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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

is this normal for a cleaner?

70 replies

Starrycolors23 · 27/09/2021 11:01

I think I’ve found the most amazing woman but I need to know if this is normal and I’ve wasted many years of my life by not having a cleaner. DH thinks it’s expensive though so I want to know your opinion…

Cleaner charges £13 an hour but if she gets distracted stroking my dogs or something takes longer she will stay longer than her time and won’t take extra for it.

We have a 3 bed semi, all big bedrooms. 2 adults and 2 dogs in the house - no kids. One bedroom used as a study, the other is a guest room so barely touched.

Every week she:

  • changes our bed, washes all the sheets, irons them and returns them to cupboard
  • does any other washing I haven’t done and puts my clothes away (she asked permission first)
  • typical cleaning so always mops the floors, vacuums, dusts
  • does any washing up from food I’m eating or drinking during her time (I’m wfh)
  • she loves cooking so brings me something every week, I’ve had brownies, muffins, cheesecake
  • she cleans all the tops of my cupboards in the kitchen, all my tall ceilings etc because spiders like to hide there.

So is this typical of all cleaners? I think she is a gift.

I am in South East if that’s relevant.

OP posts:
Chamomileteaplease · 27/09/2021 11:05

How many hours is she with you??

A cleaner should do what you ask her to do.

Most people wouldn't want to pay someone to wash and iron their sheets and put their clothes away because they would want to pay her to actually clean.

However, if you can afford it and these are the things you want, then why not?

Brian9600 · 27/09/2021 11:06

She sounds great. My cleaner does all this except bringing food (which I actually wouldn't like, but that's just a personal thing).

Blahdyblahbla · 27/09/2021 11:08

I would find that beyond uncomfortable, and slightly intrusive. Horses for courses I guess, whatever works for you.

Geamhradh · 27/09/2021 11:09

She sounds brilliant and I'd be hanging onto her like gold dust and probably offering her more.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 27/09/2021 11:10

Wow! She does loads more than I’ve ever had a cleaner do! More like a housekeeper really.

I’d keep her. How many hours is that?

Geamhradh · 27/09/2021 11:10

Presumably the OP and the cleaner agreed the weekly tasks before she started. (I'd love it if the cleaner took it upon themselves to do the things I don't even think about having said that!)

HollowTalk · 27/09/2021 11:10

Why does she bring you food? Surely the cost of that would outweigh anything she earned?

MintyGreenDream · 27/09/2021 11:12

I love that she gets distracted stroking the dogs I'd be the same 😁

SummerInSun · 27/09/2021 11:13

Mine doesn't bring food, or wash the sheets and put them away, because she is only with us 4 hours and the washing machine and dryer wouldn't be done in that time. But I don't think it's an odd thing to do. Ditto laundry and putting clothes away - some will do that, some won't. I wouldn't say it was part of the standard cleaner job description, more an added extra. But if you can afford to pay her the extra time it takes for her to do that and she does it well, go for it.

WellTidy · 27/09/2021 11:14

As to whether it is expensive, it depends how long she is there. £13/hour is pretty much going rate in my area (SE too) for a self employed cleaner who doesn’t bring her own cleaning stuff.

As to the work she is doing, you sound happy with it and she sounds willing to do it. So that’s great. I also have an amazing cleaner and she would do all of this if I asked save for putting clothes away and bringing food with her. But she does give us presents when she has been on holiday and also for our birthdays and Christmas. I wish she wouldn’t though I am gracious about it as she is so thoughtful.

But she does other things instead - she cleans inside windows, irons and takes out the bins. She would also take dry washing off the line and iron it, answer the door for deliveries etc. She is a gem. I pay over her hourly rate as a result.

marykitty · 27/09/2021 11:14

How many hours is she with you? Grin i never had a cleaner but I know what the cleaners do at my friends place and they stick to cleaning duties only. If they have spare time they normally do some "specials" such as cleaning the fridge.

Original poster
Starrycolors23 · 27/09/2021 11:16

She charges 4 hours. She gets everything done.

One dog moults a lot which is why we actually got a cleaner. I just couldn’t keep up with the fur balls. The whole house is cleaned in that time + extras, house is 1300 square feet I think.

She brings the food as it’s her hobby and has no one else to eat it for her. We get on well.

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 27/09/2021 11:17

Why are you asking if you abu?
To have a good cleaner?sorry I just don't understand the issue,being particularly thick today,sorry!😊

Clarinet1 · 27/09/2021 11:17

Well, might be more than some cleaners do but if you find it all helpful and don’t mind paying what you are (possibly even more or certainly reasonably frequent reviews) where’s the problem?

Goldbar · 27/09/2021 11:19

She sounds amazing. £13 doesn't sound pricey to me. I pay our cleaner £14.50 an hour...definitely worth it for me.

Original poster
Starrycolors23 · 27/09/2021 11:19

@WellTidy yes mine does all that too, it’s great. Minus the presents from holidays… she sounds wonderful! I’ve only ever heard horror stories of cleaners so I suppose I was hesitant at first.

I tried another company before. 2 people came for 1 hour, what they didn’t manage (despite my ask) they just didn’t do; they charged £20 each an hour (I was originally told I’d have 2 hours but they did 2 people for 1 hour). They never even made it upstairs!

OP posts:
Wexone · 27/09/2021 11:19

Wow, i pay the same for my cleaner too but she doesn't change sheets, nor do my washing or put away. Nor wash up dishes. I have a dishwasher. My cleaner does go above and beyond too, she an excellent window cleaner and will do anything i ask her to do. They are like goldust. Look after her and she will look after you . I always give generously at xmas, my cleaner has kids aswell so i always give them a present at birthdays and xmas

Original poster
Starrycolors23 · 27/09/2021 11:20

@KarmaStar it’s a non issue I suppose, I wanted to know more of peoples opinions. However DH thinks it’s expensive for what it is but I think it’s a bargain because I think she goes above and beyond… so trying to gauge what is normal!

OP posts:
Brollywasntneededafterall · 27/09/2021 11:20

I came in fearing it was my new customers-they have 2 ddogs and 3 dcats...
Does brushing a dcat count as cleaning??
Giving time to pets to make them feel at ease with a new person around surely is acceptable? I talk to theirs all the time. Actually one day I thought nobody was home and got caught doing a daft voice for their dcat Nigel!
Blush
The have reactive ddogs who are crated while I am there but hopefully my soothing chatting shit will have them eating out of my hand not wanting to eat my actual hand..
Ime doing whatever your customers need doing makes for long term jobs!!
Some of mine are 8 years and going strong.

JustDanceAddict · 27/09/2021 11:20

She sounds amazing!! I occasionally asked to put new bedding on but not washing/ironing.
Four hours is a lot for a 3-bed w one room not touched.
But if you’re happy with all that I don’t see an issue

Myfilterisbroken · 27/09/2021 11:21

Shes more of a housekeeper! Sounds amazing!

Orla1970 · 27/09/2021 11:23

I pay £15 an hour. She sounds lovely. How much does your husband think you should pay someone to do all that? £13 is good. He probably thinks you should do it all!

ChargingBuck · 27/09/2021 11:23

She loves your dogs, brings you food, you get on well, you're delighted with her work - what's not to like?

If DH thinks £13/hour is expensive, perhaps he could be the one to sack your amazing cleaner, & do the work himself?

No? - thought not Wink

PooWillyNameChange · 27/09/2021 11:25

She sounds great. I adore mine and she's £15 an hour. Like yours she does anything and everything. I'd probably give up a pinky finger before giving her up.

dworky · 27/09/2021 11:25

You're not paying her enough. £20ph would be the fair rate or what she does.