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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell the cleaner what I really think of her attempt at cleaning my house

84 replies

LinkyPlease · 19/12/2017 19:48

My regular cleaner is on holiday for three weeks and was unable to provide me with a replacement. No problem, I love her and have no issue with her having a holiday etc.

I asked around for recommendations for someone who could do a couple of cleans over Xmas, got given the name of a fellow nursery mum by the nursery manager, she's looking for any domestic work. I know and trust the nursery manager so sent this woman a message, she came round to visit bla bla we agreed she'd clean for me today for 3 hours at £11 ph.

She came round today and slightly missed the mark. Every toy in the living room she picked up and brought to me in the kitchen to ask where to put it. Each time I told her, as I'd said at the look around the day before, and when she arrived, to put them ALL on the playmat and ignore the whole thing. She must have asked about 20 different toys, also a baby sock, a pen, a piece of paper... I repeatedly asked her to just tidy stuff on the coffee table i to a neat pile and ignore it. She repeatedly ignored what I'd said.

Then she had to ask me how to work the hoover including how to turn it on. It's a Miele, so simple. Plug it in and press the on button?!

Then the bits she left! Bloody great muddy footprints by the back door. When I looked round at the end nothing was wet, no sink, no shower tray, no shower screen, no floor which shed supposedly mopped. I think she sprayed cleaner onto a cloth and rubbed about a quarter of the areas to clean, and left the rest.

There are bits of dried toothpaste in the sink, both shower trays and screens are grubby. She didn't put the hoover or mop away, left the wet cloths hung on a peg next to a socket? She didn't tidy any of the stuff on the bedside tables. And she didn't empty any bins.

She said if there was anything I wasn't satisfied with to let her know for next time. I was her first cleaning gig so I guess maybe she didn't know things like tidying bedside tables?

I really don't want to give her a list of what she did wrong though. I'm too British. AIBU to just mumble it was fine and never have her back? It was only going to be this and next week anyway, then my normal cleaner returns in Jan. Or should I do a community service and make us both really uncomfortable to give her some honest feedback on how to do a better job for next time?

Its a small nursery and I don't want to have to see her for the next 4 years and feel awkward

OP posts:
user1497357411 · 19/12/2017 19:52

Maybe find a polite way of telling her you need someone with experience?

Fattymcfaterson · 19/12/2017 20:08

I wouldn't mention her not tidying your crap up tbh... Most people do that before the cleaner arrives... So they can clean!
But the rest I agree with

caroline161 · 19/12/2017 20:08

I'd tell her , give her a list of the things she missed. Kindest thing to do in the long run.

Kikisxmas · 19/12/2017 20:11

Surely you should have tidied first so she could clean? Sounds like she wasted lots of time clearing up your clutter.

Pengggwn · 19/12/2017 20:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NetRunner · 19/12/2017 20:14

I wouldn't be paying for that... it sounds shocking. Difficult situation as she is a fellow nursery mum and you may have to encounter her again. I think that I would tell her that the job wasn't up to scratch, explain why, with photos if necessary - if you have any photos of your just cleaned house after your usual cleaner has been, include for comparison so she can see. Give her an opportunity to come back and sort it properly but if not, then don't pay her - or at least not the full amount.

Agree with PPs about tidying. She shouldn't have to move and tidy your stuff. A cleaner cleans. Most people definitely tidy in advance or some of their valuable cleaning time is taken.

Janetjanetjanet · 19/12/2017 20:17

Is English her first language?

DropZoneOne · 19/12/2017 20:19

I always tidy before my cleaner comes so she can spend her time cleaning! Floors and surfaces empty as far as possible - or I accept those surfaces won't be cleaned.

underneaththeash · 19/12/2017 20:22

I always tidy first so that the cleaner can clean.

Temp cleaners are never very efficient, I just steer clear of people that mainly want term-time only working as our place is dirtier when they children are off school (and I have less time to clean).

But is she better than no-one? I'd just give her a detailed sheet of everything you want cleaned in each room.

Shynotshy · 19/12/2017 20:24

My cleaner tidies up the rooms and then she cleans, but I had told her at our first meeting that this is part of the job and this was taken into account when deciding hours.
I feel for you OP. There is a mum at our school who does cleaning but I hired someone else, I just felt it would be so awkward to say something if I wasn't happy.
In your case, and knowing myself, I think I would just pretend to be happy for one more week until my cleaner came back.

WindyWednesday · 19/12/2017 20:25

I don’t think I could employ a fellow Mum from nursery. Would feel weird.

PandaPieForTea · 19/12/2017 20:26

We tidy and have an agreement with our cleaner that anything not tidied doesn’t get cleaned. I don’t think tidying is part of a cleaning job normally.

LittleMe03 · 19/12/2017 20:30

If you're at home anyway as you were this week save the £33 and tidy and clean your own house next week Smile

He11y · 19/12/2017 20:30

Was the shower tray etc clean or did you only check if they were wet? I ask as I'm a cleaner and I always dry and buff them so you'd never find a wet bath, shower tray or sink etc after I've been, but they will be clean.

It's frustrating as hell to have to pick up loads of bits and pieces from the floor to be honest with you. I do it if I have to but I'd rather be actually cleaning.

Personally, I'd give her a chance as she's asked for feedback and admitted it's her first job - she may have been very nervous - sounds like it the way she asked where to put things. Maybe give her a room by room checklist of items to clean every time and the ones to clean on rotation? You could also add specific instructions for stray items.

He11y · 19/12/2017 20:34

Just realised this is only temporary anyway. I'd just give her a list and see what happens. I don't like temporary jobs as I never feel I do as good a job as I do at my regular jobs but I wouldn't leave anything dirty. I really think first job nerves played a part here.

saladdays66 · 19/12/2017 20:36

Bloody hell, you don’t even tidy up before the cleaner arrives? Lazy cow! How is she meant to clean around your shit? Tidy your own bedside cabinets!

No excuse for the rest, though.

gamerchick · 19/12/2017 20:40

11 quid an hour and you want tidying up? Hmm your usual cleaner is a saint!

No excuse for the rest no, it doesnt sound as if she knows how to clean.

Gingertam · 19/12/2017 20:43

This is why I could never be a cleaner. Yes, she sounds rubbish but I'm amazed you expected her to tidy up all your crap. A cleaner is employed to CLEAN. I would never admit online that I couldn't even be bothered to pick a few toys up.

Chewbecca · 19/12/2017 20:44

I think I'd just say something like 'sorry, we've decided not to have a clean next week, thanks'

Original poster
LinkyPlease · 19/12/2017 20:44

I do tidy up, but they're is always a few odd type which escape me. She was 15 mins early so I didn't manage to finish today. Bedside table I just mean a packet of pills, a hairbrush, couple of hair ties, face cream. My normal cleaner neatens these up after moving to wipe under them. This cleaner didn't seem to touch them.

The house was pretty tidy, as I say just a dolly or two on the sofa, a baby sock which escaped somehow on a cushion. She was asking about stuff on coffee tables, trying to put it all away. That's not usual is it?

Anyway the question I asked is should I give her honest feedback or should I just mumble that I don't need her again and pretend it was all fine.

OP posts:
LIZS · 19/12/2017 20:44

Did you not tidy up beforehand?

category12 · 19/12/2017 20:45

I wouldn't expect a cleaner to touch a single thing on my bedside tables. Some people actually get quite cross if stuff on their desk/tables etc is moved around - you tidy up and the cleaner cleans clear surfaces - it's a waste of their time and you're more likely to not be able to find things if they tidy for you.

The rest of it sounds quite poor tho.

Ellapaella · 19/12/2017 20:47

You did say she asked you about 20 toys... that’s more than just the odd toy lying around. Just tell her your usual cleaner is back now she’s no longer required.

fia101 · 19/12/2017 20:48

Slack her off. Too much to improve on and if almost everything was left grubby she is either lazy or has no common sense. Might as well have just put the £33 through her letterbox without her turning up

fc301 · 19/12/2017 20:49

Given that that you were at home, had time to check every area in depth and post about it on line perhaps just do it yourself?
Don't give her the feedback. It'll make it weird. She's helping you out temporarily ... be British about it!