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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be IN the house when I have a cleaner?

22 replies

HitTheRoadJack · 01/11/2011 14:04

I'm considering getting a cleaner to come in after I give birth in 4 weeks...just for perhaps 2 days a week (for maybe 2 hours a day). Obviously I would have just had a baby, and my ds (19 months) is home with me too...is it rude to be in the house while she/he cleans "around me"? I don't really want to be in the position of lifting my feet up for her/him to hoover underneath them, but at the same time I don't want to feel like I have to run upstairs while she/he is cleaning.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 01/11/2011 14:07

Not unreasonable. All you have to do is communicate with each other and use a little commonsense. If someone's washing the kitchen floor it's probably best not to be tramping around the kitchen, for example.

Original poster
HitTheRoadJack · 01/11/2011 14:09

Oh no, I wouldn't do that. I'm more aware that I might be "lounging" around while they clean and subconsciously creating a barrier oh some sort.

I'm so sleep deprived, sorry if I don't make sense.

OP posts:
merryberry · 01/11/2011 14:10

just specify the job and find someone who wants to to do it on your terms. we did. I prefer to be out and about when they are in, usually do something useful or enjoyable during the time (1500-1800) like go out for kids tea, libraries, clubs etc. if we have to be in when ours are in, we do make the effort to move rooms around them (two cleaners at a time) so that they can do their job most efficiently. but then they've been with us for 6 years now and we all seem quite fond of each other, particularly on the cleaners/kids axis.

IneedAbetterNickname · 01/11/2011 14:13

YANBU we were alway in when my friends cleaner came (technically her parents as we were teens) The cleaner would normally ask us if we minded going into a different room while she 'q-vivk q-vicked' the room we were in!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 01/11/2011 14:15

If it's your job to clean a house, you don't expect your employer to be running themselves ragged tidying up ahead of you. You won't be seen as 'lazy Lady Muck' if that's your fear :) Just stay out of their way and let them get on with their job. That said, it's nice to make some conversation, offer a drink etc. It would be pretty rude to lounge and not even acknowledge them.

Original poster
HitTheRoadJack · 01/11/2011 14:26

Oh no, I shall acknowledge them and offer a cuppa! I just hopefully will be with my baby enjoying the first few months. Dh will be away working so it's really just to keep things a float. I suppose it's only for 2 hours, could always go upstairs for a nap or a bath to steer clear.

OP posts:
QueenVictoria42 · 01/11/2011 14:42

I'm a cleaner and whilst I do prefer cleaning whilst the occupants are out (means I can plug in the Ipod and get on with things uninterrupted without having to change my routine for that particular house), I don't mind the owners being there. If they are going to be at home we have a quick chat at the start, I tell them my planned route through the house, and I may swap a few things around if they are going to need to use a particular room - perhaps the kitchen to cook dinner etc or bathroom. My clients either stay out or vacate a room I'm about to clean, and I repay the courtesy by telling them when I am finished in there so they can return if they wish.
Agree with the Lady Muck comment - I don't view clients as that at all - all of mine are lovely and treat me as an equal, plus they value the work I do which is a great sign of respect! Offer tea/coffee and water, some conversation is nice but don't feel like you have to hang around - I prefer to chat more at the end when i am finished.

Original poster
HitTheRoadJack · 01/11/2011 14:52

Thanks for that Queen.

I'm not really too "chatty" least of all when I have a child hanging from my breast! I just don't want to come across and unresponsive and rude.

Is it normal to pay weekly or monthly?

OP posts:
whatdoiknowanyway · 01/11/2011 15:03

My cleaner is working away in the kitchen now whilst I work (and 5 min MN break!) in the office. She cleans the office whilst I have lunch. She's great. We chat but not much as we both have our jobs to do but we make each other cups of tea.

Towndon · 01/11/2011 15:11

YANBU. The cleaner is paid to do a job, whether you're in or not. Would you have the same concerns about being in, if you were paying a man for upkeep on your house (window cleaner, plumber, electrician)?

addictediam · 01/11/2011 15:15

I tried to find a cleaner to do this a while back, but no one who had spaces were willing to clean while I was here especially as its only a 3 bed house. (its not possible for me to always be out)

So although the cleaners are out there, they are not always easy to find!

QueenVictoria42 · 01/11/2011 17:29

All my clients pay me per visit either by leaving it somewhere for me to collect or directly before I leave. I prefer it that way as there is no confusion. I would just ask your cleaner what she would prefer.

She won't think you are unresponsive and rude - just show her where the cleaning stuff is (unless she is bringing her own), offer her tea etc and then just say something like 'i'll just be upstairs or in X room feeding LO if you need me' and leave it at that. It'll be fine.

sugarandspiceandallthingsnice · 01/11/2011 17:44

My friend has just had her 2nd baby and all 3 of them are in when the cleaner comes. No problems there, in fact her eldest has a mini cleaning set as he likes to 'help!' She thought it would be odd at first to be there, but soon found it fine.
All friends who have cleaners pay per visit.

hifi · 01/11/2011 18:07

theres sometimes 4 of us.our cleaner starts in bedrooms/bathrooms,we have breakfast,by time she comes down to the kitchen it usually 2 hours later. we justmove around her.we pay her monthly. she also has dd while i go to the gym.

ThePerfectFather · 01/11/2011 18:53

Honestly, they'll probably be glad of someone to chat with. Cleaning can be a lonely job alongside being a boring and tedious one. I've had loads of cleaners over the years and although you might feel a little Lordly at first, you'll soon be brought down to Earth if, like me, your cleaner points out the disgusting mess under the sofa or how dirty your mirror is.

Original poster
HitTheRoadJack · 01/11/2011 19:16

Ok, great. I'll get an ad in.

Anyone have a rough estimation of pay?

OP posts:
merryberry · 02/11/2011 10:40

I pay £11 an hour. Central London, including ironing and good support re: telling me what's broken, what could be fixed how, what we're running out of. Two weeks paid holiday year, plus at least 2 weeks where the head lady sends replacement when she's out of the country. A weeks pay bonus for Xmas and a bottle of spirits from us and chocs from the boy. She also gets first pick of things we're recycling/getting shot of.

merryberry · 02/11/2011 10:40

£11 per hour per person. £66 a week.

merryberry · 02/11/2011 10:41

and yes she babysits sometimes, for less, but we do that as fixed fee depending how long we're out for.

ZZZenAgain · 02/11/2011 10:42

if I was sitting in a room and she came in to clean it, I would go into a different room until she has finished. No big deal

PopcornMouse · 02/11/2011 11:02

I pay £10.50 an hour, but I understand £2.50 of that goes to her agency (not in London)

I'm home when our cleaner's here, but tucked away upstairs in my home office (which she doesn't clean because it's sooooo untidy)

handbagCrab · 02/11/2011 11:49

I'm in loads when our cleaner comes, I just put my feet up when she hoovers :) don't worry, we have a chat and she doesn't make me feel awkward at all. And she's going to come whilst I'm on maternity leave and I refuse to feel guilty about it! If you're in Manchester I'd highly recommend her, she's ace!

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