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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To expect my cleaner to manage more than this...

87 replies

pamplem0usse · 28/06/2016 10:57

£10 /hr in two hours she's managed the following in an average sized 3 bed 1930a house: cleaned the bathroom, hoovered three beds, stairs and landing, swept and mopped the kitchen floor. I'd tidied in advance so it wasn't like she had to move anything. And we're not slatterns!!
She's been cleaning for us for a while but DH usually sorts. Now I'm on maternity leave......

OP posts:

SaveSomeSpendSome · 28/06/2016 12:27

I hate cleaning and doing shitty jobs.

Although i do alittle cleaning each day like hoover and mop daily and do 3 hours ironing a week but i do nothing like a full house clean each week like my cleaner does.

Im a firm believer that money is there to make your life easier. Obviously if i couldnt afford people to do these things i would have to do them myself

MarkRuffaloCrumble · 28/06/2016 12:30

It doesn't sound like a lot!

I used to be a cleaner and could do a 4 bed house in two hours: clean (thoroughly!) main bathroom, en suite and WC, dust all surfaces, hoover upstairs, stairs and downstairs, mop bathrooms and downstairs floors, wipe down kitchen surfaces and table. Sometimes if I had 10 mins spare I would also bring in washing from the line or hang out.

My cleaner now does most of the above. When she was on holiday I had a replacement. The first week she dusted downstairs, hoovered downstairs and mopped downstairs - nothing upstairs! The following week the opposite, hoovered upstairs and cleaned the bathrooms (although not particularly to a higher standard than my usual lovely cleaner) and didn't hoover stairs or do anything downstairs.

My usual lady is a real gem, she works so fast, but she is just one of those energetic hyper people who obviously enjoys what she does!

petitpois55 · 28/06/2016 12:33

Maybe you should give her certain jobs and time her. You could get a stop watch and stand over her while she's doing it. What are you doing all day that you have to hire a cleaner?

londonrach · 28/06/2016 12:39

No cleaner ever but shocked people suggesting op cleans instead of cleaner as shes on maternity leave. Im strugglely to bend now and although im on maternity leave said id only clean tops of surfaces, toilets etc. Nothing requiring bending. No way would i vacuum. My mil is amazing and has picked up those tasks whilst ordering me to sit down! (I love her, would like to clean the bottom cupboard but cant get down there so going to ask if she can do it). Dh has been amazing picking up stuff, running up stairs etc when i cant. Cant wait till im bump free and can return to what i used to do. (Ive been in and out of hospital with problems and ordered to be careful). If i could afford a cleaner maternity leave is the time id use one (and first weeks).

EachandEveryone · 28/06/2016 12:40

Ive got a flat and never ask her to do the bedrooms and although shes food she does things lime hoover and dust the living but completly ignore the coffee table in the middle of the room i tried leaving her a list but she ignores it.

Sonotkylie · 28/06/2016 12:41

If she does a good job at what she does then she's doing fine. If she is leaving things half done, then she isn't (yes ex cleaner I am looking at you and never NEVER cleaning the sink at all and covering furniture in so much polish I had to get some stripped back, oh, and only using loo roll to clean the bathrooms despite repeated requests to use the washable cloths provided). I would think twice about getting rid of her if that was what you were thinking, because once the baby is born (assuming it isn't yet), then anything is better than doing it yourself. Unless there are cleaners growing on trees near you.

MauledbytheTigers · 28/06/2016 12:43

The attitudes to the OP are way over the top. The OP is entitled to spend her money how she wants, she doesn't need to justify to anyone the reasons she doesn't clean.

The cleaner is providing a service, she isn't doing it out of the goodness of her heart...she is getting paid. I don't have a cleaner myself so can't compare on what a cleaner would normally do in 2 hours, but the OP is allowed to consider if she's getting value for money, as we all are, with anything we pay for.

MargotLovedTom · 28/06/2016 12:45

DPotter well, I can certainly do our stairs, landing and three bedrooms in 15 minutes! Pulling out the cord and winding it back? Are you kidding now? That takes seconds! And as for the prep and tidying up time, well the OP said the place was tidy in advance, and running hot water into a bucket hardly takes forever.

SaveSomeSpendSome · 28/06/2016 12:47

For people saying do it yourself or what are you doing that you need a cleaner for then think about this scenario as its just the same....

You work for a company and are pulled into the office by the manager who employed you who tells you that your not pulling your weight etc.

Would you say to the manager well what are you doing all day that means you cant do my job too? Why are you paying me to do something that you can do yourself?

No you wouldnt say that, it wouldnt even enter your head to think that.

babyboomersrock · 28/06/2016 12:47

What are you doing all day that you have to hire a cleaner?

That's none of your business (nor mine). Honestly, what's wrong with people? Would you say the same if the OP hired a painter or joiner?

MargotLovedTom · 28/06/2016 12:48

I was comparing how long it would take me to do those tasks, and also remembering what our cleaner (when I had one) used to get through in two hours in our three bedroom semi. It was much more than the OP's cleaner.

user1465823522 · 28/06/2016 12:49

SaveSomeSpendSome

our cleaner doesn't iron or wash clothes either. Nor does she deal with the cat's litter trays (we have 6 cats) or deal with anything regarding our chickens (four hens urban hipsters, i hang my head in shame)

MauledbytheTigers · 28/06/2016 12:50

petitpois55 your comment is particularly offensive. Forgot us women had nothing better to do than clean all day.

If the OP wants to spend her money that way, good luck to her. You have no idea what sacrifices she makes to afford to pay the cleaner...may be she chooses this as a luxury where others choose nights out etc.

I have a decorator here today. Yes I could paint myself but I choose not to because I'm lazy and would prefer to spend my money on things that make my life easier. Now I'm not standing over the guy with a stop watch, but if at the end of the day he's painted less than I would expect, god forbid, I may ask others their opinion on what they'd expect done within that time.

SquidgeyMidgey · 28/06/2016 13:01

I hate cleaning and doing shitty jobs.
I don't mind it but I could do with the time. My dog would eat anyone who let themselves in when we're out though, and I don't want someone in my home when I'm here!

CheesyWeez · 28/06/2016 13:02

In my previous town I had a cleaner come, she would come with one or two assistants and all their own equipment. They had a system where they worked together. They were so fast! 2 bathrooms cleaned, 4 bedrooms hoovered, stairs hoovered, downstairs hoovered and mopped, kitchen wiped over (weirdly they never did the kitchen thoroughly, but that was okay DH used to do it)
I work at home and we are useless at housework so we paid someone else to do most of it. These were so fast I'd go out to get DS from school at 3pm, be back at 3.45 and they'd have been and gone while I was out, on the days there were three of them.
It is so lovely to come in to a fresh smelling and sparkly house "OMG they've already been!"

PoisonousSmurf · 28/06/2016 13:02

I'm a self employed cleaner and work in five different houses. Most are three beds and I find that it takes me three hours to do a thorough job.
I never stop moving, never have time to even have a drink of water and yet sometimes I go over the three hours because my client decides to add something extra. But I don't complain, I do it.
What I can't stand is when the client is at home, getting under my feet and messing up my 'system', and then complains that I'm taking too long!
I'd rather do a GOOD job than a RUSHED job.
I'll tell you what, since becoming a cleaner I've never felt so fit!

petitpois55 · 28/06/2016 13:03

Maud Offensive you say. Don't be silly. It would take an hour or so a day day tops to keep on top of housework.
Why would you have to spend al day cleaning. Does the OP live in a mansion?

petitpois55 · 28/06/2016 13:05

I hate cleaning and doing shitty jobs Wow, aren't you nice.

CheesyWeez · 28/06/2016 13:06

You're right Mauled a weekly cleaner costs less than a meal out.
If your house is lovely and clean it's nice to stay in and eat your own food so I think we ended up saving money actually
Haha that's my logic and I'm sticking to it

WellErrr · 28/06/2016 13:08

petitpois why do have a problem with people having cleaners? Or is it a woman thing? Would you think a single man would be reasonable having a cleaner?

I don't like washing my car, so I pay someone else to do it. Is that bad too?

serin · 28/06/2016 13:09

Can't understand why anyone would judge someone else for having a cleaner. If you have money it's up to you how you spend it and by employing a cleaner they are helping the economy go round.

I have no idea how much they should do in an hour though.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 28/06/2016 13:12

This thread is weird. Nothing wrong with having a cleaner if you can afford it. I'm on Mat leave with 2 under 2 and will keep my cleaner on this year. I'm hardly swanning about eating bonbons (though no one's business if I was). I still expect her to do a good job, ffs.

For the record, ours does everything yours does plus cleans kitchen and empties bins. She also irons 5 shirts. I suggested 2.5h but she does it in 2h @£10ph. She is a bit rushed so dusting etc isn't thorough but I accept that for the good price.

FeckinCrutches · 28/06/2016 13:13

Petitpois I don't work and have a cleaner, I hate doing it, so I can't see the problem.

OP if she's not cleaning the kitchen that's pretty slow. My cleaner is here three hours and never stops, she's like a rocket

cleans bathroom/shower room/downstairs toilet
straightens up/dusts/hoovers bedrooms X 5
dusts/hoovers office
hoovers/dusts all of downstairs
cleans kitchen
steam mops wooden floors

Lweji · 28/06/2016 13:13

petitpois55

It's not for you to decide what the OP spends her money on or what is right for her.

NewLife4Me · 28/06/2016 13:19

I think it's interesting to see how many people have cleaners tbh.
I don't think there was any judgement.

It's up to the individual how they spend their money and £20 a week if you can afford it is no big deal, if you don't like doing domestic chores.

I could never have a cleaner as wouldn't want somebody else in my house, or have to spend ages tidying up before they came to clean.
I think my home would become sterile and boring looking, but each to their own.

I save the money and just make sure that everyone in the home does their own bit, then we don't need to clean so often.

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