To think cleaner should try not to clean in the room I am using

[JuJuPanda]

We've got a cleaner for the first time and she comes for a full day. I've noticed that she often ends up cleaning in whatever area I'm in - AIBU to tell her not to do that?

It's not like I expect her to be silent as a mouse but it's a bit annoying when I sit in the living room to call my mum and a couple of minutes later she appears with mop and hoover or DD decides she wants to play outside and within minutes there she is to noisily sweep the patio. I'm grateful for the work she does but it seems unnecessarily intrusive!

You do need to stay out of her way

I use a cleaning company, and they send two cleaners who clean the house from top to bottom, so you sort of know what order they are going in.

I shift where I am to keep out of their way, or go out

They are very good though!

I’ve just had a loft conversion done which gives me a study to work in, so now if I’m there when they clean I’ll just say “don’t worry about cleaning the study”

YABVU
Don’t suppose you had a night nanny recently?

Just discuss with her how best to keep out of the way. We do a floor switch with our cleaner; she starts either upstairs or downstairs depending on mealtimes, then we swap over when she's ready. It doesn't always quite work but post jabs we're all more relaxed. Mind you, our cleaner is lovely, so we chat in passing in the kitchen etc. Maybe if you chat and start to see your cleaner as another human it won't seem so intrusive on your personal space.

Most people I know stay in one room while cleaner cleans then move when needed (or leave the house). Only exception is some who work form home who ask cleaner not to clean that room.

How noisy can sweeping the patio be?

I can't imagine sitting around on the phone watching someone else clean my house. When I've had a cleaner it's because I'm not at home enough to do it. Different worlds.

However, even at work, if the cleaner wants to clean where I am, I move.

@Constellationstation

How noisy can sweeping the patio be?

Noisier that children playing, apparently.

Your cleaner is probably thinking why are you under her feet all the time.

Well, she can't clean the house if she's limited in the rooms she can go into. Just talk to her about what's going to work best for you both. I am WFH at the moment- on the days my cleaner comes we have a chat about how to work around each other (eg if I have to do a conference call, could she not hoover at the time etc). She's a human being, treat her like one.

So you don't work from home OP?

DH & I both work from home and tend to stay in our home offices when our cleaner is here.

I let her know if she needs to clean the offices when she arrives, and if neither of us have any calls scheduled she just knocks on the door when she's ready to do those rooms and we get out of her way.

YABVU. You need to keep out of her way.

The patio sweeping is just soooo noisy DD can't possible play

Every cleaner I have ever had has asked me where I would like them to start or suggested a routine and stuck to it. They have never followed me around as you described. They have always kept out of the room I'm in, then knocked on the door and asked if it's ok to clean that room next. I agree with others communication is key.

Agree with PPs. She will have a system, and you need to make sure you're out of her way. The alternative is she'll take longer and miss bits out.

Our cleaner has to put up with both me and DH working from home in different parts of the house, but we have an elaborate system that works well.

I run my own company, so I quite often take an hour off and take myself to one of the finished bedrooms and read while she hoovers downstairs. (Love having a little midweek break). Sometimes I give myself her whole morning off just to avoid trying to do meetings while she's here.

If I expected her to stay out of my way, nothing would ever get done. Instead we dodge her. And she sticks to routine so we can all plan and avoid irritating each other.

It sounds like you're maybe not cut out for a cleaner.

I don't need her to be ultra efficient and work to a routine though. As I said, she comes for the whole day so I guess she's more of a housekeeper than a cleaner.

I don't think the arrangement will last tbh, if this is normal (which clearly it is!) it obviously doesn't suit me. Thanks for the judgement on me "sitting around at home" looking after my toddler btw!

OP, just talk to her. She's not doing it to annoy you- she's trying to clean the house.

Christ, how the other half live. It's your job to stay out of her way. If it's inconvenient to have the staff in your sight then either go out or do it yourself.

That's if it's real.

@JuJuPanda

I don't need her to be ultra efficient and work to a routine though. As I said, she comes for the whole day so I guess she's more of a housekeeper than a cleaner.

I don't think the arrangement will last tbh, if this is normal (which clearly it is!) it obviously doesn't suit me. Thanks for the judgement on me "sitting around at home" looking after my toddler btw!

It's really not hard. Just have a chat, then you stay in one or two specific spaces so she knows where to avoid. When DS was little our cleaner would check nap times when she came in, then she'd do the bedroom first if there was time. She's never going to be a mind reader though, and a full day means you've got to talk about how to manage it.

Yes, I agree, this is hideous OP. The servants should know their place. Unheard and unseen if possible. Get the butler to have a word...

Just go out OP, least for the morning.

She has a limited time to clean your house, and she needs to crack on in the most efficient order. If she is constantly waiting or rearranging her cleaning plan, you will get less cleaning for your money.

If you can take your DD to the park for an hour and let your cleaner really go for it, you will see good results.

Thanks for the judgement on me "sitting around at home" looking after my toddler btw

God, imagine having to look after your own child! Not like anyone else hear has to do that!

When she comes in the room, say ooh I'll get out of your way.
Get up and leave the room.

Are you hinting that you think she follows you though? It's the way you talk about her appearing "within minutes". It reads like you are saying she is following you from room to room.

There is nothing wrong with having a cleaner.
You don't have to do stuff you don't want to do and someone earns money. Sounds like a win/win to me.

I try to keep out of my cleaner's way. So I'll ask her to start in my office, or another room, then I'll stay in that room while she cleans the rest of the house. Or I go out for a while.

We keep out of the way. When we're working we ask her not to clean the two rooms we use. Kids are usually at school. If it's holidays then we usually all go out or if we're working the kids are out anyway at holiday club or grandparents. If kids are off school sick or any of us are self isolating then we cancel with full pay.