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 a cleaner and I hate it when I arrive and there is no mess anywhere. I derive great satisfaction in ‘creating order out of chaos’ and seeing the ‘thanks’ on my client’s faces…

I used to be a cleaner and I agree with this. Getting scruffy houses clean and tidy was so satisfying and you could tell how much my clients appreciated it.

Yes I had one of these. She had previously come on a visit to see what needed doing. On first day in job I let her in on my way out only for a phone call 10 minutes later telling me there was no way she could be expected such filthy. Turns out DS had traipsed some mud in back door ( that I hadn't realised) and this was unacceptable to her

Strangely she was very popular on the local Facebook page with pictures of shining taps and wonderfully folded towels and toilet rolls but a bit of mud was too much

This has got to be my favorite thread on MN so far! I totally pre-clean and tidy up before the cleaner myself.
I think it's only fair, and just like other people have said, I don't want to be judged. 😅

No, not Liam😂

They are a beloved couple on MN and in the media generally (or were as one of them passed away in very sad circumstance a while ago) and don’t want to speak ill of the dead etc. But I felt awful for the cleaner having to put up with that.

mess I’m fine with, these raise an eye brow… squashed insects that haven’t been cleaned off windows etc, cruddy pants on floor, really dirty toilets with crap on the seat and really old,
firmly stuck on in the toilet, pet vomit/hair balls, broken glass lazily tidied and we cut ourselves, remains of food left down a sink for 2 weeks so much so that it smells of vomit.

People who don’t bother picking up from the floor when they drop something or wiping up spillage. Leaving soiled period items around.
Baffled by people who don’t consider storage solutions for piles of ’memories’ everywhere.

I agree and I said same on the first page. The only thing is, clients do need to realise that if they leave a mess, it takes time to clear that up before you start cleaning.
One of my favourite jobs was where i washed up and wiped sides down in the kitchen, emptied all bins, changed the bed and ran the hoover round. The first time I went it took me two hours just in the kitchen ( not sure they ever washed up or emptied the bin) but over time I was able to add little extra jobs, and eventually my twice weekly two hours made a real impact.
The client always said how much she looked forward to returning home from work on the days I went. It was really satisfying! Much better than the already spotless homes who's owners were really fussy.
Real appreciation made all the difference when I was doing the job ( and obviously good payers)

I was lucky I think. Rarely came across any of that. Never saw used sanitary products. I was was also one of a rare breed who didn't mind dealing with cat litter or the occasional pet 'accident'.

I treat my cleaning lady the way I would want to be treated if I were a cleaning lady. Nobody should have to clean up someone else's bodily fluids, ever. Nobody should be picking your clothes and shit up off the floor. Nobody should be emptying your bathroom bin for you. I also don't want to pay my cleaning lady for things I can easily do myself (load the dishwasher, put newspapers in the recycling etc).

It's completely mad, though. You hire a cleaner because you can't, or don't want to, keep on top of cleaning your house, and then, after you've hired them, you clean before they arrive, despite the fact that you hired them in the first place because you couldn't or didn't want to clean? It's not 'only fair'. It makes zero sense.

Haha I get that. However, I don't live in the UK,I'm in Brazil. It's kind of cultural, I guess, at least here in São Paulo. Cleaners are great, but they're kind if judgemental. Also, it's a choice. I don't like my house to look like I don't get my butt off the chair to do anything. Again, it's probably cultural. But I see your point, I guess it's way more stress-free to live that way. But still....😅

Ah, I'd love to live in Brazil (if not for the spiders).

Well, I'm not from the UK either, though I lived there for years. I have several Brazilian friends, including a couple in São Paulo, and from what I've observed, I don't notice any great difference with the way they relate to cleaners. And I've had a Brazilian cleaner -- two, actually, a husband and wife couple who alternated cleaning, and who were living in London for a few years because she was studying. They were great, actually. I didn't ever have the impression they were thinking judgemental thoughts about my house, but then again, I didn't ask them! To me that seems a bit like worrying that you're grossing out a surgeon by having a suppurating appendix that needs removing, or bothering a plumber by having a leak. It's the job!

You're more than welcome to come live here in Brazil!!! Now, about the spiders, I guess it depends on the region. I'm sure you'll love it here tho!😅

Please could someone help with the abbreviations... Cheers

You're 100% right! It is the job. And we've certainly had different experiences with cleaners. You know what, I think I should just take your advice and cut myself some slack!!!!

The poo-er needs to clean the poo from the toilet after they have pooed. If its my youngest then I clean it. If its my teenagers or husband I would expect them to clean the poo immediately after pooing. Do people really leave dried-on poo inside a toilet!!?!?!

I tidy , get rid of empty shower gels and deodorants from husbands bathroom as he’s incapable and clean the toilets

My cleaner says this to me! “Vicky, I am the cleaner! Put it down and leave it to me!”

We tidy worktops so our cleaner can actually get to the surfaces. We only have an hour a week for essentials and the messier it is the less time for cleaning. If we had more hours then maybe we’d tidy less but I couldn’t leave the place in a tip. Funnily enough it’s DH that clears everything off the floor if he’s around before she arrives.

It's disrespectful for anyone old or fit enough to clean up after themselves to leave a toilet or bathroom in a state.

I would certainly look down on anyone who has skid marks on their loo. That includes people who leave public toilets in a state. Absolute animals.

Exactly this.
I don't want to be tidied so I pick up before she comes and I don't want to put obstacles in the path of her cleaning

I tidy up clutter and get the kids to sort out their (disgraceful) bedrooms. I also empty bathroom bins and bleach toilets.

i used to clean for a family that left dried cat turds behind the sofa 🤢

This.

I've been a cleaner for about 15 and don't judge anyone as my house is probably the worst!
However I do expect the house to be tidy, toilets flushed and bitey dogs kept at bay! If I have to spend time picking things up and moving stuff of surfaces I'm not going to get much done cleaning wise. And no one wants to lift a toilet lid and see what someone has left there.
Other than that..the dirtier the better as I enjoy the difference I make