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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What to expect from a cleaner

267 replies

broodymamma · 23/11/2016 11:52

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.

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 23/11/2016 15:46

MauiWest: No, but the OP referred to her as a cleaner and asked about her expectations, so the reasonable assumption would be that she wanted to know what would normally be expected of a cleaner. The answer is a lot less than she is asking of this employee.

babyapril · 23/11/2016 15:47
Hmm That is all.
CaesiumTime · 23/11/2016 15:48

I cannot imagne even the laziest people I know admitting that they wouldn't have enough time to pair their socks. I mean it's like something out of Upstaits downstairs

It really isn't about laziness. It's about doing something else with your time and spending your own money how you want to spend it, i.e. On help in your home. I just can't believe that this is so shocking. What is the glorifying redemption in pairing your own socks?Confused

ShowMePotatoSalad · 23/11/2016 15:49

MauiWest of course it doesn't matter, but it's not clear whether the "cleaner" knew what was expected of them from the off or not. If she chucks the hoover down the stairs she might not have 100% job satisfaction Grin Grin Grin

broodymamma · 23/11/2016 15:51

I would certainly prefer to pair clean socks than clean someone's toilet.

OP posts:
ShowMePotatoSalad · 23/11/2016 15:51

So she doesn't clean the loo then?

broodymamma · 23/11/2016 15:58

My point is that a lot of you seem to be up in alms regarding the pairing of socks which to me seems to be one of the plesenter tasks .

OP posts:
Trifleorbust · 23/11/2016 16:01

I'm just wondering why you are still avoiding the question of what you are paying her Hmm

Whatgives · 23/11/2016 16:02

Op I think you would have got wildly different responses had you used 'housekeeper' as opposed to 'cleaner'. I grew up with a similar person as my mum worked ft with 4 small kids. She tidyied, cleaned a bit, did laundry and looked after us.

Fwiw I had a cleaner who did ironing and she did the same with the hangers. She also folded silky blouses after ironing and hung babygros on hangers. It makes no sense!!

Whatgives · 23/11/2016 16:03

Oh and if she does laundry I don't see the issue with the pairing of socks?! Mumsnet really is like a parallel universe sometimes!

EdmundCleverClogs · 23/11/2016 16:08

This would be far easier to comprehend if you would clarify a few points:

What was actually agreed/put into contract when you hired her?

Did you hire an actual cleaner and have given her additional tasks, or are you genuinely unsure to the difference between a cleaner and housemaid/helper? What is her job description?

Is she privately hired or through an agency?

Why on earth does your husband think socks and sandals are an acceptable look and why can't he find his own pair when needed?

phoenix1973 · 23/11/2016 16:08

I'm a cleaner. I clean.
I don't tidy.
I can work faster and more efficiently if I can see the surfaces that need cleaning.
This means you will pay less.
4 hours is a LONG time. Every day.

Trifleorbust · 23/11/2016 16:13

phoenix1973: But the OP seems to leaving her 'cleaner' in sole charge of a 1 year old and asking her to do housekeeping duties too. The job is more that of a nanny housekeeper.

PrincessConsuelaTheSecond · 23/11/2016 16:13

If she's an actual cleaner then YABU. It's not her job.

I tidy the house before the cleaners come so they have a clear run.

Also Hmm at four hours a day, is that a mistake? I pay for 3 hours a week for a large house with four bathrooms because I can't be arsed to deep clean them

broodymamma · 23/11/2016 16:13

Whatgives it's lovely to hear from someone so rational as you, I was starting to feel rather alien.
I am sorry that I used the word cleaner. I hadn't realised that there is such a difference.
If my home help feels that she is not being treated right I would hope she would feel comfortable to let me know.

OP posts:
Underthemoonlight · 23/11/2016 16:14

I agree you need to clarify what were the terms and conditions or employment is she via an agency? if so i would imagination she would have a job title, the fact you seem to confused the two suggests to me you hired a cleaner and have unrealistic exceptions of her and taking advantage, you have yet to disclose her actually salary

Trifleorbust · 23/11/2016 16:19

So we're all clear: the OP by her repeated refusal to share either the job description or the salary has convinced me that yes, she is probably being unreasonable.

Grin
shrunkenhead · 23/11/2016 16:20

This thread isn't genuine, surely??????
Cleaners CLEAN. Most people will tidy up beforehand to allow the cleaner to do their job efficiently.

shrunkenhead · 23/11/2016 16:22

The OP is on Mat leave! I'm sure she can manage to put a few pen lids back on pens if the 8 year old isn't quite up to it....

SnotGoblin · 23/11/2016 16:23

My point is that a lot of you seem to be up in alms regarding the pairing of socks which to me seems to be one of the plesenter tasks .

*arms
**more pleasant

If the folding of the socks seems more pleasant to you than the other tasks then why don't you crack on with it or let your husband do it so that he can have matching socks next time he wears his sandals (really? sorry, I'm still stuck on that. Does he really wear socks with sandals?).

shrunkenhead · 23/11/2016 16:24

Hence why I feel this is a joke thread....WHO wears socks with sandals (under the age of 70!)?!

babyapril · 23/11/2016 16:35

I believe that if your domestic life were so challenging- you'd have a smaller family.

SukeyTakeItOffAgain · 23/11/2016 16:35

Especially with days of the week on them!

Remember When Harry Met Sally and the days of the week underpants?

"Where was Sunday? Where had I left Sunday. He wouldn't believe me when I said they don't make Sunday."
"Why not?"
"Because of God."

:o

broodymamma · 23/11/2016 16:36

I have taken on board all your words of wisdom and will make every effort not to be so lazy or take things for granted in the future. Thanks for your time.

OP posts:
MauiWest · 23/11/2016 16:39

Cleaners CLEAN. Most people will tidy up beforehand to allow the cleaner to do their job efficiently.

I have no idea if the OP is real or not. I just can't understand why some posters can't accept the fact that some cleaners do tidy up, some don't. Some cleaners do laundry and ironing, some don't. Some cleaners pop in the supermarket on the way and buy some items for their employers. They are being paid for that, they are nice and don't mind. Only on MN can you find the cleaner police, who decide what a cleaner is allowed to do or not.

Ok a cleaner who works part-time (4 hours a day) is more a housekeeper. Still can't understand the attitude of posters about it, who refuse to accept that you can pay someone to do your chores.