Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
HundredMilesAnHour · 29/07/2019 15:42

Sounds bonkers and is definitely not normal.

When my current cleaner started, she went through some of my cupboards, including the bathroom cabinet and rearranged the contents (although I think this was more that she cleaned inside and put things back in different places). I was VERY unhappy and told her on no account was she to go in cupboards, drawers etc. So now she doesn't. Simples.

StormTreader · 29/07/2019 15:44

Sounds like shes used to doing hotels and offices where anything "left out" is thrown away.

Freesunglasses · 29/07/2019 15:44

I'm a cleaner and never even go in cupboards, I'd certainly never throw anything away. I did throw some used teabags away at a clients and got a telling off from his lodger (he has the weirdest lodgers) I told him I had no idea he was saving pigging teabags! ,😁 I now throw absolutely nothing, including mouldy bread.

Marmitebread · 29/07/2019 15:45

Not normal cleaner behaviour. I wouldn't have her back in the house and I'd check closely what she gets up to at DH's work.

Cosentyx · 29/07/2019 15:46

Don't hire her back!

IncrediblySadToo · 29/07/2019 15:48

I wouldn’t have her back - anyone that throws out Lego is not to be trusted.

Rumours0fAHurricane · 29/07/2019 15:51

Not normal, no. However your house does sound like it had lots and lots of 'bits' around which do make cleaning difficult. Is this the case?

That aside though, a cleaner would normally put them all to one side

VenusTiger · 29/07/2019 15:51

I’m loving the subtle drawer corrections 😁

Original poster
beautifullight · 29/07/2019 15:59

The detergent drawer is actually an insert that I don't use.

To think a cleaner shouldn't do this!
OP posts:
Original poster
beautifullight · 29/07/2019 16:05

The toys were all in a tub next to the bath. She emptied the tub into DS1's empty bin to bleach the shower curtain. I popped my head in a few times to ask if she needed anything but all she asked for was bleach.

OP posts:
Topseyt · 29/07/2019 16:08

That would infuriate me. Spell out to her that she throws nothing away without your express permission. If she doesn't get that then terminate her contract.

Why on earth is the detergent drawer kept separate from the washing machine? I've occasionally taken mine out to give it a quick wipe, but it lives in it's slot in the washing machine. I've never heard of them being kept separate. That's bizarre. Still doesn't mean that she should have thrown it out though.

PeachMoon · 29/07/2019 16:08

Did she actually throw them away though, or just put them in a bag for while she was cleaning - you said you've retrieved them?

When our cleaner comes I take everything out from the shower / around the sink and put it all in a big bucket type thing so she can clean efficiently, maybe she just chucked it all in a bag out of the way so she could get at all the surfaces? Otherwise it takes ages moving everything and putting it all back?

starfishmummy · 29/07/2019 16:08

If she comes again, you need to have a chat with her about what she us supposed to be doing. Throwing stuff away and rearranging cupboards is not part of a cleaners remit.

IABUQueen · 29/07/2019 16:09

Omg I can’t stop laughing at how bizarre that is!

Threw the detergent drawer for the washing machine ? Who does that!

VenusTiger · 29/07/2019 16:09

She should only throw out bin contents end of

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 29/07/2019 16:11

Fucking hell!

Did she just decide you weren’t having baths anymore? Grin

This is bizarre! I can’t imagine what she thought she was doing. Also, she can’t have gotten much cleaning done if she’s done all that reorganising!

LynetteScavo · 29/07/2019 16:14

I actually think she sounds ace.

Give her a box and tell her to put all rubbish not already in the bin for you to look at. She'll think you're weird but I'd love someone that ruthless to take over my house.

cantfindname · 29/07/2019 16:15

She's bonkers!

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 29/07/2019 16:15

As a cleaner myself .... I only throw away what is in the bin. If I find anything lying around on the floor it gets picked up and placed somewhere.

I have had my own son crying so hard that I throw away a piece of paper that was the most important in the world Grin

She should not be touching anything or throwing away anything. I’m stunned at this

5foot5 · 29/07/2019 16:17

Wow what was your bathroom like if she needed 3 hours to deep clean it? Did you agree with her beforehand that this was how you wanted her to spend her time?

Topseyt · 29/07/2019 16:18

I have never removed the inserts from my detergent drawer at all, and I never use them either.

I don't think she sounds great to be honest. I've never bleached the shower curtains. It goes in the washing machine with the next load and the clean one goes up in it's place.

She sounds like she used far too much bleach. Other cleaning agents are better for baths, sinks and shower trays. Bleach is for the toilet.

ethelfleda · 29/07/2019 16:19

That is extremely odd OP.

MediocrePenguin · 29/07/2019 16:20

Bonkers. Call her and ask her what she was thinking?!

TixieLix · 29/07/2019 16:24

I've never had a cleaner but would expect them to vacuum, dust, wipe surfaces etc. I would not expect them to go through cupboards, rearranging them, or throw anything away that is not in a bin. If you let her back OP you're going to have to set some ground rules around what is out of bounds.

IABUQueen · 29/07/2019 16:24

Coming to think of it though,
I’m willing to risk her throw away stuff (probably give her a box next time) for the amount of deep cleaning she is willing to do !!

Organise cupboards and bleach shower curtains ?! Whoah! 3 hours in the toilet scrubbing away!!

I need me one of those!