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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you're all going to have your cleaners back? And have you been paying them?

242 replies

Dalamalama · 19/04/2020 17:08

I'm a self employed cleaner who's obviously lost all of my jobs for now. I was just thinking, what if all my former clients have started cleaning themselves and finding it's not too bad so don't want me back? Also have you been paying your cleaner? Kept in touch with them? Do you expect them to come back?

I've got new temporary work for now and I'm definitely not going back to few who I was thinking of sacking anyway, and I've not heard anything from them.

Also, when do you think we'll be allowed back? At what point will you have your cleaner back?

OP posts:
TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 19/04/2020 18:33

Not sure, have only had her for 4 months, she was patchy and moved me/cancelled at short notice. She’d also charge 3hrs if she did the work in 2 hrs (by hurrying and not hoovering under or behind things)

She’s a nice girl and it was nice to have a bit of help but don’t mind very much if she comes back or not

Only paid her until the end of March, and I guess we’ll see

Grobagsforever · 19/04/2020 18:34

Paying my lovely cleaner in full and can't wait to have her back. She uses fresh gloves to clean each house and will clean when we are out so I don't perceive much risk.

SoWhat21 · 19/04/2020 18:39

I thought I didn’t like cleaning until my cleaner couldn’t come. And I was right I fucking hate it. It takes me ages. I work three days and spend a 4th day each week cleaning. And I’m shit at it. I cannot wait for my cleaner to come back. I’m paying her in full and will keep doing it. I miss her so much. I contact her about once a week to check in

Italianmoma1983 · 19/04/2020 18:40

I paid my cleaner once and that’s all - I have lost my job and my husband has been made furloughed - couldn’t afford to pay her anymore

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 19/04/2020 18:42

I will be thrilled when our cleaner is back! And yes we have been paying her.

NeverTwerkNaked · 19/04/2020 18:45

Still paying my cleaner. I messaged her and told her I would as she had kept me sane for the last 6 years juggling young children and a busy job!
I am still being paid so it seems right to pay it forward.

I hope she will come back after it is all over, but only when she feels comfortable to.

TheGoogleMum · 19/04/2020 18:46

I don't have a cleaner but if we could afford one might get one when it all calms down!

MyFavouritePlace · 19/04/2020 18:47

I can't wait for my cleaner to come back. We have been paying her, I'm still being paid (although I'm WFH) so I have no reason to not pay her. We transfer her pay weekly as normal. Hope you get all your clients back.

Solasum · 19/04/2020 18:48

I’m no longer paying my cleaner as she has returned to her home country, but as soon as lockdown is over I will be getting a new cleaner. For me it is the difference between being able to cope with full time work and DC and have a life myself, and not. Absolutely essential for the household wellbeing

RainbowCookie · 19/04/2020 18:48

Yes must definitely paying her full salary and can’t wait for her to come back

LongPauseNoReply · 19/04/2020 18:50

We're still paying our cleaner full pay. DH is still getting full pay and I rub my own business which is unaffected. I can't wait to have her back, I detest cleaning.

LongPauseNoReply · 19/04/2020 18:50

I run my business, I don't rub it Grin

user1487194234 · 19/04/2020 18:52

Definitely having my cleaner back
Am paying her
Had forgotten how tedious cleaning is

AmelieTaylor · 19/04/2020 18:58

Ihavenoregrets

And your AIBU is??

🙄

PineappleDanish · 19/04/2020 19:00

I cannot WAIT for my cleaner to be back. Yes we've been doing it ourselves, everyone pitching in. But it's not the same as having someone else do it all for you.

Miss her so much. But no, I haven't been paying her. I'm self-employed myself and know the score - no work, no money.

Sushiroller · 19/04/2020 19:00

I hate cleaning mine is 100% coming back

SallyWD · 19/04/2020 19:03

I can't wait for the cleaners to come back! Ours are with an agency. The agency wrote to say they were reclaiming 80% of the wages from the government so wouldn't be charging us.

Original poster
Dalamalama · 19/04/2020 19:06

@spokeTooSoon they give me notice if they don't want me that week and not a quick text the night before. They leave the room when I'm cleaning it and if they must stay (which I hate) they leave me to get on with it. They treat me with respect and not just pretend to.
I just click better with some clients (such is life) but even if I don't, if they're fair I'll stick with them. I can also tell the tell the ones who look down on me (even when they pretend they dont)

One client gives me my favourite perfume every christmas and £20 for my birthday (I love her!) Another client gives me a weeks wage every christmas and has done for years. Those are the ones I would never give up. Not the ones I've cleaned for for 8+ years and who give me a box of quality streets for christmas.

I know I shouldn't expect more but the kindness off some stays with you at times like this when I have to decide who I'm going back to.

OP posts:
JustMarriedBecca · 19/04/2020 19:10

Paying ours and cannot wait to have her back. Am planning a super deep clean too to get the house back to the standard she left it in

pinksoda35 · 19/04/2020 19:16

I am a self employed cleaner too and I so know what you mean about the ones who look down on you.
My fave clients are the ones that treat me like an equal and let me get on with everything and show they appreciate the hard work I do, even if that is just making me a cup of tea and chatting to me like a friend and commenting on how well they think I have done something!
The ones who send a text the night before to cancel??? GRRR.
I cannot wait to get back to work and know I will need to do some extra hours to get the houses back to the standard they were before, do worry some may not want me back-but it seems doubtful really.

OuterMongolia · 19/04/2020 19:21

Still paying ours and looking forward to having them back!

Although a silver lining to no cleaner is that it's given me the incentive to get the DC to help with the cleaning.

LockdownLondon · 19/04/2020 19:21

Not sure yet. I’ve quite enjoyed cleaning. Work have been talking about a pay cut too so income may not be as plentiful. Not been paying as we use a company so assume then have furloughed all their staff.

AGoodPodcastAndANiceCupOfTea · 19/04/2020 19:21

We live in a (very) small flat that we always keep very neat and tidy and tbh clean as well but we thought we needed the cleaner for the deep cleaning of the toilet and bathroom when we had DC who now 2 because I'd be working ft and my dh who always cleaned world be too busy with baby. I was never really convinced that they needed the 3 hours they claimed that they did (although we actually have a pair who then do it in 1.5 hours hence the use of they) and it turns out that I'm right! It takes about 20 minutes maybe 30 to do the bathroom and loo and the rest we aren't doing any more or less than we did before.
We just don't miss them at all and it has shocked me how little we needed them in the first place. Given that it was always a real pita to be out of the flat in all weathers -sometimes even heavy snow - when they came at 8:30 we've decided that we won't be having them back. If we'd at all missed them then we would but we really really haven't and I don't feel great about it but it's more about simply not needing to leave the flat when they come in the future than the money saved.

AnneElliott · 19/04/2020 19:23

Yes definitely will have her back and yes I'm paying her full pay. Just by bank transfer now rather than cash.

Doing the same with the window cleaner too. Can't wait for him to come back either!

chickensaresafehere · 19/04/2020 19:24

Yes & yes