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Original poster

Do cleaners not do dishes?

358 replies

Fifi00 · 13/02/2023 13:47

My new cleaners seem a bit rubbish. I clean the loo , move clothes, I had already hoovered a couple of days ago and gave everything a proper scrub/mop there wasn't much for them to do but DD and DH had left breakfast dishes in the sink. The dishes were untouched and the cleaners left 30 mins early. I pay for 2 hours a week , 2 cleaners so 1 hour. Is washing some dishes and cleaning the sink really unacceptable?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
Treesandsheepeverywhere · 19/02/2023 10:30

journeyofinsanity · 16/02/2023 04:42

Who in reality would leave a mountain of a whole week's dishes growing mould. I mean really. That's nonsense. For one thing, people don't have that many pots and pans and dishes. And most people who pay for a cleaner care about cleaning.

Show quote history

You're clearly not a cleaner, what
@RedLorryYellaLorry and @Anotherselfemployedcleaner have said is correct.

One visit it's breakfast bowls in the sink, next it's last night's dinner and before you know it, it's a dinner party's worth.

There are loads of people who have that much crockery, pans, space etc.

Wish I'd taken a photo of some of the scenes I've walked into when I used to clean.
All started off fine, then slowly slowly, they expect you to do more in the same time.

One ex client had two dishwashers which were always full, emptying that to put the dirty ones in took a big chunk out of cleaning time.
The extra large bin was always full too and needed extra strength just to pull it out as she jammed it full and avoided emptying herself.

Not everyone is house proud and some are but don't want to lift a finger inbetween cleaner's visits.

Not saying every cleaner has such clients but there are a lot out there.

ACynicalDad · 19/02/2023 10:36

I told mine not to as I will do them so feel it’s a waste of her time, I’d rather she did stuff I wouldn’t do, but if she has done everything I’d hope she’d do them rather than leave early.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 19/02/2023 10:39

Sainte · 16/02/2023 10:51

I’ve had cleaners all my working life.

Modern cleaners talk about deep cleaning. Deep cleaning is just a decent clean. When a cleaner says they think a deep clean is needed then they’re not the cleaner for me. Cleaning is always a deep clean otherwise what’s the point. If not deep cleaning then it’s just tickling the clean.

when I first had cleaners many years ago, they did the domestic work like washing the floors, skirting boards, of course the dishes, the entrance to the house etc., then as years went on I heard no - I can’t do that when I’ve asked why there’s dust under the chairs.

Seems to be the more I pay, the less cleaning is done.

A deep clean for me would mean much more than a regular clean.
There's no way I'd be able to do a deep clean in the usual time.

This is all dependant on size of the house vs time allocated of course .
If it's a small house with not much tyding to do, then fine.
If it's a big house that needs doing in 3/4 hours then no.

A deep clean is more of a spring clean. Taking rugs out, moving furniture, polishing silver, good oven scrub, extractor fans, the list goes on.

Again, if there isn't much to move/clean and the client is always on top of things then there's less to deep clean.

nokidshere · 19/02/2023 13:00

My cleaner doesn't tidy up, she cleans. On Thursday night we tidy stuff away so that the house is clear for her to clean properly. It works well because it means there's never more than a weeks worth of 'stuff' lying around and it looks lovely after she has cleaned. If there were dishes in the sink she would leave them. If I asked her to wash up (or do other jobs she wouldn't normally do) she would.

Angebot · 22/02/2023 14:37

Crikey my cleaner always did the dishes, it's my least favourite job and I always left a huge pile. No point in having a cleaner if you do stuff before.

Original poster
Fifi00 · 22/02/2023 23:06

Update my new housekeeper/cleaner has been amazing they have reorganised most of my house. It looks so much better clutter free I actually felt relaxed when I got home from my 13.5 hour day. Absolutely fantastic

OP posts:
Twentyfirstcenturymumma · 23/02/2023 07:28

Very pleased for you OP, you're now getting what you pay for 😊

Chooksnroses · 23/02/2023 07:34

Glad you got what you wanted! I have my first cleaner starting next week. I'm looking forward to her coming now! After reading this thread and adding that to my own experience as a cleaner and hearing horror stories from my clients I was a bit worried! Having met and talked to my cleaner I feel a lot better!

Sainte · 23/02/2023 21:10

I’m reading through some of these messages. I’m perplexed. If we were all tidy, had the time and wanted to clean then cleaners would have no work.
My cleaner is a hit or a miss type of cleaner. I had to ask her to empty the Hoover after use. She sighs and makes a noise as she cleans. She’s often ill and can’t come.
I pay her £3 more than she asked for just to ensure she comes and even then she often can’t come. That’s how difficult it is to get a cleaner in my area.
I can get teams of cleaners easily but I want a cleaner and not a team in my home.
Ive had supposed cleaners who can’t cope with the amount of ornaments. Some who only do deep clean charging £20 per hour.

The world of cleaning is a mystery to me. I’m prepared to pay for a decent clean but can I get a decent cleaner? No
I have a friend who lives five miles from a main town - she can’t get a cleaner even although she’ll pay OTT. and travel time and petrol. She can’t get a window cleaner either.
Id think in this economic climate we’d be overrun with people wanting to clean.

Original poster
Fifi00 · 23/02/2023 21:32

Sainte · 23/02/2023 21:10

I’m reading through some of these messages. I’m perplexed. If we were all tidy, had the time and wanted to clean then cleaners would have no work.
My cleaner is a hit or a miss type of cleaner. I had to ask her to empty the Hoover after use. She sighs and makes a noise as she cleans. She’s often ill and can’t come.
I pay her £3 more than she asked for just to ensure she comes and even then she often can’t come. That’s how difficult it is to get a cleaner in my area.
I can get teams of cleaners easily but I want a cleaner and not a team in my home.
Ive had supposed cleaners who can’t cope with the amount of ornaments. Some who only do deep clean charging £20 per hour.

The world of cleaning is a mystery to me. I’m prepared to pay for a decent clean but can I get a decent cleaner? No
I have a friend who lives five miles from a main town - she can’t get a cleaner even although she’ll pay OTT. and travel time and petrol. She can’t get a window cleaner either.
Id think in this economic climate we’d be overrun with people wanting to clean.

I think a lot see it as a school hours job but don't actually want to do it , if that makes sense. Only job that they can get that suits their circumstances.

OP posts:
MissingMoominMamma · 12/03/2023 18:55

Genuine question.

I’ve just started a cleaning job for a colleague. It wouldn’t have occurred to me not to do dishes or toilets. Why are those jobs not acceptable? For clarity, there are rarely dishes there, but if there were, it’s part of cleaning the kitchen, isn’t it?

susiesuelou · 12/03/2023 18:56

Mine does if I leave them in the sink. She will basically wash anything that's been left in the sink. If I leave it on the side or the kitchen table, she won't wash it.

CatCake · 12/03/2023 19:02

Mine have always done dishes - by request, but they've always done them.

Somethingneedstochange78 · 19/03/2023 16:04

My mum used to have a few cleaning jobs. She got so fed up with all the dishes from the night before always being left on the side she started to just wipe the worktops around them. As well as hoover around toys left out. They soon got the message and left it clear.

Sainte · 19/03/2023 19:34

A cleaner who doesn’t think is no use to me. If a cleaner was to leave dishes - well they wouldn’t last. Bye bye. I need a cleaner who thinks and doesn’t work around ornaments or dishes. She’s there to clean!!

Raineth · 20/03/2023 09:25

They shouldn’t have left early. Whether dishes or a deeper clean they should have done more work.

I’d look for a new cleaner, yours is lazy.

Jguy28 · 07/03/2025 19:43

TaRaDeBumDeAy · 13/02/2023 13:55

Confused They are cleaners, not home help. They are there to clean your house, not tidy up your mess.

Show quote history

I'm a cleaner..I don't mind doing the odd bit of washing up ..but in my experience they tend to start taking the mick and I end up with more washing up the more I go.. it is not nice having to scrape their left over/burnt on food off their pots and pans from the night before...then have to fish that out of the plug hole after. It also takes up my time when I should be cleaning elsewhere..I also tend to do more than I should for example..I'll wipe over kitchen cupboards and skirtings.. clean windows..clean out fridges and microwaves.. things that are more for deep cleaning than general cleaning...and I'll still charge the same. You are completely spot on..I'm there to clean...not tidy up! How am I supposed to clean your sides when they're covered in all sorts and hoover your floors when there's washing chucked all over it.

Porcuporpoise · 07/03/2025 19:45

dollymixtured · 13/02/2023 13:49

Of course they don’t do your dishes!

Says who? My cleaner does dishes.

Barbie222 · 07/03/2025 19:54

They do the things you agreed would be in their remit? If you didn't agree explicitly what would / wouldn't be done in the time then you haven't really got a leg to stand on. And if they didn't have work to do because you'd done all the things that were on the list, you need to find them other work? Make a list with them of 'things to do every week' and 'things to do if time'. Then everyone knows where they stand.

0ohLarLar · 07/03/2025 20:12

My cleaners always do everything, they clean, tidy, do the loos etc. Ive never had to ask re this, they've never grumbled. Washing up is part of cleaning.

They've been with me for 8 years.

0ohLarLar · 07/03/2025 20:13

Ps i have a dishwasher, so its only ever an odd mug or something left in the sink. They'll also load things in the dishwasher and run it.

0ohLarLar · 07/03/2025 20:15

.I'm there to clean...not tidy up! How am I supposed to clean your sides when they're covered in all sorts and hoover your floors when there's washing chucked all over it.

Why is it acceptable to pay someone to clean but not to tidy?

My cleaners sort and fold laundry. They will tidy surfaces etc too. I pay them for the time they work, whether that's less, or more, why is it somehow acceptable to wipe surfaces but not to fold laundry?

JMSA · 07/03/2025 20:17

Anyone who leaves dirty dishes for their cleaner is lazy and disrespectful. I would never do this to mine.

iliketobereasonable · 07/03/2025 20:17

Mine do, I don’t actually intentionally leave them dishes to do, but if I leave a breakfast bowl or cup on the side by mistake, I find it cleaned. Then I feel guilty as I don’t feel like they should do it. As I say to the kids, they are here to clean, not clear up your mess!

Porcuporpoise · 07/03/2025 21:04

JMSA · 07/03/2025 20:17

Anyone who leaves dirty dishes for their cleaner is lazy and disrespectful. I would never do this to mine.

As someone who has been a cleaner and now has a cleaner I think your opinion is bizarre.