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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think you can’t expect somebody to clean this?

80 replies

askmeagainin5 · 20/02/2021 09:12

DH is a tradesman and his car is filthy. Seats and dashboard completely covered in plaster dust, he has to eat in there if it’s raining outside so there’s been drinks spilt that have just been unsuccessfully wiped up and are now sticky, there’s mud all over the floor, etc.

After he finishes really long days doing physical work he obviously doesn’t fancy getting stuck in and cleaning it, which I can appreciate. He said that when car valet places reopen he is just going to take it there and pay for a full deep clean. I said there is no way you can expect anybody to clean that for any amount of money, you’ll have to at least have a go yourself first to make it a bit better.

DP was Hmm at this and said he’d obviously pay a lot more because the car was really dirty and he’d tip very well (which I don’t doubt, he is very generous with money). But I still think you can’t take something like that to be cleaned by somebody else! It prompted a (light-hearted) debate on whether you’d give your house a quick tidy if it was in a proper state before the cleaner comes and I said I would?

Who is being unreasonable MN? Grin

OP posts:
BettysButtons · 20/02/2021 09:36

@askmeagainin5

MNers he is beaming from ear to ear and very much ‘I told you it was okay!!!’ Grin

I was thinking it’d be akin to leaving your table a complete state with food all over the floor in a restaurant and your poor waitress has to deal with it. But then I’ve realised the waitress is getting minimum wage and won’t get paid more for dirtier tables and as you have all pointed out the valet people will just charge him according to the state of the car. And now I understand!

It’s his birthday in two weeks, maybe I should buy him a voucher Grin

The perfect birthday present OP!! 😂

He may well be smug but he really shouldn’t just turn up and expect the normal advertised price. I hope he’s got deep pockets!

SummerHouse · 20/02/2021 09:40

This is a matter that I think of surprisingly regularly. Every time I clean my car (so actually not that regularly). As someone who has never had a valet I always think it's like a totally different job to clean a filthy car as opposed to one that's regularly valeted.

I am pleased for your DH. I can't wait for his lovely clean car. This is what Mumsnet is all about! This is exactly the sort of debate me and DH would have. I would have deffo been you OP. I am a clean for the cleaner but would never have a cleaner type. Confused

ginislife · 20/02/2021 09:44

You'll find that proper valeters (rather than those at Tesco etc) would actually rise to the challenge and love to clean it. You might find it up on their FB page as a promotion for their business - from this to this, aren't we amazing - but no one would know it was husbands. I had mine professionally cleaned in the week and it looks amazing (and was disgusting inside as the child isn't great !)

teamdebbievssorelosers · 20/02/2021 09:44

You know that you can also employ an oven cleaning company, and I assure you people don't clean the oven before they arrive Grin

SummerHouse · 20/02/2021 09:49

@teamdebbievssorelosers

You know that you can also employ an oven cleaning company, and I assure you people don't clean the oven before they arrive Grin
RosesAndHellebores · 20/02/2021 09:50

A valet service will clean it, but can he not have a pack of cleaning wipes in the van so he can wipe up his spills as he goes along; plastic bag for empties, etc

MRex · 20/02/2021 09:51

Those who clean before the cleaner, would you do the weeding before the gardener comes? Wipe down windows before the window cleaner comes?

WithIcePlease · 20/02/2021 09:54

I have a 4x4 - I say this because valeting more than it costs for a normal car - and at the end of summer one year it was full of mud, leaves, sand from children and tip visits
The normal price was £30 but I just told them v dirty and how much? They did it for £50 no problems

SummerHouse · 20/02/2021 09:59

@MRex

Those who clean before the cleaner, would you do the weeding before the gardener comes? Wipe down windows before the window cleaner comes?
Yes @MRex ! I would totally do that if I had these people. Probably why I don't have these people. TBH I even collect and organise all the trollies in the supermarket trolley park and I scrape and stack the plates in restaurants (just our table, not the whole restaurant...) I think I need some help. Confused
JustTurtlesAllTheWayDown · 20/02/2021 10:00

Sorry but I think YABU. I'm sure experienced car cleaners are used to it and if they're offering a deep clean, then I imagine it's factored into the price. If its really bad, I imagine they'd price it accordingly.
I do understand tidying before the cleaner comes. I'd guess it depends what's contracted but the cleaner is going to have a lot less time for actual cleaning if she has to tidy everything away before she can clean.
Its just practical, especially if you're only paying for a couple of hours.

Needsleeeeepsendheeeelp · 20/02/2021 10:02

I wouldn't take a car in that condition to a drive through valet on account of it being a major PITA for everyone behind me in the queue. But I would have no qualms with calling a mobile valet to come and do it. (and fwiw, these are operating during covid in my area, so if the van is in that bad a state and he wants to pay someone to clean it, he doesn't need to wait until after lockdown to sort it)

MRex · 20/02/2021 10:03

@SummerHouse - please visit me the moment lockdown is over, and make yourself at home.

Daisy829 · 20/02/2021 10:03

I would just give them a heads up & ask them to price accordingly. They have better hoovers etc so it won’t phase them. I need my car doing actually.

LubaLuca · 20/02/2021 10:07

I know a mobile car valeter who revels in these sorts of vehicles. He loves posting before and after pictures of the most challenging jobs - it's good marketing for him.

SummerHouse · 20/02/2021 10:08

[quote MRex]@SummerHouse - please visit me the moment lockdown is over, and make yourself at home.[/quote]
Grin

Funfacts99 · 20/02/2021 10:12

As long as he removes any valuables and there's no bodily fluids or worse, then I think it's fine! Presumably the valeting company would see it beforehand and have the right to refuse to do it if there's a major problem, or they could charge extra?

britnay · 20/02/2021 10:19

I live rurally and regularly see tractors at my local car wash getting valetted, so as long as you pay them sufficient I wouldn't think that they would bat an eyelid.

ellabluebella · 20/02/2021 10:20

DH van is exactly the same, I have been know on a few occasions to sit on a tea towel if getting a lift.
We have a car valeter in a supermarket carpark near to us that offers full deep cleans, all he will do is empty any rubbish out and drop it off while he has a breakfast in the cafe. Comes back looking brand new and they charge accordingly. They seem to do a roaring trade with work vans.

Ponoka7 · 20/02/2021 10:25

A friend runs a hand car wash. He'd offer your DH a regular price, which is needed could be paid on a business account, because it's a business expense. Tjry need the business when they open up again. Anyone who can outsource any paid work should try to, to help people recover.

unmarkedbythat · 20/02/2021 10:28

If he's willing to offer to pay and tip well I see no issue tbh.

Fiona2020 · 20/02/2021 10:41

Are you kidding ?! The polish/Romanians at our valeting place would clean a nuclear disaster if you asked them!

GobbeHappy · 20/02/2021 10:41

They just charge extra, thats all.No big deal.

GabsAlot · 20/02/2021 10:48

my friends df used to take his muddy and hairy covered car (dogs) to a place they knew he was coming just charged him more for a clean out
just tell him to get a quoe first

Expensive76 · 20/02/2021 10:49

My partner works for a car cleaning company. I’ve just asked him and he said he would be happy to do it especially for extra money.

StuntNun · 20/02/2021 10:50

They won't care, they'll just charge him extra.