Cleaner's hygiene

[Abitboring]

Hi

I have a newish cleaner. Her standard of cleaning is average and after a few weeks I now start having to point out things she hasn't cleaned in weeks (things like under bathroom sink etc.). This is fine as most cleaners need to be managed. But I noticed a couple of things I am not sure I can put up with and am not sure I should point out either. The 2nd week in a row now she arrived with extreme BO that stinks my whole apartment out. I'm having to open windows much more when she's here, which is a problem now it's becoming cooler. I also just can't stand the smell. It's like she's been sweating in the same outfit for a week. It stinks. She also does not wash her hands after using the bathroom which just grosses me out. My office is right opposite the bathroom and she is definitely not using the sink. I find it quite disgusting and was thinking earlier that she remakes my bed every time even though it had already been made and it will be with her grubby hands.

Point it out or let it go?

Let her go

Isn’t the whole point of getting a cleaner to make your life easier? Why are you putting up with this?

Let go.

Gross. Not sure how you would discuss this with her, I’d let her go.

Just say to her, sorry it's not working out.

Let her go. Many other cleaners out there who do a good job.

Thanks all. I'll think about letting her go. I think she has poor personal hygiene/standards indeed and there are a few other signs of that. I find it a bit heartless to give someone notice without mentioning a reason, so will have to think about this.

Just say you don't need her services anymore, God her wee-y hands have touched your bedsheets
No excuse for not washing your hands- it's as if covid never happened , vom

I let a cleaner go for similar things. She had dirty nails and didn’t smell clean but I felt sad for her and gave her the job. She then wasn’t particularly thorough at cleaning - in fact some things were cleaned really badly - but also took her shoes and socks off and walked barefoot on my carpets with dreadful unclean feet. Your cleaner should have high standards of cleanliness and hygiene themselves or else how do you trust that what they are cleaning is actually clean?!

Yes, just say thank-you for your services, you are able to handle it yourself from now on.

Get rid and find a better cleaner.

I trialled a cleaner recently. She was hopeless, slow, no attention to detail - I sent her away early saying something had come up. She Whatsapped me later and said she thought I wasn't happy with her cleaning, so I let her down gently, just said the cleaning was okay but I needed someone with more attention to detail.

She sounds like one of those messy, cool mums.

Keep her for social kudos

God no! Just let her go. If you feel too mean to tell her why/don't like confrontation, just say that you have friend who's going to do it.

I'd be honest and say "it's very hard for me to employ someone to clean who is not clean themselves. I'm afraid you don't smell very healthy, and I'm having to leave the windows open".

Next time she leaves the bathroom (opposite your office) pop out and ask her if she has washed her hands?

If she's honest and says no, then say "I can't have that, you're spreading bacterial (and possibly fecal matter) around my house. As a cleaner you need to wash their hands. It's basic hygiene and you're not meeting those minimum standards.*

Tell people the truth. You don't have to be hurtful or harsh, but be honest.

There are too many lily-livered people!

Okay I did it and let her go. She didn't ask for a reason so I didn't tell. I feel better for not having someone so unhygienic back in my home.

Erm @jenpil I think your idea of honest would be many people's idea of hurtful and harsh!