To get my keys back from cleaner

[Emila]

Hi all,
I live in a 1 bed, 1 bathroom flat. A few weeks ago, I decided to hire a cleaner to help me out. The flat is always tidy and it's just me here so I don't exactly generate much dirt. It's just lovely to come home after a long week and have it all feeling clean at once. She comes weekly for 2 hours at a time.
The first week was amazing, so was the second. This week however, I've come home and it honestly looks like she's just run the hoover round and straightened everything up a bit. There's limescale in the shower, the toilet's not been cleaned, hob hasn't been wiped etc. Really basic things. she's also meant to come on Friday but she asked to come today instead.
I brought it up to her very positively and she's claimed that she did clean these things when I know she hasn't. Now she's saying she's had a really bad week and sending me crying emojis. I don't get it.
I don't really want to go forward with her anymore. Is it worth giving her another chance or not? I really value having my house clean...
She has a set of my keys.
Can someone please draft me a message to get her to drop them round and tell her I don't want her services anymore? I'm being a wuss.
I can't really make up an excuse either as it's clear that I'm not happy with the work.

Also, she's said that she had to keep waiting for the hoover to charge. Fair enough but

1. We also have a corded hoover she could use
2. You don't use a hoover on the toilet lol

I would be home next time she comes round. Tell her that she is no longer required, pay her for that week, take your keys back and then ask her to leave.

Tell her you're going away for a while and don't need house cleaned for a few weeks and that you will get back to her when your home.
Ask her for keys to give to a relative who will be minding your home

Cleaner here, really unprofessional that she’s sending you crying emojis and essentially making excuses for doing a crap job. Also it’s her 3rd time at yours and she’s already taken the mick? That speak volumes

do you have a ring doorbell? I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t stay the full 2 hours. I would simply message and say “hi shit cleaner, unfortunately my hours at work have changed therefore I’m now able to carry out most of the cleaning myself. Please drop the keys off asap. All the best” that’s a good non confrontational way of dumping her (obviously insert her name instead of the one I wrote!)

I would change the locks anyway, she might have already made a copy of your keys.

Yep, this. I'd hate giving someone I didn't actually know my keys, but in my past working life, I've had the keys to half a dozen homes at once, with alarm codes, etc., way before any ring cameras, etc., so the trust given by my customers was huge. these ranged from 1 bed flats to multi million pound homes.

Change your locks and let her know that her services are no longer required. I know most people make up an excuse to let a cleaner go rather than tell the truth.
Life is too short to be faffing about with people that don't do the job they are paid to do.

I agree about changing the locks, she’s not to be trusted.

Had similar situation in the past. Cleaner was recommended by a friend.
First time house was spotless. Second time I opened the door and couldn’t believe my eyes, floor was dirty (muddy shoe marks all over the kitchen), limescale in the sink etc. She took cash that I left on the table for her. I sent her polite message later that evening asking if everything was okay. I mentioned that I noticed dirty floor etc. Her reaction was unexpected - she said “if you don’t like my highest level of cleanliness you better find someone else”. She dropped the key later next week. Still don’t know what was that because she looked like a very nice lady when we first met.

My opinion - let her go.