To think that if the politicians haven't cancelled their cleaners, maybe I should un-cancel mine?

[cramboodle]

When the lockdown was announced I paused my cleaner, but have carried on paying her. She said she'd be happy to still come but that 8 of her 10 clients had cancelled. I'm not worried about her coming from our perspective, and I don't think it's against the rules as she would be going to work and could easily keep her distance from us, but as she travels by bus I thought it best to give her the opportunity to stay at home. Of course, she may have simply gone out and got another job by now (especially if the other clients aren't still paying her), but I hope not as she's been my cleaner for several years and I don't want to lose her.

But I was just doing some Googling and I found (on a cleaning company website) a clip of Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson exchanging warm words about cleaners at PM Question Time on 25th March because they (in JC's words) "keep our places hygienic and safe". It made me wonder whether they have cancelled their own domestic cleaners. Somehow I can't imagine even Jeremy Corbyn cleaning his own loo during the lockdown!

Have most of you mumsnetters cancelled your cleaners, or not?

Cancelled beginning of March. still paying her.

I cancelled mine as it seemed fairer... and our nearest tube stations are closed. Still paying her. Been doing a bit of cleaning myself which has been a new experience.

I haven’t cancelled mine. The reason is is that it’s my mum and she isn’t cleaning for anyone else.

If my mum was visiting other houses then it’s unlikely I would have her here

Cancelled but still paying. Missing them terribly!

It’s amazing how little cleaning our house actually needs! With a roomba.

I wouldn't, it would be mixing households which we arnt supposed to be doing.

Yes, I cancelled.
Apart from risking her health, and, potentially risking ours, traveling from one house to another, in truth, she would have difficulty trying to clean when we are all at home all day.

I’m paying her but she’s not coming. It would feel really unfair on her. I bloody hate having to clean the house though.

Cancelled but paying for the past 4 weeks. She says about 8 out of 12 of her clients have cancelled. I don’t think it’s ethical for me to ask her to travel to us, and her to therefore come into contact with a household that is not her own, during a lockdown

I assume they were talking about commercial cleaners who clean places like...hospitals. I'm sure Corbyn can clean a loo. Although he'd probably use a brush to annoy mumsnetters.

“ I wouldn't, it would be mixing households which we arnt supposed to be doing.”

But people who can’t work at home are permitted to travel to work.

My cleaner cancelled me and all of her clients. We agreed to pay half pay as a retainer, which is what she asked for. She is self employed and does self assessment so says she will be able to claim 80% on government scheme. My back is bad and so I struggle to clean without taking many, many pauses to sit for 5 mins before doing a bit more. I can't have window cleaner or oven cleaner either. I absolutely hate cleaning too.

Cancelled but paying here too.

But people who can’t work at home are permitted to travel to work.

I think you have to use some common sense - there is a big difference between driving a train, and coming into people's homes.

Now, obviously 1000s of carers across the country are still going in to people's homes, as otherwise 1000s of vulnerable people wouldn't be able to wash / eat / use the loo, so that is necessary.

My cleaner coming into my home, however, is a lovely, lovely luxury I've been able to afford / justify to myself for the last couple of years. It isn't necessary, when we are ALL being asked to do what we can to social distance.

Back - I was just making an observation. I don’t have a cleaner. I can dream!

My elderly mum might need a cleaner soon.

Lilac I know but when the work is in someone else's house it is still mixing households. Im cleaning g everything that cones into tbe house at the moment, the house would feel contaminated if someone else came in and touched all our things.

I’ve cancelled but am paying, how long are you likely to keep paying for hypothetically? 6-8 weeks is fine, but beyond that Iess sure. Will they be able to govt hello if self employed? I pay £70 a week (family house + ironing, add a 25% agency fee too)?

I very much doubt jezza has a cleaner coming. Boris on the other hand.. man's probably never held a Hoover let alone cleaned a loo.

I don't think Corbyn was talking about HIS cleaner lol. He was talking about the cleaners that keep OUR (as in the nation's) places safe and hygenic.

We've cancelled but still paying.

As per pp above, I really don't think Corbyn was talking about his own cleaner.

Ours isn’t coming at the moment - nor would we want her to. Too much of a risk for both parties and I think not in the spirit of current guidelines. We’re paying her half (she does 4 hours pw, normally £50). Interestingly she works five afternoons pw for an extremely well-off family and they’re not paying her at all.

@LearningTowerOfPizza I think we’ll be happy to pay her indefinitely - but it’s easier for us to commit to that perhaps as we’re only paying half of the usual £50.

My cleaner comes from an agency - she is furloughed- I do not pay her

We are paying ours just under £200 per week not to come. Can’t do this indefinitely but even when lockdown is lifted, till there’s a vaccine will I be ok with her around when I also see my elderly parents? I honestly don’t know.

Our lovely cleaner isn’t cleaning at the moment but we’re still paying (I’m working full time at home and DH on full pay furlough) so we will continue to pay her even though she’s not cleaning as that seems fair and when the restrictions are relaxed all will return to normal. In the meantime, if I’m getting paid I won’t reduce her wages.

A number of our neighbours who generally don’t pay her if they are eg on holiday or just don’t want to have a clean that week, expect her to clean as and when, and I think they are tight bastards. I have said to them that we pay for her time each week, regardless If we don’t want her to clean. Some of the tight bastards will only pay for their choice of days and happy to cancel with no warning or recompense for cleaners. I think they are right bastards and tight as fuck.