How to raise "toilets not cleaned properly"?

[QTPie]

Hi

We have a good cleaner (well two people - they work as a team). They do a great job, generally, and am very happy. We have a large house and it is very well dusted and hoovered. The floors, sinks, baths and counters are clean.

HOWEVER, they don't seem "completely thorough" with the toilets (we have 4). Thought this, so have been very carefully monitoring it.

Basically, when I clean a toilet, you could probably lick it afterwards (not that you would want to, but you get the picture...).

The toilets are not "dirty" when the cleaners come: I don't clean them before the cleaners come, but I do wipe/bleach anything "obvious" (if that makes sense). However I would like the "non obvious" things completely obliterated by the cleaners.

This is terribly "English", but how on earth do I raise "please clean the toilets properly"?? I can raise other things, but feel really awkward raising the toilets... :(

Thanks

[BallsforEarings]

there is not their * (bah!)

[iniquity]

Maybe they find cleaning the toilets humiliating

[BallsforEarings]

Then why be cleaners? Good grief!! :-s

[Hatespiders]

If cleaners are humiliated by cleaning toilets, they need to find a different type of job. We wear rubber gloves and have overalls; it's actually very satisfying to get a place completely spotless and hygienic.

[iniquity]

I suppose some people become cleaners out of lack of choice.
If I was in that situation I might skip cleaning away the posh ladies pubes off the lid too.

[Hatespiders]

Iniquity We haven't as yet seen any posh ladies' pubes!

(Just the bloody groundsman's poo!!!)

[capsium]

Maybe they find cleaning the toilets humiliating

You see, I personally, would find it intrusive having someone clean for me. I'd be too self conscious to want to humiliate someone, but perhaps being overbearing and viewing staff as somehow inferior, could be a defensive over reaction against this self consciousness. I always felt like my parents were judging any mess or dirt in my home for a long time, I feel self conscious like this when we have tradesmen round. A cleaner, especially of my toilets, well I might have to out or hide!

[capsium]

Go out. Typo.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Humiliating to do their jobs?

That is very to me

[BallsforEarings]

It is not humiliating at all for cleaners and yes cleaners do have other choices but it's better pay than retail work and much more satisfying, if you like that sort of thing, most cleaners do love their jobs - that is the truth! You just have to want to make the clients happy with their home!

It's horses for courses - I hated office work, which is ironic because i have to run my own office now but that's different I don't mind it so much for our own business, all my cleaners love their jobs and rave about how much better it is than shop work or whatever they did previously! The feedback makes them feel really happy too!

[Hatespiders]

Well I was a teacher for 26 years ft, and believe me, in comparison cleaning is absolutely lovely and completely stress-free. I'm never happier than when I get that mop out and swish away, singing daft songs. My dh too is totally happy when he's scrubbing out the 4 showers in the barn and singing weird African chants.
The best bit is when we collect up our cleaning stuff, turn and have a final look-round and see a gleaming, fresh-smelling place. We feel really proud.

[BallsforEarings]

I agree Hatespiders - cleaning IS lovely!

[whatever5]

If they were doing a great job on the rest of the house I would just do the toilets myself.

My friend's cleaner of 30 years said right from the start that she doesn't clean toilets. My friend felt that was fair enough and I assume that other people feel the same way as the cleaner doesn't have any problems getting work.

[BallsforEarings]

Exactly whatever5, it is a simple transaction between cleaning operative and client, the terms of which are always negotiable, if that cleaner doesn't want to clean toilets she stated such from the start therefore nobody took issue.

I do think here the OP did expect the toilets to be included as is the norm in a cleaning service otherwise she would not have hired these particular cleaners as toilets are her priority! She would have hired cleaners who do include toilets, it is all about communication in the first instance!

[QTPie]

Thank you very much for the constructive and informed replies (I haven't read this thread for a couple of days and it seems to have exploded).

Despite having the - what some may consider - the audacity to employ a cleaner to clean for me, I am a very respectful, kind, friendly and well paying employer. Hence why I started this thread: I want to tackle the issue, but really don't want to cause offence to my cleaners - I respect and value them. They are not slaves or servants: they clean my house (including toilets) of their own free will. I also tidy up before the cleaners come and (as I have mentioned before) make sure there are no real "nasties" around. I do, however, draw the line at "scrubbing the toilets before the cleaners come" (that really would make me a but job...).

I will mention it, respectfully, this week. Possibly not a bad week to mention it. I always make sure they know that they are appreciated, but this week will also be giving Christmas bonus, presents etc. So it is a particularly appreciated time of year.

Thanks again (and for the laughs - "ie murdering the phantom poo-er and chucking him in the pond :) ).

[whatever5]

The big cleaning agency include toilet cleaning but I don't think it is that uncommon individual cleaners to not do them. Anyway, it sounds as if the toilets are included but they are just not cleaned to the extent OP would like. They should have said before if they don't want too much contact with toilets but perhaps she should also have mentioned that she has high standards when it comes to cleaning them so they could refuse the job.

As I said, I they did a really good job on the rest of the house I would clean the toilets myself.

[loveareadingthanks]

I would mention it.

If you are a cleaner, then you clean things properly.
I don't get people saying toilets etc are humiliating/their choice. If you went to a hotel room and the toilet was dirty as the cleaner didn't like cleaning them, is that ok? Or a shopping centre? Or a public toilet? Makes no difference that this is a domestic toilet.

OP, just tell them that you were expecting the toilet to be cleaned as part of the service, that includes using brush, cleaning the seat, the cystern, round the plinth etc. So will they be doing that in future (smile, head tilt), thank you.