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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

New cleaner doesn’t seem to be cleaning

74 replies

crumble82 · 16/03/2018 09:36

More of a WWYD really. I’ve just hired a new cleaner, she started this week and in the time she was here she dusted 2 and a half tables (she didn’t bother moving anything on the third one and only did the very front of it), cleaned 3 sinks, wiped down the kitchen surfaces and hoovered the hallway upstairs. She managed to drop toast crumbs on the kitchen floor which she left and yesterday I found she had put a couple of pieces of rubbish that was on a sink in the medicine cabinet rather than the bin. It was an old clothes label and a used cotton pad!

I hired her so I didn’t have to spend the one day off I have in the week cleaning when I could spend it with my DC. She’s slow and really bad at her job but I know she really needs the money. I won’t see her next week, I want to give her a chance to do a better job but what do I write in the note to make it clear I won’t keep her on if she doesn’t actually clean?!

OP posts:
Bubblebug1 · 16/03/2018 09:41

I had this with my old cleaner. We kept her on for ages and ended up friends. It only made it harder to fire her eventually.

seizethecuttlefish · 16/03/2018 09:44

You're paying her to do a job. My cleaner started brilliantly and got progressively worse but yours seems to have started at the bottom. Try giving her a list of what to do or asking her to concentrate on a room. If that doesn't work, big girl pants on and say it's not working out. Let her go.

Bluelady · 16/03/2018 09:44

You need to make a list of what you expect her to do. Make sure the place is tidy to make it easy for her. It's a lot easier to tackle if you make it clear so you can say "I asked you to do x, y and z and you haven't done them".

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 09:45

i also discovered after hiring her that she is related to some of DDs friends and I really don’t want to make things awkward. I really want to get rid of her, I felt like she’d stolen my money when I saw the state she’d left the house in but I want to give her a fair chance next week.

OP posts:
mishfish · 16/03/2018 09:46

Agree with the list, keep it reasonable and not anything you wouldn’t be able to do in the amount of time before she comes and see how that goes for a few weeks

Lweji · 16/03/2018 09:47

If you want to give her a chance, make a list of everything you expect her to clean and to what standards, then evaluate week by week.

However, if she's not doing her best on her first day and while you are there, don't get your hopes up.
If she was a good cleaner she probably wouldn't really need the money. Good cleaners with good reputations don't need to look for jobs and can have a pick of who to clean for.

When you do sack her, do tell her why and what she should do to keep the jobs she finds.

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 09:48

That’s the other thing, I had tidied and made a list. She ignored the list and just did a really lacklustre jobs the things she did do. This is a third job for her so I get that she must be exhausted, I’ve told her to help herself to tea and coffee but I just don’t know how to phrase it that this is her last chance.

OP posts:
JeSaisPas · 16/03/2018 09:48

Get rid asap. I tried leaving more specific instructions for a lady who had come recommended (goodness knows why) - e.g. clean under ornaments on table, not just around (she ended up lifting the whole table glass and cleaning under that instead), iron dresses on clothes horse (but she ironed the towels and tea towels instead). There was just no telling her.

I made up some excuse about family coming to visit for summer and that I might be in contact afterwards. I never had her back of course. So glad I got someone decent in and didn't waste more time on her.

Dancingmonkey87 · 16/03/2018 09:48

I would write a list but I’m confused at your leaving rubbish out for her. Surely her job is to clean not be taking rubbish off the surfaces?

Lweji · 16/03/2018 09:49

Are you saying she has a full time job and other part-time jobs, or that she has three cleaning jobs?

CaptainHarville · 16/03/2018 09:49

Why another chance? On her first visit she should have cleaned brilliantly. Get someone else.

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 09:52

Dancing monkey, I didn’t mean to leave the rubbish on the sink, I’d put on a new top this morning and wiped up a mascara accident and didn’t put the label and cotton pad in the bin, I guess I was distracted by DC. I would expect a cleaner to get rid of a small amount of rubbish appropriately rather than hide it which just seems lazy.

OP posts:
Eltonjohnssyrup · 16/03/2018 09:53

I would just let it go. If you don’t want to upset DD’s friend’s, just say that there has been an unexpected change in your budget and you can’t afford a cleaner.

You shouldn’t be leaving things like used cotton pads out for your cleaner to deal with though.

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 09:53

Lweji she has a cleaning job in the morning and evening at a large company nearby. She was looking for some extra money to help out family.

OP posts:
Bluelady · 16/03/2018 09:54

If you gave her a list I don't understand why you didn't ask her why she hadn't followed it. I'd talk to her about the list and give her one more chance. That way you look a lot more reasonable if you do have to let her go.

WickedLazy · 16/03/2018 09:56

For most professional cleaners the first port of call is to lift any stray rubbish from counters, and anything that might block a hoover, from floors, then empty all bins into as few bags as possible and put out.

I would give her one more chance, give her a clear list, and if she can't complete most of the things on it, tell her your very sorry but can't afford her anymore.

To be fair most professional cleaners don't need to be given a list, but some have more initiative than others.

WickedLazy · 16/03/2018 09:57

I normally bag up and leave to put out until I'm nearly done, then I can add things as needs be, dirty cleaning wipes or mop heads etc.

Ohyesiam · 16/03/2018 10:00

Could you say
Dear —shit— cleaner,
This doesn’t seem to be working out for either of us. I really get it as you must be too tired from all the hours you work, but do you want to give it one more go this week ?
Here’s the list of what needs doing.

Ohyesiam · 16/03/2018 10:00

Cross out failBlush

user1494670108 · 16/03/2018 10:01

I have had loads of cleaners over the years and they all get progressively worse from where they started. The first week or two they will need to familiarise themselves with where the plug sockets are etc so may be a little slower but if she's rubbish now you need to get rid.
Text is your friend, you could just say that you've realised with a child that you need to do it as you go along rather than once a week (although actually the once a week sparkle is the best bit of having a cleaner!)

OutyMcOutface · 16/03/2018 10:02

If she really needs the work then why isn’t she even trying to do the job properly?

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 10:03

Ok so opinions on note for her:

Hi xxxx
I’ve bought the extra bits you like to use, they’re all in the cleaning cupboard. I noticed last week you did not follow the list of tasks, please follow it this week as I had to do everything on my day off last time. Please can you ....

Do I then tell her that this is her last chance?

OP posts:
Shadow666 · 16/03/2018 10:03

Fire her but make an excuse. Say something has come up in the extended family and you are really, really sorry but can’t manage a cleaner right now. Wish her all the best.

Shadow666 · 16/03/2018 10:05

I’m a totally wuss though Grin

Original poster
crumble82 · 16/03/2018 10:05

Ohyesiam I’m going to save your idea for the inevitable text to her next week!

OP posts: