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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a cleaner shouldn't do this!

92 replies

beautifullight · 29/07/2019 15:19

I've never had a cleaner before so had no idea what to expect. The cleaner in question started cleaning DH's office a few weeks ago and he was very impressed so he suggested she do a few hours in our house.

Cleaner left having spent 3 hours deep cleaning the bathroom. She has thrown away lego, bath toys (plastic and not mouldy the slightest), DD's bobbles off the windowsill, the bath plug, the detergent draw of the washing machine and loads of random bits of toys.

She has rearranged some cupboards in the DC's room so the vacuum no longer has a home and DS2's trousers are now stored in a big gift bag with other things on top. The cleaning supplies and spare toiletries are displayed very nicely though!

I've spent 20 minutes going through the bin bag of things from the bathroom (which included the contents of the bathroom bin Envy) to find the plug and picking out all the other non-rubbish and I still have to redo the cupboard. Angry

AIBU to not have removed all these things, should I have been checking what she was doing?

OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 29/07/2019 15:20

She threw away the detergent drawer from the washing machine?!

Elphame · 29/07/2019 15:20

That's bizarre. She should not be throwing away anything without your approval.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 29/07/2019 15:20

Shock no! Mine didn’t through anything away unless it was in a bin. That’s awful.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 29/07/2019 15:21

*throw

Original poster
beautifullight · 29/07/2019 15:23

The detergent draw was under the kitchen sink, she tidied the cupboard... I was most shocked with the bath plug!

OP posts:
CoraPirbright · 29/07/2019 15:24

Good grief!! What on earth made her think throwing away the detergent drawer was a good idea??

No she absolutely shouldn't be throwing away anything without asking you first (unless v obviously rubbish and in a bin already).

I have the opposite problem - mine wont touch anything to throw it away. Came home from holiday to find that the end of the bread which I had accidentally left out was so mouldy it was practically walking about on its own. Why she didn't chuck it I don't know!!

LynetteScavo · 29/07/2019 15:25

Is her name Marie Kondo?

user1493413286 · 29/07/2019 15:25

How bizarre; it wouldn’t occur to me to tell a cleaner not to do those things so you’ve done nothing wrong. Are you telling her not to come back?

thecatsthecats · 29/07/2019 15:26

There will be people along shortly to tell you that your house was too messy to clean, but that is quite besides the point. Any little bits like that should be put in a little bag and left with a note saying she wasn't sure if they were rubbish or not.

A good cleaner learns the routines of your home - they don't treat it as their own on the first visit keeping or binning things at their whim!

AltheaVestr1t · 29/07/2019 15:26

God no, get rid. My cleaner collects any bits in his way and leaves them in a pile. If he does cupboards he sticks any random bits in a dish. Throwing your stuff away is really invasive and a bit weird.

Expressedways · 29/07/2019 15:27

WTAF. Definitely not normal, why on earth would she think that your bath plug or detergent drawer for the washing machine were rubbish?! No you shouldn’t have to remove these things before she comes although I would normally tidy away things like bath toys and hair ties. 3 hours just to do the bathroom is also crazy, unless your house was completely disgusting most cleaners would manage a 3 bed house in that time.

Usually if she was a good cleaner I’d say to give her more specific instructions next time but this lady sounds batshit and I wouldn’t use her again.

MyKingdomForACaramel · 29/07/2019 15:27

She threw away the bath plug Shock

PuppyMonkey · 29/07/2019 15:28

Used to have a cleaner (weeps nostalgically) and she would never throw stuff away, she’d move it and clean under it, then put it back exactly where she found it.

cestlavielife · 29/07/2019 15:28

Give clear instructions.

Tell her anything she thinks should be thrown to put in one basket for your review

Dotty1970 · 29/07/2019 15:28

You really are bu and should have asked her not to throw away the detergent drawer, how else is she to know..

Bookworm4 · 29/07/2019 15:29

Cleaners clean not clear out cupboards unless specifically asked. Trousers in a gift bag? Throwing plug and Lego away? All very odd.

rainbowbridge · 29/07/2019 15:29

Sorry but throwing away the bath plug has me creasing 😂🤣 what a strange woman!

borisisbonkers · 29/07/2019 15:29

So your detergent drawer wasn’t in the machine? I’d give her more specific instructions if she cleaned well. One more chance...

Tensixtysix · 29/07/2019 15:30

I'm a cleaner and going into cupboards (without being asked to) is a big NO!
That's an invasion of privacy! How many other draws has she been looking at?
And why on earth did it take 3 hours to do one room? Was it very dirty?

She should stick to offices.

Bookworm4 · 29/07/2019 15:30

*drawer not draw for that you are unreasonable 😉

Aquamarine1029 · 29/07/2019 15:31

I think she might be unhinged and I would not be having her in my home again. You just can't trust her judgement.

Crunchymum · 29/07/2019 15:32

Did she prise the detergent drawer from the machine? Or do you keep it somewhere else? Grin

Bookworm4 · 29/07/2019 15:36

Why is drawer not in the machine? I’ve never known anyone to remove it unless to clean.

NoUsernamesILike · 29/07/2019 15:37

The cleaner clearly thought those items did not spark joy....

That would annoy me though, without your permission she should not bin any items other than rubbish

Why was your detergent drawer detached from the washing machine

LagunaBubbles · 29/07/2019 15:39

Who knows what she will throw away if you ever let this strange woman into your house again!

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