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

Tidying up after the cleaners

113 replies

Isaidmaybeee · 26/04/2023 18:12

Is this normal?

I have two cleaners come for two hours, so pay for four hours in total.
My house is tidy and everything in its place, I just hate and don’t have time to do mopping, windows, oven etc etc
My parents are staying with us for a short holiday. When we came back today, everything was very clean as always, but their room had the carpet on the bed, pillows on the bed (supposed to be on the floor-it’s my Dds room and she has a little reading corner etc) All clearly been cleaned but things thrown everywhere, we’ve just spent time tidying up

Is this normal?!

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 27/04/2023 06:25

Delatron · 26/04/2023 22:07

My cleaners have always made all the beds!

Maybe I’m alone in that. But I’m sure my friend said her cleaner changes her duvet every week. I guess different cleaners have different standards!

Show quote history

Changes her duvet for her - wow.

The only cleaner I know who does this is my stepmothers - it's because she's 86 and struggles physically to do it herself these days. She pays her cleaner extra to do it and it is something she's grateful to get extra help with.

JackiePlace · 27/04/2023 06:41

Looks like they left in a hurry.
Leaving the gate open and the dog out is unforgivable. I would be sacking that firm without notice and telling them exactly why.

Delatron · 27/04/2023 07:26

nomoredriving · 27/04/2023 00:15

My current one doesn't, because I don't expect her to, she's a cleaner not a chamber maid.

My previous ones didn't, because I didn't expect them to, they were cleaners not chamber maids.

My future ones won't, because I don't expect them to , they're cleaners not chamber maids.

I hope you now understand?

Show quote history

I honestly don’t. Like @pfftt said every cleaner I have had has made the beds. Nothing to do with being a ‘chamber maid’. I will ask around friends today. I didn’t realise that some cleaners didn’t make beds. I never tell them to - they just do it. Maybe your cleaner isn’t very good?

pfftt · 27/04/2023 07:29

@nomoredriving well you do you. Those of us who have cleaners who make beds will do us. Note I dint need to try to be condescending or rude to communicate my acceptance of our differing experiences. You should try it. Life is better when we are not hostile

Tootsey11 · 27/04/2023 07:32

I'm a cleaner. Have been for years.

I don't make beds, ever. Have never been asked to either.

It's nothing to do with standards, I don't include it in what I do, simple.

Aerielview · 27/04/2023 07:54

I'd be very annoyed that they put floor mats on the bed

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 07:58

How on earth did it take 15 minutes to tidy that?

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 08:03

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 07:58

How on earth did it take 15 minutes to tidy that?

Well quite.

The only way it could have taken that long was with dramatic sighing throughout for effect.

It would have taken 5 minutes maximum.

MonumentalLentil · 27/04/2023 08:04

Twiglets1 · 26/04/2023 18:27

I would have mentioned about the gate as the dog could have run out but the other stuff is just petty

Show quote history

Or been stolen if they left dog unattended. That would bother me most, why put dog out the front, very careless.

Arewehumanorarewecupboards · 27/04/2023 08:08

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 07:58

How on earth did it take 15 minutes to tidy that?

Maybe that’s why they have a cleaner? The bathroom takes ten working days.

Delatron · 27/04/2023 08:16

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 07:58

How on earth did it take 15 minutes to tidy that?

That’s not the point. You don’t expect to come back to mess after your cleaner has been round.

I spend quite a bit of time tidying before mine comes. If I came back to a few bedrooms looking messy then I wouldn’t be happy. I don’t want to do more tidying after the cleaner has been. The odd thing left out by accident is fine. But walking in to a room that looks a mess is not fine. Doesn’t matter if it takes 5/15 minutes to sort.

nomoredriving · 27/04/2023 08:19

pfftt · 27/04/2023 07:29

@nomoredriving well you do you. Those of us who have cleaners who make beds will do us. Note I dint need to try to be condescending or rude to communicate my acceptance of our differing experiences. You should try it. Life is better when we are not hostile

That wasn't condescending GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 09:23

Delatron · 27/04/2023 08:16

That’s not the point. You don’t expect to come back to mess after your cleaner has been round.

I spend quite a bit of time tidying before mine comes. If I came back to a few bedrooms looking messy then I wouldn’t be happy. I don’t want to do more tidying after the cleaner has been. The odd thing left out by accident is fine. But walking in to a room that looks a mess is not fine. Doesn’t matter if it takes 5/15 minutes to sort.

Show quote history

It totally is the point to the level of annoyance. Quite obviously the cleaners ran out of time / forgot to put the stuff back after they finished. It took about 1 minute to put right. It’s not as if they deliberately set out to create a massive mess. And if it’s a 1 off, I’d not even give it a second thought. I certainly wouldn’t be taking pictures, writing an email and posting on mn. That’s just ridiculous.

the gate left open, I’d WhatsApp the cleaner to remind them to shut it next time.

the outrage is just exhausting. I don’t know how people cope with life at this level of fury at a one minute inconvenience.

LittleBearPad · 27/04/2023 09:28

Small mercies, the OP isn’t fumming

FrogsWormsandButterflies · 27/04/2023 09:48

If it took you 15 minutes to tidy that room you’re tidying wrong

Groggygymdodger · 27/04/2023 09:52

I also think that they moved the stuff to mop, couldn’t put it back as it was wet and then forgot to go back up, I couldn’t get worked up and am astonished it took uou 15 mins.

Groggygymdodger · 27/04/2023 09:55

Tootsey11 · 27/04/2023 07:32

I'm a cleaner. Have been for years.

I don't make beds, ever. Have never been asked to either.

It's nothing to do with standards, I don't include it in what I do, simple.

To be fair, my cleaner changes the beds every week and so has every cleaner I’ve ever had, which is many over a couple of decades.

FoxFeatures · 27/04/2023 10:00

You need to go back to basics with them OP.

Set your expectations for each room and then discuss how long they need.

Starhead69 · 27/04/2023 10:03

I wouldn’t be happy with carpet that shoes maybe stand on being thrown on the bed. Sloppy

Delatron · 27/04/2023 11:11

BitOutOfPractice · 27/04/2023 09:23

It totally is the point to the level of annoyance. Quite obviously the cleaners ran out of time / forgot to put the stuff back after they finished. It took about 1 minute to put right. It’s not as if they deliberately set out to create a massive mess. And if it’s a 1 off, I’d not even give it a second thought. I certainly wouldn’t be taking pictures, writing an email and posting on mn. That’s just ridiculous.

the gate left open, I’d WhatsApp the cleaner to remind them to shut it next time.

the outrage is just exhausting. I don’t know how people cope with life at this level of fury at a one minute inconvenience.

Show quote history

Running out of time is no excuse for leaving 2 rooms messier than they found them. It’s not what you’re paying for.

If it only takes a minute like you say - why would staying 1 minute longer cause such an issue.

FlowersEverywherePlease · 27/04/2023 22:09

I think you are being perfectly reasonable op. Crack on.

Kaiserchief · 27/04/2023 22:17

I’m a cleaner. I’m shocked they left the bed like that! When my customers get home, I want everything to look and feel fantastic, everything in its place.

I make beds, including changing sheets if they want, I do the washing, drying etc.

Justnocricket · 27/04/2023 22:29

I’d message about the dog as that would be a huge issue. To keep using them I’d want assurances that they would double check the gate before leaving and send me a photo of it closed.

The mess in the room, as a one off, wouldn’t take a minute to sort so wouldn’t bother me.

Twiglets1 · 28/04/2023 06:45

Delatron · 27/04/2023 11:11

Running out of time is no excuse for leaving 2 rooms messier than they found them. It’s not what you’re paying for.

If it only takes a minute like you say - why would staying 1 minute longer cause such an issue.

Show quote history

We don't have photos of what the rooms looed like initially so I don't know why people keep talking about the cleaners leaving the rooms messier than they found them. As if any cleaner would do that - more exaggeration.

determinedtomakethiswork · 28/04/2023 06:48

I can't believe all these people saying that she is unreasonable. Who the hell leaves a place in a mess like that when their job is a cleaner and the place wasn't in a mess beforehand? Of course you should complain. I wouldn't want those cleaners back at the house.