Aibu or my cleaner?

[LC01]

So, to set the scene and to not drip feed. I've had my new cleaner a few weeks now, I have a large house, so I have a 3 hour clean and pay £15 PH. She provides all equipment and products and has insurance etc., previous cleaners all got the job done in time.

Anyhow, last week we had guests, So I mentioned to my cleaner not to bother with guest room as it had their bags and stuff in there and I had already cleaned that room. I left to pick up my daughter and when I got back she had already gone. She started at 1.30, we had a quick chat for 10 mins. I got back just before 4.15 and she was no where to be seen, packed her Hoover, bucket, mop and her bags of cleaning stuff and driven off - so must have finished 5 mins or so before that. That night I got a text from her to say she didn't do the office as I had a few personal papers and my laptop out on the desk, so she completely left room. By the way, My house is always very tidy, nothing to tidy, just cleaning to do.

Anyhow, this week I had to go to a meeting so left a note: 'Hi *, if you get time please could you give the utility room a quick clean? If you don't get time don't worry, but noticed you finished a little earlier last week so if you get 5 mins left that would be great. Many thanks.'

She's never cleaned the utility room as I said when I showed her around, if you don't get time, don't worry about it.

I get a text whilst I'm in my meeting at 1.50 saying 'Hi , apologies I have put your keys through the door and won't be able to do your clean for you....sorry for the inconvenience...*'

I know she went into the house, as the post was in the kitchen next to note. I text her back when I left my meeting to ask if I'd done anything wrong, but she's not responded.

Was I being unreasonable to leave the note?

Sorry for the long message.

Hellejuice don't be telling mumsnet you used to help your, there's been threads on here about cleaners bringing strangers into the house lol

When I did my training years ago, I remember this one woman was superfast and yet thorough, she would work nonstop, without a break, to complete all tasks, when done she would go, instead of taking her rest break and saw the extra minutes as a bonus. She occasionally would get customers, checking her time on their alarms, then get given extra tasks the following week, and similar to this she would always end up dumping them. Our trainer adviced her to start selling as a task based job, or just work slower! He adviced us to work at a walking speed, not to go faster as the more you achieve in the time, the more likely the customers are to start adding extras, usually non paid for! At the end of the day if you want a cleaner to clean your house to a hgh standard then you should just let them get on with it, its not just the time but energy too!

Yanbu to leave the note, I would have left one too.

I am thinking about sacking my cleaner - she told me that she was thorough but I'm not convinced she is. She never ever wipes the skirting boards down and I think she just squiffs a mop over the floors instead of getting in to the edges 😞. and I have cobwebs in the dining room.

How do I do 'it'? I've never had to stop a service like this before.

Dragon it's easy, if she is not providing the service that she described at the quote then just send her a message to please 'stop services with immediate effect' (unless she gave you a contract/agreement with notice period in which case do honour that). You can add feedback or excuse if you choose but not necessary.

Then you simply take your money elsewhere to another service provider who may be a better match for you.

It really is as simple as that

God, first world problems eh?!

YANBU. Your cleaner was being dishonest - did you ask her for references before you gave her access to your house & the alarm code?
I would now change the code.

Sorry posted too soon. Was going to say I would really recommend using a cleaning company. I've had 3 cleaners in the past and it's always been a big awkward. With the agency I can speak to them if something not right. Also if cleaner I'll or whatever they get someone else to do it which is a real plus