to leave cleaner on her own?

[TTEA]

This is coming off the back of a thread I posted about 45 mins ago but haven't had lots of replies... never had a cleaner before. She arrived this morning and is so lovely. I didn't want to get in her way so I went through basic bits and pieces with her, left a load of products for her and went out. I thought this was the done thing, but now I'm wondering if I was rude? I don't know why but I feel really anxious about this, and feel like I should go back and make conversation. I honestly just didn't want to get in her way...

Anyone? Tell me IABU and silly and that it's my anxiety/pregnancy hormones talking!

You were right to leave her, she will be more relaxed and get on with her work better on her own.

It's nice you had a chat though, especially on her first day.

@idonthaveatattoo thanks for the input. Would never have thought to pay her otherwise!

Thanks folks! Looks like I'm worrying over nothing. Can't wait to get back to a lovely clean house

@boopsy they were my exact thoughts. I haven't had a chance to get a key cut yet but will be dropping one in to her this week! I think I would feel just as awkward as her to be honest! I'll usually be at work just wanted to meet her today. We are getting a new Bluetooth sound system put in, hopefully she'll get some good use out of it

I wouldn't, but it is the norm, on Mumsnet at least.

Hi TTEA,

I've been domestic cleaning for over 20 years and now have a company with over 120 regular clients.

The best thing a client can do for us is not be home during the clean, just so that we can do a good job and get to all the details while they are not using the rooms.

Of course it's fine if they ARE home for the odd clean and it's usually nice to see them, our clients all mostly seem to appreciate and treasure our cleaning staff and make them feel so welcome in their homes and if they are are home during the cleans then they know we won't get to all the areas but with that understanding it can work that way as well. It can be a bit frustrating to not be able to get to all the service areas but we know that clients sometimes have work to do in the home too, or the elderly maybe housebound.

My advice would be, be out during service when you possible can and if it's not possible just stay in a room that maybe your cleaner can do last and work it out that way.

It's doable with consideration on both sides but it is kind of impossible if clients are home and walking around the place just using the house as if the cleaning service were not in there trying to clean it.

Not many do that because they do want it cleaned well and it's a waste of their money and frustrating for the cleaner.

What you are doing is just perfect for both parties really.

@idonthaveatattoo go back to bed, start again, have a strong coffee or a nice breakfast and a good look at yourself.
OP you sound lovely and you dealt with the loon pretty well here, too.

I should add nobody should worry if they will be home. Only one of my customers is regularly out when I go and I manage just fine in every house. I know to let myself in if people aren’t there and I just go with the flow. People can see where I’m at and they move when required, without me needing to say a word. I do just as good a job with or without a customer home. Just putting that out there for anyone who thinks there shouldn’t get a cleaner because they don’t/can’t leave them to it.

@DanglyEarOrnaments thank you! Hey, no harm in trying to make someone's job a little easier now is there? fab that you've done so well with setting up your own company. That's brilliant! I'll make sure I'm in occasionally to say hello and see how she's getting on and then leave her to it! Sounds like that's the general consensus anyway!

Thanks @He11y - there will be times where I am in and have to work from home but I'll just stay in one room and tell her not to clean that one. I'm going to be on maternity leave as well so will likely be in a fair bit during the first few weeks. Other than this, I'll leave her to it when I can

I suspect she was glad of the space to get on with the job in a new house, unwatched so don't feel bad OP.

Perhaps just warn her if your bathroom scales automatically log all weigh-ins... Every cleaner I've had has stepped onto mine when I am not there and I kept having to tell them that's fine, but the scales are connected to the internet and I can see their weight .

@missbattenburg haha that's fantastic! Where can I get a set? (Not because I want to know how much my cleaner weights of course, but because they sound pretty cool!)

I chat with my cleaner when she arrives and when she leaves. Sometimes I go out, or stay out the way in one of the rooms she doesn't clean.

Thank you TTEA, you really do sound like a lovely client (and lovely person in general) [cake ]

OOOps I mean as well for you!

OP you are lovely to think this but definitely NO! You are not being rude at all! I used to be a cleaner and one thing I struggled with were the dynamics of being in someone’s home but not as a guest - I was there to do a job. Cleaning whilst the family were there made me feel really awkward! It was always such a relief when no one was there so I could just do the job without worrying about social niceties at the same time! I really think that all cleaners would feel the same and the last thing they would think is that you’re being rude for not being there x

Thanks @Fickleflock - I just came back for the last 10 minutes as I felt this best, to at least get to know her a bit. Bloody hell she's done a good job! Lovely woman too. I think I was massively overthinking but so glad I started this thread. Really nice to hear from other people's perspectives. As I said I just want her to feel happy and comfortable

I specifically booked my cleaner to come on the last day of my working week. Nothing better than coming back to a clean house just in time for your weekend 😊

Personally, I would give it a couple sessions before giving her her own key, but I just like to have met people more than once before I give them keys to my house. Not a reflection on cleaners so much as on me!

I suspect, much like many other professions, asking people straight up what their preferred protocols are, can be the fastest way to understand how they work. :)

@whatwouldyoubelikeat28 absolutely agree, however we have cameras on all the doors/windows to our house which stream straight to our phones (we were burgled last year, whilst we were in the house. It was extremely traumatic - but that's another story!) so we would know if she had ever come in. Otherwise absolutely, I would probably give it a bit longer

If I'm in at the same time as my cleaners they're annoyed. They want to come in do a good job then go. They don't want tea or chat. They work for an agency. I did have a cleaner who liked tea and my life story. Just different situations. Your tone is quite patronising. Cleaners are hardworking people who are working for a pay cheque.

@derxa I didn't mean to be patronising? I am sure she is extremely hard working and I'm paying her very well. Maybe there's a fine line between patronising and nice, as I didn't mean to come across as the former.

I think that’s what annoyed me too derxa

Apart from derxa voiced her opinion appropriately without the need for a nasty comment and swearing. As I said, apologies if I come across as patronising. It's easy to be misinterpreted on the internet.

Cleaner here, she would have been grateful to have a empty house. I always think sometimes I look like a fool when I'm figuring out a new hoover or even looking for plugholes.