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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Didn't clean up the poo. WIU?

115 replies

YouLookNiceJackie · 22/10/2020 19:59

I'm a cleaner and one of my jobs is at a large charity shop. I go in just before they shut and clean the staff only areas and then once the shop shuts I clean the shop floors. Tonight, there was a really bad smell as soon as you walked up the stairs. It smelt like someone had bad wind. I couldnt do anything about it as the shop was still open and I didn't want to offend/embarrass anyone by squirting airfreshener in case the culprit was still there! I cleaned the rest of the shop (3 floors) and the went back to that part to hoover, and the smell was even stronger. I sprayed around with airfreshener and went to get the hoover and found the biggest pile of diarrhoea hidden behind a suitcase and tshirt in a bit of an alcove on the shop floor. It was down the wall, all over the carpet, up the door frame and all over the skirting board. The smell was horrendous and made me feel ill. I tried to ring the manager but she is on leave and didn't answer. IMO it needs professional cleaners with protective gear on. This person was clearly quite unwell and I didn't want to risk contamination and then go and get in my car/go home to my children. The only thing available that I could have used to clean it up was paper towels. I covered it up and blocked off that area. After I got home the manager rang me and she did not sound happy that I had left it. She kept saying well someone needs to clean it up. I suggested a professional company and she said she "would consider this if one of the ladies at the shop who has her head on her shoulders and would probably just do it herself, thinks it's too big of an issue to deal with. If someone had made a mess in the toilet I would have dealt with it but this was another level! I am also concerned that this person could have covid or a stomach bug. I said I don't think this person should clean it up plus she'd be then handling things for sale and serving customers without going home to shower. Again the manager just said well someone needs to! Sorry for the long post, I'm just a worrier and work really hard so I'd be mortified if they all just think I just left it for someone at the shop to deal with. I also explained that I had to leave to pick my child up and I'd stayed a little bit over. Should I email headoffice tomorrow and explain?

OP posts:
Hobnobsandbroomstick · 22/10/2020 20:32

I work in a hospital as a nurse, and even our hospital cleaners don't clean up bodily fluids like poo, vomit, urine etc, because they aren't trained in how to do it apparently. The nursing staff have to do the initial clean of the offending fluid/waste, and then the cleaner will come in and mop over where it was.

So I don't think you were being unreasonable at all, I'd email head office and explain that you were unsure what to do as it's not in your usual job description and you didn't have the right equipment or PPE.

Original poster
YouLookNiceJackie · 22/10/2020 20:33

Thank you everyone! I will stop worrying now! I wonder why the YABU voters haven't commented 🤔 😄.
My friend walks past the shop to get home and if he sees my car in the courtyard he gets me and my dc some treats and leaves them on my car... tonight it would have to be Bounty chocolate bars 🤣. Funnily enough I couldn't stomach one! He didn't know what had happened though!

OP posts:
Itshissister · 22/10/2020 20:35

What a shitty thing to do.

(Sorry Grin)

You should in now way be expected to clean that up. That is disgusting. Presumably the person who locked up would have smelt it?!!!

blubberball · 22/10/2020 20:36

You absolutely did the right thing. If they want you dealing with that shit, they need to provide you with training and PPE equipment, not just expect you to crack on with paper towels.

MillieVanilla · 22/10/2020 20:36

If you're a volunteer then they are especially taking the piss
Diarrhea is an early covid sign, you should NOT be tackling it and she needs reporting.
No it's not nice that someone has done that or that the charity will be landed with the bill but you have done the right thing and she is being very very unfair to you.
I worked in an inner city clothing store, you would not believe how often this would happen in our changing rooms or behind more obscured corners. And even then I would report to my manager and he had a team he would call in. Even on minimum wage that was so not my job.

eaglejulesk · 22/10/2020 20:38

You did the right thing. No way should you have had to clean that up, especially in the current circumstances. Then manager is BU.

Fajitanita · 22/10/2020 20:40

We used to have to use professional cleaners when I worked in retail, and would never expect our daily cleaner to do it. They have a duty of care to you, and I'm sure you don't have the correct equipment to clean it, so don't feel bad.

Caroncanta · 22/10/2020 20:41

No way should you have to clear that up. It needed professional cleaners. Very unreasonable of the manager.

DodgeRainClouds · 22/10/2020 20:41

100% did the correct thing!

Original poster
YouLookNiceJackie · 22/10/2020 20:50

I locked up but the lady on the till upstairs must have smelt it. I've just had a message to say one of the volunteers has been in and done it. I'm still going to contact head office as she can't have used the right cleaning stuff!

OP posts:
Hiddennameforever · 22/10/2020 20:52

I used to worked in a popular clothes shop and many times we found a poo or a wee in the fitting rooms.
Some people don’t care at all.
We never cleaned it, we were told not too and professional cleaners were called.
Once we found a huge sausage poo covered with Metro Newspaper.
Shocking!

Hiddennameforever · 22/10/2020 20:53

Oh I forgot to mention also found a sanitary towels and tampons. Disgusting!

Leaannb · 22/10/2020 20:56

I absolutely think you did the right thing. I would definitely call head office and explain. Its a shame you didn't take photos for proof. However, don't be surprised or offended if you loose that particular cleaning job. Manager is a twat

SonjaMorgan · 22/10/2020 20:58

You need a hepatitis jab to be cleaning up excrement. Even with one I would expect to be paid extra for the kit and my time. It seems pretty shitty that no one mentioned it to you during working hours when someone from head office could have been contacted.

wowfudge · 22/10/2020 21:03

Being charitable, no pun intended, is it possible it was dog mess? Even so, how disgusting. Good on you for not dealing with it yourself. I didn't know this kind of thing needed specialist equipment, etc to clean up. Now I do.

BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter · 22/10/2020 21:04

Completely agree that you did the right thing. My brother manages a restaurant and the other week was forced to clean up diarrhoea that was all over the wall, floor and toilet. He'd just finished a 12 hour shift then had to clean this up, with no mask, no gloves, no protective equipment whatsoever. I remember when he told me I said he was an idiot for not leaving it and calling a proper cleaning company. I wish my brother had had your balls OP.

Original poster
YouLookNiceJackie · 22/10/2020 21:16

It definitely wasn't dog mess!
It is quite shocking to hear how many other cases of stuff like this there has been! I have crohns disease so like to think have some sympathy and understanding but I could never just drop my pants on a shop floor (and then to just cover it up and leave!)
If I do end up loosing that particular job, it wouldn't be a big deal, I have lots of lovely clients and seem to be going more towards dementia care in the home anyway which is far more rewarding.
The lady who's been and cleaned it up said she did it as to not disturb the manager! I think they all just think I was making a drama out of it but I'm glad I defended my decision, not usually very good at standing up for myself!

OP posts:
randomer · 22/10/2020 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

category12 · 22/10/2020 21:27

Something like that requires a proper spill kit and PPE.

if another person is mug enough to clean it up, that's their business, but you were right to refuse to do it without the right stuff. Or even with it. Cleaners aren't obliged to tackle anything and everything.

Twistered · 22/10/2020 21:28

I think posters have hit aibu in this thread by accident
You asked
Ainbu
Then
Aibu

The voting buttons are in other order
Aibu
Then ainbu

I nearly hit aibu by accident myself before I realised !

There is NO way anyone voted AIBU on purpose. Even on Mumsnet Grin

NeverAMillionMilesAway · 22/10/2020 21:29

Even hospital cleaners are not expected to clean up shit, blood or vomit. YANBU.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 22/10/2020 21:39

Whoever voted by accident, you can change your vote😁

Emmylou292 · 22/10/2020 21:45

My first thought would be a dog (guide dog maybe), but you say it definitely wasn't a dog.
Sorry you had to be in that situation. You definitely did the right thing.

stretchedmarks · 22/10/2020 21:52

I think you're being a bit precious, tbh.

I used to work in a club and cleaning up vomit, shit, piss, other bodily fluids etc was the norm. Multiple times every single night. There was no reason why you couldn't have put on some gloves, used blue roll to remove the majority of it straight into a bin bag, and then cleaned the rest using your typical cleaning supplies. I would have bagged up the aforementioned items and left them, double bagged, where their waste goes out, so someone from management can check it before it's binned if necessary.

You wouldn't be touching your face, eyes or mouth with shitty gloves, presumably. You'd remove the gloves and wash your hands properly afterwards. Spray anti bac and use hand sanitizer.

You just didn't want to clean up shit. Which is fair enough, but maybe don't be a cleaner if you don't want to clean?

randomer · 22/10/2020 21:54

Charity shops don't employ cleaners. utter nonsense.