What to expect from a cleaner

[broodymamma]

Is it too much to expect my cleaner to actually tidy my house. I have 5 kids the eldest being 8. They are very efficient at turning my house upside down. But up till now I have had a cleaner every day for at least 4 hours. If she finds a kids skipping rope say on the kitchen floor she will pick it up and put it on a chair and tuck chair in rather than find the appropriate place to put it. Worst still if she goes to the playroom to tidy and finds feltips with the lids off she will not replace the lids. She will gather the whole lot and toss them into the nearest toybox. She will often be met with a mixture of games of various sorts that have been played with but unfortunately not been put away. She will make no effort to tidy each game into the appropriate box but toss the whole lot in to whichever toy box is nearest. I guess that if this doesn't suit me I should look for a replacement cleaner. but just wondering if I am expecting too much and a replacement wouldn't be any better. I know my kids need to learn to tidy up after themselves and I am working on this.

[Oblomov16]

YABU. Everything you have asked a cleaner to do, in your OP, a cleaner shouldn't be doing.

get your kids to clean up and put the felt tip pens lids on, the skipping rope away. Then, when the cleaner comes, (probably only for 2 hours not 4) and then she can clean as she's supposed to.

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

In our cleaning company I always say to a prospective client at the time of the quote 'will the house be picked up before the cleaning service arrive' if they say yes or no, the answer will determine the price that can be set for the scope of the work involved.

As long as all the pick up involved is discussed at the time she is walking through your home setting the price then all is fair i my book, not if it suddenly becomes untidy after the event of the quote for the workload.

I think 4 hours is a lot of time for a 3 bed, 1 bathroom house with few occupants but not for a larger home, not to clean it properly and it should be tidied to begin with to fit this timeframe.

To be honest there is so much demand for domestic cleaning, more than could ever be supplied by one cleaner/service that we just don't take untidy clients any more. If I go to quote for a messy house, I just say that we are fully booked. We usually are near enough and will only squeeze in easier projects now, it's just less hassle and we are more respected at homes where people look after their own home and value a cleaning service, this I learned through years of experience. We are not the cheapest service but the ones who will happily pay our price and value us the most are the ones who look after the appearance of their home.

[CaesiumTime]

DanglyEarOrnaments the OP doesn't have a cleaner - the person is working 5 days a week for at least 4 hours a day. The OP has hired a Mother's helper/cleaner/Housekeeper. Tidying up would be part of the remit of such a person.

[PollyPerky]

Am I the only one who thinks this thread and the OP is a bit errrr....suspect?
I'd assume anyone paying staff for 4 hours a day knew the difference between a housekeeper and a cleaner. I'd also assume they'd have some kind of contract with them. Oh, and I'd also assume, considering the cost of staff and the fact they worked full time, be educated and they could spell :) cloths/ clothes OP?

[petitpois55]

Yep. I'm convinced it's a troll. I reported the thread earlier.

[EdmundCleverClogs]

To side step the thread - an I the only one who feels they've stepped into the Victorian age every time they read 'Mother's help'? I keep expecting to see 'wet nurse' added on to the cleaner's list of expected duties, after serving afternoon tea and cleaning the scullery, of course....

[CaesiumTime]

Edmund we must have Mother's Helpers to raise our Little Lord Fauntleroys.

''Tis but a necessity

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

Oh yes I see now, I thought Op was talking about a weekly cleaner not an employee.

[EdmundCleverClogs]

CaesiumTime

Seriously, wish I had one of those. My child has spent the evening shouting at his building blocks, zero class .

[broodymamma]

Seriously I can't work out what your issue is with socks and sandals.:-) I think they look great and at least I don't need to get the cleaner/housekeeper to polish them weekly. BTW I have just clarified with DH that the Job description is in fact general and personal assistant to myself.

[broodymamma]

polly: Sorry that I don't fit your stereotypes.

I'm most uneducated, walked out of school aged 5 and didn't even graduate primary school. DH left school at 13.

Yes, we can afford a housekeeper. Despite the fact that for many people their education is their gateway to their job (ie being a (n important) cog in a big machine), we both run our own businesses which, generally, requires all those skills not taught in school and better learnt 'in the real world'.

[Sheepersfluff]

Oh lol. NOW it's obvious you are a bridge dweller.

[broodymamma]

sorry, what's that?

[CaesiumTime]

You are being accused of being a troll, OP.

[CaesiumTime]

Of making up this thread.

Some people think that you have to be educated to have money. It's difficult for them to get past that.

[Sheepersfluff]

Oh come off it case

[broodymamma]

Thanks for the clarification. I am not a troll, but have been somewhat surprised with the way my op was responded to.

[Leanback]

Op I don't have much to add except I hope she's got a dbs check if she's in sole charge of your kid.

[LizzieMacQueen]

I'm most uneducated, walked out of school aged 5 and didn't even graduate primary school. DH left school at 13.

I'm not accusing you of being a troll but is that even possible, I thought education was compulsory until age 16 (unless you are from a travelling family).

[bump6]

Oh my, do you not understand the definition of someone who cleans?
Get a grip, teach your children and perhaps yourself to tidy after yourselves, so that this lady can do the job you employ her to do...

[Bailey101]

I was ready to take the op a wee bit seriously until she announced that socks and sandals look great - now I know it's all just a wind up

[babyapril]

I agree it isn't always important to be educated to get on and enjoy the finer things. Did you teach yourself to spell later broody? l doubt there are any many five yr olds that can spell as well as you!

[ButterfliesRfree]

Give her a new list each day. Today put all the toys and games away in the appropriate places. Putting pen kids on pens will take an hour or so, and the playroom is a tip so please spend 2 hours making the playroom absolutely spotless. After that please clean all the bathrooms and vacuum the entire house. If you have time to spare and that's all done please put the folded washing away (because that's the worse job ever). Thanks.

[downwardfacingdog]

OP I have five DC close in age too. They are also messy buggers and I accept that teaching them to clean up after themselves is a work in progress. In the meantime if I could afford a cleaner to help I would love them to tidy as well as clean YANBU.

[ShowMePotatoSalad]

"general and personal assistant to myself".

That's not a job description, that's another job title.

So far we've had cleaner, hired help, and now general and personal assistant. I can't keep up! No wonder the poor woman hasn't time to replace pen lids.

What other jobs does she do? I'm so beyond intrigued it's not even funny.