To ask: if you are a cleaner, what are the things in the house that would make you judge someone?

[Eastie77Returns]

I spend about an hour doing a pre-clean/tidy before our new cleaner arrives. There are some things I think look too messy for her to deal with and I also worry she will judge me on the general state the house has fallen into in between her visits.

A friend who has the same cleaner thinks I'm nuts for doing this.

Can I ask, if you are a cleaner are there certain things that would make you think someone is an absolute slob or you don't think you should have to deal with? I know surfaces should be as clear as possible and also cleaners should not be expected to tidy up,fold clothes etc (unless mutually agreed).

I'm interested in this too. I always have the place tidy, so everything put in its place. But I'll also make sure toilets are clean and wipe around my sinks too because I don't want the cleaners to judge me!

Cleaner here...
Step away from the mess...
Seriously I love transforming your home!!. Spend your time drinking coffee and doing me a list!!

As long as it’s tidy so we can do a deep clean without moving clutter, no skids in the loos or overflowing bins then it’s expected for the house to be ‘dirty’ as there wouldn’t be any need for a cleaner otherwise.
I used to clean for a lady who would leave her sex toys out on show which was gross and made me judge her. I’ve never judged anyone on their home or cleanliness though.
When I’ve cleaned for houses who pre-clean I find it harder to work out their main areas needing most attention, at least when there’s a bit of dirt etc I can see where to prioritise so it’s best to leave it and let the cleaner work out her routine from there.

I clean before the cleaner too. Mostly make sure loos are clean, surfaces clear, beds made and kitchen floor somewhat clean though there will always be a few crumbs.

Respectfully, OP, are you usually this unduly concerned with other people's opinions? Or are you for some reason not at ease with employing a cleaner, therefore you feel fundamentally as though you need to apologise for your house not being pristine, even though the reason you are employing him/her is to clean your house?

Surfaces don't have to be clear (this seems to be a Mn myth), and there's no hard and fast rule about folding clothes. Our cleaners (and we've had long and mutually respectful and pleasant relationships with every cleaner we've ever had in over 20 years) are not ever facing into a tidied or pre-cleaned house, or a house with clear surfaces. Sometimes it's chaotic, other times, comparatively clean. They get through what they can in the time available. I make it clear when I'm hiring someone what they will be walking into.

I don't know anyone who cleans before their cleaner comes.

I'm assuming it's not a Mn only phenomenon, but I think it's quite odd. I have a cleaner to save myself work. Why would I make myself needless work? It would be like pre-cleaning my windows before the window-cleaner comes.

Clean toilet, beds made, kids shit put away. (Like the 5000 felt tips, 200 Lego pieces and 7 million look bands)

I used to clean in my 20s. Honestly, I am not going to judge people who live the way that feels comfortable for them. Even houses of hoarders are absolutely fine and are actually very enjoyable and satisfying to clean. There is literally nothing worse than someone scrubbing their toilet and sink before a cleaner gets there. It makes the job feel completely useless.
As someone who hires a cleaner to come once every couple of weeks, I don't clean or tidy anything. She doesn't seem to judge us but if we did, we wouldn't know so we don't think about it. If I had time and inclination to pre-clean for the cleaner, I wouldn't need a cleaner, would I?

I think a lot of people conflate "tidy" and "clean".

Tidy= items like toys, clothes, shoes are put away and not cluttering the place up. Minimum dirty washing up around, ideally none.

Clean= what the cleaner should do. Sweep, hoover, mop, dust, get toothpaste off the sink, wipe skirting boards

I tidy up before the cleaners come so they can clean. If my house looks very tidy but crumby and grubby, that's cleaner ready.

I'm not uneasy with employing a cleaner but I do think that if I can make their job easier, I should. I think leaving clutter around makes her job difficult so I tidy surfaces where possible. I would not expect anyone to clean poo in my toilet so I always clean the loo before she arrives.

I don't think the window cleaner analogy really works in this scenario but good to hear another perspective on this, thanks.

I tidy, and make sure the toilets aren't gross (boys). I also empty the bins.

I keep all the normal appliances and fripperies on the kitchen surface. Sometimes she cleans around them, sometimes she moves them and cleans under.

I tidy the bathroom so there aren't 200 bottles of shampoo and shower gel everywhere.

I'll take the judgement, I want the cleaner.

I don't clean before our amazing cleaner arrives but I think its respectful to leave things tidy. I'd not leave an unmade bed although she strips it anyway. I wipe around the loos. I'd not leave last night pots but I do leave the breakfast mugs etc if the dishwasher is full and needs putting away. I don't wipe over the cooker but I wouldn't leave toast crumbs around.

Yes...this. The kids crap. I scoop up things like DS' lego pieces and DD's flipping necklace making set.

I'm the same. I tidy before the cleaner arrives because for me there is no real point in my house being clean but still looking like a mess. I want the house to feel clean and tidy after the cleaner has been so I do my part. I used to tidy on a Tuesday for the cleaners visit on Wednesday and my husband always thought the cleaner came on Tuesday because making sure everything is tidied away made such a difference.

I tidy up as well before the cleaner comes. Not because she’d judge me but because I don’t want to spend hours looking for stuff and where she thought it belongs and undoing her work in the process.

I tidy up. Surfaces clear everywhere. No dishes etc

I don’t clean the toilet though!

She cleans everywhere and once she’s gone the house is clean & tidy!

She literally needs to wipe/hoover/dust & mop

Ex cleaner here! Nothing. I'm there to do a job. As someone who loves cleaning, it's the before/after that brings me satisfaction. On second thoughts, poop in the toilet. I can handle sanitary stuff but I think we can all be sure someone else doesn't see any butt remnants in the bowl 😅
Otherwise, it's your house, it's lived in, I'm happy to do what you need from me.

From a ex lodge cleaner, I judged harshly anyone who left them unreasonably clean. I'm sure no one at home has lasagne/spaghetti bolognese sauce all over the walls in their own home but it seems a good chunk of the guests thought it was fine to leave the kitchen/diner splattered.

We tidy as I am paying for her to clean not tidy. I only have 3 hrs a fortnight for a 4 bed so prefer that to be actual cleaning. I also find it encourages everyone to tidy up.

I used to be a cleaner and I say the same.

I think it's really skanky not to clean the toilets before a cleaner arrives.

Put the sex toys away

Yes, exactly.

I prefer not to have to see dried on skids in the loo.
san pro products are fine but please wrap them up, not left open and stuck to the bin etc...
Sink full of dirty scummy water and a plug hole jammed with food-I don't mind washing up but it does take time away from the actual cleaning
Otherwise I enjoy the tidying part as well as the cleaning

Oh all the cleaners are saying not to clean!

Please don't clean your house beforehand. It's utterly pointless. Nothing worse as a cleaner than cleaning a clean home! Just be aware that the more clutter there is, the longer it all takes. If your kitchen surface is covered in paperwork, dishes etc, there's only so much I can do. I don't judge anything though (other than a client who used to use the mop to clean up her dogs wee accidents and then leave the mop festering all week. The smell used to take my breath away and it'd take me 15 minutes to get the mop clean enough to use. Even then, I didn't judge as such, I just couldn't bear it for very long).

If my house looks very tidy but crumby and grubby, that's cleaner ready.

This.