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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to 'clean' for the cleaner?

21 replies

RevoltingPeasant · 01/12/2011 18:30

...Because DP thinks I am a total freak for doing this.

I don't actually clean the house, but I tidy. Sweep crumbs off kitchen counter, put away stray bills and mags, pick up laundry, straighten bed, etc. My logic is that I want her to clean not tidy. I also do all the dishes before she comes because I want her to concentrate on stuff like mopping the floors and hoovering the furniture which I am too lazy don't have time to do.

DP pitches in the night before she comes but he obviously finds it completely weird and goes on about 'cleaning for the cleaner'. Surely this is common sense and totally normal???

OP posts:
33goingon64 · 01/12/2011 18:35

I tidy up, do any washing up and put away anything on the drainer. I don't wipe surfaces as I class that as cleaning therefore the cleaner's job. There's no sense in her wasting her time tidying. I always nag DH to pick his dirty clothes off the floor and take his gym bag down to the basement and he always rolls his eyes. yANBU.

valiumredhead · 01/12/2011 18:35

Yes tidy for her so she can clean properly. YANBU

chickydoo · 01/12/2011 18:37

Are you me???
My cleaner coming tomorrow, too tired to tidy up this evening, but must do it, or will regret it tomorrow.

bibbitybobbitybloodyaxe · 01/12/2011 18:37

Of course you tidy for the cleaner! Yanbu.

CandyCaner · 01/12/2011 18:38

Each to their own but I would not sweep before our cleaner comes. No way!

TattyDevine · 01/12/2011 18:38

Everyone does this. So they don't think you are a total skank. They probably hate you enough already, I reckon.

Mine wore my Ugg boots once while she cleaned the oven. Random share.

Whatmeworry · 01/12/2011 18:40

I had to educate DH on the difference between tidying and cleaning, so the cleaner could get more done for the time/money.

He got it, eventually....

Diamondwhite · 01/12/2011 18:48

I do this. Especially the toilets. Actually I sometimes wonder if it's worth the stress of rushing round before school run making sure it's all ok.

Alibabaandthe80nappies · 01/12/2011 18:54

I do this, because then she gets more cleaning done, but also it means that the house is perfect once she is finished.

MarshaBrady · 01/12/2011 18:58

I tidy everywhere so it looks... tidy.

It is an artful balance of neatness but not too clean so the cleaner can do a nice job. Luckily dh is exactly the same.

I also have to do it otherwise I won't find an important piece of paper for weeks.

woopsidaisy · 01/12/2011 18:58

I agree with Whatmeworry. There is a difference between tidying and cleaning.
I tidy up all the bits of crap that have been left lying about during the week...swimming goggles,comics etc. Then my cleaner can clean away. How would she know where I keep things?
I wouldn't sweep a floor though.
YANBU

MildlyNarkyPuffin · 01/12/2011 19:07

Did he not get the talk at school? 'Cleaners are there to clean not to tidy up your clutter.'

trixie123 · 01/12/2011 19:12

yes it makes sense up to a point but we have very quickly worked out a system where she puts everything in the hall in the downstairs cupboard and anything on the bedroom floors on the beds and we can sort it out. the only thing I really tidy away is DS's toys so she can hoover the living room. In the kitchen she will do odd bits of washing up and even empty the washing machine onto the airer if I ask her to.

QueenVictoria42 · 01/12/2011 19:39

I'm a cleaner, and I do think it is sensible to tidy away things because it means that surfaces/floors etc are clear for me to hoover/mop etc. However, don't bother sweeping away crumbs on counters because that is my job - and i wouldn't be offended if you left it that way. A small bit of washing up is also not a problem. I always say to clients that the tidier the house, the more I can do, but I am really not averse to picking up the odd piece of dirty laundry and tossing it in the linen basket - so long as the place isn't a complete tip! Please don't pre-clean the loos/sinks etc - ok it's not my favourite job, but it is what you pay me for! I knew someone once who used to hoover before her cleaner came around......she was so embarrassed by the state of her home (it was immaculate) and I could never understand why she did that, seemed to me a waste of money.

Original poster
RevoltingPeasant · 01/12/2011 21:29

Tatty how did you know?? Confused

OP posts:
Sarraburd · 01/12/2011 21:53

YANBU - yes, I do this - I would rather she clean as well as possible than waste time with tidal wave of toys and hide all my things (but do have designated places for her to put things just in case I've had a bad night with the kids and zombified/got to work early or whatever.

Also I do give the toilets a quick wipe round - not a proper clean, but indent see why she should have to actually clean DHbeinglazy's our shit Blush

Sarraburd · 01/12/2011 21:54

I don't, rather than indent. Bloody autocorrect

Sarraburd · 01/12/2011 21:55

And yes Tatty, how?!

PlinkertyPlonk · 01/12/2011 22:32

I always tidy before the cleaner arrives, otherwise I can never find anything for weeks afterwards because it will have ended up in some random cupboard. Plus I'm too tight to pay for her to tidy I don't think it's fair on the cleaner to have to wade through our belongings to do her job

Backtobedlam · 01/12/2011 22:35

YANBU-i agree if you don't tidy beforehand she'll spend all the time tidying up and not doing any cleaning. Our cleaner now is fab, but I had one before who actually stated when she started what she wouldn't do-this included picking up clothes, washing up, and tidying toys!

LadyEatsCrispsALot · 01/12/2011 23:24

I used to tidy but can't be bothered now as she does such a good job!

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