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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To set some traps for the cleaner?

204 replies

Dothetwist · 05/11/2015 21:20

Not thinking the wire abd bucket kind...

I have never had an experience with a cleaner before, she starts tomorrow morning

I was wondering how people manage to gain trust in someone coming in to their house, I've given her a key and asked it to be posted back through each time..

Wibu to set some little traps? Like a dirt patch somewhere i would expect to be cleaned or a £10er somewhere?

OP posts:
kippersmum · 05/11/2015 21:49

I used to work as a cleaner. I hated it when clients left cash lying around. I was so worried they would think I might steal it. I tidied it up & left it somewhere obvious.

Original poster
Dothetwist · 05/11/2015 21:49

Ffs.... Talking crumbs in a few places over the first few times she attends to gauge whethet it is worth the money i am having to pay out

It's hardly filming her or having her searched on leaving.

If you read alllll of my posts instead of just picking out what you can get your fingers on fire for you will clearly see I'm not being horrible.

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 05/11/2015 21:50

Why on earth would someone have a clear DBS, work hard to set themselves up in business and throw that away by committing petty theft?

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 05/11/2015 21:51

It's hardly filming her or having her searched on leaving.

But you know your house needs cleaning right?

Because it gets dusty right?

So if the dust is gone after the cleaner has been......

D'you see how that works OP - t'ain't rocket science.........

EssentialHummus · 05/11/2015 21:51

Just let her get on with her job FFS.

You'll come home and be able to evaluate pretty quickly whether she's done a thorough job or not.

Also, be prepared to give feedback. I had a cleaner who rearranged my bookshelf - told her not to bother but could she please do X and Y instead.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 05/11/2015 21:51

And the vitriol is because some people abhor twattish behaviour.....

ilovesooty · 05/11/2015 21:52

I have read all of your posts and I still think your attitude is horrible.

Original poster
Dothetwist · 05/11/2015 21:52

wiggles that's a good point about it tainting your view of them, i think from hearing some positive input from other cleaners it makes me think from the other side of things. It's quite vulnerable working alone also.

OP posts:
TPel · 05/11/2015 21:53

I'm not sure you should have a cleaner TBH.

Your posts really don't sit well. I have had cleaners over the years - good and less so- but haven't ever felt compelled to ever consider testing them in any way.

Ironmanrocks · 05/11/2015 21:54

Hmmm I've just employed a cleaner for the first time in my life. I have a small child and a dog and have gone back to work full time so have indulged in 2 hours a week help. I haven't had the time or the energy to even think about setting traps! Why would you? I'm so grateful to come home to a clean kitchen and hoovered and mopped floors so I can help my boy with his homework while the tea cooks. I don't care if it's not perfect (which it generally is) I care that my house was cleaner than I left it and that it smells nice when I walk in the door...Maybe just enjoy the fact that you have a cleaner and be grateful?

Original poster
Dothetwist · 05/11/2015 21:55

I've left a note with her money on the table... Telling her to help herself to tea / coffee or juice whilst she's here.

No 'traps'

Thank you for all of the positive contributions

OP posts:
Original poster
Dothetwist · 05/11/2015 21:56

ironman most definitely i will enjoy it, and the thought of not spending my whole weekend cleaning i will be able to spend time with the dc instead which will be nice.

OP posts:
Doilooklikeatourist · 05/11/2015 21:59

My cleaner can't see cobwebs and doesn't do skirting boards , But she hoovers , irons, makes beds and dusts to my satisfaction
However she is one of the nicest people I have ever met , and I would trust her with my life
Set a trap ?
No

LyndaNotLinda · 05/11/2015 21:59

Do you have a car/go to the vet/go to the doctor? Do you assume anyone that services your car/pet/you knows what they're doing or do you set them little traps? And if not, why not?

namelessposter · 05/11/2015 22:00

I've employed many cleaners over 15 years. Never done this. Do more security checks and take better references before giving out a key. Then be sensible about leaving valuables out loose (in case
of random house-breaking burgulars!) and treat your cleaner with the mutual respect you expect from her/him.

gladisgood · 05/11/2015 22:00

I don't think setting "dirt traps" or suchlike will do anything productive.
A good, decent and professional cleaner will find it and be justifiably pissed off.

A shitty cleaner by definition wouldn't find it - and you could probably tell that if their standards are not high enough for you by, well ...looking... after they have cleaned. So basically, all you might achieve by setting traps is annoying the cleaner you really, really want ?

Having said that, we have been caught out by the ingenuity of dishonest cleaners - we now have an extraordinary amount of empty DVD cases in our collection.

CakeMountain · 05/11/2015 22:01

OP, if you are going through a tough time, I think you need to go with the flow. If she leaves a few crumbs it is probably worth it in the bigger picture? Is this your 'bad time' talking?

DanglyEarrings · 05/11/2015 22:01

As a growing cleaning service with staff we attend over 70 regular clients and we have never had this issue arise, we are all trusted and valued by our clients, we do a good job and they genuinely have need for our services, rather than play games to 'catch us out' they recognise our hard work. If we miss an item (because we are humans - not because we tried to trick them in any way) they can speak to me and I will let the cleaner know to get it for them next time. Adult communication is what it takes not silly tricks.

It's easy to see if a cleaner has done a good job and unless you've paid for a deep clean (ie all day) you cannot expect every single item done each time, some things must be done within the cleaners work systems and rotations if you are only paying for general regular maintenance cleans, otherwise you couldn't/wouldn't afford to pay for all the hours it would take to touch every single surface every single time. Just see for yourself if you like her service or not and if not take your custom elsewhere, don't play games with her, good cleaning is hard work and this needs due consideration.

My advice instead would be NEVER hire a person you cannot trust into your home in the first place instead of messing around with them once they are there and 'under suspicion'. That situation can only lead to dissatisfaction for both parties, I would say it's very 'off' and we wouldn't keep a client who did this, it sounds devaluing.

Mehitabel6 · 05/11/2015 22:05

If I was the cleaner I would refuse to work for someone who I suspected of setting traps to see if I was lazy and dishonest.
Don't you trust your own judgement? Why hire her if you think you can't trust her? Hmm

FunnysInLaJardin · 05/11/2015 22:09

I'm with usual and many others on this and so glad that you have seen sense. Lets hope she passes muster otherwise you will be back to square on OP

murmuration · 05/11/2015 22:14

Hope you're enjoying your clean house OP!

I must say I'm agog at the whole idea. And really surprised at the cleaners who report they've noticed it happen to them! First got a cleaner when too ill to clean, and have had few since then. I'm mostly just thrilled that someone else is cleaning. Even quite happy to put up with having to search all over my kitchen for items the last fellow sometimes randomly put away :)

LaContessaDiPlump · 05/11/2015 22:17

I think I'd simply note a filthy area of my house that needed attention and note if it was cleaned when I got back. I wouldn't be expecting a beautiful sparkly home, just a clean one.

Deliberate traps around cleaning aren't necessary but I can see how trust tests around money may reassure some people. I'd probably hide anything particularly dear to me (in any sense) until trust was established because, basically, it's a person you don't know well who has free rein in your home. To me it's common sense to protect yourself for a while.

TheChocolateDidIt · 05/11/2015 22:19

We got a camera that sent an email when someone walks past it and it's aimed at the door. We told the cleaner. It was an extra security measure as we were hardly ever in during the week. She did not mind and we were able to see that she arrived and left at the times she was booked for. Never left a cleaning trap! DH leaves piles of change on his bedside locker ALL THE TIME. Must really piss the cleaner off now I look at this thread! We live somewhere else now and cleaner has enough to put up with with one of my dogs nicking her shoe and the other one shouting at her intermittently (deaf dog) and our general untidiness!

laundryeverywhere · 05/11/2015 22:23

I always joke my fil home is a testing ground for the honesty of his carers as he always leaves little piles of money lying about. It's not on purpose though!

NotMeNotYouNotAnyone · 05/11/2015 22:23

Yabu

You have no reason not to trust her, you should give her a chance before you even consider trying to catch her out.

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