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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cleaning up after your child in fastfood place

94 replies

mom20172017 · 30/04/2017 20:14

Was eating with my Preteen daughters at McDonald's play area and someone else kid dropped their drink on the floor. When that happens to me, I would just grab a mop and clean it up myself as all cleaning equipment left in main lobby just outside play area in this Mcdonalds (separate room) and I seen other moms do the same(be it getting broom, rag or a mop). This mom decided she was to good to clean up her own kids mess so just informed manager there was a spill and a worker was forced to clean it up while mom watched.

Am I wrong in thinking that if kids make a mess you should clean it your self, especially when cleaning equipment is left out ?

I even made comment that there is a mop just outside in lobby to clean that which would have taken her 1 minute to do

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 30/04/2017 20:28

All we expect is for you to stick your rubbish in the bin and then to let us know about spills and such. I hate it when people mop or sweep. One, it makes me feel like I'm not doing my job and two, you're there as our guest and shouldn't be having to mop.

However if you don't put your rubbish in the bin I will judge you. The more cleaning we have to do, the less time we have to do fun things like balloons (modelling) or hand out stuff to the kids.

WyfOfBathe · 30/04/2017 20:28

YABU, I would have informed a member of staff as well.

When I worked in a cafe we would sometimes have people ask for cleaning equipment after they/their kids had made a mess, but we always said no and cleaned it ourselves. If a customer had gone and grabbed the mop I would have thought it quite rude actually.

DeadGood · 30/04/2017 20:29

"I would do my best with napkins but no I wouldn't grab a mop. That's not there for customers to use - I also wouldn't vault the counter and get my own drink to save the staff a job."

This.

OP, you are the weird one, I'm afraid. As for "this mom decided she was too good to clean up after her own kid's mess"... you sound a bit unhinged

AwaywiththePixies27 · 30/04/2017 20:29

I once tried to clean up a massive drink spill with a load of paper towels. Worker told me to leave it it was fine and came back with a mop. It could in theory, also leave you liable if you cleaned it up but not properly and someone slipped on it.

If she reported it to the staff then she did the right thing. I reinjured my injured knee after some selfish arse one couldn't even be bothered to let the staff at a venue know they'd spilt it. I went flying and I'm still having physio for said knee now Sad

McDonalds Mum didnt do anything wrong here.

jmh740 · 30/04/2017 20:29

I would have tried to clean up a small spill with napkins for a larger spill I would have asked a member of staff for help. I would think it strange if a customer just grabbed a mop and cleaned up after themselves. Cleaning equipment shouldn't be avaliable to members of the public due to health and safety

Quickieat2 · 30/04/2017 20:29

No I think sweeping and mopping is all quite normal and part of the job. It's a place where kids go to and so there's bound to be a bit more mess. It's considerate not to make too much mess, however accidents happen!

QuestionableMouse · 30/04/2017 20:31

Oh and please don't use napkins unless you really can't find anyone. Turns it from a two minute job with the mop to a bit of a pain. It's much cleaner and quicker for us just to put the mop over it.

Questioningeverything · 30/04/2017 20:31

I pick up after dc if they've dropped stuff and even ask for a dustpan and brush if a real mess has been made (crumbs etc) but no I wouldn't reach for a mop.
I'd very apologetically ask for some help from a member of staff and thank them for their help. Who knows what the health and safety rules for each individual establishment are!? The person who didn't clean it up might well get into trouble for having missed it and someone slip because you've done so. You might not use what chemicals they 'should' according to the rules. You might spill a chemical or water on someone's breakables and the company be liable... possibilities are endless

Trifleorbust · 30/04/2017 20:31

People wouldn't 'grab a mop' at any other establishment (maybe KFC?). The burden of middle class guilt, eh?

NerrSnerr · 30/04/2017 20:32

They may also have separate mops for different areas so you may be mopping with the one they use in the toilets.

WindwardCircle · 30/04/2017 20:33

I thought this was going to be about leaving tables in a terrible state, which I find really annoying, but using a restaurant mop to clean up a spill is a bit odd.

Nocabbageinmyeye · 30/04/2017 20:33

Yabu, she did exactly the right thing. I clean after my kids, everything gets taken to the bin, if something goes on the ground it gets picked up but breaking out the mop after an accidental spillage is ridiculous and I doubt McDonald's would like it either

wigglesrock · 30/04/2017 20:34

Nope, I would never get a mop and use it myself. I always inform a member of staff if my child has spilled a drink, it's happened a few times with mine, I'm always apologetic. I clear tables, picked up bits of food mine have thrown dropped from the floor, given the high chair a bit of a wipe after my kid finished using it. I've been a cleaner in various restaurants incl fast food and I've never encountered a client mopping, they've asked/offered but I always used to say no. It's not as simple as firing a mop around some juice, wet floor signs should be used and as other posters mentioned mops can be colour coded.

QuestionableMouse · 30/04/2017 20:35

Actual McDonald's employee here and no we don't like it. Grin

OhTheRoses · 30/04/2017 20:36

I don't think the other mother was wrong to alert the staff to the fact that her children had caused an accidental spillage. The mop should have been in a cleaning cupboard in any event.

As you refer to a "mom" I'm wondering if you are posting from the US where customs may be different?

steff13 · 30/04/2017 20:38

I'd find a staff member and tell them we'd had a spill. I wouldn't attempt to clean it up myself.

QuestionableMouse · 30/04/2017 20:38

Most McDonald's don't have a cleaning cupboard so the mop stays on dining area, tucked away and filled with clean water. They are colour coded but there should never be a kitchen mop bucket on dining area.

steff13 · 30/04/2017 20:40

As you refer to a "mom" I'm wondering if you are posting from the US where customs may be different?

I'm in the US, and wouldn't clean it myself, no.

pictish · 30/04/2017 20:42

Of course not. I'd apologetically inform a member of staff and expect them to clean it up. I certainly wouldn't rummage for a mop!

pictish · 30/04/2017 20:42

I would probably apply a few hankies to soak up the worst and put them in the bin.

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 30/04/2017 20:43

I tidy up what can be done with napkins, and let a member of staff know if any spillages.

If an adult spilt a drink in a restaurant would you expect them to mop it? Or just for children?!

I would think it very, very odd if a customer did this, possibly turning a three minute job into something more complex for the staff if they use the wrong mop (toilets mop anyone?), or don't do it adequately or don't put a sign up and someone slips.

If my kids did something outrageous - I can't think of a good example, but something like a food fight - I'd offer to clear that up. But I think mopping up spilt drinks is within the normal duties of someone cleaning in a cafe.

Allthebestnamesareused · 30/04/2017 20:43

Of course you report it to the staff there. If you didn't clean it up properly they'd still be liable if there was then an accident.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 30/04/2017 20:44

My son has a Saturday job in a fast food place.

He told me under no circumstances should I touch a mop in there because "you may use the wrong mop and that's baddddddd"

reuset · 30/04/2017 20:45

When that happens to me, I would just grab a mop and clean it up myself as all cleaning equipment left in main lobby just outside play area in this Mcdonalds (separate room) and I seen other moms do the same(be it getting broom, rag or a mop).

You'd probably have the mop taken off you by an employee if you attempted - health and safety you know. I'd think you'd taken leave of your senses if you got up and started wielding the mop and bucket around a fast food establishment Grin You're supposed to tell them, they like to put up little warning signs, or are you going to do all that, also?

FlapAttack78 · 30/04/2017 20:48

Yabu. . And a bit of a nob saying she must have felt she was too good to clean up

Most places would refuse to let you use their mops ! She did good letting them know

I have done this before and let someone know, apologised then offered to clear up and always told no worries and nonono!

I worked as a waitress and just appreciated being let know