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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Imagine being a domestic cleaner at the moment

152 replies

MrsMingech · 01/04/2022 18:05

We have just had to let our cleaners go. We could barely afford the luxury anyway, but the stress it took from us was immense.

But the prices of everything going up is just painful.

But how shit must it be to be in a trade such domestic cleaning? Surely it's one of the first things to go. So those who clean will get a double whammy. Their cost of living goes up and potentially their income goes down. Hit from both ends.

Same with things like taxi drivers and so on and so forth.

OP posts:
CremeEggThief · 01/04/2022 18:07

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 01/04/2022 18:09

It's the same for those in the retail, hospitality and leisure industry. DH is in retail. Hours available are based on sales in store, which are down.

RonWeasleysBackfiringWand · 01/04/2022 18:09

@CremeEggThief You sound like you have an axe to grind. The post is not asking for sympathy for the OP.

mycatisannoying · 01/04/2022 18:10

I didn't think the OP was expecting sympathy. In fact, she has expressed how hard it must be for cleaners. Hmm

VodselForDinner · 01/04/2022 18:10

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
Ah yes, all those cleaners who would be so much better off if it wasn’t for those pesky people engaging their services.

Would you same the same thing about a local takeaway closing? Or a gardener going out of business? They’re all outsourced jobs that rely on someone paying to not do the job themselves.

It’s not a race to the bottom.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 01/04/2022 18:10

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
The OP isn't asking for sympathy though?
ISpyCobraKai · 01/04/2022 18:13

I'm so far keeping my cleaner.
I'm on disability benefits which is why I have one in the first place, I'm certainly not even comfortable financially, I just choose this to get my house cleaned for an hour a week.

WeOnlyTalkAboutBruno · 01/04/2022 18:14

Lol do you want some salt and sauce for that absolutely enormous chip on your shoulder CremeEggThief

CremeEggThief · 01/04/2022 18:14

It did read to me as she's hand wringing about it, agonising over it yet still goes ahead and does it anyway! So I wouldn't feel have any sympathy for any boss if I were one of the "little people" in that situation, no.

FatPatsCat · 01/04/2022 18:15

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
Did you actually read this OP? I think you're confused, maybe have a lie down?

OP you're right, it hadn't crossed my mind and I'm sure many others', but there will be many industries which are hit so much harder 😔

tttigress · 01/04/2022 18:18

It's quite tricky to get a good cleaner, some that:

a) you trust in your house
b) will do a good job and not gradually reduce their effort once in the job

I would have thought the good cleaners will still get plenty of work

CremeEggThief · 01/04/2022 18:18

Bruno, I save the chip on my shoulder for people who really piss me off...Wink

Oogabooga123 · 01/04/2022 18:19

They should come here, every other post on our local page is looking for a decent reliable cleaner, they seem to be in short supply.

I won’t be getting rid of mine however mine is funded by the local authority and the money is ringfenced for that

ButterfliesAndPancakes · 01/04/2022 18:20

@CremeEggThief

It did read to me as she's hand wringing about it, agonising over it yet still goes ahead and does it anyway! So I wouldn't feel have any sympathy for any boss if I were one of the "little people" in that situation, no.
She really isn’t asking for sympathy. If anything @MrsMingech is being sympathetic towards people like cleaners and people in similar roles.
meloncolic · 01/04/2022 18:22

In very short supply round here, ditto every other job is short staffed too!

AllOfUsAreDead · 01/04/2022 18:25

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
Aw well done, you just publicly announced how daft you are. Smile Gold star for you.

The rest of us get what you mean op. It's the extra jobs we pay for that will stop getting done first when people can't afford it. Like cleaners, gardeners, window cleaners etc. Stuff that we could do ourselves, but pay someone else to do so that we can do something else. They will notice a decline in work in some areas I imagine. Not all though, some won't even notice the increase in prices happening.

Easterbunnyiswindowshopping · 01/04/2022 18:32

Cleaner here...lost the majority of my customers in 2020. Have all new ones now and putting my charges up from Monday.

Intend to email everyone this week end...
Am preparing to lose nobody tbh.
No different from anyone who provides a service.

declutteringmymind · 01/04/2022 18:37

Yes. No different to any service provider. I'm expecting people to refuse certain services and extras that I offer going forward. Luckily we are oversubscribed but there will be a reduction in revenue.

bellac11 · 01/04/2022 18:37

@CremeEggThief

It did read to me as she's hand wringing about it, agonising over it yet still goes ahead and does it anyway! So I wouldn't feel have any sympathy for any boss if I were one of the "little people" in that situation, no.
I think you've made the classic mistake of polarising people into 'good people' and 'bad people' on the basis of their job or position without recognising that 'little people' also employ other 'little people'
BoredZelda · 01/04/2022 18:44

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.

Oh of course, because anyone who employs a cleaner must be looked down upon on MN and some arse will always come along to try to make them feel like shit in order to show some kind of superiority.

People just aren’t getting this. It is a bad thing that those who previously had money to spend on services like cleaners, or nannies, or who spent money on leisure, can no longer afford to do it as that will have a serious impact on the economy. It shows how deep the crisis goes and there is no end in sight.

FairyCakeWings · 01/04/2022 18:50

That’s the same for anyone that provides a luxury service. Loads of other self employed people will be affected in the same way.

Cleaners are an essential service for some people who have mobility issues or disability so they will be in a better position than some trades.

MayMorris · 01/04/2022 18:51

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
🤦‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️Did you actually read the post
CaliforniaDrumming · 01/04/2022 18:52

I am keeping my fortnightly cleaner and getting DH to colour my hair instead of going to the hair salon. He is better at doing that than cleaning!

user1487194234 · 01/04/2022 18:59

I would give up quite a few things before my cleaner

Redglitter · 01/04/2022 18:59

My cleaner left this week as she's moving away. I cant get anyone else for love nor money to replace her so it seems people around here are still prioritising theirs

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