To ask what I should do - think my cleaner is stealing....

[32notout]

I have a 2 year old and a 3 year old and work 4 long days a week. Have been massively struggling to keep on top of the housework and so 6 weeks ago, I hired a cleaner to do 2 hours per week for £10 ph. Unfortunately I think she is stealing from us

About a month ago, a bottle of non bio washing liquid went missing. I thought at first that I had mislaid it, or that I was going mad, so didn't think anything more of it. However, she came yesterday and another bottle has gone. She doesn't do any washing for us so would have no legitimate reason to take it. I think some toilet rolls have gone too.

It's not high value stuff but obviously I don't want someone in the house who is taking things we have paid for. So what should I do? I need to get my keys back ASAP, but how should I ask her?

Perhaps give her notice and say you can't afford a cleaner any more? Even if you get the keys back there is nothing having stopped her getting them copied I'm afraid.

Get the keys back and say you don't need a cleaner any more and are going to do it yourself.
Where did you get her from?Did she have any references?Does she clean for anyone else you know?
I wouldn't confront her,if you can't trust her just don't have her back.

As above, but also change the locks

Does she speak good English? I ask as I wondered where all my spray starch was going...I then caught the cleaner using it to clean the kitchen cupboards!! Could she be using it as loo cleaner....

I find it very hard to believe that if she wanted to steal from you that of all things she would have chosen detergent!

Well you only had her for 6 weeks so just find a new one - £10 an hour is a lot for a cleaner so should get someone honest for that.

But yes do ask - ie I just bought a new bottle of x and now I can't find it anywhere - I assume you tidied it away - do you remember to where - that way not accusing her of stealing but at the same time she knows you notice.

I had same experience as Jendot. My cleaner couldn't figure out which product was for what. Maybe she uses the detergent to do everything and she has just used it all up.

My mum who is scrupulously clean uses washing up liquid to clean everything.

i charge 12 pounds an hour so ten pounds is not a lot for a cleaner.
the cleaning companies local to me can charge up to twenty pounds an hour!

She probably uses loo roll to wipe surfaces, my cleaner probably gets through a whole roll each cleaning session.

£10-£12 an hour? I presume these prices are London based?!

yep.im just south of London.
but considering some of the things ive had to clear up in my three years of cleaning that's cheap.

I would ask her. Surely if she had just used it up there would be an empty bottle. If it seems that she has been stealing, ask for the keys back and send her on her way. In person though which i guess might mean a day off.