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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

770 replies

Zamphina · 03/10/2023 22:19

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?

OP posts:
Brighteyedtriangle · 04/10/2023 05:37

Once you have a cleaner in you will find you do the things anyway.
I always make sure i have a quick tidy around and nothings on the floor, the pots are washed the night before, kids room untidy it doesnt get cleaned so they actually do it. Its abit of motivation

AbbeyGailsParty · 04/10/2023 05:38

Why are your clothes on the floor? Even if you can’t be bothered hanging something up, open the wardrobe door, hang over the rail. Dirty clothes go in laundry basket. Stand next to the basket as you undress.
Breakfast —- open dishwasher, eat breakfast , put dish, mug etc.. into dishwasher. Switch on dishwasher ( takes 20-30 seconds)
Empty dishwasher into baskets on worktop, one crockery, one cutlery if placing into cupboards is a challenge.

GodDammitCecil · 04/10/2023 05:42

OnceUponAThread · 04/10/2023 03:49

Mumsnet is really sniffy about cleaners tidying.

But really, as long as you agree it in advance, it's fine.

Our cleaner (amongst other things):

  • puts washes on
  • hangs washing out to dry
  • hangs dry stuff up in the wardrobe
  • loads the dishwasher
  • tidies the office
  • irons
  • changes beds

She absolutely tidies things up and stashes them away.

She's been with us forever and kept coming even when we moved to a different part of the city. So I don't think she's mortally offended.

We have her for a few hours, three times a week, so she can clean as well as tidying.

At no point did I have to "advertise for a housekeeper".

I do think laundry should go in a basket though, leaving it on the floor is unnecessary.

I do think laundry should go in a basket though, leaving it on the floor is unnecessary.

You're just saying what everyone else is saying! It’s really only the clothes on the floor that people are picking up on.

A cleaner will decide all clothes on the floor are dirty. Unless the OP expects a cleaner to do the sniff test…???! 🤢

It’s no more work for the OP to dump clothes in a basket in the room, than dump them on the floor.

And it's actually less work to collect dirty clothes from one spot (a laundry basket), than to walk around a room picking them up.

unlikelychump · 04/10/2023 05:46

Have you made much progress on this since you last posted about needing a cleaner for your very tiny flat given you are just such busy people?

Gnomegnomegnome · 04/10/2023 05:48

jackstini · 03/10/2023 22:42

People are not reading this properly
OP is out between 13-15 hours a day, not 9-10

OP - yes, you can obviously get people to do pretty much anything and tidying as well as cleaning means you need a housekeeper
I would try and at least throw dirty clothes in the laundry basket rather than on the floor though - just get more baskets!

I did read it as they work 9am-10pm. I do similar shifts (although start and finish two hours earlier).
It would take a maximum of thirty minutes to put a wash on and wash up especially if there’s just the two people.

Nonplusultra · 04/10/2023 06:13

Just be aware that tidying takes longer than cleaning, so you might need to factor in extra time.

I’m sure there’s more to it than clothes, but make things easier for yourself by moving your laundry hamper to a spot near where you drop your clothes. Get two hampers (one each) if that helps.

Simplify your tidying and organising by using big baskets with no lids so you can drop things in. It may not be Instagram organising but if your shoes are higgledy-piggledy in one big basket and you can find a matching pair in under 30 seconds then it’s organised. No lids (or other barriers to completion) is the key.

Wherever there’s mess, or clutter, put an open basket or box in that spot. The only category this doesn’t work for is dishes and food waste. But leave the dishwasher open, or pile dishes in a basin.

dayofcheese · 04/10/2023 06:16

garlictwist · 04/10/2023 05:35

Why are you working such long hours? What's the point? You only get one life.

Maybe they hope to earn enough to retire early? They only get one life after all.

Moon47 · 04/10/2023 06:18

I'm a private house cleaner..we will do the most basic tidying. Like folding pj's on a pillow and picking a couple of teddies up pr a towel of the floor. We are there to clean so if we have to tidy we can't get on with what we are there for. Everyone's standards vary greatly.

Wheresmypal · 04/10/2023 06:23

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

I’m not sure how so many people interpreted this as 9 to 10 hours out of the house when the obvious meaning, especially given all the detail, is 9am to 10pm. Seems likely people chose to misinterpret it to justify having a dig at OP.

Motnight · 04/10/2023 06:25

I just couldn't leave my clothes on the floor for someone else to pick up. And I am naturally lazy and had a cleaner for over 10 years. I think that it shows a lack of respect as much as anything else.

Toddlerteaplease · 04/10/2023 06:26

I work 12 hour shifts. I manage to pick my own clothes up and do my own washing up. Grow up!

Cloudysky81 · 04/10/2023 06:27

I’m assuming you live in London based off the tiny flat and hours.
Theres loads of cleaners who will tidy,iron, wash dishes. It’s not unusual at all.
We had someone who did this, she even took down our Christmas tree one year.
You just have to specify what you want when you hire someone.

MBM18 · 04/10/2023 06:28

Anything can be done for the right price. If you're completely up front with your expectations of them and offer a fair rate, then I don't see why not. They'll either say yes or no.
Where are you based OP?

BatshitCrazyWoman · 04/10/2023 06:29

I'm out of the house for 13 hours, sometimes more. And I make dinner when I get home. No clothes on the floor, washing up put in the dishwasher. And I don't have a cleaner!

I agree, you sound lazy. I'm sure you'll be able to find a cleaner who won't mind tidying up first though. But put your dirty clothes in the laundry basket!

RoseMarigoldViolet · 04/10/2023 06:31

I think posters are being very harsh on the op. Not everyone is tidy. She has a problem and is asking about a solution. No need to judge.

Dogsogdog · 04/10/2023 06:32

Buy a basket, put them in that, it’s not difficult

Newmummypamela · 04/10/2023 06:33

I don't understand how anyone could live like this. No matter how busy I.am, I'd always tidy as I go and do the basics (clothes put away, bed made, dishes done). Sounds like you've developed slovenly habits under the excuse that you're busy - NO-ONE is that busy.

Zanatdy · 04/10/2023 06:34

My cleaner (a friend of mine) does whatever you want her to. I mean clothes can easily be popped into a basket, I wouldn’t let her pick up my dirty underwear. But she helps out with sorting bills for elderly lady and others bits and pieces. As long as she’s paid her rate then it’s fine. A flat shouldn’t need someone coming in 2-3 times a week, especially when you’re hardly there. Do you have a dishwasher?

Coconutmoon · 04/10/2023 06:35

@Zamphina

Get the Nextdoor app and ask on there, state clearly what you want and people who are interested will reply. I have seen cleaners post their work and many do clear away items left about, including clothes & dishes. There are a number of cleaner groups in the app but the the largest ones are ‘Cleaner’ and ‘Find a cleaner’

Not sure where you live but in London hourly cleaner rates are £15-20. Most people in a small flat employ a cleaner for 2 hours once a week (like me), you say in your OP you want someone 2/3 times a week. I don’t think you’ll have an issue finding a cleaner who will be fine with tidying up and cleaning over this period.

theduchessofspork · 04/10/2023 06:35

Yeah sure - just tell the agency what you want.

To make life nicer also get a dishwasher, and stick a chair in the bedroom as a clothes dump and put the laundry basket somewhere more obvious

I would think twice a week would do

theduchessofspork · 04/10/2023 06:36

Newmummypamela · 04/10/2023 06:33

I don't understand how anyone could live like this. No matter how busy I.am, I'd always tidy as I go and do the basics (clothes put away, bed made, dishes done). Sounds like you've developed slovenly habits under the excuse that you're busy - NO-ONE is that busy.

Is this what she’s asking?

No

JudgeRudy · 04/10/2023 06:37

MouseMattress · 03/10/2023 22:23

I am sure there are cleaners who will sort the dishwasher, wash bedding etc. But leaving clothes on the floor is a bit slobby. Surely you can just do that bit yourself!

It feels vaguely disrespectful to ask another adult to do this for you, even if paying them.

Vaguely disrespectful? As apposed to say cleaning their toilet?
I think it's fine to pay someone to do this (plus the other jobs) provided everyone knows what is expected of them.
Advertise for a cleaner and state must be prepared to tidy as well as clean. You can expand on this at interview or by phone.

Viviennemary · 04/10/2023 06:39

Cleaners will do this. But make sure they know what's expected before they start. If they won't do it then they're not the cleaner for you. Unless you want to acquire the habit of picking things up. Which might be a good idea.

Heyhoherewegoagain · 04/10/2023 06:40

So much judgement on this thread! As others have said you need a housekeeper, or what in recent past years was known as a “treasure”, these people will generally do what you ask them to do, rather than them telling you what they’ll do, which is how most cleaners seem to operate these days. You just need to find the right person. If I didn’t have the job I have, it’s what I’d love to do=keep people organised!

theduchessofspork · 04/10/2023 06:42

SquashPenguin · 04/10/2023 03:29

9-10hr out the house is nothing out the ordinary. I’ll regularly do 13hrs and I still find the time to put my clothes in the wash bin.

She’s out from 9am to 10pm.

That’s why they eat dinner at work.

It doesn’t matter what you do, she’s asking if a cleaner will tidy as well as clean if hired for enough hours. The answer is yes.