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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Covid and cleaner

49 replies

UnicornAndSparkles · 19/07/2020 10:48

A very first world problem, I know. Forgive me.

We are fortunate enough to have had a regular cleaner pre-covid. 2 ladies, once a week for 1.5h.

Since covid all the ladies in the company were furloughed. They're now back working and we've been asked if we would like to have them back. I'm unsure. Is it too soon? They would be wearing masks and gloves but obviously would have been in and out of several people's homes so it's a bit of a risk.

My DH and I are relatively low-risk, in our 30s. Our 3yr old goes to nursery and is in a bubble if 8 kids 2 days a week. The rest of the week she is with us.

Are we mad for wanting our wonderful cleaning ladies back? Is this an unnecessary risk? Obviously we have been doing the cleaning ourselves so its not a tip! But would be lovely to have a professional clean again and use our Sunday mornings with our DD rather than taking turns to clean.

AIBU voting:

Yes = get the cleaner back. Perhaps you have too?

No = too risky, a second wave is coming and we need to be more aware. You shouldn't have cleaners in your home if it can be avoided.

OP posts:
bigdecisionstomake · 19/07/2020 10:59

Not clear about the voting but I have been having my cleaners back since the beginning of June. They are self employed and claimed the grant available to them for March/April/May but wanted to start earning for themselves in June again. We paid them the 20% they were short as a kind of retainer over that period.

Even pre-covid they always wore gloves and were fastidious about changing cloths for each new house so I was confident their standards of hygiene would be good. They are in the house for 2 hours and as we are still working from home we shut ourselves in the office while they're in the house and they don't clean that, I do it myself at the weekend. They then clean the rest of the house and finally as they are leaving they disinfect all the door handles and switches etc... as they mop their way out.

We had a discussion with them prior to them coming back to say that we wouldn't be providing hot or cold drinks for the moment and they said that wasn't a problem and they bring either a flask or water bottle with them depending on the weather. We will review that ongoing though.

Whilst I appreciate it is not entirely risk free I am comfortable that the risk is mitigated as far as possible and for me the benefit far outweighs the risk. I appreciate we all have different views on risk though.

MatildaTheCat · 19/07/2020 11:01

My cleaner has been back for weeks thank goodness. I just stay right out of her way. If everyone remains so hyper cautious the economy will tank even more that it already is.

Msfrazzled · 19/07/2020 11:07

I wouldn't have anyone in the house regularly if I could avoid it. Was supposed to have a gas engineer over but he text me to say he's had a positive covid test even without symptoms. So it's lucky he even got a test.

And maybe stop calling them ladies!

Nomorezoom · 19/07/2020 11:08

Mine came back a few weeks ago and it's bliss. We take the kids out for the morning or play on the garden when she's there so we're not on top of her.

nothingcomestonothing · 19/07/2020 11:13

My cleaner came back several weeks ago, she actually only stopped because she had no childcare. I'm at work and the DC are school when she's here so any risk is very minimal. lf you are young and have no health issues I'd think you very over cautious not to have cleaners back, but it's your choice.

NotIncandescentWithRage · 19/07/2020 11:13

Well they’ll be wearing aprons in the homes and disposing of the PPE so that’s something to consider. But there was a thread about a woman who was insistent on her cleaner wearing a mask and the general consensus on here was she was nuts to get the cleaner to wear them if she stayed out of their way and it would be pointless and make the job harder for the cleaner. Also something else to consider.

Suzie6789 · 19/07/2020 11:15

Ours have been back for 2 weeks, and we stay out of her way in a room which isn’t cleaned.

vanillandhoney · 19/07/2020 11:16

Get your cleaner back.

I'm a dog walker and have been going in and out of clients homes again since the beginning of June. It's fine. Nobody has worn masks. I use sanitiser and bring all my own equipment for the dogs, and wipe the door handles down when I leave.

I've even gone in for meet and greets and spent 30+ minutes with customers in the same room. And I've drunk out of their cups, sat on their furniture and even used their toilets.

The chance of you catching COVID off a surface your cleaner has cleaned and touched is absolutely minute.

ExtraOnions · 19/07/2020 11:17

My cleaner has been back for weeks ... been fantastic to have her back

Needmoremummyjuice · 19/07/2020 11:21

Get your cleaner back Iv had mine back for about 6 weeks and it’s brill. She’s happy to wear PPE if I want her to (mask, apron, gloves, visor is what her company are offering) but she usually comes when we are at work so not in the house anyway so I left it up to whatever she felt comfy with. Though I had been on top of things in lockdown but my cleaner just has a way of making things extra clean!!

LillianBland · 19/07/2020 11:24

vanillandhoney, you are going to far, with you relaxed attitude. You owe it to your clients, to minimise the risk to them. I assume you will come into contact with a lot of vulnerable clients, on your rounds and you risk it travelling with you, from one house to another, if you become a carrier. I’m actually shocked that you’d take that risk, also because your business relies on your reputation, which would be fucked if that happens.

Cleaning a house, is very different from sitting with someone in the same room for 1/2 an hour, as you won’t be ‘breathing the same air’.

Pipandmum · 19/07/2020 11:24

My cleaner has been back for over a month. She doesn't wear a mask.

Karwomannghia · 19/07/2020 11:26

I put YANBU to mean yes get the cleaner back.

LittleBearPad · 19/07/2020 11:28

@LillianBland

vanillandhoney, you are going to far, with you relaxed attitude. You owe it to your clients, to minimise the risk to them. I assume you will come into contact with a lot of vulnerable clients, on your rounds and you risk it travelling with you, from one house to another, if you become a carrier. I’m actually shocked that you’d take that risk, also because your business relies on your reputation, which would be fucked if that happens.

Cleaning a house, is very different from sitting with someone in the same room for 1/2 an hour, as you won’t be ‘breathing the same air’.

But two people from different households are allowed to sit inside together.

Vanilla’s not doing anything outside guidelines.

OP get your cleaner back. We have for three/four weeks now. We just stay out of their way.

JumpingJackFrost · 19/07/2020 11:29

Yes, mine's been back since June. She comes whilst I'm at work, wears gloves and thoroughly airs the house as she cleans. It all feels very safe to me.

QueenCT · 19/07/2020 11:32

I'm shielding and mine are back. Wearing PPE, they are part of a company and have temperature done each morning and I'm not in the house when they clean

vanillandhoney · 19/07/2020 11:32

@LillianBland

vanillandhoney, you are going to far, with you relaxed attitude. You owe it to your clients, to minimise the risk to them. I assume you will come into contact with a lot of vulnerable clients, on your rounds and you risk it travelling with you, from one house to another, if you become a carrier. I’m actually shocked that you’d take that risk, also because your business relies on your reputation, which would be fucked if that happens.

Cleaning a house, is very different from sitting with someone in the same room for 1/2 an hour, as you won’t be ‘breathing the same air’.

No, none of my clients are vulnerable. They're all back at work with the public, tourists etc. Only one wears any kind of PPE at work.

You don't know my circumstances or my clients' circumstances so please don't leap in with your judgements. I can't wear a mask as I have autism and my clients know and respect this. None of them have chosen to wear masks either. I've given everyone an option to have meet and greets outside, everyone has chosen to have them in their homes.

You can be shocked all you like, though!

vanillandhoney · 19/07/2020 11:33

And sitting in someone's home is not against the guidelines either! You can decide I'm doing something wrong all you want, but I'm following all the government guidelines as well as the DEFRA guidelines for dog walkers/pet care professionals.

Thank you @LittleBearPad - I think some people like to project their own morals and shock onto everyone else Wink

Lovelydovey · 19/07/2020 11:35

We haven’t but then both DH and I, and both DC are all wfh (kitchen and office) and not at school. We can’t lock ourselves in a single room for several hours during the week.

LillianBland · 19/07/2020 11:37

Actually I’ve been running my own dog walking, daycare and overnight business for nearly ten years, so I am very aware of the business. Sorry if my concern for your clients and your reputation upsets you, but carry on. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine, because it’s not as if the virus is contagious. 🙄

vanillandhoney · 19/07/2020 11:40

@LillianBland

Actually I’ve been running my own dog walking, daycare and overnight business for nearly ten years, so I am very aware of the business. Sorry if my concern for your clients and your reputation upsets you, but carry on. I’m sure you’ll be absolutely fine, because it’s not as if the virus is contagious. 🙄
It doesn't upset me at all. You're a stranger on the internet - your opinion really isn't that important to me Grin
millymollymoomoo · 19/07/2020 11:40

Don’t get the voting but yes I’d definitely get them back

AnnaMagnani · 19/07/2020 11:42

Took YABU to mean get the cleaner back.

Mines been back for ages. We are socially distanced when she is here and she is, well, cleaning stuff.

Bloody delighted and we are no longer living in a midden.

LillianBland · 19/07/2020 11:43

It doesn't upset me at all. You're a stranger on the internet - your opinion really isn't that important to me

That’s good, because you came across as very defensive, but carry on taking whatever risks you want. I’ll carry on doing my best to protect my clients. Both of us can believe were right and time can tell us if we’re wrong.

LillianBland · 19/07/2020 11:43

*we’re

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