Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this client is being unreasonable? (Cleaner)

84 replies

Cactusjelly00 · 07/01/2018 12:23

I'm a cleaner, don't work for an agency completely self employed. It's a fairly recent start up because I need to find some extra money for some legal expenses.
I work for this one lady that, in a nut shell,
Doesn't believe she should do any cleaning in the time I'm not there.
For context I go Monday and Thursday in week 1, Monday only in week 2, alternating like that. I go for 2hrs per time and it's a 5 bed 4 bath house.

Whenever I'm not there even basic cleaning isn't done,
Such as laundry left out on the floor, dishes in the sink, on the sides and in the living room. Dirty nappies littered around and down the side of the sofa. Cat litter trays not emptied sometimes. This isn't the kind of thing I do (except maybe the litter trays if pre agreed; this wasn't)

Now; I thought something like this would happen so I have an info leaflet I give to customers prior to accepting a job that states my role, what I do and don't do (for eg don't do ironing but will hang out washing if already washed but not dry, don't do dishes or "daily" cleaning type things, more like mopping cleaning the sides vacuuming cleaning toilets bath and showers) I have tried to raise this with the client but she has got very antsy about it, said that she shouldn't have to clean and hire a cleaner... She has already paid for this month so I will fulfil that but would I be U a to leave afterwards?
She pays well and is otherwise generous and kind, but she doesn't see the problem in that it's not what I do.
In addition she has also said that if I don't have enough time to clean down the kitchen once I've done dishes or similar I can go home or get paid for the extra hours. I still don't want to do this.

Dh thinks I'd be U as she's offering to pay extra so
Tell me, Aibu?

OP posts:
Pengggwn · 07/01/2018 12:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Singlebutmarried · 07/01/2018 12:26

I’d leave.

She needs a housekeeper not a cleaner.

Maelstrop · 07/01/2018 12:26

I’d add in an hour to do more if she pays well. I would keep telling her that you don’t tidy, maybe chuck all the nappies (euw!) in a heap.

ChickenMom · 07/01/2018 12:29

Yuck! It sounds like she needs a full time housekeeper! Two hours isn’t enough to do all of that. It’s up to you. Insist she pays you an extra 2 hours per week or drop her and find another more reasonable client.

MavisPike · 07/01/2018 12:30

leave
you have stated what you do & don't do
she has ignored it

Ellapaella · 07/01/2018 12:32

I have a 4 bedroom house and it takes at least 3 hours to clean it properly, more like 4 or 5 if having to tidy up first etc. Are you doing a full clean every time you go in or just touching up on things?
She does sound like she needs a housekeeper rather than a cleaner, up to you whether you accept that and take the extra money for it. You are not unreasonable for not doing it in the current time she is paying you for though.

Figrollsnotfatrolls · 07/01/2018 12:34

Cleaner here - I would list all the expected jobs /and the times they take.
Ask her which jobs are most important as you haven't got time to do all. Or increase her hours if you are skint!!
I do odd +random jobs - cleaned out chickens, put up /down Christmas tree /washed, rehung curtains, packed for family holiday for a customer. If you aren't flexible your business won't take off and you will remain skint op!!

VicesPresidents · 07/01/2018 12:35

If she's paying you over £15 per hour then yes. Otherwise, no. Does she really think you'll do everything for just £13 per hour? I don't think so.

But if you're £18-£20 per hour like our cleaner, then it's a bit more of a grey area.

Littlechocola · 07/01/2018 12:36

Depends on how much you need the money I suppose. She’s wanting extra that isn’t included in your price or role but is willing to pay extra.

Partypopper123 · 07/01/2018 12:36

Tell her clearly your services do not extend to picking up washing off the floor and clearing up dirty nappies (seriously?!?).
I make sure all my surfaces are clear and the house is tidy before my cleaner comes- you are a cleaner, not a 'tidier'!

LotsOfLoveAndSarcasm · 07/01/2018 12:43

I tidy up before my cleaner comes too, and she only puts away things that I've missed and she finds while cleaning, toy under the sofa for example. Tbh if she just put those in a pile on the table I would understand too, it's not her job to tidy.
If I need anything extra I ask before hand, so she can tell me if she is willing/has the extra time - and I pay extra for that time.
I'm surprised you are expected to clean and tidy a big house in 2 hours. How do you manage? it must be exhausting.
Also, if you just feel you don't want to do it however much she pays, you don't have to, it's your business.
Dirty nappies, some people, really!!

specialsubject · 07/01/2018 12:44

leave. Somebody who cannot even put dirty nappies in the bin is either unbelievably idle or has enormous problems.

Poor kid, being brought up in this filth.

harshbuttrue1980 · 07/01/2018 12:44

I have a cleaner, and I'd never leave my flat in a filthy mess when she comes. Its one thing to have a cleaner because you are too busy to do it yourself (due to my commute, I'm out of the flat for 11 hours every day), but quite another thing to think someone is beneath you and should literally clean up your shit (nappies and dirty dishes). I see my cleaner as a self-employed businessperson, and a human being. Your client seems to think she's lady muck and you are beneath her. Ditch her and find a client who values you like you deserve.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 07/01/2018 12:45

I would definitely leave - she is being very disrespectful to you - who leaves soiled nappies lying around their house, for someone else to lift?ShockDon't see situation improving with her attitude. If you're doing a decent job - I'm sure you will have no problem getting another client. Good Luck!

Original poster
CactusJelly00 · 07/01/2018 12:48

I have other happy clients and it's going well so far.
I'm really not going to pick up shitty nappies and do someone's dishes, nor will I handle others dirty laundry - based on what I found when I was a cleaner last time, a few years ago. People get lazy and stop being bothered about what you see and I dealt with many condoms, used pads and skid marks over that time. I also don't enjoy the game of "hunt for the crockery" that ensues if they've eaten outside of the dining area and left plates everywhere... Never again! So I think the right thing to do is leave.

OP posts:
BashStreetKid · 07/01/2018 12:49

I have tried to raise this with the client but she has got very antsy about it, said that she shouldn't have to clean and hire a cleaner

Then she shouldn't have hired someone who has made it clear that that is not what she does. If she wants someone who will do absolutely everything, then she will discover that she has to pay for several more hours.

She has already paid for this month so I will fulfil that but would I be U a to leave afterwards?

Entirely reasonable. In fact, you could leave now because she's broken the terms of your contract, but I guess it's not worth your while risking the bad review.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 07/01/2018 13:01

I also think you should leave if you can afford to. You’ve made it clear what you will and won’t do and tidying prior to cleaning isn’t something you do.

On the other hand I’d also advise her to let you go and get someone else if she were on MN. She’s made it clear what she wants you to do and you won’t do it.

You have mismatched expectations. No one to blame really. I do think though that if you really want the £££ it sounds like something you should consider doing.

GetOffTheTableMabel · 07/01/2018 13:03

I leave our house immaculately tidy before the cleaners come. I do not believe they should have to touch anything ‘used’, not clothing, bedding, crockery.

Knittedfairies · 07/01/2018 13:04

VicesPresidents isn’t what pay the cleaner receives a bit of a red herring, in that she/he can only do so much in an hour whatever the pay?

expatinscotland · 07/01/2018 13:04

Leave.

MrsHathaway · 07/01/2018 13:05

When women post on MN that they are overwhelmed with the house and a baby, they're told to get a cleaner.

They're not told that cleaners don't tidy.

I think it's a mismatch of expectations. As pps have said, she needs a housekeeper, not a cleaner. She may need 2-3 hours' help a day, let alone a week.

I think OP should state that very clearly, and say that isn't a service she offers.

Fosterdog123 · 07/01/2018 13:09

It's entirely up to you what work you take on but you're trying to build a business here, so why chuck away a client before trying to resolve it? Reiterate what you can do in the given time, tell her you're happy to do pretty much anything but won't pick up the nappies (although rubber gloves and a bin bag and just fling em in....) and take the extra hours/money on offer. I really don't get your problem and I really don't get this issue where everyone gets sniffy about cleaners only 'cleaning'. If a client wants you to tidy up, then tidy up too. Of course that leaves less time for actual cleaning but just have a conversation with the client and explain. If they're unreasonable about it, then sure, move on.

Serialweightwatcher · 07/01/2018 13:15

I agree that she needs housekeeper not cleaner - I've only had a cleaner on a couple of separate occasions and would never expect them to tidy up/wash up etc - I would expect hoovering, dusting, mopping but wouldn't consider the rest of it to be their job

IrkThePurist · 07/01/2018 13:15

You have a contract and she has broken it. Don't bend over backwards for unreasonable clients, you dont need to. It wont harm your business to have boundaries and standards.

Dont do the jobs you dont do, and leave at the end of the month.

Chanelprincess · 07/01/2018 13:18

OP, you sound like very hard work. If you want to establish yourself in a highly competitive environment like this, you may need to offer greater flexibility or your clients may happily look elsewhere.