Cheeky message from cleaner

[EllJ]

I recently hired a cleaner to do a good clean of the bathrooms and a general hoover and dust round. She seemed nice enough and I thought she seemed trustworthy so we agreed to start her.
We had nothing but problems from the get go... she couldn't work the hoover, couldn't work the steam mop (despite being shown both more than once), didn't move things out of the way to hoover or dust around and just seemed to find a new problem each week. One week, the bathrooms were ignored completely as she "forgot her gloves", despite being told they were our absolute number 1 priority and that she just had to ask for any cleaning materials she wanted/needed.
Anyway, after giving it three weeks in the hope she'd settle in and then receiving a particularly cheeky note after the last clean, we decided not to continue with her. My DH sent a polite and to the point message explaining that we won't need her anymore and can she please return our key.
She has just sent back an incredibly rude message insulting the cleanliness of our home! I'm absolutely fuming and having to really hold back sending a rude message in return, which i know is the wrong thing to do.
Aibu to ask if anyone can help with a well worded message to send in return explaining that the specific items she has complained about being dirty were actually things we were paying her to clean!

Sorry for long post

How does one clean loos without cleaning bodily fluids? On flushing, even with the lid down, there is spray (on the inside of the lid, and on the walls to the side)

If you take it literally, we wouldn’t touch any crockery or cutlery as they have boldily fluids on them. Generally though, bodily fluids refers to vomit, faeces or urine that isn’t in the toilet.

I am a cleaner. Not domestic though, I work in a sports club.

Today I walked into the gents and was faced with 3 toilets as usual. One covered in shit, including the seat. One was blocked with blue hand towels and shit. The third was covered and filled with blood with lumps of blood soaked tissue stuck to the seat and floor. I assume someone had a nosebleed.

I went to use the toilet brush and a whole turd was squished into the bristles.

What did I do? I put on an extra pair of gloves. I cleaned the toilets using my spare toilet brush and I cleaned those toilets. I threw away the dirty toilet brush.

It was vile. I didn't want to do it. I was angry that my colleagues had locked up the night before and left the toilets in that state. Not even giving them a flush!

But, I am a cleaner and it is my job. Those toilets were shiny and fresh when I left them. And you know what, I felt proud.

It is laughable that a cleaner would complain that a house is too dusty for them to clean!

Some people look down on cleaning. People assume it is a job requiring little skill. We all clean up after ourselves but cleaning up after others is something very different. Lots of people feel it is beneath them and it can cause them to have a terrible attitude. Not everyone is cut out for the job and it seems that you have come across one of those people. Better luck next time!

I would change the locks!

@happy2bhomely you have my utmost respect, you really do. Anyone looking down on cleaners is just plain ignorant. There is a lot to be said for someone who is working hard to earn a wage, especially in conditions like you've described.

The more I think about it the angrier I am that I let it continue for more than one week

happy2behomely - Your colleagues sound lovely! Good on you for doing the job anyway. I’m the same when colleagues don’t pull their weight, as it’s not the customers fault but, that said, you have my respect as I have no problem at all with domestic toilets but I struggle with toilets in commercial premises, especially the gents!

Do not entertain this exchange. You are a lady. A lady who engages Staff. She’s a slovenly numpty. Your house may or may not be clean. If it was “Disney Show Home” you wouldn’t need a ruddy Cleaner! Don’t engage. Get your Key back. You’ve had the last word by terminating her Contract!

Person engaged to clean your home complains its not clean.

Something amusing about this......... (but then she doesn't have a key to my house!!)

Wow she sounds quite mad!! I'm glad you've let her go!

happytobehomely - you are so right. Some people aren’t cut out for cleaning. I did our cleaning for 15 years but I’m genuinely not that good at it. I do get things clean but I am SO slow. I now have cleaners because we can finally afford them and I love it. I respect them completely because they are professionals who do something better than I can.
My dds have been told that they have to have very tidy bedrooms before cleaning day (or they will be doing it themselves). My rule is that the cleaners shouldn’t have to touch ‘used’ things so no tissues, pyjamas, crockery.....They come to clean not to tidy and they shouldn’t have to deal with personal things because that’s not respectful. I change the towels the day before they come because they often refold them after wiping the towel rails and I don’t want them to feel they’re touching anything that’s not fresh.

I'd just reply that I want my key returned ASAP and nothing else

I'm always a bit worried they could get a key cut from your original 😬

Get your key and cut your losses. You may want to change the locks just in case she has had a key cut! Maybe also change your security alarm code if you have one!!!

Should always be present when you intend to sack someone who has your key. On arrival, just ask for key tell them no longer required and pay due rate even though nothing done. It's worth being there as no hassle about security then.

"I don't clean human bodily fluids'

Bloody hell. I go round the house before the cleaner comes. Clear the floors, put clothes away, make sure the bathrooms look ok. But I damn well expect the cleaner to get rid of any pee splashes the kids have left and probably the odd skid mark inside the loo. You know, like I do on the other days.

I've had my cleaner 16 years. She clearly doesn't mind.

Change the barrel on your door and move on. she's a cf!

I've had my cleaner for about 4 years, apart from a little 2 month break when she had an operation and I tried out others. The others were useless. One thought they'd done such a good job in almost half the time-unfortunately she had missed half the house! My cleaner isn't brilliant but the best I've found . I could do better but not got the time or energy. She did ruin our newly fitted kitchen cupboard doors though by using the same cloth she had used to clean the hob with! So she offered to pay for replacements which are due to be delivered shortly. Good reliable trustworthy cleaners are hard to find so if you find one, hold onto her. And hats off to cleaners, they're hard workers if you find a decent one.

But I damn well expect the cleaner to get rid of any pee splashes the kids have left and probably the odd skid mark inside the loo.

Expecting someone else to clean your piss and shit is vile.

And bet you bottom dollar your cleaner does mind but is far too polite to pull you on your skanky ways

All employees have their good and bad points. They are only human. But there is a reason why some are seeking jobs at the lowest end of the scale, those which need no qualifications and are often paid on a ‘for cash ‘ basis. I have had about eight cleaners and all had serious flaws. I learnt that, in order not to have to do the tasks myself, I had to decide on the areas on which I would or would not compromise. You will need to do the same.

Honestly, I think you have a cleaner from the very lowest end and should give her her notice. When hiring a new person agree everything at the outset. I laminated a task list for every room and provided cleaning materials specifying what should be used where. Never, ever pay in advance and make it clear that, should the cleaner be ‘sick’ they will not be paid. Then, if you think the illness is genuine you can pay a bonus later. This will deter ‘taking the mickey’ syndrome. Establish your dominance from the start or you will find that the cleaner will dictate the terms.

I found that older ladies might be slower but they are thorough, know their stuff and do a good job for honest pay.

I’m not someone who tidies up or do much preparation in advance of our cleaner, but I always make sure there’s no poo stains or urine drops on the toilet. I wouldn’t expect someone else to do that for us, it’s disrespectful.

I genuinely don’t mind a bit of urine on a toilet or faeces in it. When I worked in care, I dealt with far worse! I can see why it’s considered disrespectful but I don’t think of it that way - I don’t really think about it at all to be honest.

I do wish everyone would clean their toilets after they’ve had a stomach upset though - it’s not great when there is faeces splattered all over the pan and under the seat - I don’t get why people would leave that for their cleaner but some do! That’s disrespectful in my eyes, especially as there is a higher chance of it making me ill.

Get the key back!

You should have got the key back and fired her afterwards!

She obviously doesn’t like cleaning. Ignore her cheek and move one.

In other news my well-paid full-time nanny housekeeper has asked me to get an au pair to do the donkey work for her, as she has decided housework is simply too exhausting. She has one nine year old to look after who is at school all day. Er, that would be a no.