Page 8 | Do cleaners not do dishes?

Fifi00 · 2023-02-13T13:47:42+00:00

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?

Poppopandmorepop · 13/02/2023 23:03

ladykale · Today 22:12
the office workers are told to clean their own dishes. Not leave to the cleaners who aren’t there to clean the lazy sods dishes!

Zanatdy · 13/02/2023 23:04

No mine doesn’t, but I don’t clean before she comes so plenty to do

Sparkleshine21 · 13/02/2023 23:07

I’m a cleaner and if there are dirty dishes then I do them as part of cleaning the kitchen…I didn’t realise this wasn’t expected of me! 😂 but also I wouldn’t feel right leaving a kitchen with dirty dishes, the job wouldn’t feel done to me.

blippyissilly · 13/02/2023 23:08

Not surprised that left early, you'd done all the cleaning for them

Very odd

Sparkleshine21 · 13/02/2023 23:08

I would also load a dishwasher and hang washing on an airer without being asked if I had time. Maybe I’m not charging enough 😂

Original poster

Fifi00 · 13/02/2023 23:10

ButtonMoonMrsSpoon · 13/02/2023 23:01

I do cleaning. If it's a few bits to wash up then of course I do it. I wouldn't however wash up an entire dinners worth and then try to cram everything else in.
So many of the people I clean for expect their whole house cleaned top to bottom including high dusting, skirting boards and last week I was asked to clean all the mould off the walls and windows off her chronically damp house but given no extra time. She still wanted everything else doing too in the 2 hrs she pays for. An A4 sheets worth. What happened, I went over by 40 mins that I'm not going to get paid for because I don't want to be seen as not doing my job properly when in fact people expect far too much for what they are prepared to pay for.
I have a few people that actually make me feel like a personal skivvy and literally leave their crap and rubbish everywhere because oh the cleaner will do it.
I wouldn't do ironing, if you want that done get an ironing lady.
Personally I hate this job now because of how I find so many people and yet I can't be bad as I've had to turn down 4 more people this week for regular work as I'm full.
I am a cleaner, not a maid or a housekeeper but so many people seem to think that is what we are

In the kindest way look for another job , people generally hire a cleaner because they struggle to keep on top of their house. The most house proud people would be too embarrassed to do so. .

OP posts:

TifT · 13/02/2023 23:12

If you leave dirty dishes and expect your cleaner to do them, that is really taking the piss in my opinion.

Ilovetea13 · 13/02/2023 23:15

I used to work for an agency and always cleaned dishes(also emptied dishwashers ect) I don't think the client expected me to I just did it.
Also leaving early is deceitful, my boss used to call it stealing from the client,
there is always something to clean.

If they are leaving early I'd ask them to do something(or leave a note if your not in)
I.e "today could you clean my windows/clean under the sofa ect) maybe they need a few "promts" .

Original poster

Fifi00 · 13/02/2023 23:16

TifT · 13/02/2023 23:12

If you leave dirty dishes and expect your cleaner to do them, that is really taking the piss in my opinion.

If the house is pretty much clean and tidy , , what am I paying for exactly ? I can't just say no thanks and not pay I still get charged. My DD had friends over so I had to do most of the chores already.

OP posts:

MotherOfPuffling · 13/02/2023 23:17

It just depends what’s been agreed. With my cleaners I’ve always discussed at the outset what I want done, what to prioritise if time is short, and what to do if there is spare time. Making sure they were happy with that, and we were all agreed, was done straight away to avoid this kind of situation. Then if something different was required one week I would let them know and check if it was ok. All based on the advice my mum gave me (including her advice to have a cleaner if at all possible!) If Op is ok with cleaning and doesn’t hate it like some people, or find it hard physically, then it’s fine for her to agree with whoever will be coming, what they need to do, whether that person is a cleaner or a home help etc.

BMrs · 13/02/2023 23:17

It's two questions really...do cleaners do the dishes? Most don't. Should they have left early? Absolutely not!

Flamingle18 · 13/02/2023 23:32

I am a cleaner and with every post like this am realising how much extra I do and probably don't charge enough! I regularly wash pots, clean the fridge out, help with laundry, set up devices for my elderly clients and if it's clients that are at work, I get them a cup of tea/coffee ready out on the side so they can just add water and milk. The only time it bothered me and I gave notice was when they were leaving days worth of pots for me to do. Literally had nothing clean left in the house and were leaning pots next to their bed and dirty underwear on the floor 🤢

chopc · 13/02/2023 23:33

@Fifi00 when I hired my cleaner I did explain some housekeeping tasks are required so she makes beds up etc. she does however leave dishes in the sink as we have two dishwashers and I don't expect her to know which one we are currently using

BadNomad · 13/02/2023 23:45

It does sound like you need more of a housekeeper/home help/PA rather than a cleaner. Work out what jobs you want done then advertise for someone who will cover that.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 13/02/2023 23:45

Mine does if there's a couple, and occasionally empties the dishwasher (it's almost always done before she comes but on occasion it hasn't been).

She doesn't clean the inside of windows though which I found out when I asked her to when half the house was out of action so her cleaning took loads less time.

journeyofinsanity · 13/02/2023 23:48

Weird cleaner rules going on here. My cleaner and every cleaner I've ever had just gets on with whatever needs doing. If there are a couple of mugs and a plate in the sink, she just washes them. Or pops them in the dishwasher. Same with any pots or pans lying about. Why in heavens name not? You think they clean floors, loos, fridge, vacuum etc but for some weird arse reason, not dishes? So weird.

journeyofinsanity · 13/02/2023 23:50

BirdyBoop · 13/02/2023 13:56

Cleaners don't do dishes.

You speak for all cleaners? Mine does. Every cleaner I've had over 35 years has done.

MajesticWhine · 14/02/2023 00:01

My cleaner does everything but she's probably more of a housekeeper.
But I've never had a cleaner who didn't do the dishes or at least shove everything in the dishwasher.

RamblinRosie · 14/02/2023 00:31

I must admit I don’t interfere with my cleaner. If there’s the odd mug, she’ll wash it (I’d never leave serious washing up). She has her hours and does what she thinks needs doing.

One time I found her dismantling my oven door, she cleaned it beautifully, I didn’t know how to do that! She folds clothes and pairs socks - she is supposed just to to do ironing.

She treats my house as she would her own.

She also always brings me cakes.

JackieDaws · 14/02/2023 00:51

You seem to be mistaking cleaners for serfs...

journeyofinsanity · 14/02/2023 00:57

JackieDaws · 14/02/2023 00:51

You seem to be mistaking cleaners for serfs...

Why are dishes beneath toilet cleaning? How peculiar that you are happy for someone to clean where you shit but think only serfs wash dishes. Truly mind boggling.

Notatallanamechange · 14/02/2023 01:16

Your attitude is shit. If you want to hire someone for a service at least have an idea what the norm is for it. If she has extra time because you decided to clean the bloody place first, then suggest extra tasks such as the dishes. You really do sound snobby tbh. Don’t do the work you hire someone to do and then complain when they don’t go out with the job description, because you decided to do the work. That is not their issue.

Notatallanamechange · 14/02/2023 01:22

Also, if your daughter having pals over required you to do a full clean of the entire place then surely you’re all leaving it a bit slovenly? There’s no reason why someone with a cleaner at least once a week would need to do a full clean of their house because a few teens are coming round. Unless you literally don’t clean up anything after you. Which would make me think she’s probably used to doing a lot of cleaning and the dishes on top didn’t occur to her.

CohenTree · 14/02/2023 01:33

The cleaner is there to do whatever tasks you have agreed with them.
Perhaps OP it is time to compile a list of their duties in order of priority... with the final one being:
" … and time permitting, any other household cleaning tasks that need doing (e.g. dishwashing."

Original poster

Fifi00 · 14/02/2023 06:40

Notatallanamechange · 14/02/2023 01:22

Also, if your daughter having pals over required you to do a full clean of the entire place then surely you’re all leaving it a bit slovenly? There’s no reason why someone with a cleaner at least once a week would need to do a full clean of their house because a few teens are coming round. Unless you literally don’t clean up anything after you. Which would make me think she’s probably used to doing a lot of cleaning and the dishes on top didn’t occur to her.

I don't think you read my posts properly I have a neurological condition and I work full time , I leave the house 6:30 am and don't get back until 8:45 pm X 3-4 a week . A normal person is tired on these hours , I get very exhausted. If it is messy I hire a cleaner to assist because yes I find it difficult spinning plates, my DH and DD just won't help properly and shouting nagging makes me more ill. I don't wish to give up my job and independence to clean more. I hire and pay money to make my life easier.

I think the simple solution is to hire for home help and specify what I want doing. I don't think a traditional cleaner with fixed rules of no dishes is going to meet my needs. I'm happy to pay a fair rate so there will be someone who can help.

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