Page 18 | To want a cleaner that will pick my clothes up off the floor?

Zamphina · 2023-10-03T21:19:40+00:00

Dp and I work very long hours during the week. We’re out of the house 9-10 minimum. We eat dinner in the office. When we get home we’re exhausted and just want to sleep. So often the kitchen has our breakfast stuff. We’ve left clothes on the floor. There might be sunday’s dishes on the table. The laundry has been left out drying. We earn an OK salary and have a tiny flat to save money, so a cleaner coming 2-3 times a week for two hours a time won’t be an issue. But obviously I’m slightly embarrassed for someone to see my home in such a mess. Are there any cleaners who will sort all of this? Pick up the clothes, put them on to wash, load the dishwasher, and clean the bathroom etc?

Louloulouenna · 04/10/2023 22:42

@milkywinterdisorder my point is that (I hope) people wouldn’t be happy for their children to leave dirty clothes on the floor for a cleaner to pick up so why would it be acceptable for an adult to do this.

I have an absolute horror for people who treat others with disrespect, whether it’s waiting staff, binmen, couriers or anybody.

milkywinterdisorder · 04/10/2023 22:52

@Louloulouenna From this thread it seems like there are cleaners/housekeepers who would be happy to do what the OP is asking. OP is not saying “I expect my cleaner to do this”, she’s saying “is it possible to pay someone to do this”.

I’m not sure how that’s the same as being rude or disrespectful to a waiter, a binman or anyone else.

Bobbielikespeas · 04/10/2023 22:52

mathanxiety · 04/10/2023 22:29

@Bobbielikespeas it's because of the gross lack of self respect involved on the part of the people hiring the cleaner.

Do people really leave a toilet uncleaned during the days between cleaner visits? Splashes of pee, skidmarks, ring around the toilet, and whatever else has happened in their lives, digestion-wise or period-related, from the day the cleaner was there last until she arrives again?

And do they really end up with six days' worth of unwashed clothing and sleepwear on the floor because they are waiting for the cleaner to deal with it?

Well it just seems to be the clothes element that really has people wound up.

The OP didn't mention anything about the state of her toilet.

Leaving aside the toilet, on busy weeks by Saturday my house would probably have clothes on the floor and dishes left in the kitchen from the week. Clothes on the floor could be for various reasons not to do with deliberately chucking clothes on the floor, most of the time it's because it's been piled up so high on a chair that it's fallen! Could say it is laziness during the week but sometimes it is too exhausting to do anything other than work, sleep and function.

Me and my partner then spend at least 2-3 hours every Saturday or Sunday doing a big clean. It feels absolutely exhausting but the laundry bit is the easiest so I guess I am surprised how that bit alone has caused such a stir.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 04/10/2023 22:53

How will the cleaner know what needs washing and what can be hung up? I wouldn't want someone shoving my lovely jumper in the washing machine willy nilly when I intend to wear it again when the weather changes. I can't see how this can work. Do you have all clean clothes every day? I think, for several reasons, you should put your dirty stuff in a laundry basket and hang the rest up or throw it over a chair.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 04/10/2023 22:56

It really is not hard to avoid dropping your clothes on the floor, @Zamphina. Have a laundry basket in the bedroom or bathroom - all dirty clothes go straight in there. Fold up the rest on a chair, or hang them up. It honestly takes a moment or two.

mathanxiety · 04/10/2023 23:00

I'm equally aghast at the thought of pots and dishes left lying around with the remains of food in/on them.

The puzzling aspect of this is the protestation of exhaustion. It's not exhaustion. It's lack of training and lack of priorities.

How long does it take to run a sink full of soapy water, scrape plates and pots into the bin, and leave it all to soak while you get your pajamas on, wash your face, brush your teeth (and toss your clothes into a laundry basket while you're at it)? You can then return to the sink, swish everything with a brush, and load the dishwasher. In 20 minutes max your kitchen could at least be free from dirty plates and pots, and your clothes could be in a basket and you could be ready for bed. Or they could even divide up the labour - OP gathers and scrapes, her P swishes and loads the dishwasher, both throw their keks into the basket...

TheLightProgramme · 04/10/2023 23:03

Yanbu. My cleaners do all this and always have. Have had same team of ladies for years, zero complaints. They come twice a week

Why is it any worse to pick up a few items of clothing (not underwear) and load the dishwasher than it is to scrub the loo? Yes, each individual thing is a quick job but cumulatively, every minute of my time is precious and the thousand and one tiny jobs add up to time I do not have.

I pay my cleaners for time. If i had the time to tidy up, I'd do it, clearly. Im also perfectly capable of cleaning too but lack time. What i pay them allows plenty of time for them to do this.

TheLightProgramme · 04/10/2023 23:05

I have an absolute horror for people who treat others with disrespect.

I don't understand why this is disrespect. I pay my cleaners for a service they are happy to provide.

TheLightProgramme · 04/10/2023 23:08

How long does it take to run a sink full of soapy water, scrape plates and pots into the bin, and leave it all to soak while you get your pajamas on, wash your face, brush your teeth (and toss your clothes into a laundry basket while you're at it)? You can then return to the sink, swish everything with a brush, and load the dishwasher. In 20 minutes max your kitchen could at least be free from dirty plates and pots

But why would i do this with the breakfast stuff on a morning when i am out to work and my cleaners are arriving in an hour?

LolaSmiles · 04/10/2023 23:10

Why are people so wound up by the idea of a cleaner picking clothes off the floor and chucking it into a machine? I would have thought cleaning toilets or cleaning almost thing else is more taxing and tiring and the lone task of picking things off the floor.
Only speaking for myself, I'm not wound up by anyone offering a domestic service at a price that's agreed. As long as the OP is up front about what services they're looking for and the person is happy they're paid approximately for it, then it's just a business transaction.

My objection is with all the cries of "don't say the OP is lazy/OP can't be lazy because she works long hours" and then all the excuses why a grown adult can't use a laundry basket. Any adult dumping their clothes on the floor rather than put them in the laundry basket is being lazy (and I include myself in that when I do it).

gemma19846 · 04/10/2023 23:13

Most people work AND raise children too. You have a small flat and cba picking up your own clothes. Time to grow up

Louloulouenna · 04/10/2023 23:14

@TheLightProgramme well we obviously have a different idea of how to treat people with respect. Choosing to leave dirty clothes strewn over a bedroom floor for a cleaner to pick up rather than simply dropping them into the laundry basket counts as disrespect to me.

I wouldn’t leave a restaurant table covered with food scraps either and I always make sure my wheelie bins are positioned with the handles facing out too!

Bobbielikespeas · 04/10/2023 23:16

@LolaSmiles Yeah fair enough. It is laziness, can't argue with that!

JudgeJ · 04/10/2023 23:22

Gnomegnomegnome · 03/10/2023 22:25

You both just sound lazy.

Back in the days when we had a cleaner who came in a couple of mornings a week our house was never as tidy, even if a lot of junk was chucked into drawers, cubboards, under duvets etc before she came!

Eenymeanymineymo · 04/10/2023 23:23

I don't think they are 'happy' to do it, rather its expected and they need the money. Who, in all honesty, wants to pick up lazy arseholes skiddy (or not) pants off the floor?! And who are these lazy entitled people?! Who see other people as there pick up my dirty pants people.

GodDammitCecil · 04/10/2023 23:23

TheLightProgramme · 04/10/2023 23:03

Yanbu. My cleaners do all this and always have. Have had same team of ladies for years, zero complaints. They come twice a week

Why is it any worse to pick up a few items of clothing (not underwear) and load the dishwasher than it is to scrub the loo? Yes, each individual thing is a quick job but cumulatively, every minute of my time is precious and the thousand and one tiny jobs add up to time I do not have.

I pay my cleaners for time. If i had the time to tidy up, I'd do it, clearly. Im also perfectly capable of cleaning too but lack time. What i pay them allows plenty of time for them to do this.

Either it’s OK to pick someone else’s clothes up from the floor if you’re being paid, or it’s not - whether it’s underwear should be irrelevant.

I wouldn’t be OK leaving anything on the floor for someone else to pick up for me, even if I’m paying them.

Honestly - until the OP gets paid help in, she’s making MORE work for herself by dumping stuff on the floor.

It’s so much easier to collect dirty laundry from a basket, than it is to go around the floor collecting stuff. 🤷🏻‍♀️

GarlicGrace · 04/10/2023 23:40

Someone whose work keeps them out of home for 13+ hours has 11 hours left in a day. If they need about 8 hours sleep, that leaves 3 hours. Assuming you've got to shower, maybe wash & dry your hair, do your teeth & skincare, etc, you're down to about 2 hours.

Now some people might consider those two hours best occupied with domestic work. Others might want to chat with their partner, watch some TV together or go out with friends. Take a guess which is more likely to maintain some sanity and help the relationship to survive.

Chickenkeev · 04/10/2023 23:51

GarlicGrace · 04/10/2023 23:40

Someone whose work keeps them out of home for 13+ hours has 11 hours left in a day. If they need about 8 hours sleep, that leaves 3 hours. Assuming you've got to shower, maybe wash & dry your hair, do your teeth & skincare, etc, you're down to about 2 hours.

Now some people might consider those two hours best occupied with domestic work. Others might want to chat with their partner, watch some TV together or go out with friends. Take a guess which is more likely to maintain some sanity and help the relationship to survive.

We all have different perspectives tbf, but 'skincare' would be down the list from 'picking shit off the floor' in this house.

GarlicGrace · 05/10/2023 00:01

Chickenkeev · 04/10/2023 23:51

We all have different perspectives tbf, but 'skincare' would be down the list from 'picking shit off the floor' in this house.

Show quote history

You're right, we all have different perspectives.

One such would be "She looks a fright, but keeps a tidy house".
Horses for courses, as you say.

Mostlyoblivious · 05/10/2023 00:33

Talk to a few and see who will work with you. You’ll find the right fit to support your lifestyle quickly I think

Ffion21 · 05/10/2023 01:06

OP you mentioned a modest salary….is it worth the job if you’re working every waking hour other than breakfast when you’re getting ready to work?

What are you earning as if it’s ‘normal’ then get a different job with more sociable hours as 9am-10pm at the office is not good for your health long term.

As for your question, why not fold clothes as you take them off and put them away? That’s seconds of effort…

Aquamarine1029 · 05/10/2023 01:24

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ToastMarmalade · 05/10/2023 01:28

Well I’ve been a cleaner, and to be honest I would think it was really rude to leave clothes all over the floor for me to pick up, from grown adults.

Sorry OP, I’m sure you are a nice person etc but there is something off about this country, with all the inequalities and people in food banks, and being lucky enough to afford a cleaner but not bothering to at least put your washing in the basket - and others saying ‘but if people are willing’ - well no one should be willing.

I’ve cleaned up places of people with severe mental health difficulties for example with stuff everywhere or when they’ve been ill or recovering, and fair enough I’m paid to help support someone through valid difficulties. But if something’s on the floor as an adult, and you are not ill, then you haven’t bothered and I’m not your parent.

GodDammitCecil · 05/10/2023 01:29

Ffion21 · 05/10/2023 01:06

OP you mentioned a modest salary….is it worth the job if you’re working every waking hour other than breakfast when you’re getting ready to work?

What are you earning as if it’s ‘normal’ then get a different job with more sociable hours as 9am-10pm at the office is not good for your health long term.

As for your question, why not fold clothes as you take them off and put them away? That’s seconds of effort…

She has said - £60K. But likely to go up to around £150K in the next few years.

chillin12 · 05/10/2023 01:42

Genuinely confused why the OP is getting so bashed? She simply asked for advice, assuming they will pay someone to do all these tasks, and was wondering if there’s help available like that. I used to work shorter hours, and sometimes, while I’m in a hurry, clothes have been left on the floor, or while frantically finding something to wear etc. I do eventually tidy up and have luckily stopped that habit now, but it doesn’t sound that bizarre to me.

We now have a clothing rail to prevent this, as many times, it was clean clothes left on the floor. Dirty clothes in a separate laundry pile. I’m sure these things happen when you’re exhausted.