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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:
byvirtue · 19/04/2020 20:18

I love my cleaner but she doesn't want to clean at the moment so I've just hired a new cleaner to take over in the interim. We have a big house so its really easy to isolate from them whilst they get on with it. I hope my cleaner will come back but thankfully have someone else if not. I hate cleaning, its not how I want to spend the little free time I have between work and childcare.

Floobydoodoo · 19/04/2020 20:20

Yes I’m still paying them and yes I cannot wait for them to come back!

oblada · 19/04/2020 20:30

I'm taken aback by the idea of paying for a service I don't receive... especially if there is a government scheme in place to support self employed people.

Our cleaner isn't coming (she has young kids - otherwise I'm sure we could find a way for her to continue working if she wanted to) and I'm not paying her. She is fantastic however she is quite unreliable and the week before lockdown she didn't come but didn't notify me (not highly unusual unfortunately - I know she's fine though, through social media).

If she continues to work as a cleaner after this I will have her back but probably not every week as I'll be at home on mat leave in a few months.

Noconceptofnormal · 19/04/2020 20:36

She isn't coming at the moment but was already off sick before the crisis. I'm not paying her as we have lost a lot of lovey in our business but we're not covered by the emergency government funds, where as she will be, the government bail puts are pretty generous for those who get them.

We're managing without her, I'd love to have her back but I think that we will have to see whether we can afford it by the time we're not in lockdown.

Classiccar · 19/04/2020 20:40

@Dalamalama

I had the nerve to do 15 mins over my allotted time of 2 hours and invoice an extra £3.75. I wasn’t happy with leaving the staircase as it was 🤷🏻‍♀️

He went beserk. This was the chap who put the tumbledryer on in the kitchen as I was cleaning it on the hottest day of the year.

If I told him the real reason I was leaving, ie he’s actually just not very nice, of course he would take no responsibility....

underneaththeash · 19/04/2020 20:40

I can't wait for ours to come back. We've paid in full until the end of April when the company can claim furlough - I'll then pay them 20%. But I'm hoping they'll be back by mid-May.

saveforthat · 19/04/2020 20:41

I wont be having my cleaner back. I've just discovered how rubbish she was. In fact it's years since I had a cleaner who did a good job. I was just too busy/lazy to try another one or do it myself. My house is cleaner than it's been in years as I have been doing a bit every day.

JanewaysBun · 19/04/2020 20:41

I miss my cleaner so much 😭😭 i can never get my sink as sparkling as she can. Can't wait to have her back.

Paying full whack, I think she's still cleaning for other people (we cancelled her but she still wanted to come) so maybe back end of June?

Haven't messaged her tbh

LockdownLondon · 19/04/2020 20:43

Those who mention gardeners. Why aren’t they still working? I don’t see the risk there really.

AtiaoftheJulii · 19/04/2020 20:44

I'm still paying her and I cannot bloody wait for her to be able to come back.

Megan2018 · 19/04/2020 20:47

I offered to pay, she refused.

We probably won’t be having her back as it looks like we will be taking a big hit financially. If we can afford her we will, if we have to lose her we will pay 4 weeks as notice though (£120).

oblada · 19/04/2020 20:49

Pp has also mentioned window cleaners - not sure why they wouldn't be working unless childcare issue?
I'm not paying our window cleaner. He decided to stop working but will now re-start so will be paid then.

Bloomburger · 19/04/2020 20:53

Yes and 50%

PinkDramaLlama · 19/04/2020 20:59

Can't wait to get her back. We're paying 50% of her money as we are down to 50% income ourselves.

flowerycurtain · 19/04/2020 21:00

My gardener still comes - they're outside with their own tools nowhere near to us. Can't understand why that's not ok.

Window cleaner has chosen not to come. Not paying Him because I can't see a reason why he can't work. He doesn't have to see us and can be outside the whole time.

The cleaner isn't coming and I'm paying her in full for as long as it takes. I miss her so much! It was our choice to say to her not co come - I'm surprised people still have cleaners in the house.

WhyCantIThinkOfAGoodOne · 19/04/2020 21:00

I've been paying (obviously she hasn't been coming) and will have her back when allowed.

ellesbellesxxx · 19/04/2020 21:02

YES I will be having her back, I miss her!
Been paying half (I am self employed and not had all payments made/some pupils having a break)
We have been cleaning ourselves but we won’t be able to keep it up when both going back to work

ellesbellesxxx · 19/04/2020 21:04

Oh and we have been messaging occasionally, just checking all ok... will have to follow guidance as to when she comes back

Bluntness100 · 19/04/2020 21:05

I’m paying her, she doesn’t ask me to, she wouldn’t, I just transfer money every couple of weeks, and I can’t wait for her to come back, I know it’s first world, but she’s excellent at her job and she’s a sign of normality for me.

firstmentat · 19/04/2020 21:06

I checked with my cleaner, she is happy that she is able to claim 80% of average profits back, so we agreed that I am not paying her.
I am totally lost without her, I haven't really properly cleaned my house myself in my life, so this is quite a shock. The first two weeks were a nightmare, the mess almost reached ceilings - now I am trying to keep reasonably on top of it but god it is hard.

Doilooklikeatourist · 19/04/2020 21:06

Hopefully having her back , however part of the job is cleaning our holiday cottage , and if we have no one staying , there’s not as much work
She’s fully self employed though , so will have money from govt , I can’t afford to pay her , as I’m not actually earning any money at the moment

babygrootandstarlord · 19/04/2020 21:26

I am paying mine and kept in touch. Definitely want to have her back because I have some mobility issues that means I can't do a good job on certain areas. Maybe June?

Namechangedforthisreply7 · 19/04/2020 21:29

Not rtft but yes I am paying her (we’re still working and getting paid so makes sense) and I will have her back as Soon as the restrictions are relaxed enough to allow it.

1981m · 19/04/2020 21:44

My god, no. I can't wait for our cleaner to come back. Will have her back as soon as I can.

Bloodybridget · 19/04/2020 21:48

We'll be delighted to see our cleaner again. We'll give her a lump sum as a welcome back.