Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Antarcticant · 01/04/2022 22:04

There are a lot of industrial/commercial cleaning jobs around at the moment.

notanothertakeaway · 01/04/2022 22:11

I would imagine most people who can afford a cleaner are likely to earn above average and can afford to continue.

DelilahBucket · 01/04/2022 22:11

It isn't just cleaners, anything none essential is hit. I run a none essential retail business and in the last twelve months it has gone from bad to worse with sales. Last year I had to let a member of staff go, then another went onto a zero hours contract (thank goodness she's semi retired and does the job for a bit of extra spending money and because she likes it). I'm left robbing Peter to pay Paul and save my ten year old business with an unemployed husband who was made redundant.

Baystard · 01/04/2022 22:22

I agree OP.

I'm in the category that a PP mentioned - my cleaner isn't quite as good or as reliable as she used to be and I find it difficult to justify the expense.

£36 per week for 3 hours but I pay every week regardless if she comes or not so it's quite expensive per hour actually worked. I worked out the money would nearly cancel the cost increases for electricity and I think I might get more value from being warm. I've put off the conversation for months now.

DeepDown12 · 01/04/2022 22:26

As some PPs already said, my cleaner is probably the last thing I'd give up. Nails and hair appointments would have gone before that as well as some subscriptions. The time she saves me every week is priceless.

CheshireCats · 01/04/2022 22:30

I am a cleaner.
Lost approx 20% of my clients when the pandemic struck but replaced them with new clients very quickly.
Put my prices up 15% in September, didn't lose any clients.
I am not expecting to lose anybody now, but if I do I will be able to fill the space - I am turning down work atm.

Hillary17 · 01/04/2022 22:31

For now, we’re keeping ours. Honestly she makes life so much easier and with the stress of work I don’t know how I’d fit in a deep bathroom clean. In our house at least, there’s other things I’d rather sacrifice!

Kitkat151 · 01/04/2022 22:44

@ellebelli

I am a Cleaner and so far not lost anybody, nor do I expect to. If I do I have several people on a waiting list anyway. I am actually busier than ever doing extra hours for my clients this week and next!!! I do intend to put my prices up soon too.
My SIL says the same....she has never been busier
Ddot · 01/04/2022 22:50

Cleaners are in demand at the moment. Just isn't enough people wanting to do the hard graft and still be thought of as the lowest of the low.

Cisforcamel · 01/04/2022 23:03

We’ve just voluntarily increased our cleaners pay by 10%. There is such a shortage around us and I couldn’t bear that she might leave, so we thought this was the best incentive to get her to stay.

NotNotNotMyName · 01/04/2022 23:15

I think working mums will hang onto their cleaners if at all possible. I will possibly be going back to work soon and have missed having a cleaner so much - so looking forward to it!!

Instead I will use the car less, stop takeaways and lazy McD’s, increase batch cooking, eat more veggie and reduce meat. Also will go back to packed lunch for days out rather than cafes.

A good cleaner is worth their weight in gold 🙂

imisscashmere · 01/04/2022 23:17

Our cleaner has just increased her rates quite significantly. Happy to pay it - as others have said, there are many things I’d sacrifice first!

Haybo26 · 01/04/2022 23:17

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
I think you need to read OPs post again. Her sympathies were with the cleaners and how they will cope with not only losing jobs but also cost of living rises. In no way was she thinking about herself.
Manekinek0 · 01/04/2022 23:19

I took on some cleaning work (used to do similar years ago) because I was bored and had to temp close my business during covid. I planned on stopping it when the business picked back up but the few people a work for haven't been able to get a replacement. I charge £15 an hour so not a bad amount and it helps keep me semi fit.

It's definitely not a recession proof job but as a pp has said it depends on your priorities and how much you value your time.

Ddot · 01/04/2022 23:22

My friend is a cleaner in the NHS but not for the NHS. At the hight of the pandemic she was told to beg some PPE because her contractor wouldnt supply it. We need to change our attitude for labour jobs. Its hard work and we should recognize its importance

Aposterhasnoname · 01/04/2022 23:23

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
I think you’ll find that’s exactly what the OP was saying.
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 01/04/2022 23:30

@Dancer47

HI OP. I am one of them. Thank you for thinking of us.

Before Covid hit in March 2020, I was a self-employed domestic cleaner in large private houses. I had as much work as I wanted and often worked 7 days a week doing over 15 houses top to bottom, and in summer, did extra work like companion work and cooking for my clients.
As soon as Covid hit all my work stopped dead. I had made a loss in my first year of operation and a good profit in the next two tax years, but the loss in one of the qualifying years meant I got no support grant from HMRC. Now that Covid is over, no-one wants a cleaner. They have got used to getting by, and a lot of people don't want anyone in their houses except for family. It has changed people. Now with bills rising, people who would like a cleaner can't afford one any more. I do odd jobs now, Yesterday I painted a garage for £30. It took me all day. Tomorrow I am doing someone's fence. I have put flyers through doors within a 15 minute walk offering to do a list of odd jobs that I am good at. I live hand to mouth. I am 51.

I am sorry - though not surprised - to hear this, @Dancer47. I think covid may have changed the way we live forever
nokidshere · 01/04/2022 23:31

There's a lot of things I'd give up before my cleaner. I'm disabled and she's invaluable to me. But I've already stopped having my hair coloured/cut, and we haven't been out to eat in a while and no frivolous shopping. So may services will feel the pinch.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 01/04/2022 23:33

@EmeraldShamrock1

Yanbu. These are very hard times for a lot of people, cleaners and taxi drivers will definitely be hit by the cutbacks.

Fuel increases too.

Many retailers are reducing staffing levels too.

Taxi drivers are going to be hammered as the cab companies will now have to charge VAT on top of existing charges following some legal case. So that’s an extra 20% on pre booked fares
LuckySantangelo35 · 01/04/2022 23:35

@CremeEggThief

Well... I feel a lot sorrier for any cleaner in this position than for you or any others who employ cleaners.🤔
@CremeEggThief WTF you on about?? OP isn’t asking for sympathy
Bananabutter · 01/04/2022 23:36

@OneRingToRuleThemAll

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.
No, not all hospitality. We’ve never been busier.
Hertsgirl10 · 01/04/2022 23:38

@CremeEggThief

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

That’s exactly what the post is about, not that she’s had to let the cleaners go.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 01/04/2022 23:42

@imisscashmere

Our cleaner has just increased her rates quite significantly. Happy to pay it - as others have said, there are many things I’d sacrifice first!
I agree, people have different priorities and for some there are options for where to cut costs. For me first to go are the coffees and sandwiches from Pret, this was a post Covid back to work bad habit anyhow. Things like take aways, eating out will also be happing less and I will be making more careful choices with shopping.
TooManyPJs · 01/04/2022 23:48

@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's "done it anyway" as she can no longer afford it. Would she rather she just sacked her and didn't give a shit?!? Bizarre response.
Icecreamandapplepie · 02/04/2022 00:00

@Davros

How dare they charge £15ph eh? And not pay tax?

Brought their downfalls on themselves!

You ignorant muppet.