You don't hire someone to do a job then tell them how to do it!

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

I'm an experienced housekeeper, cleaner and cook and I've run two businesses. Today I started with a new client who followed me about for an hour whilst on the phone, pointing at things and snapping her fingers. After the phone call ended she proceeded to tell me how to wet dust. She said I needed to learn to divide my time into dusting, floors etc and that I should be quicker at dusting. Never seen the place before, 1001 nick nacks to move...

I can't lie, I'm affronted.

All businesses suffer dickheads from time to time. At least, being your own boss, you can walk away. I remember when I was an employee having no choice but to have to deal with such people who were horrid but were always friendly with my bosses. It was one of the reasons I started my own business. I'm a qualified accountant, so it's nothing to do with the kind of work you do - I had a client who'd expect me to make their coffee and go out for his lunchtime sandwich, despite only working at his office for one day per month doing his books! My boss just laughed it off! Now I run my own business, I include a "dickhead" evaluation when a client first contacts me and have got quite good at turning away the morons just from what they say in the first emails/phone call/meeting, but if one slips through the net, I'm not shy to tell them to beggar off somewhere else!

I reckon my dickhead radar was off today Bunny

Wet dusting is simply using a damp cloth rather than dry cloth and polish April x

I bet she's wondering why she can't keep any cleaners. Life is definitely too short to put up with that sort of behaviour.

I get this all the time.

I'm a self-employed graphic designer and you'd be amazed at how many 'graphic designers' there are out there, only they work in other jobs with other titles which is presumably why they employ me!

But when it comes to telling me how to do my job they are experts 90% of the time the things they demand/suggest are impossible/won't work/look ridiculous and then I have to painstakingly explain why without offending their artistic egos.

When you call in an electrician you don't stand there telling him what wire goes where and what he should connect to what, and you don't tell the plumber how to fix the leak. You call in the experts because they are experts.

I've been a successful freelance for 24 years and am bloody good at what I do, but you'd be amazed how many graphic designers there are out there working undercover in other professions, who know better than me how to do what I do for a living.

This is why I enjoy cleaning a company building , I get to go in and just get on with it, I'm amazed you didn't tell her where to stick those clicking fingers and wet duster OP.

" "Sorry did you lose your dog?" usually works a treat. wink "
Doublehotesspresso -
May I steal this?! So simple yet so excellent come back!

Here's a question for all the professional cleaners. Is it better to use a polish or a damp cloth to dust? stares at dust bunnys under dinning table. I'm lazy and usually end up using wipes. 😳

I run my own, small, dog sitting/holiday business love the fact that I can say no to dick heads. 😁

Sorry that sounded rude. Could someone please tell me what's better. I've just realised the start of that paragraph made me sound like a dickhead. 😱😳😬

Marketing exec here. You wouldn't believe the number of times I've been told by people spending vast amounts on me say 'oh well, anyone can do marketing can't they - it's just common sense'

Well in that case, why the fuck are you employing me?!

Poverty I favour neither of those - I mostly use glass cleaner as you don't get smears. Not on unfinished surfaces though. Wet dusting is popular in desert locations but not so much in Europe. Your choice of cloth is most important though. Microfibre is the best invention ever

Thank you, luis. I'll try that. The last time I used polish, the residue must have went on floor and I went on my ass. 😳 😄

Poverty - It depends on the surface, where it is and how it's been previously cared for.

Sometimes polish is the only alternative as a previously polished surface won't take too kindly to being washed.

For damp dusting (bathroom, kitchen, utility rooms and some bedroom surfaces), a bit of Flash, some glass cleaner or plain water depending on allergies amd a good quality microfibre cloth.

Autoglym cloths here. Fabulous.

Ginger I love that Lord Sheraton polish have you tried it?

I used to polish a lot of antique stuff but here in Switzerland everything is very modern and glossy and nobody has polish it seems.

I include a dickhead evaluation when a client first contacts me.

Bad I am loving this!

I'm going to run a 'dickhead evaluation' on all new prospects from now on before I go ahead and book them

Lord Sheraton, Barkeeper's Friend, Duraglit/Brasso, WD40 (some metals) and Mr Sheen all have their place. I have a right toolbox....

Goodie box

Hey sorry to hi-jack but this is a good thread to ask - does anyone know a good polite way to fire clients if you don't want any aggro afterwards?

We occasionally have done (usually for persistently late payments which we can't afford) but I never feel I hit the right tone of 'Don't want you as a client any more but, hey, no hard feelings!'

Is there a best way to do it? Does anyone know how to let em down gently with no hurt feelings?

Is there a best way to do it? Does anyone know how to let em down gently with no hurt feelings?

Yes, you tell them that you're getting busy with other clients and that you feel their needs could be better served by someone else who has more time/experience than you have for their special requirements. Make it about them - they'll love it! Alternatively, tell them that you're getting too many clients now and are specialising/narrowing the range of services you offer and that they don't fit into your client profile anymore. Even better if you can give them a couple of suggestions for alternatives. Main thing though is not to leave them in the lurch - give them a fair amount of notice - i.e. if it's a yearly thing, say this will be the last year, if it's weekly, say you'll be stopping next month. Of course, if they're a real pain in the arse, and you're feeling that way inclined, just tell them the truth!

Bad that advice is gold thank you so much!

Beerwench you are most welcome ;-)

Thanks luis - I'll try some of that in my next cleaning spree :)

I've had them. Had a client the other week who held a hand mirror in front of her face the whole time (making it very difficult to get my brushes onto her face), gave me step by step instructions, made me pack on the eyeliner and then sniffed that she was hoping for something a little more natural. I should have realised when I walked in the door and the husband said quizzically "Oh good, you're here nice and early. You'll need plenty of time' She'd also texted me after midnight the morning I was due to start at six to request me to bring a bejewelled hairpiece as per reference pic even though I was working for an agency that charges cut-price for makeup and hairstyling - no extras!Yeah, so she didn't get that and then wondered out loud to me about what she can do about her eyebags. Go to bed? I just hold my tongue for the duration, laugh it off afterwards and resolve never to work with them again (she asked if I could do a party of five or six for a wedding in August).