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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask cleaner to wash bathrooms...

55 replies

mishmased · 19/08/2022 18:29

Instead of praying and wiping?

We had a cleaner until 2020 and post Covid she has moved on.
About 4 months ago we got a new lady, she was recommended by my next door neighbour and cleans for them every week.

I was due back to work after Mat leave and we could do with having one less chore at home.
She started and the first month was fine. She comes weekly for 3hrs (€15/hr) and we have a 4 bed semi with 3 bathrooms. Just average not too big but not small.

In the last month I have noticed a few things namely, she sprays the bath and wipes as opposed to washing/wiping with a cloth and rinsing with water. The bath doesn't look clean because the faint dirt marks in the middle of the bath is still there.
Also she doesn't mop the bedroom floors. I only realised that because I asked her if she's done it and that was when she told she doesn't because some of her clients do not want her to mop the floor.

Another issue, when she cleans the bathrooms (smallish bathrooms) she wouldn't for example wipe the step stools. I don't mind her not wiping the kids toilet seat if she doesn't want to but the step stool was so dusty.
In the downstairs loo we have a changing table and underneath that is dusty too. It seems like she cleans 'around' things rather than moving things. She doesn't mop the bathroom floors or wipe down the basin or outside the toilet seat. This means I have to do them or ask DH to do which defeats the purpose of outsourcing it.

I'm honestly not sure what to do. It turns out she used to clean for a friend and said friend stopped using her due to similar issues as she ends up having to do the chores herself.

Another one that annoys me more because it is inconveniencing is that she insists on being paid cash. I was sending payment to her husband's PayPal account but last week she asked if she could get cash. I asked to put in her account t but she refused. It is so annoying having to remember every week to take cash from the ATM.
Am I being unreasonable? Do your cleaners wipe your baths or do they wash it? Is it too much work for 3 hrs? She will be in tomorrow but I will be at work all day as I work 12 hr shift.
How would you approach this?

OP posts:
Duettino · 19/08/2022 20:39

Pressed send too soon 🤦🏼‍♀️

She isn't doing what a cleaner does. I'd have a word or get rid. Your friend thought it was a problem which shows your thought process isn't wrong.

Some refuse to do toilets but you don't just not mop a floor and say "oh some people don't like it". That means some do so she should be asking!

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 20:40

Tootsey11 · 19/08/2022 18:33

For what you want doing, I would want more time. I'm a cleaner. Nothing worse than having to rush a clean.

Thank you. I can't remember how many hours the previous lady used to do but if I would hazard a guess maybe 4. It wasn't spotless but it looked clean.

OP posts:
LittleBearPad · 19/08/2022 20:40

She’s not cleaning.

If you really must give her another week then find someone else

Whataretheodds · 19/08/2022 20:41

Agree you need to communicate clearly what you want her to do. Share the list in priority order and ask her what she thinks.

Also if she's telling you she needs to rush ask her to suggest a slot which would allow her to spend the whole time with you rather than cutting it short.

Cash - that's up to her to specify payment terms.

Are you there when she's cleaning? It does take longer to have to go around people, and longer the more furniture and 'stuff' there is.

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 20:43

Caroffee · 19/08/2022 20:27

She's not a good cleaner. Many aren't. Finding a good cleaner is like finding the end of the rainbow. My sister once had an amazing cleaner who did so much in two hours. She now does end-of-tenancy cleaning for agencies and earns £100 an hour doing it.

We've kind of realised this. I was chatting with a colleague about this and her and her sister are trying to find a good cleaner.

OP posts:
YesitsBess · 19/08/2022 20:46

Also with the cash thing, the fact that it was her husbands PayPal and now suddenly she has to rush off early and wants cash smacks of a nasty relationship. That’s not your problem per se but her asking for cash isn’t necessarily a tax avoidance issue.

TokyoTen · 19/08/2022 20:47

I also think it's not enough time. I have a similar house (4 beds, 3 bathrooms, loo, kitchen etc) quite a lot of work.My cleaner does 1 x 3 hours and 1 x 2 hours a week.

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 20:49

Imverynewhere · 19/08/2022 20:31

I think you’re totally within your rights to be annoyed. You’ve got two options 1) make it clear what you expect to be done and give her a few weeks to change 2) tell her it’s not working and find a new cleaner, but bathrooms to me are always a priority to be done properly, along with the kitchen in my view, a good hoover throughout the house and a mop.

Also the cash thing really annoys me too- I do appreciate times are hard and so cash avoids tax and also reduction of benefits/universal credit which we know doesn’t really cover everything people need let alone want, and whilst I mignt not approve of the above I understand why people do it - but it is a bit dodgy AND it’s also a massive faff when for the most part we have a cashless society these days!

Your post just reminded me. I think about a month ago I told her to clean the kitchen and whilst our house is a 4 bed 3 bath, we have a tiny L shaped kitchen (my main gripe). 3 hours and not much done, I should have said something but again I was out. She didn't have to clean the oven (pyrolytic) or microwave. Just wanted her to wipe counters wash floor, wipe skirting board, no fridge cleaning.
I think I've let it slide for so long I'm getting annoyed now 😂

OP posts:
MissMaple82 · 19/08/2022 20:53

Maybe, you know, tell her want you want doing in them 3 hours. One person's priority is not another's.

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 20:53

YesitsBess · 19/08/2022 20:46

Also with the cash thing, the fact that it was her husbands PayPal and now suddenly she has to rush off early and wants cash smacks of a nasty relationship. That’s not your problem per se but her asking for cash isn’t necessarily a tax avoidance issue.

That's a good point but at the time I offered to pay into her bank. I don't have Revolut just PayPal which is why I suggested it. I'm not insinuating that she's avoiding tax, it is more the inconvenience of having to rush to the cash machine or last week had to tell DH to go get money because I'm at work.
I recently lost €50 so I'm trying to not handle cash where possible. Could be a combination of back to work, juggling kids and baby but I seem to be so forgetful these days.

OP posts:
Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 20:54

MissMaple82 · 19/08/2022 20:53

Maybe, you know, tell her want you want doing in them 3 hours. One person's priority is not another's.

Very true, will go back to doing that.

OP posts:
YesitsBess · 19/08/2022 20:55

Sorry the cash thing annoys me. It may well be she needs ready cash (not a crime) rather than transfers being swallowed up by an overdraft?

SuspiciousMind33 · 19/08/2022 20:57

I don't think you need to be annoyed or explain anything you'd like done. Just tell her it isn't working and get someone else.

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 21:02

Whataretheodds · 19/08/2022 20:41

Agree you need to communicate clearly what you want her to do. Share the list in priority order and ask her what she thinks.

Also if she's telling you she needs to rush ask her to suggest a slot which would allow her to spend the whole time with you rather than cutting it short.

Cash - that's up to her to specify payment terms.

Are you there when she's cleaning? It does take longer to have to go around people, and longer the more furniture and 'stuff' there is.

This is also a problem. So she usually comes on Friday afternoon from 1-4. Last Monday she text to ask if she could come on Wednesday. I said no and as DH has meetings all day and I'm off work trying to batch cook (I work 2x 12 hr days and 2x 12 hr nights). Fine she said, see you on Friday. Last night she text to ask if she could come today from 3:30 and I said no I have work training from 5pm for about 3:30-4 hrs.
This makes me think that she probably has too many clients. A lot of replies here have said to increase the hours but she chose the hours and I did ask her if that is enough time. Will ask her to increase hours and I will prioritize tasks.

OP posts:
Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 21:04

@Whataretheodds I'm not there but kids are in the living room (she won't clean there no issues) DH is in the office (she's never cleaned it as he's always working when she's there).

OP posts:
Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 21:05

YesitsBess · 19/08/2022 20:55

Sorry the cash thing annoys me. It may well be she needs ready cash (not a crime) rather than transfers being swallowed up by an overdraft?

I have kept money aside this evening.

OP posts:
WTF475878237NC · 19/08/2022 21:08

Sack her. If it's a time issue it's up to her to say. Equally, she should be asking you what are the priority areas in case one week somewhere is particularly dirty and takes more time. She's just lazy/incompetent.

DotBall · 19/08/2022 21:14

3 hours is definitely enough time if she’s well-organised. I can clean our 4 bed detached in 3 hours no problem.

There will be other cleaners, so if she isn’t a fit for you, give her notice and change. I couldn’t be doing with ‘pay me in cash’, not in 2022.

Squashedraddish · 19/08/2022 21:15

BigChesterDraws · 19/08/2022 18:32

Praying and wiping? I think if you are paying for a cleaner you should get more than just a “Hail Mary” and a wipe.

🤣

Mrstumbletap · 19/08/2022 21:25

The paying in cash would put me off, the inconvenience of having to go a cash point every week just because she wants to dodge paying tax and insurance, no thanks.

Tootsey11 · 19/08/2022 21:28

For those of you saying 3 hours is enough, are any of you cleaners? You are basing your answer on your own houses, none of us has any idea the state of Op's house.

I've walked into houses to view for new clients, all large properties, some are that cluttered with stuff literally everywhere needing picked up, others look as if no one lives there even if they have kids. It really depends on how much stuff you have and if you are a tidy family, whether a cleaner can get a high standard job done in less time or not. As for the cash aspect, I only accept cash, and no its not to avoid tax, I pay that. Its so I am not constantly chasing after clients who 'forget' to pay through the bank. I ain't got time for that. If the money is on the side when I arrive, work gets done. No hassle.

Tootsey11 · 19/08/2022 21:31

@Mrstumbletap so you know the cleaner personally and know she isn't paying tax?

I only accept cash and I pay insurance and tax. Don't be so damn judge.

goingtotown · 19/08/2022 21:43

Sounds like she wouldn't do a thorough clean in 6 hours.

Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 23:54

@Tootsey11 our house can be described and has been described as 'near minimalist'. I hate clutter, DH often jokes that too much stuff on the wall makes me feel claustrophobic and he's not wrong.
For example our smallish sitting room has an ornament thing on the main wall, tv on another wall, two small artwork on another and a school picture of the older two and a clock.
Kitchen wall has one large painting and a wall clock. Nothing on hallway walls. Older two bedroom have two posters and that's it.
No clutter to get through at our place.

OP posts:
Original poster
mishmased · 19/08/2022 23:59

DH and I have agreed tomorrow she can clean two bathrooms (excluding en-suite) hallway, stairs and kitchen. No cleaning bedrooms or living room. That should be doable in 3 hours I think.

Tonight as I do every night before she comes I've removed anything that would slow her down from the hallway, kitchen, stairs. We haven't been able to get cabinets in the bathrooms yet so everything in the main bathroom (soaps, shampoo, shower gel, toothbrush etc) are all removed.

@goingtotown I'm hoping for an improvement as no point asking for more time if it won't get done properly.
Thanks for the responses, always good to get opinions. I'll update with outcome.

OP posts: