick wipe
Kitchen floor
All surfaces to be wiped
Above should be your weekly list.

Every two weeks:
All of the above
No dump dust anywhere, but
Empty the fridge and clean inside and out
Kitchen cupboards as needed( give her one or two do)
Move the sofa and chairs and hoover under
Move the beds of the wall and hoover
This would be your two weekly list
Stick with it, check if it has been done, if not point it out, if slacking off, let her go, good luckSmile

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 15:45

Okay! Need to pay her so I'm going to ask her why she didn't hoover

OP posts:
pineapple70 · 25/09/2011 15:52

You need to end this asap. It sounds like the previous owner was just trying to help your neighbour out. As someone else suggested, say you can't afford it, wait and find someone else.

ThePathanKhansWoman · 25/09/2011 15:55

I'm sick to the back teeth with my cleaner as well, the house is a state.... Oh wait, I am the cleaner.

Hope it all resolves well OP.

lollilou · 25/09/2011 15:58

Strictlovingmum ,I am a cleaner so I think that the first list is easily achievable in 2 1/2 hours so yes op your cleaner should be able to do that. Second list not in the time scale I don't think as there will be minor things such as picking up bits and pieces and I do dust every time. £10 an hour, wish I got that!

StickThemWithThePointyEnd · 25/09/2011 16:03

she sounds like my cleaner.. took 3 hours last week to clean my kitchen, lounge and bathroom, didn't even touch the stairs or bedrooms or hoover upstairs. but she had time to clean my sink with a toothbrush.

lacornsillk · 25/09/2011 16:05

Is that £10 an hour or £10 for the whole job?

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 16:15

£10 per hour

OP posts:
microfight · 25/09/2011 16:18

So what did she say?

lacornsillk · 25/09/2011 16:18

wow - I'll do it for that

Secrecy · 25/09/2011 16:20

Wow! I'm pretty disinterested in cleaning but I'm sure even I could do more than that! Agree with the others who have said that you need to find some excuse not to carry on and then quietly find another cleaner!

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 17:02

Haven't asked yet Blush Just having a glass of vino first

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 25/09/2011 17:05

She's taking the mick - get rid!
Do it yourself for a month then get another.

lambethlil · 25/09/2011 17:09

The list sounds good.

I think though to have a good relationship with a cleaner you have to be scrupulous about your side of the deal- make sure always you pay when she visits, not after even on the day, never run out of cleaning products, have the house tidy, etc.

Original poster
BetterThanChocolate · 25/09/2011 17:51

I asked, she looked really shocked and said yes and then offered to come in and do it again now. I said no as we have friends over and have already put the Hoover back in the shed and really can't be bothered to get it back out

If anyone knows a good cleaner in East London please let me know

OP posts:
strictlovingmum · 25/09/2011 17:57

BTC she hasn't done it, Why else she would offer to do it "again"? Sad your are out of pocket, time to look for another cleaner.