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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Am I expecting too much from a cleaner?!?

178 replies

MumOfLittleOnes · 08/02/2022 12:51

I had the same cleaner for the last 10years who unfortunately retired she was absolutely amazing!

I found a new cleaner who started a couple of weeks ago I’m paying £15 an hour for 4 hours and I’m totally unimpressed just wondered if I am being picky or if some of these things are unacceptable. (I have a 4 year old and an 8 week old so things have been a bit manic lately so some toys do get left out as sometimes as you know it is impossible to find the time to tidy every single one away before the cleaner comes!)

I asked if she could do the beds (not change them just make them) she said she charges extra for doing beds I found this really bizzare?!?

When moping the floor in our kitchen they are tiles she has obviously used the wrong type of cleaning product or mop and left it horrendously smeary meaning I had to re do myself.

When cleaning the bath she didn’t actually move any of the kids bath toys from the side of the bath she just cleaned around them.

The glass sliding doors in our kitchen hadn’t been cleaned and had hand prints all over them still

I left to pick my son up from school and during that time she left (before the 4 hours was up)

I text her saying how much do I owe you and she said I did 3.5hours today.

Surely if she has left early then in those 30mins she should of been here she could of made the beds and quickly vinegar sprayed and wiped the glass doors?!

OP posts:
riceuten · 08/02/2022 17:45

We're on our 3rd cleaner.

One of them (not our latest) wasn't very good to start with but we had a word as to what our expectations were and she adjusted what she did to suit that. Thereafter, no problems

RegardingMary · 08/02/2022 17:48

It may be difficult to find a housekeeper forcao few hours. A cleaner didn't cover what we needed.

We employ ours Mon- Fri 8am to 1pm £16.50 an hour.
She basically just does what is needed so that could include,

Tidies and cleans
Strips and remakes beds
Washes, dries and irons clothes
Walks the dogs
Does our shopping if required
Odd jobs like nipping to the post office
Makes a snack and lunch for the children who are home
Prepares tea
A short amount of babysitting
Picking older kids up from school.

Gonnagetgoing · 08/02/2022 17:49

Some cleaners tidy if you ask and pay for it to be done. Some don't.

When I had a cleaner before (worked up town saved time) I paid extra so she cleaned/tidied. And was very clear about what I wanted and also I was quite firm that I knew if she did shortcuts (used to manage a small office so oversaw the cleaners there and their contracts) so if she was doing them then she wasn't for me. I had one before who was so quick it was like Speedy Gonzales had been round with a hoover. I soon got rid of her and got the other one who was an angel and said she was actually pleased I was straight with her rather than unhappy.

Kanaloa · 08/02/2022 17:51

@celiamary

How ridiculous not to change bedlinen in an ordinary home. Of course she should tidy the bath toys away before cleaning. For £15/hour she is not entitled to be that picky.
I mean she is entitled to be that picky. She’s given her price and stated what she will and won’t do. She’s entitled to do that.

OP is obviously entitled to go with someone else who fits with her better. That’s the gist of working with people who work for themselves - they state their price and what they’ll do, and you either accept that or keep looking for someone else.

Kanaloa · 08/02/2022 17:53

But yeah if I had a cleaner I probably wouldn’t expect them to tidy up toys and change beds unless previously agreed. I would expect more in the range of washing down bathroom, mopping and hoovering, cleaning kitchen.

GreekGod · 08/02/2022 17:53

I think the cleaner isn't for you OP as you both have different expectations, get rid before you start feeling guilty for dismissing her I think

Gonnagetgoing · 08/02/2022 17:54

@caringcarer

The first cleaner I ever had was pure gold. The house looked spotless when I got home from work. She ironed 5 shirts for DH. She sometimes pegged out washing on line if fine weather and would peel veg and leave ready to switch on when I walked I my to house. I had her for 7 years and I cried when she retired.
@caringcarer - this was like mine! She was an older woman (not being ageist!) but had definite standards and really enjoyed her job.

She was widowed, would collect things from post office etc, bleach cups. Once when I was running around seeing my sick mum in hospital for over 2 weeks I found she'd made me shepherds pies, casseroles and even froze them too! She was more like a grandma to me than just a cleaner! I should have had her as a housekeeper but I paid I think £14 per hour for her.

HollowTalk · 08/02/2022 17:58

I think she shot off as soon as she knew you'd gone. Why did she think it was acceptable to just leave early? I wouldn't use her again.

Helloninjas · 08/02/2022 18:03

I think if you pay holiday and sick pay, as I always do you will get a good cleaner eventually, once you’ve weeded out the idlers. £20ph for a cleaner, sorry but I manage a team where we work with chaotic and vulnerable people and i don’t earn that much and I have way more responsibility then lifting ducks from around a bath before spraying a bit of Flash. That would make it a 38.5k a year job. Which is well above the average UK earnings.

Simpkins04 · 08/02/2022 18:05

@Bunty55

I used to have my own cleaning business. My work came through personal recommendation so I knew I was doing something right.

Tell your cleaner what you would like her to do when you interview her. That way either one of you can decline and move on.

My job was to clean, not to make beds or tidy up or wash up.
If I did have to do any of those things it detracted from the real job in hand which was to clean, and the real job would have taken longer than the time allocated.

For some reason a lot of people seem to think their cleaner is below them in class. It is rude and demeaning. I can't tell you how many teenage children were rude to me because they thought I was there to be some sort of servant. I did not stay long in those houses. I worked for people who appreciated my level of professionalism.

If the cleaner stops doing a good job then pull them on it and ask them why. I assume they still want to be paid !

If your cleaner only works for 3.5 hours there may be a reason for it. You need to find out what it is. it could be that she worked for 4.5 hours the week before.

This. I also used to have my own cleaning business where I was full with a waiting list with constant recommendations, every single home I left gleamed, I know I did a good job. I would only change bed linen if asked, it certainly wasn’t standard. I had 3 customers that wanted the linen changed, fine I never charged extra but it was back breaking and a ball ache and not something that I offered off my own back without them asking.

I wouldn’t be making unmade beds unless specifically asked either, it’s a very private thing and I would have felt intrusive making them unasked.

Also, I cannot understand grown adults not making their beds of a morning unless they were being changed that day, slovenly and disgusting. I would actually think this on the rare occasion that I saw an unmade bed, often with knickers/ boxers/ old socks laying in the bed too. Not my job unless asked.

In terms of tidying, I would always move items, clean and then put them back, I would never clean around items and if there were toys strewn all over the living room say, I would sweep them all into a pile in the corner so that I could Hoover but that would be all, I certainly wouldn’t have been hunting about trying to find homes for them etc, I genuinely didn’t have the time.

13yearslater · 08/02/2022 18:07

Wow. There are some vile people on this thread. Many private cleaners encounter such bloody awful, entitled, arrogant families (who seemed decent at first) they just do the basics and can't wait to be sacked off?

Plenty of cleaning work out there but not enough decent employers.

saraclara · 08/02/2022 18:15

My cleaner changes my bed linen and it's genuinely the best bit! Saves me wrestling a king sized duvet cover, and my room looks like a hotel bedroom when she's done!

Yes I tidy before she comes, but of course she moves things to clean under them, so the bath toys thing in the OP is just ridiculous.

girlmom21 · 08/02/2022 18:23

Yes I tidy before she comes, but of course she moves things to clean under them, so the bath toys thing in the OP is just ridiculous.

This depends whether it's a couple of bath toys or loads and whether there's somewhere for them to be moved to.

13yearslater · 08/02/2022 19:03

@saraclara

My cleaner changes my bed linen and it's genuinely the best bit! Saves me wrestling a king sized duvet cover, and my room looks like a hotel bedroom when she's done!

Yes I tidy before she comes, but of course she moves things to clean under them, so the bath toys thing in the OP is just ridiculous.

You sound charming. What is your job and salary?
notanothertakeaway · 08/02/2022 19:04

@thepastisanothercountry

Our cleaner who has been with us for about 8 years changes beds, hoovers, sweeps, mops, hangs up washing and / or shoves stuff in machine and tidies. She also picks things up and cleans around them. She does not necessarily do all of these things every time. I will be first to admit that we are not a tidy family however hard I try.

When we are away she comes in and blitzes the place, cleans fridges and ovens, washes practically every bit of fabric she can get her hands on and leaves it dry and folded. We do pay her extra for that.

In exchange I pay her well, turn a blind eye if she leaves early as long as she's done what I've asked and if she occasionally misses something which is rare I do it myself. She's very diffident about asking for pay rises so I ensure that I increase it myself on an annual basis without being asked. I also paid her all the way through lockdown.

I am very glad she is my cleaner - and given she's in demand, I'm assuming she'd have left by now if she was unhappy cleaning for us.

The right cleaner is out there for you OP but it does not sound like this one is it.

@thepastisanothercountry

Our cleaner is the same. She does laundry, ironing, makes beds, recycling, cleans everything. I don't know how she does so much in 2.5 hours. But it does help that our house is tidy, and no clutter lying around. It's quick to eg dust a mantelpiece when it's empty

saraclara · 08/02/2022 19:22

You sound charming. What is your job and salary?

@13yearslater why on earth is that relevant? Doesn't everyone who had a cleaner appreciate them for what they do? My cleaner said when I first met her, that she does bedding changing as part of her routine unless people prefer not. I was thrilled!

Other people might have other favourite bits of their cleaner's work. I'm not sure why getting a glow when it's bedtime on cleaner day, makes me somehow entitled and richer than croesus. Would you prefer that I said I really appreciate her mopping the kitchen floor?

TicTacHoh · 08/02/2022 19:23

Ive found you need to stipulate what you are looking for the first time you have a chat with them. One of the main reasons I love having a cleaner is for them to make the new beds each week, so I always check this is something they will do. Some will, some won't. As far is cleaning round the bath toys, I always tidy up for the cleaner coming.

saraclara · 08/02/2022 19:41

@girlmom21

Yes I tidy before she comes, but of course she moves things to clean under them, so the bath toys thing in the OP is just ridiculous.

This depends whether it's a couple of bath toys or loads and whether there's somewhere for them to be moved to.

Surely you'd just tip the toys into the bath, clean the edges, put the toys back, clean the rest of the bath?

I'm a fairly lazy when it comes you cleaning my house, but that's what I'd do. It's easier than trying to clean around them, I reckon.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 08/02/2022 19:50

@saraclara

My cleaner changes my bed linen and it's genuinely the best bit! Saves me wrestling a king sized duvet cover, and my room looks like a hotel bedroom when she's done!

Yes I tidy before she comes, but of course she moves things to clean under them, so the bath toys thing in the OP is just ridiculous.

I agree, @saraclara!
Jellykat · 08/02/2022 19:56

I agree saraclare you're spot on, and im a cleaner!

TankFlyBossW4lk · 08/02/2022 20:27

Yanbu.

You are paying a fair wage and I would expect her to stay for 4 hours and have better standards. It's ridiculous that she doesn't clean under the bath toys. She absolutely should have cleaned the screen. My cleaner changes the sheets, she shouldn't charge you more for that. Honestly, get a new cleaner. You're being had.

saraclara · 08/02/2022 20:34

@Jellykat

I agree saraclare you're spot on, and im a cleaner!
I also love that my cleaner really loves her job. Even if she hadn't already told me how much pleasure it gives her to leave a house gleaming, I'd be able to tell just from the care she takes over making my bed look so lovely!
HelloKeith · 08/02/2022 20:41

Our cleaners used to re-make the beds I'd already made. And rearrange the DC's cuddly toys Grin

Jedsnewstar · 08/02/2022 20:46

but AFAIC when you're employing a cleaner you can say within reason how you want them to spend their time - so if you would rather her make the beds than dust the tops of cupboards so be it

Erm no you don’t own them. Making the beds is NOT cleaning. Would you expect her to mow the lawn as well if it is in ‘your’ time.

13yearslater · 08/02/2022 21:32

I asked my accountant to clean my car and she said she'd charge extra for doing that. AIBU or is she?

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