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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...to be weary/worried of getting a cleaner?

21 replies

LizziePizzie · 06/02/2012 15:52

I have resisted getting a cleaner for so many years for a couple of reasons. One of them being that I am worried about giving a stranger a set of keys to my house. The other is that I am house proud, and like to do everything myself, but I am back at work 3 days a week, with a 20 month old DD who I want to give my attention to, rather than clean when I am home with her.

My DH won't do any house work so we have decided to get a cleaner, but I am not 100% happy with the idea. I know it will be upto me to pay for, organise and then deal with any problems.

Am I being overly paranoid and silly, or is getting a cleaner just a sign of the times and I should just get over it and appreciate that I CAN get a cleaner?

OP posts:

GypsyMoth · 06/02/2012 15:53

Why is the cleaner your 'job'?
Why is your DH getting away with domestic chores?

valiumredhead · 06/02/2012 15:55

If you are worried about someone having a key - what about using a key safe?

NorksAkimbo · 06/02/2012 15:58

We have a cleaner, and as long as you've met the person and they have good, recent references, then you shouldn't worry.

I'd be more concerned about your DH not doing anything? :)

Mrstryingtohaveitall · 06/02/2012 15:58

LizziePizzie please please please take great care if you decide to go ahead. I employed a cleaner through an agency for about 9 months last year and although she was 'vetted' by the agency I found out at Christmas that she had been stealing from me. Unfortunately the evidence is circumstancial (spelling??) and although the police encouraged me to press charges in the end I choose not to for a variety of reasons - mainly as I wanted to put the whole thing behind me.

Please be careful about who you let into your house. You are putting a huge amount of trust into essentially a complete stranger. The whole experience has put me off ever using one again. My situation sounds very similar to yours. I now keep on top of my housework on a daily basis (even on work days) and I've found a little every day is more manageable than leaving it to the weekends or days off. It's still a struggle but it gives me peace of mind.

Good luck

NorksAkimbo · 06/02/2012 15:59

A key safe is a great idea! It depends on who your cleaner is really...mine is really local and our children are in the same class at school, so unless she flees in the middle of the night, I know where to find her!

usualsuspect · 06/02/2012 16:00

I would think the vast majority of cleaners are honest people , and you need to have a word with your DH tbh

Glittertwins · 06/02/2012 16:00

I guess it depends how you view it really. We've been burnt a couple of times though. The first time, they forgot to lock the front door on numerous occasions. Luckily it's fapping hard to open without they key however it is possible. The second time I really had a failure in judging a potential issue. For the first few weeks, everything was fine. Then things were simply not cleaned. I purposely left the shower tray a bit grimy to see if it would get done and it wasn't, along with a lot more. Virtually no hoovering was done, she was rude and said that she cleaned "to hotel standards" and that we would have to pay more for specialist pet fur removing despite her knowing well and seeing our cats before we agreed. Anyway, she refused to return our keys when we had enough and cancelled her. We had to file a police report and change our locks for insurance.
We found a fab replacement and we drew up a contract in writing which she has kept to, no issue at all.

mumbaisapphire · 06/02/2012 16:01

Why don't you arrange for the cleaner to clean whilst you are home? Then you don't have to worry about giving them a set of keys. You could at least do that for the first few times until you build up some trust. I began cleaning for a client a few months back, and for the first few visits they were at work, but the agreement was that I posted the key back through the door once I'd locked up. I now have a set as they trust me (and rightly so!) but I was not offended in the slightest. Also, if you are as house proud as you say you are, it sounds like a good idea to be present, so you can answer any questions or address any issues there and then.
I won't even get onto the subject of why paying for a cleaner is YOUR job!

SardineQueen · 06/02/2012 16:02

You could just ask the cleaner to come when you are there then you don't need to worry about keys? Never had a cleaner myself but I know lots of people who do and they are often beavering around while the householder is there.

PS It's wary, not weary sorry to bring it up but I couldn't help it. Weary means tired

Anchorwoman · 06/02/2012 16:02

Go with a company rather than an individual if you are nervous. Then you'll have a contract, they will have insurance, any problems you are covered and so are they.

I would give up (and have) an awful lot before I'd go without some help now, although we found someone through a friend and she is worth her weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. Holiday overseas once a year v cleaner every week? Easy choice for my money.

needinstructions · 06/02/2012 16:13

Opposite advice - go with a recommendation from a friend/neighbour, not an agency. Agency cleaners (IME) care far less about doing a good job as they're not relying on word of mouth to get work and maybe it doesn't seem as personal. We had a couple of shocking experiences with agency cleaners damaging things beyond repair and not cleaning properly before we got a lovely lady recommended through friends. We met her before she started working for us and went with my gut instinct on trusting her with keys. She now feels like part of the family and has babysat on occasion too.

I would second those who say that it's wonderful to get help round the house. I wasn't keen on the idea originally but it is such a luxury and I'm very grateful we can afford a cleaner!

Malificence · 06/02/2012 16:20

You don't need a cleaner, you just need a partner who respects you enough to do his fair share of housework.

HazleNutt · 06/02/2012 16:31

I love my our cleaner. Never had any issues, although we've had several cleaners over the years. If I even suspected that they might be stealing, they would not be asked to come back.

We both with DH are very houseproud, meaning we like a clean house - and like it even more that we don't have to do so much to keep it that way. We both work, so no time or energy for any major cleaning in the evenings anyway - and it's such a luxury to spend weekends doing whatever you want and not scrubbing the bathroom.

Original poster

LizziePizzie · 06/02/2012 16:33

To all those who said I need to have words with DH - that is a WHOLE other thread!

SardineQueen - Can I plead typo rather than being a spelling idiot? :o

Thanks for the advice - I have a card for a local cleaner that came through the door. I will meet with her, check her out (vibe wise and with references), draw up a contract and then go with being around for the first couple of weeks and see how we go.

OP posts:

SardineQueen · 06/02/2012 18:39

Good luck with it

I don't see that you can go far wrong TBH!

RevoltingPeasant · 06/02/2012 19:02

Lizzie I'd see if you can get someone you know.

My last cleaner was someone who already worked for my mum. My mum runs her business out of her home so was always there - we had the cleaner come whilst we were at work, but she had already been 'vetted' iyswim and also, she had an investment in being honest as she would lose at least two customers if anything went wrong -a nd plus, she really was honest!

My current cleaner is someone who used to work at the office, and then retired but still wants to do bits and bats to supplement her pension. She is also employed by a colleague, so same kind of situation.

Rather than going with the card thru the door, do you know anyone with a cleaner who would recommend them?

mamhaf · 06/02/2012 19:19

I agree with the idea that it's best if he or she cleans while you're there too. We've had many cleaners over the years, and varying experiences.

We had items stolen when it was a team if agency cleaners, so I would advise an individual whose references you can check.. you don't notice immediately if something goes missing, and by the time you do, it's too late to do anything, or have an individual investigated by the police if different people have been in your home.

A common theme is also that you pay someone for a certain number of hours and they do that to begin with, but then start leaving early or cutting corners - our present cleaner, I am certain, does this - the standard is much better when one of us is at home. If you're a fussy bugger like I am houseproud, this might start to irk.

My other tip would be to be very specific about what you want the cleaner to do, praise him or her for doing a good job, and pick her up on things you want done differently or which could be improved... it is something you will need to manage and there is probably stuff he or she won't do as well as you would like, but decide what the priorities are and either change the cleaner or live with it.

DreamingOfPeace · 06/02/2012 19:21

Today was my first day of having a cleaner. She was recommended by a neighbour, although in the end its her friend/ colleague who is doing our house as she couldn't do a suitable day for us. I rang and checked her (colleagues) reference for peace of mind, and it was great, plus today she brought a written reference from a company she used to clean for. A nice polish lady. Maybe a few language issues but she's lovely. As my nearly 17 month old dd is terrified of the vacuum I went out to leave her to it. She posted keys back through the door as instructed. Lovely to come home to a clean house :-)

I would agree and say a recommendation is best, check the reference and don't give a key unless you're happy.

Incidentally I don't have thus ladys contact details personally, just those of her friend which I've just realized, but I know she lives in our small village so just hoping it continues to work out ok.

Also I'm houseproud. There were a couple of little things I'll mention to her but overall I'm happy so far.

Good luck!

ScarfOfSexualPreference · 06/02/2012 19:55

It's really funny, I could never trust anyone enough togive them my keys or anything- yet I'm a nanny! In a previous job I started and the family had a cleaner who'd been there a few weeks yet I had to let her in and be there. I was a complete stranger who was handed the keys to the house and complete sole charge care of their children yet they knew the cleaner longer and I still had to be there! I think because I was CRB but that isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

Pixieonthemoor · 06/02/2012 20:02

Ask your friends who have cleaners if they like theirs and, if so, does that person have any spare time for you. That is how I have always found really good cleaners. Personal recommendations that someone is trustworthy and good at their job from someone YOU trust is def the best way to go!

Deflatedballoonbelly · 06/02/2012 20:12

Where are you? Maybe have a good old google and always get refs. Im a cleaner and Im lovely and very trustworthy! Hehe!

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