To tell my cleaner to stop wearing perfume?

[LeMoax]

We have a cleaner that comes once a week for four hours. We’ve used the same cleaning company for a while but recently they’ve chopped and changed the staff, so after a period of different people each week it seems we’ve now settled on someone regularly.
She cleans okay but wears really strong perfume. So strong that after she goes I need to leave all the windows in the house open for a good hour or so to get rid of her smell.

AIBU to ask her or her boss to ask her to stop wearing the perfume before coming to our house?

My GP would beg to differ.

Are you talking about allergen load?

Not that I am aware of. He basically said I have burnt the lining of my nose and will have to wait for it to clear up. It is better than it was. It was caused by travelling in a car with my sons girlfriend who wears a very strong scent. I have had a polite word and she doesn't (usually) wear it now. It caused extreme sensitivity and masses of snot (for want of a better word). It is ongoing.

I had to endure strong scented perfume sat in the back of our car from FILs wife……..couldn’t sit in front FIL has leg issues. Windows were all opened I could hardly breathe. When we arrived after a 30 minute journey I vomited as soon as I got out of the car. Took months for my chest to recover (am asthmatic). Won’t make that mistake again.

I have a condition called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and I develop severe migraines whenever I'm exposed to strong smelling chemicals, certain perfumes being among these. My boss at my last place of employment was understanding and kind enough to relocate me to the opposite end of the floor after I explained the situation to her. In your case, because this is a service you are paying for, I don't see how you are BU if you ask the employee to respect your home by not wearing something that has no impact on how she performs her duties while in your home, but does have an impact on you. I'm sure you're not the only one who's run into this problem.

Where did she say it was horrible? Or hated it?

Most definitely say something, my hubby and I own a cleaning business and we would definitely want to know, need to be 100% happy you are paying for a service.

I would speak to her first maybe, maybe she's worried she might sell after a day of cleaning so wears it strong. A quick word should help sort it out

As a former cleaner myself if you working for a company you are probably not cleaning only one house might be that she will have to go to another house.
Cleaning is hard job and get quite sweaty, you would not like your cleaner to be having sweaty smell. However, you did mention she cleans 'ok' are you actually happy with her entirely or just too many changes and settled for her? As someone says are you sure it is not the cleaning products that she might be using? I would really investigate this before saying anything.

In regards to perfume if you have to open your windows for several hours and causing you and your family distress. If it is truly the perfume then if doing something wrong l would rather someone comes to have a quiet, polite word obviously not say l have to open windows for hours after you are gone. But in a way that helps her to understand its impact on you. Speak to company after if all fails have a word with her however, if you feel she would be a person who is quite offended easily, confrontational, or not able to take positive criticism who does not accept when you inform her e.g of household and get easily annoyed, then suggest maybe best speak to company. If someone who is able to take positive criticism and able to adjust accordingly then you can have a polite quiet word that is causing you...... in a way that shevwill not feel attacked by you that she would quit. It is also nice when you have formed a rapport.

I have to say though l have experienced people with strong perfume in work in a work environment as they seat in close proximity but never to a point whereby they leave and l could still smell their perfume. Just check if she is not spraying air freshener after cleaning or something as well?

Gosh. To be fair I wouldn't like it either and I wouldn't like different cleaners in either. My asthma and hay-fever probably wouldn't like it to be fair.

It could be their products rather than perfume.

You could pop on the nextdoor app /gumtree / google and just get a local one person. One man band.

They usually really get to know you and your ways, what you like and don't like, which of course agency staff don't, as they go from one to another.

Once you've interviewed and happy and he or she is ready to start. Just say to the agency thank you very much for all you've done and no longer needed.

You do not need to justify why. Just no longer needed.

In our area there are so many one man band cleaners who are key holders and do the jobs around family and or work.

Perfume makes me sneeze so I would have to say something.

There are a few perfumes that trigger my migraines and make me really nauseous. It's not necessarily the whole perfume but certain ingredients in them. It's the same with some laundry detergents and softeners.

I don't think you are being unreasonable in mentioning it to her or open the windows before she arrives if you feel uncomfortable saying something.

You could speak with her directly and say whilst her perfume is lovely you really struggle with strong scents and it's making you get bad headaches. Try the diplomatic approach.
Of course, it's her call, she can continue to wear it if she so wishes!

This exactly. The faux outrage and people wanting to make it into some cockeyed class war was ridiculous. I am glad that more sensible people have weighed in.