To wonder what people do when their cleaner is in?

[SoloWanderer]

Do you stay in the house and just move to another room, or do you head out while they work? I find it a bit awkward either way and am curious what others do. What’s the norm?

My husband doesn't want his study/man cave cleaned as he's very anal about all his stuff, so I just hang out in there for an hour with my tablet or laptop or whatever! It is a weird situation, but it would feel odder sitting in the living room while they cleaned around me I think. In that case I think I would definitely go out and get a coffee or something!

I either use the opportunity to go out and run errands, or I just stay in a room that doesn't need much of their attention.

If it's just me at home, I'm usually working so just move around her. She tends to do our bedroom, which I use as my office, first so I can just go straight there when she finishes. If DS(5) is here, I will try and go out for some of the time unless he's home because he's off sick.

Why would you find it awkward they're just doing their job? I just do whatever I'm doing in whatever room I need to be in, have a quick chat with her and then let her get on with it.

Same. I run errands or i m working or i m there doing laundry or other jobs that needs doing. We have a chat and then both getbon with the day.
if i m not here i text her the jobs that needs her attention, if i m here i tell her on the day. But mostly i get out of her way.
bit i dont feel awkward at all.

dont be overthinking it. She is there to donher job

I stay in my study working until she needs to go in there and then I just transfer to the dining table and work there until she’s done (usually she does the study last).

Stay out of the room they're in - I generally set up shop in a room I know they won't be cleaning that day.

I’m at work. If I’m working from home, I’ll be in my study, which she doesn’t clean. Unless I’m in a meeting, I’ll come out and say hi, otherwise I let her get on with it. Why is it ‘awkward’?

Usually tidying up still!

When I had a cleaner she came when I was at work

DH has always maintained that (as long as you pay people well and are nice to them) any awkwardness around people doing jobs for you is a you issue not a them issue.

I work really hard looking after my family. My down time is when my DC are at school (youngest at nursery so only does mornings) and I’m back from walking the dogs. I make myself and the housekeeper a cup of tea - check she has everything she needs + then I put my feet up for an hour and read a book / actively choose something ‘unproductive’ - before I get on with errands + pick up youngest.

I make sure I’m out for a couple of hours. I leave the front patio unlocked and head out 5 mins before they’re due and come back after they’ve gone. No way could I stay in whilst they’re there, I’d find it too uncomfortable

Why, though? Do you also avoid window cleaners, painters, chimney sweeps, plumbers and boiler servicers?

How did that work, did she have access to your property or did you leave it unlocked for her to come in?

Like others I just work in a room she isn't in. She usually starts at the top of the house. I can stay in the garden office or work from the dining table until she comes downstairs. Usually I'm in meetings when she leaves and she just messages to say she's leaving.

I don't feel awkward although I can understand why you might feel that way.

My husband doesn't want his study/man cave cleaned as he's very anal about all his stuff

nah he just doesn’t want her finding ‘stuff’

When I had a cleaner, I was wfh, so I'd stay in the room I work in, er, working.
That room wasn't one of the rooms she cleaned, so no issues.

We don’t have one any more 😭😭😭 but when we did she came on days we were out, she had a key.

When I was on mat leave I hate it as I’d sometimes still be in bed feeding and she’d come in and clean around me. I wanted it clean but absolutely hated being there.

Sadly in order to afford dropping a day at work the cleaner was sacrificed.

I’m either working from home - in that case she starts with my office whilst I sit I the dining room, then I move to the office and don’t see her for the rest of her time. Or I’m working from the office, so not home.
She picks up the key from concierge and leaves it there again after.

We do exactly that. Can't imagine leaving a complete stranger in my house on their own.

I get my workout done in an area that doesn’t get cleaned by the cleaner. Or head out if I have errand to run.

She comes fortnightly on my day off. If I know I'm not going to be in she has my spare keys. Sometimes I run errands for part of the time. Usually I'm in. She usually does my bedroom first so when she's done it I read or watch TV in there. While she's working upstairs I might start dinner or do some admin in the living room. She's been coming to me for several years now and we get on well.

Awkwardness suggests you feel you are exploiting them. If you're paying someone to do a job, it shouldn't feel awkward

Actually, it’s not that deep. I just don’t want to be in the way while she’s cleaning. The same would apply if I went to a friend’s house and she was vacuuming around me. Not everything on Mumsnet needs to be interpreted so seriously.

My cleaners have my key, so could let themselves in and lock up. But if she comes when I am home, I just take my dog for a walk in the neighborhood or sit with the dog on the front porch. The cleaners are a group of eight women who come in and all work together, so they've done the whole house in an hour. It also saves them having to deal with the dog (who is friendly, but might get in their way).
I LOVE coming back home to a clean house.