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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to expect my clients to stay out of the way?

161 replies

Tootsey11 · 27/09/2021 16:55

I'm a cleaner, I have a number of clients who are WFH. All men. Their wives all assured me that 'they will keep out of the way' while I am cleaning. They don't. All the cleans are 2 hours so not a long time. But they all are up and down stairs, toilet breaks, coffee making, lunch making, just getting a drink, I'm meeting them on the stairs, I'm hoovering and turn round and they are there. Am I wrong to be fed up with it. Why can't anyone just set themselves up where they are working and stay there until I leave. These are all pre booked appointments so they know when I am due round.

If you wfh do you constantly get in the cleaners way.

OP posts:
CottonSock · 27/09/2021 16:55

Yanbu. I got out, or stay in one room if I have a meeting.

ferneytorro · 27/09/2021 16:58

I’m just arranging a cleaner. I’m female wfh. I will be staying in my office , making a brew food etc before they arrive and have said they don’t need to clean the office. Playing devils advocate though it can be very lonely wfh!

ImNotDancing · 27/09/2021 17:00

None of them are unreasonable things to be doing tbh. Surely working in someone else’s home means you work round them not the other way round

Fabpinky · 27/09/2021 17:00

YANBU

Jellycatspyjamas · 27/09/2021 17:00

I have a cleaner and work from home, I stay in my office out of the way until she finishes - nothing worse than dancing round each other while she’s working.

Roominmyhouse · 27/09/2021 17:03

I don’t have a cleaner but if I did I’d expect to still be able to use the toilet or make a drink in my own home while they were there!

AbandonedCharacter · 27/09/2021 17:04

For a two hour clean, I would stay out of the way to let you crack on.

StarryStarrySocks · 27/09/2021 17:05

I think YABU. I work from home and some days can be very busy with meetings and calls. Maybe the only time they are free to go to the loo/make lunch happens to clash with when you are there?
Even if that's not the case, they can do what they like in their own homes.

Northernsoullover · 27/09/2021 17:06

@Roominmyhouse

I don’t have a cleaner but if I did I’d expect to still be able to use the toilet or make a drink in my own home while they were there!
For a two hour clean? I had clients like this. I'd clean the kitchen and go back in and there would be tea and crumbs on the counter.
MinnieMountain · 27/09/2021 17:07

We both WFH. We time things so we get coffee just before she arrives, use the bathroom when she’ll be downstairs for a while etc.

We wouldn’t want to annoy her by getting in her way.

MattyGroves · 27/09/2021 17:07

We have a cleaner and WFH. We try and stay out of the way but I do use the toilet or make a quick coffee and I would find a new cleaner if she had a problem with it.

BusySittingDown · 27/09/2021 17:08

Yeah, I'd stay out of the way!

I can manage for 2 hours without a drink. I'd just stay in my work area and make sure I'd filled my water bottle up!

MattyGroves · 27/09/2021 17:08

We are both on zoom calls most of the day so can't necessarily time things to avoid her entirely. But my cleaner likes a chat!

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/09/2021 17:22

I'm not just talking about once or twice. I mean multiple times in and out of rooms that I need to clean. Using the bathroom that I'm in cleaning when they could use the one beside the room they are working in.

Surely anyone can make drinks snacks etc just before I'm due there, then not need anymore to eat until I finish.

OP posts:
INeed2P · 27/09/2021 17:25

If you don't like it, don't clean those houses? Or perhaps stipulate when you start jobs your requirements of being left alone / people staying out of rooms you are in?

Regardless of what you (or anyone) thinks they should / shouldn't do, it's their homes and they're not doing anything outlandish, it's getting drinks and food or using the bathroom in their own home.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/09/2021 17:26

@ImNotDancing, no, it means they stay out of my way as I've only got a set amount of time to get the job done. Would you get under a decorators feet or a plumber doing their job, no you'd stay outa the way.

OP posts:
50ShadesOfCatholic · 27/09/2021 17:29

It's not you, it's them. Male entitlement. Can you replace them with better clients?

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/09/2021 17:30

@Ineed2P I did state before starting and all said no problem, but within a few cleans have ignored what I asked. As a cleaner there is nothing worse than having someone just walk straight over floors you are washing just to get a bloody drink.

OP posts:
Strawbsaturno · 27/09/2021 17:31

I do stay out of the way, make sure I’ve eaten, had a drink and used the loo well before my cleaner arrives.

Original poster
Tootsey11 · 27/09/2021 17:32

I should say that any house with a woman wfh has been completely different, no issues at all. They just say hello when I come in and I don't see them again!

OP posts:
INeed2P · 27/09/2021 17:33

@Tootsey11 then remind them of this? Or tell them you can't offer services if it continues? Or perhaps mention it to the people WFH who you aren't happy with?

The floor will get walked on once it's been done, either within the 2 hours you're there or just after you've gone! 🤷🏻‍♀️

Drinkingallthewine · 27/09/2021 17:37

Walking on wet floors or ousting you in the middle of the bathroom cleaning so they can piss -especially when there are spare bathrooms is nothing but male entitlement. They get a kick out of feeling like the big Lord Bollocks of the Manor trampling over a scullery maid. Wankers.

Can you decline to clean for them and get new, more respectful clients? I would.

Drinkingallthewine · 27/09/2021 17:38

The floor will get walked on once it's been done, either within the 2 hours you're there or just after you've gone!

They walk on the floor while it's wet. Deliberately. Big difference.

BasiliskStare · 27/09/2021 17:39

Ach - most normal people would know when you are working and probably stay out of your way - equally they may ask you not to do x room because they have a conference call and their schedule is more important to them than yours.

If they walk over your mopped floor - their problem not yours.

I do think that there is a bit of give and take here but if said people are paying you - and their house - well , if they get in your way - perhaps job doesn't get done & they should prepared for it. I don't think you should expect the home owners to work round your schedule - but some consideration on both sides would be preferable I think.

DeborahAnnabel · 27/09/2021 17:41

Are you in London? I am looking for a new cleaner, WFH and leave my office once a day at best for about 20 minutes. Never leave the office when my cleaners are here!