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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Calling all cleaners or who hire a cleaner, aibu?

42 replies

Freesunglasses · 16/07/2019 21:19

I've cleaned for a lady for over a year now. She mostly left me to it, said just do what you want and all's been well.
Right now she's packing up to move so she asked me a few weeks ago if I had any boxes, I said yes, she said you'll be busy packing up next week I was a bit Hmm anyway I took the boxes and she had me packing stuff from her cupboards, fair enough there wasn't a huge amount of cleaning to be done.

I then received a text asking me the next time I go if I'd empty all the kitchen cupboards, bathrooms cupboards, and to use any leftover boxes to store it all (we used all the boxes I took last week so I'm thinking she expects me to take more, I don't have any more and I'm certainly not asking around, its not my job.
This is on top of cleaning kitchen, emptying and refilling dishwasher (always loads to put in) cleaning her bedroom and ensuite and any other bits that need doing.
Aibu to think she's taking the piss? I'm a cleaner not a p/a, house packer!

To be honest if she'd asked if I minded I probably would have been fine with it, it's just the assumption that I'll do it.

OP posts:
percheron67 · 16/07/2019 21:39

Did she expect overtime? If so, hopefully she paid you.

Theflying19 · 16/07/2019 21:45

I'd ask her what the priorities are, if you don't mind packing. But only do what you can fit in your allocated time. And no YANBU. You clean for her. You're not her servant. She should have asked politely. Manners cost nothing!!

John470322 · 16/07/2019 21:46

Our cleaners will be here on Thursday afternoon and will clean. They will do nothing else as by the logic of the title they are cleaners.
We use a company so do not get the same two cleaners every time but every person who has been has been friendly, helpful and cleaned.

I'd never think of asking them to do packing or similar, that is the job of the removal company.

Stompythedinosaur · 16/07/2019 21:47

I think she's being rude, yes. I would let her know you can't supply any more boxes, and say that you've priced her house for the time it takes to clean so you won't be able to do any packing in addition to that.

leghairdontcare · 16/07/2019 21:47

I'd never ask my cleaner to do that - not their job at all.

Sciurus83 · 16/07/2019 21:49

No that's crazy! Not the job you have been employed to do at all, if its INSTEAD of cleaning she should ask if that's on because it's a change to the contract

scaryteacher · 16/07/2019 21:49

I've employed my cleaner since 2006. I am currently in the throes of moving back to the UK. My cleaner is here to clean, not pack, nor to provide boxes. I am doing the non breakable packing; the movers will be doing the rest.

The more she cleans, the less I have to do when I move out!

IncrediblySadToo · 16/07/2019 21:50

It’s incredibly rude of her to assume you’d do whatever you were asked/told.

Will you still be cleaning for her when she moves?

Pipandmum · 16/07/2019 21:51

I wouldn’t expect my cleaner to do anything else. I might ask her if she wanted any more hours as I could use help packing, but I’d expect that to be a totally separate job and she’s not at all obliged to do it.

Dieu · 16/07/2019 21:52

Wouldn't even cross my mind to ask my cleaner to do this.
That said, I don't think I'd mind if asked to do it (I earn less than my cleaner!). It's not arduous work for the money, and if there's plenty of time to do it in, what's the difference ...
Of course it would be completely different if she gave unrealistic timescales to do it all in.

DontCallMeBaby · 16/07/2019 21:55

God no. We employ cleaners via a company, they’re paid to clean the house, no duration is specified, so I couldn’t even say ‘please spend your x hours packing rather than cleaning’ because there IS no ‘x hours’. I imagine their boss would, politely and professionally, tell me where to go if I suggested such a thing.

mumtobob · 16/07/2019 21:55

Gosh I might have asked a cleaner to do light packing instead of cleaning - especially if she'd been with me a while - I don't think I would have thought anything of it - as long as not massively strenuous.

Yellowweatherwarning · 16/07/2019 22:01

Mm cleaner here. In the past 6 years I have :
Packed for a man & his dc to go on holiday.
Put up numerous Christmas trees..
Taken down the same trees..
Dog walked +bathed.
Organised carpet fitters.
Hung new curtains and organised soft furnishings after an extension build.
Cleaned out a chicken shed.
Christmas shopped and wrapped for an entire family.
Washed /dried /ironed about 10000000 loads of washing.
In return I am highly thought of, well recommended, paid holidays and get Christmas presents!!
Have also packed and aided a move.. Cleaning both houses along the way..
Ime being willing and able goes a long way!!

DougalsBlueJumper · 16/07/2019 22:09

I wonder if she'll ask the removal men to do a spot of cleaning for her? Probably not.

I think it's disrespectful for her to assume that you'll just turn your hand to whatever job she decides, as if you're a servant.

Original poster
Freesunglasses · 16/07/2019 22:22

@Yellowweatherwarning I've wiped a bottom changed pad (elderly client) I've ironed, washed, I've made lunch, I've dog walked, hung curtains, emptied commodes.
I've never been asked to put a Christmas tree up or down, shopped and wrapped presents or packed for a client.
Perhaps I need to up my game! Grin

Are you sure you're a cleaner?

OP posts:
Original poster
Freesunglasses · 16/07/2019 22:25

I get paid for two hours, no overtime and yes I'll continue cleaning in the new house (maybe)
I think it was just the expectation that I'd take boxes and the list of things to do In two hours! Of course I'll just do what I can.

OP posts:
hibbledibble · 16/07/2019 22:29

These sort of things need to be agreed in advance. I agree with you that she shouldn't just assume you are happy to do these tasks.

I also think you should communicate clearly to manage her expectations. If you are happy to pack, let her know, but say you will do what you can within the time, and will not have time for cleaning, plus that you do not have any further boxes, so she will need to source them herself.

Cyberworrier · 16/07/2019 22:43

I think you should have questioned her when she asked if you had boxes. I would,if the occasion arose, ask my cleaner to help me with packing, but it would either be instead of regular cleaning or in addition to.i would not expect my cleaner to supply me with packing materials that seems insane.

Yellowweatherwarning · 17/07/2019 09:25

Missed out the after op care of an elderly lady who aid an eye removed.... Envynot envy....
And the request of viewing a youtube tutorial on emptying a ddog's anal glands....

Original poster
Freesunglasses · 26/07/2019 07:42

Got another text this week giving a long list of things that needed packing and 'could I move the settee?' of course I move furniture to vac under but she wanted it moving to a different part of the room.
She then said "you'll be busy unpacking all this In the new house"

I'm just a bit Shock

OP posts:
Singlebutmarried · 26/07/2019 07:48

There are professional movers. But I’m guessing they charge more than you.

Is she a valued client?

Piffle11 · 26/07/2019 07:50

I think with these texts she's testing the water - seeing how you react, and if you go along with it, then she's going to continue to take advantage. I think you need to say to her that you don't have any more boxes (if she says 'can you get some?' then tell her you already asked at the supermarket etc and there's none - and if she wants them buying tell her you have no spare cash) and make sure she's aware that you can only stay for the agreed time: maybe say you have another job to go to, or are meeting with a prospective new client? I presume you have more than one person you clean for, if you're only doing 2 hours for her (is that just one day, a couple of days, or every day?) Sounds as though she's going to let you do all the donkey work for her without extra payment. I don't think there's anything wrong with helping her move, provided she had put it to you first, and agreed to pay for the extra hours. My aunt was a cleaner and the amount of piss-taking some of her clients did never failed to astound me.

ZenNudist · 26/07/2019 07:51

Ok its an imposition but you could just tell her you will do what you can but its going to take a lot longer than 2 hours. Can you fit in the overtime? Do you want to do it? If so then tell her she is going to need to pay you for the hours you do and that you expect a break as you aren't a slave.

Otherwise just say "I will only have time to do the usual work. I suggest a packing service would be more appropriate to assist with your move".

Topsecretidentity · 26/07/2019 07:52

No she needs to hire a professional moving company to do this. She's taking the piss, and I'd rather lose the client than allow myself to be taken advantage of in that way.

stucknoue · 26/07/2019 08:02

She could be polite about it but to a certain extent, if I pay for 3 hours of time it shouldn't matter what household tasks they are within reason. It's been an ongoing issue that cleaners want to be paid for a set number of tasks rather than time, leave early rather than find another thing to do but never stay late!

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