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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this usual for a cleaner?

102 replies

cleanerquestion · 02/03/2023 12:12

My new cleaner has requested to take before and after photos in my home for a social media business page. Is this standard practice? I've never had a cleaner before hence my asking. I'm not sure how I feel about photos of the inside of my home with my personal belongings etc being published on someone's social media page. But it's possible I'm overthinking this so would appreciate views! Thanks

OP posts:
T1Dmama · 03/03/2023 00:09

I would simply
say ‘no sorry!’

it’s different if it’s a carpet cleaning company and the photo is purely of the floor and could literally be anyones… but I’m not sure what the before and after photos would actually achieve?? Unless your shower is mouldy and she’s going to get it all off? I know after I clean the house is cleaner (obv) but don’t think a photo would pick up the lack of dust etc!

Just say ‘No, sorry.. I don’t want photos of my house or belongings photographed!’

She might be crocked and send them to people to rob you!!….. personally I’d look for another cleaner!!

7eleven · 03/03/2023 00:36

My cleaners post after photos, with nothing identifying showing. I don’t mind. They asked permission before they did it.

Copperfield27 · 03/03/2023 08:55

Absolutely not. This is advertising to thieves. Offer to write a google review or to speak directly to potential clients who are looking for a reference but pics of personal space is a hard no.

qazxc · 03/03/2023 09:45

I have seen a lot of tik tok videos of cleaning companies/cleaners doing house cleans (I use them as motivation to clean my house). So it does happen, the house are clean or clean-ish when they start they just run through the routine of what their service entails and give out some cleaning tips as they go along.
Having said that, you are entirely entitled to say no, I wouldn't want my house videoed either. I don't think you need to offer a compromise but your idea of leaving a positive review is very good (helps her business without being intrusive).

BollocksToThem · 03/03/2023 09:52

No I wouldn't

Kaiserchief · 03/03/2023 12:01

Copperfield27 · 03/03/2023 08:55

Absolutely not. This is advertising to thieves. Offer to write a google review or to speak directly to potential clients who are looking for a reference but pics of personal space is a hard no.

How?

Feraldogmum · 03/03/2023 12:43

You’re basically posting a shopping list for burglars along with entry points. She may well be perfectly legit, doesn’t mean to say her associates are and you say she’s new. Even if she doesn’t give out your personal details, it only takes a careless word discussing a house she does in a certain area, for folk to figure out entry points to neighbouring houses if you live on an estate . You might not get burgled, but your neighbours could.
As others suggest, a close up of a cleaned bath,cupboard,tile grouting,oven etc is a good compromise.
Well done getting a good cleaner,not always easy to come by.

WinterMusings · 03/03/2023 13:13

thebellagio · 02/03/2023 12:15

It's only a question. If you don't want to, say no.

If you're looking for a cleaner, wouldn't you find it helpful to see some before and after photos along with a review/testimonial from a happy customer?

No, I wouldn't. The cleaner is supposed to be there to clean, not to tidy. How much of a state would your house need ti be in to see, on photos, before & after!

I used to have a business with staff, doing mostly commercial cleaning (some domestic) and carpet & soft furnishing cleaning.

carpet cleaning makes for good photos,, commercial cleaning if they have lots of chrome/mirrors etc but not domestic cleaning

@cleanerquestion it's a weird request

londonrach · 03/03/2023 13:19

Say no! I do see photos from cleaners on social media but I never have a cleaner who does this. A good cleaner doesn't need to advertise

cheesychips101 · 03/03/2023 14:34

I’d let them do after photos but probably not before. Other than that I don’t really see ann issue. Ask to make sure there’s no photos in the photos or anything identifying that’s it’s your home and where it is etc.

lazycats · 03/03/2023 14:36

Hairdressers have started asking me this now. I say not but don't begrudge the attempt. Entrepreneurialism and all that.

TwoBengalCats · 03/03/2023 14:42

It is entirely up to you to decide how happy you are with the idea. As suggested already maybe ask her not to include personal items/ photos, or maybe even ask her to get your approval on photos first.

as a side note, we have a professional organiser in our area who always posts before and after pictures of her work which certainly helps see how she works.

Poodles23 · 03/03/2023 15:52

I wouldn’t agree to it myself.

MarshaBradyo · 03/03/2023 15:54

Kaiserchief · 02/03/2023 21:35

I’m a cleaner. This is really very common nowadays.

Many of my customers have found me via my social media. They can see what a good job I do by my before and after photos. It’s a great advert for my business.

I have in my terms and conditions that I may take photos but even if they’ve agreed to me posting pics I always send them to them for approval before posting. If they say no, I don’t mind at all, it’s their choice. I’m there for the work, not the photos.

For the ones where there’s a big difference between before and after, shall we say, I turn the comments off. I always say that the photos are an advert for my work, they’re not for comments. I’m respectful and grateful that these people who needed help trust me and chose me to clean for them.

Cleaners are just normal self-employed people making a living. Some of the ways they’re spoken about on here (not by the OP!) is quite shocking. They don’t need to be looked down on (again, I don’t mean the OP), they don’t need to give discounts. I’m a very good, reliable and professional cleaner and I use photos and my social media as my shop window.

I probably wouldn’t say yes to photos but fair enough. You’re right re cleaners you’re SE and don’t need to be looked down on.

newrubylane · 03/03/2023 16:13

She's breaking privacy laws if she's doing this without permission. I'd ask her to stop taking images and delete anything you're unhappy with.

WheeshtTheNoo · 03/03/2023 16:34

I'm a cleaner, even though I'm fully booked I still add photos every now and again to my fb business page. I only do after shots and only of kitchen and bathrooms. I wouldn't feel comfortable putting photos of my clients bedrooms online.

No-one has had a issue and I ask every time, even offer to send them the pics 1st.

If you don't feel comfortable just say no, your cleaner won't mind.

LunchBoxPolice · 03/03/2023 16:41

I used photos when I was a se cleaner.
I always asked permission and made sure there was nothing identifying the customer in the photos. It was usually kitchens and bathrooms as they make the best “after” photos. Not necessarily because they were filthy before, but they look so nice when they are sparkling clean.
I wasn’t offended when customers declined though. Some of them even commented on the photos of their own homes on Facebook thanking me.

HelpINeedSomeAdvicePlease · 03/03/2023 17:02

It's embarrassing too.

It feels like she's showing how grubby your house was until she got involved!

SD1978 · 03/03/2023 21:50

Mine used to- you could never identify it was my house- was usually the shower screen or the taps. Most round here do our pictures on their FB cleaning profiles. If you don't like it, say no.

Kaiserchief · 04/03/2023 06:16

londonrach · 03/03/2023 13:19

Say no! I do see photos from cleaners on social media but I never have a cleaner who does this. A good cleaner doesn't need to advertise

Good cleaners can advertise if they want! Surely you could apply this to anyone/ anything?! Even McDonalds advertise!

The cleaner has asked & the OP can politely decline.

Honestly the way people speak about cleaners on here, I’ve never heard anything like it in real life.

jejija · 04/03/2023 06:27

I would say a hard no. I wouldn’t want photos of my house interior on Facebook! Especially not dirty ones…

Poppyblush · 04/03/2023 07:27

Just say no!

Fynoderee · 07/03/2023 17:16

I’m a cleaner. I take before and after photos.
My photos are always close up of a specific area, ie taps, a sink, a shower screen. I never take shots of entire rooms and I never include any personal items in the photos.

If you don’t want to have photos taken, just say No. Or, if you’re happy with close ups, say that.

It’s a useful advertising tool and lots of people look on social media for cleaners.

Stewball01 · 11/03/2023 14:32

No thank you.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 11/03/2023 14:45

I occasionally hire an organizer, not a cleaner, and allow her to take photos for her website. It's not a big deal to me.

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