Abusive cleaner took pics of my home

[ChicExpert]

My lovely self employed cleaner went back to her own country. New cleaner started this week. House is tidy but dirty floor and surfaces, needs a good vacuum/mop/wiping up. We hire 4 hours a week for a deep clean of the downstairs(kitchen dining living room)/hallway and stairs. Standard 3 bed house in London with kitchen extension, takes me 2 hours to do but pay for 4 so the job gets done properly.

New cleaner came and in 4 hours couldn't clean what we asked which is just vacuum/mop and wipe down all surfaces. Had to ask her to clean individual window seals as she didn't and when she left I noticed the living room window seal wasnt cleaned. She broke my glass chopping board and didn't say anything and left chemicals in the oven which I told her not to clean. Last cleaner was able to wipe the skirting boards and didn't leave a spec of dirt in corners, this cleaner left many areas dirty.

I said nothing and thought I won't hire again. The company messaged me why I don't want to hire again and I said I wasn't happy with the clean nothing else.

I then get very abusive messages and pictures of my floor being dirty saying my house is disgusting. Didn't get to respond before I was blocked by the company.

AIBU? I feel completely violated and want to complain some how. She took photos of my home without permission.

Don't even know what to do now and feel uncomfortable using another cleaner. Husband says I'm over reacting :( am I?

FYI I've added a photo of my home before the cleaner came. Floors are clearly dirty but the kitchen is tidy/needs wipe down.

So you don't use a cleaner then. Yeah, you'd better clear that up.

You "imagine the bathrooms must be very dirty", but you can't imagine actually bothering to read ALL of OP's posts to find out some more FACTS instead of using your fertile imagination. Try using the "OP Posts: See all" functionality - it's there for a reason! 🙄

Right if I had left my house like that I’d probably expect my cleaner to resign! No way would I be complaining about window cills/ seals 😳

Sorry OP but something needs to change- I’d have found it very difficult to find a cleaner prepared to deal with that and do a proper deep clean in 4 hours. We had 4 hours for a basic London terrace but we’d have floors swept etc before the cleaner started.

I think in your position I’d be thinking of moving out with your partner/ mum and leaving the others to their utter squalor.

Just an excuse to be nasty.

My kitchen floor could look like that after a cooking session with my 15 year old daughter lol I honestly have to keep going back to it after reading some posts just to see if I have missed anything because the amount of over reacting on here is honestly fucking weird and no I don't live in filth. The amount of posters that also clean before the cleaner comes is batshit. That's probably why the cleaner took photos lol they are used to turning up to clean already clean homes and wondered why there was a bit of mess

@Heronwatcher so your cleaner wouldn't do the simple task of hoovering and mopping?

How very silly.

Curious as to what your cleaner cleans then?

Sounds like a uniquely British phenomenon to be so self-conscious about being judged by your cleaner that you clean before the cleaner comes.

It is more satisfying to a cleaner who takes pride in their work to actually have something to clean and transform the house into a sparkling and spotless haven for the family. OP's house would be a dream to clean as it is so tidy.

Not really no, I wanted the cleaner to do cleaning (what they did do was to mop, deep clean kitchen, deep clean 3 bathrooms and dust). Not basic day to day tasks.

I think it’s all a matter of expectations, if you want dusted/ wiped window cills you don’t make them do the absolute basics first. Very logical I’d say.

A bit dramatic? Hate to think what a coffee stain would do to you.

Really unfair! She has every right to politely ask that that cleaner does not come again. And as for her house being dirty... that's why she's hiring a cleaner. Ahe doesn't deserve to have this barrage of abuse!

What a judgy lot, I thought the Stepford Wives had been consigned to the Seventies! You're cleaner was a disgrace OP, but the agency were even worse, and I'm not even sure taking the photos was legal.

Yeh, so weird to clean before the cleaner comes! What are you paying for then!

I agree! Pp are jealous of ops lovely kitchen

It was probably legal to take the photos (I guess a before and after of the work done can be justified) but I agree, such a judgy lot, and utter disgrace from the cleaner/company.

My floor can get like this several times a day with my toddler - constant constant cleaning at mine and yet it would still never be ok and ready for an unexpected guest

I’m getting some serious Hyacinth Bucket vibes from some posters on this thread, cleaning before the cleaner comes and ‘ashamed’ of crumbs on the floor 🤣🤣🤣

I know lol they are going on like the OP left her kitchen like the aftermath you see at Glastonbury

The picture is just one area and indicative of the state your house was in. She needed a lot more time to clean than just 4 hours. She was taking pictures to defend herself and to have proof that she couldn't live up to your standards. She also probably wanted to refuse to service your home.
I'm sure there was a whole lot more you guys left for her to clean in the toilets..... :/ I'm sorry but you needed a team of people. The company doesn't want your business. You need to hire more than one person at a time and actually have your 5 other family members clean up after themselves between visits.

@Heronwatcher mopping is basic day to day task.

You mean you don't mop your floor every day?

How very filthy!

I'd honestly leave all them in their own filth and set the place on fire lol...

takin my baby and my man and my mom, though ;)

But really...move out or THEY have to spend a ton more on regular cleaning

FFS they're paid to clean, what's their problem!! It takes maybe a few days to get our kitchen floor like that, adults work full time, kids have school and evening activities, our cleaner runs the broom around, mops it and it's sparking again, she does 3 hours every 2 weeks. We clean inbeteeen but she has no issues with our home - yours is fine find a decent cleaner who bloody do the job in hand

You will have mice soon! How can you leave a floor like that - grim.

Taking photos of your home and showing them to others may be a data protection breach. You could threaten to report the company to the Information Commissioner for a GDPR breach.

Exactly. It's not difficult to imagine how a floor gets grubby with a lot of people and animals in the house - to avoid it you'd have to be going round cleaning several times a day, and frankly that would just leave everyone miserable.