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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to expect cleaner to change hoover bag?

83 replies

Cutiecat · 12/12/2012 17:56

I have had this cleaner for 6 months and have in the past I have changed the bag inbetween visits but on a couple of occasions it has been full when she is here. When this has happened she has asked me to change it, which I have done and I have showed her how to do it. Yesterday I was in the middle of working (I work from home) and she came and asked me to do it. I asked in a cheery voice, that the bags were in the cupboard and could she do it. She did not reply and then went shortly after. I just go the hoover out to hoover up asmashed bauble (I know, why did I let DD aged 1 help decorate the tree) and bag was full to bursting. AIBU to think this is part of the job?

OP posts:

helpyourself · 12/12/2012 18:03

It is, but I happily do things like that, emptying the dishwasher, bringing mugs downstairs as I'd rather she spent the time I pay her for doing stuff I don't want to do.

Stuffingballs · 12/12/2012 18:05

You could have changed it,bit petty not too.

SoleSource · 12/12/2012 18:07

Is this a wind up?

Original poster

Cutiecat · 12/12/2012 18:10

I all the jobs like empty the dishwasher and bring mugs down. I just expect her to clean. I tidy before she comes so it is a straighforward 'cleaning' job.

I don't think I am being petty. I was working and I think it falls into the job of a cleaner but if you lot don't then I stand corrected.

OP posts:

ivykaty44 · 12/12/2012 18:12

No it is not her job to empty the hoover bag, she cleans that is her job. It is an electrical device and she is not paid to empty the elctirc device so she can use it.

Yika · 12/12/2012 18:15

I think it is definitely part of her job. I certainly expect my cleaner to do it, also take care of cleaning items like decalc the iron.

Original poster

Cutiecat · 12/12/2012 18:16

Well maybe I was wrong. It has never been a problem before, when I was out at work and my previous cleaner came in she would change it if it needed changing.

OP posts:

Yika · 12/12/2012 18:17

Ps I think it was very passive aggressive of her just to leave it undone when you'd asked her to do it. I would be really annoyed. YANBU.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 12/12/2012 18:18

I don't think yabu. She needs to Hoover to clean, so there is no reason why she shouldn't empty the bag.

Did she ask you to plug it in for her as well? Does she need you to uncurl the lead? She may as well ask you to undo the top on the bleach!

SantaWearsGreen · 12/12/2012 18:21

I think that counts as cleaning.. Its only like throwing the rubbish you have swept up in the bin. Yanbu at all, she should have done it- especially when asked!

HildaOgden · 12/12/2012 18:24

Agree with Yika,it's very passive aggressive to just leave it.There's some reason she is avoiding doing it (because she should do it,I think).Maybe she had a bad experience with a previous hoover bag and is too traumatised to go near one now ? doubtful,I think she is being petty and just wants to make you do it

JamieandtheMagiTorch · 12/12/2012 18:26

I think it's a very small thing to care that much about. I have a cleaner and she does change the hoover bag at times. But then I've also found it full at other times and changed it. No biggie

whois · 12/12/2012 18:26

I think she should do it. Very silly not to! What if she cleans for someone who doesn't ever do hoovering themselves and is at work while she is there.

JamieandtheMagiTorch · 12/12/2012 18:28

Presumably she asks you to do it because she's not confident to do it. Which is a bit unusual. Perhaps you could ask her why?

Original poster

Cutiecat · 12/12/2012 18:29

JamieandtheMagiTorch I said originally that i do change it inbetween her visits if it needs doing. It was more that I asked her and she blatantly ignored me. I think the other posters are right and it was passive aggressive.

OP posts:

MoomieAndFreddie · 12/12/2012 18:31

Actually I am a cleaner and need to ask you one thing.

Is it a Dyson??

Because an ex - client of mine has one and - call me thick - but i was fucked if i could figure out how to empty the damn thing

and tbh i was too embarassed to ask her so i used to just leave it

now am wondering if this is why she is an ex client.....

MrsDeVere · 12/12/2012 18:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elfbambinos · 12/12/2012 18:36

I suppose the question here is 'do you pay her to change the hoover bag'?

if you do then of course she should...........but if you don't then why would she ?

She is a professional women making her income as a cleaner , not a servant at your beck and call to do whatever you think are appropriate jobs

Agree what tasks should be done and agree an appropriate wage.

PartridgeInASpicyPearTree · 12/12/2012 18:37

Seems a but odd to me that she won't do it.Is it particularly tricky and she didn't understand when you showed her? My cleaner empties the Dyson, but she is the only person that ever uses it

KittyFane1 · 12/12/2012 18:39

I wouldn't change the bag if I were your cleaner. I would probably break the hoover in the process (not very good at things like that).
YABU and petty. How long did it take you to change it?

Meringue33 · 12/12/2012 18:43

Last Christmas our cleaner was off so I had to do the hoovering and realised she hadn't changed the bag for like a year! No wonder floors were not clean. We got a lovely new Dyson and showed her how to use it, all fine now. She has recently (without being asked) started emptying the bin which she never used to so, this makes me very happy.

AvonCallingBarksdale · 12/12/2012 18:43

Maybe she didn't get how to do it when you showed her and is now scared of breaking the hoover this has happened with my cleaner

AvonCallingBarksdale · 12/12/2012 18:43

(not sure why I've used a strikethrough there )

desertgirl · 12/12/2012 18:45

I would not expect her to interrupt your work to get you to change the hoover bag, I find it quite odd that people seem to think that's normal. Both of you are working; one of you is filling up the hoover which needs to be emptied; why would it be the other one who stops and empties it? and elf, how is it not part of cleaning? if she swept up, she would empty the dustpan, no?

If she doesn't feel she can do it despite being shown how, she ought to say so not just leave it full when asked to empty it.

Cosmostocupcakes · 12/12/2012 18:47

I would bring it up next time and ask her if she is not confident or comfortable - doesn't a cleaner clean? That involves anything from bin bags to loo's - would be rather irritated - surely she gets paid a fair wage to do normal household cleaning tasks?! YANBU
for what it is worth I know a few friends who are cleaners (quite well paid!) - I respect them absolutely - i would be very shocked if they didn't do this automatically!

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