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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To talk to cleaner about this and not use again

222 replies

betray · 22/10/2023 08:30

We went away and paid our cleaner 4 hours to clean the house
She came and spent 1.hr 20 mins there and saw it on the door bell
We home swap and our last two guests said the house was not clean
We thought they were being fussy and couldn't understand
This home swap she spent 1hr 21 minutes there
I'm worried these guests will complain house isn't clean again
I need her to sort the house for our return
I want her to do the return clean as I haven't got any notice but she needs to unpack our groceries too
If we get another bad rating for cleanliness it's going to jeopardise our future swaps which is how we go on holiday
I'm so hurt
What shall I do? Say something or just leave and not use again? So so upset

OP posts:
nutbrownhare15 · 22/10/2023 08:34

If you need her to do the cleaning/groceries then let her get on with it but just pay for the hours that she has been there. I wouldn't use her after that and would tell her why.

daisychain01 · 22/10/2023 08:37

What does she say when you mentioned you've paid her for a 4 hr clean and she's only done 1 hr 20 mins? What was her excuse?

no way would I include unpack shopping on a cleaner's to do list, that's a waste!

Original poster
betray · 22/10/2023 08:38

Is it worth telling her why? I'm worried she will try to leave a malicious review for our local business
4 hours ive been charged for!! No wonder the last guests said house wasn't clean enough and now I know why!!! I'm so hurt

OP posts:
Original poster
betray · 22/10/2023 08:39

We get back v late at night and I need supplies in for the next morning first thing
I don't mind paying for her to unpack the groceries I've just asked her to put the chilled stuff away but I feel so let down

OP posts:
Warum · 22/10/2023 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?

oksothisisusnow · 22/10/2023 08:41

Erm, is the 4 hours the 1 hour 21, plus the 1 hour 21, plus the return clean time plus groceries all together? Is it possible she hasn't understood and thought 4 hours over the 3 visits? Ppp

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/10/2023 08:42

Warum · Today 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?”

Completely pointless comment.

Finestreason · 22/10/2023 08:43

I don’t understand why you feel hurt by someone’s poor workmanship?

Also, putting responsibility of your holidays on a worker isn’t a good idea unless you damn well know that they are reliable and consistent in their job.

And even risking exposure of a bad review for yourselves out of retaliation- that is way too much risk exposure placed on one worker.

Original poster
betray · 22/10/2023 08:45

No I will be paying her for 8 hours @£17 ph

OP posts:
Original poster
betray · 22/10/2023 08:46

Warum · 22/10/2023 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?

Great suggestion

To do a service I am paying for 🙌🙏 thank you for this!

I don't need to justify anything to you but maybe you should try travelling with three kids and getting your home into an air bnb state of cleanliness and tidyness before a flight 😂😂😂😂

OP posts:
EdgeK · 22/10/2023 08:47

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/10/2023 08:42

Warum · Today 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?”

Completely pointless comment.

Agreed

Finestreason · 22/10/2023 08:47

betray · 22/10/2023 08:38

Is it worth telling her why? I'm worried she will try to leave a malicious review for our local business
4 hours ive been charged for!! No wonder the last guests said house wasn't clean enough and now I know why!!! I'm so hurt

Just pay the 4 hours if you have any risk of loss of further income and / or hassle as a result of any retaliation. Find another cleaner and be clear on the expectations. And don’t rely on them if too much is at risk, it sounds too stressful!

cansu · 22/10/2023 08:48

Pay her for the hours done. Tell her you won't ne using her anymore. Whilst you look for someone else do your own cleaning and go to the shops.

Evaka · 22/10/2023 08:48

OP, just let her go, find and new cleaner and try to keep emotion out of it. It's just a business relationship that hasn't worked out. When you interview for a new cleaner give them an incredibly clear overview of what's required and the standard you need, get references and check them etc.

Whataretheodds · 22/10/2023 08:48

Obviously speak to her! Ask if there was a misunderstanding or problem.

If she doesn't do the clean /groceries then you don’t pay her, and you'll just have to either get another cleaner in or do it yourselves.

If she leaves you a bad review you delete it because she isn't and hasn't ever been a guest of yours so it's not a legitimate review.

Whataretheodds · 22/10/2023 08:49

And don't take it personally unless you have a long connection with this person.

Warum · 22/10/2023 08:50

betray · 22/10/2023 08:46

Great suggestion

To do a service I am paying for 🙌🙏 thank you for this!

I don't need to justify anything to you but maybe you should try travelling with three kids and getting your home into an air bnb state of cleanliness and tidyness before a flight 😂😂😂😂

Show quote history

Clearly I didn't mean pay someone and do it yourself.
As it stands, you chose to set up the 'business', with 3 kids, and your lifestyle whereas I didn't, so why would I be trying to do these things?
Did you leave a list regarding specifically what you needed the cleaner to do?
Is she used to cleaning to 'rent out' standard?

Warum · 22/10/2023 08:51

MrsSkylerWhite · 22/10/2023 08:42

Warum · Today 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?”

Completely pointless comment.

Well, not really, and others have suggested similar.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 22/10/2023 08:52

She's awful!

What a cheek, I'd be upset too. I'd tell her and lay it on the line why you're letting her go, and not be paying her for hours she hasn't worked.

Look for someone good and be robust in looking at references.

Explain on review sites what has happened and that you're rectifying it by getting a new cleaner.

Whataretheodds · 22/10/2023 08:52

*Warum · Today 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?
Great suggestion

To do a service I am paying for 🙌🙏 thank you for this!*

Well you've told us you can't get anyone else to do it in time, and obviously you wouldn't pay her for work she doesn't do. 🙄

EdgeK · 22/10/2023 08:53

betray · 22/10/2023 08:45

No I will be paying her for 8 hours @£17 ph

Ignore the snark. Circumstances are different for everyone. I'm disabled and use cleaners and someone to do my recycling. It's needed. It's paid for. End of story.
I find it useful to keep a distance but state exactly what you want. And if you're paying 4 hours a list is useful - and they can tick off what they've done. And if it's not up to scratch you have a record.

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 22/10/2023 08:53

Warum · 22/10/2023 08:40

Can't you do the cleaning yourself?

FFS, there's always one.

Original poster
betray · 22/10/2023 08:53

@Warum

Yes she is used to it she manages air bnbs incl showing guests around
I've met her at our home and shown her exactly what needs doing incl showing her my home to the cleanliness expected
The shopping is being delivered whilst she is there at the agreed time and the fridge is empty and there's a chest freezer for her to put the freezer bags direct into

It's like paying someone to bake a cake and they buy it from a shop

Really disrespectful to think oh well they won't see it as it's guests there this time

It's literally her profession to do these things
It's not a hard job and we are paying fairly and what she's asked for

OP posts:
Warum · 22/10/2023 08:53

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 22/10/2023 08:53

FFS, there's always one.

Show quote history

Actually, a few of us have suggested it.

FlorenceBoot · 22/10/2023 08:53

We home swap and our last two guests said the house was not clean. We thought they were being fussy

You had 2 complaints which you chose to disregard.

It seems like you're only bothered now because you don't want to come home to a dirty house with your chilled food on the counter tops.