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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:
PeachMoon · 29/07/2019 16:28

Just realised she put the bin contents in the bag with everything else... that is weird then!

Pineapple70 · 29/07/2019 16:28

I had a new cleaner who somehow managed to find a nearly stacked pile of plastic bags containing about £200 worth of clothes I was going to return. She cut off all of the tags, hung up the clothes and threw out the receipts and plastic bags.
She came twice more and each time managed to do something really weird and annoying.

ElektraUnchained · 29/07/2019 16:28

Mad. Maybe she hates baths? Can't be an environmental concern with all that bleach. Confused

SavingSpaces2019 · 29/07/2019 16:31

Did your husband give her instructions on what needed doing?
It doesn't take 3 hours to deep clean a bathroom.

She sounds like me in the sense that she tidies up and organises space as she goes about her work.
I provide that 'extra' service out of my own goodwill because it makes my job easier - and also because my boss appreciates it as it needs doing but they don't have the time.
I work in commercial buildings mainly though so that makes a big difference.

The cleaning jobs i do in people's homes- i've always mentioned it beforehand because i'm aware that i'm in someone else's private home space.
I don't bin the odd bits n bobs that i find - they go in a bowl/space on the side for the owner to make a decision.
One client rang me up in tears because the metal cheapo-looking ring that i would personally have binned had sentimental value to her and she thought she'd lost it the previous year.
I found it underneath the cooker when i pulled it out for a deep clean.

She sounds like a good and efficient cleaner, just needs to be given instructions so she doesn't inadvertently offend you or violate your privacy - or reorganize all your cupboards Grin

Littlechocola · 29/07/2019 16:34

I don’t understand how she took that long on a bathroom? Did she redecorate while she was there?

MitziK · 29/07/2019 16:34

I'd check with your DH in case he had said 'there's all manner of plastic shit over the place that needs to be chucked' and it was taken either a little too literally or he actually thought those things needed to be thrown away.

Either way, I wouldn't write it off as idiocy or malice, just a 'could you stick to x, y or z for the time being, please?' should suffice, as it sounds as though she is intent upon doing a good job even if you need to be careful not to leave an unwashed child hanging around the place.

TomHagenMakesMyBosomTremble · 29/07/2019 16:35

Oh god, I couldn't keep her. I'm really fussy about things having their set places; someone having a poke about, chucking out everything and moving things to their own schedule would drive me nuts Confused. Sounds like she's used to cleaning hotels or similar.

SusieSusieSoo · 29/07/2019 16:38

OMG noooo don't let her back again! Wtaf?!!

Bibijayne · 29/07/2019 16:39

That is not normal. Just no. She hasn't a clue what she's doing.

DPotter · 29/07/2019 16:42

I had a cleaner from an agency once who took down and threw away my birthday cards. They had only been up a day or 2. I complained. The same one would hide the newspapers under the sofa cushions.

MonroeM · 29/07/2019 16:50

Any chance she had access to your booze cupboard as this all sounds like the actions of a manic person in a bit of a frenzy.

3 hours to deep clean a family bathroom? Shaking head here in befuddlement.

No cleaner should throw out anything at all without prior permission. Very odd indeed.

QuckTheDuck · 29/07/2019 16:53

Noone has asked.... WHY WAS THE DETERGENT DRAW IN THE CUPBOARD?!?!?

QuckTheDuck · 29/07/2019 16:54

ok Blush there was lots of x posts while I was reading Blush

JoxerGoesToStuttgart · 29/07/2019 16:55
listsandbudgets · 29/07/2019 16:57

No they're not meant to do that. When she started, my cleaner asked me to designate a place where she should put all those little bits she wasn't quite sure what to do with - lego, earring, small toys, game counters, random pens, coins down back of sofa etc and she simply leaves them there. (large bowl on hall table for those who care!) Every now and then I sort them out.

She has never chucked away my bath plug, my detergent dispenser or anything she's not sure whether I want to keep, it all turns up in the bowl.

Your bathroom must be gleaming though. I don't think anyone has ever spent 3 hours cleaning ours :)

Original poster
beautifullight · 29/07/2019 16:57

DH has been home and I think he's a bit miffed that she only did 1 room in 3 hours. He says I should have been supervising (I was only down stairs with the DC) and I should have given better instructions, like don't throw things away! I'm glad I asked here as DH thinks she did nothing wrong because I didn't correct her.

OP posts:
Original poster
beautifullight · 29/07/2019 17:00

Can anyone see the pic I posted earlier?

OP posts:
Justkeeprollingalong · 29/07/2019 17:05

How bad was your bathroom that it took 3 hours to clean? 😳

Butters83 · 29/07/2019 17:06

Remember she is there to clean, not tidy.

I always tidied away as much personal stuff as possible before our cleaner came round, and just have a chat with her so you are both on the same page with respect to expectations?

One time I had left clothes to dry on the dryer and she very kindly folded them all for me - including my knickers - mortifying! I just made sure to tell her next time not to worry about touching the clothes!

Butters83 · 29/07/2019 17:06

Also you need to be be clear about what you want her to do! Agree what work can be done in the timeframe.

SavingSpaces2019 · 29/07/2019 17:08

He says I should have been supervising (I was only down stairs with the DC) and I should have given better instructions

Remind the dickhead that HE was very impressed so he suggested she do a few hours in our house
So it was HIS responsibility to give specific instructions.

SandAndSea · 29/07/2019 17:11

No, it's not you, it's her. I've had quite a few cleaners over the years and this is not normal at all. A good clean of the bathroom (not cupboards) takes about 45 mins ime. Maybe 60 mins. NOT 3 hours!

I wouldn't have her again.

DullPortraits · 29/07/2019 17:17

Is her name Marie Kondo?

@LynetteScavo Grin hilarious 😂

DrinkSangriaInThePark · 29/07/2019 17:20

She spent 3 HOURS on your bathroom??? I'm really not trying to be rude here, but was it very dirty? I honestly can't even begin to imagine how deep cleaning any bathroom could take 3 hours Shock

Lweji · 29/07/2019 17:23

Sack her, possibly from both jobs. You can't go around following her to ensure she doesn't move your stuff or throws away your stuff, wether you need it or not.
And tell her why. But don't argue with her.