To fire my new cleaner this quickly?

[Askingadvice100]

I was offered more hours at work at the end of last year and so decided with my husband that with some of the extra money I’d be earning we would invest in a cleaner to come once a fortnight for 3hrs to help with housework. Found a lady who is part of the same school community as me although didnt know her personally and agreed that she would come for 3hrs every other Wednesday. The first Wed she came just before Christmas and cleaned the house, and before she left I logged into my bank so that I could set her up in my account and make sure I could pay her for that day and going forward. I looked round the house after she left and she had mostly done a good job, although the kitchen wasn’t brilliant, but didn’t think too much of it as it was the first time she had cleaned and I’m realistic that you probably can’t get through everything perfect in only 3 hrs and felt sure she would rotate her focus each time and get to know the house better etc. She also didn’t like my steam mop so I said I would buy a traditional mop for her next visit. Two weeks later was Christmas so it was 4 weeks before her next visit. She messaged to say she couldn’t do the Wednesday but could she do Tuesday afternoon instead. I said fine, I would be at work but husband working from home so no problem. When I got in husband said she had been but not stayed quite the full 3 hrs, and the place looked like it had been cleaned, but quite a few areas that were a bit sloppy. For example she had cleaned the shower screen but obviously not the tiles on the wall of the shower which still had some dirty marks on them. The floor had been mopped but the odd area where there was a bit more stubborn dirt hadn’t been thoroughly removed even though she had used the new mop. I messaged in the evening to say thank you and that I had paid. Two weeks later brings us to this week. She messaged again to say she couldn’t do Wednesday and would be there at 11 on Tues. luckily H was working at home again. He rang me at 11:45 to double check when she was coming as she hadn’t arrived. She arrived just after 12 and said sorry she’d had car trouble. She cleaned and then left after only 2hrs 40mins. Again the house looked like it has been cleaned but wasn’t perfect, she certainly wouldn’t have run out of things to do! She then messaged before I had even finished work to ask that I pay her.
So AIBU to think this really isn’t working out and look for another cleaner? I mean if I pay her for 3 hrs she should give me 3hrs work right? I don’t expect her to work like a robot for the entire time but I do expect her to spend the time I’m paying her for?! Being flaky on days and times isn’t ideal either as can’t guarantee my husband won’t have to go to the office or in a meeting.
Also the message she sent asking me to pay her has pissed me off a bit. I mean if I am being generous maybe she really needed the money quickly to pay for the car repairs, but it left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth given that I had paid so promptly the first two times. My husband says we should give her a couple more cleans before we make the decision. She is a very nice lady and I completely trust her to be in the house which is obviously an important factor. What do you think?
If you are still reading thanks for getting to the end of this long post 🤣

Well having someone you feel you can trust is a major plus OP, however the constant changing of days and times would annoy me. Also the fact that some of the work appears slap dash, particularly as she's not doing her full 3 hours. I think perhaps you need to have a conversation with her if you want to keep her. Say something like my husband noticed that when you came on (whatever day) you didn't stay the full 3 hours, and I've also noticed that some jobs aren't being done quite as thoroughly as I like them to be, so in future, rather than rushing so that you can get away early, would you please make sure you do each job properly, and only finish when you've done the 3 hours. If she gets narky /defensive, then you'll just have to tell her that it seems you're not compatible, so perhaps it's better if you call it quits on the arrangement.

You trust her but she’s already undercut your time so in that respect, she isn’t very trustworthy.
I would always do a long deep clean the first time i clean for a client so everything is up together so perhaps she should have suggested that. However, she appears to have time left over so she could be using that to clean better.

Is she actually a cleaner or just someone doing it cash in hand here and there?

I would mention the time issue. See what she says. Go from there. But, if I paid by the hour, I’d want the full time - I charge per job, not hourly. Some days I’m super quick, other days I take longer - client still gets the same clean as we agree what will be achieved each time

If you don't say anything about the time & cleaning standards, it won't magically improve itself. If you say something, there is a chance, or you will have your confirmation it doesn't work.

I was in a similar situation. How big is your house? And what does she clean? Apologies if you've already said in further posts! I started to suspect that I was asking ours to do too much in the space of 3 hrs, to the standard I was expecting - sure she could just about get round it all but similar to you, quite a lot missed or half arsed! I repeatedly asked her if it was too much, and was happy to be more flexible. I also thought that, like you, she'd just focus on different areas each time (if she wasn't too thorough in some areas on the previous visit). But no, she just kept saying it was fine and that our house wasn't that dirty! In the end, it was the lack of transparency and communication that led me to get a different person in! It was awkward and I felt bad but it was the right decision as new cleaner works super hard and does everything to a high standard in the 3 hours!

This might be a good way to play it, if you're feeling awkward (even if I didn't get the answer I wanted!). You could try asking if you're being reasonable in expecting x number of rooms clean in 3 hours? That way it doesn't sound like you're criticising...

Get rid. She sounds awful.

You're paying her for a service that not being completing properly. Nor is she staying the requisite amount of time.

I'd hate to think how long she'd stay (or rather, not stay) if DH wasn't home and still expect to be paid the full amount!

You can either pull her up on the areas she's lacking, or fire her. Personally, I'd hate to have the conversation telling someone they aren't doing a good enough job, so I'd probably just text her and say we don't need her any more. Then hire an actual professional who does their work to a high standard.

3 hours is quite a long time. I could do every room in my house in that time. Not a full top to bottom, skirting boards and doors and windows clean, but mopping, hoovering, dusting, tidying, bathrooms, changing sheets etc. It would certainly be clean enough to invite guests over without any embarrassment.

If you're not happy, I don't think you should feel like you have to continue paying for her services. Or lack of. There's no point paying someone when you have to finish what she should have done.

No point giving her more chances. We employed a cleaner via an agency and one time the agency sent someone else as our regular cleaner was ill. The quality of the clean was poor on the very first visit (acceptable but some areas clearly weren't cleaned as well as we had hoped) so there wasn't any point in continuing. We told them we will do without until our regular cleaner is well enough to return.

I’d not blame you. I had someone who I was paying 2 hours and they’d do 1 hour and I feel it wasn’t even that good. With the excuse of some life changes I got rid of them at the end.

id not blame you for doing the same

I wouldn't be happy with the constant changing the days this early on. Fine as a one off but she's already making a habit of it.

We had the same cleaner for a few years. She was lovely, kind and trustworthy but she didn't clean the house to the standard I wanted. Our house is always clean and tidy, I want someone to finish it off to the high level I can't manage with two under 4 around me. I felt awkward asking her to stop but a change in our circumstances meant we needed to cut back for a few months. As soon as we could, I found another cleaner and she is wonderful. So professional, works hard and I trust her to do a fantastic job every time. We really value her. I'm so much happier now and regret keeping the other cleaner for so long. Having the awkward conversation will make you happier in the long term. I would either be honest and say it's not working out with the change of days/ times (or even mention the cleaning standards) or tell her it can't be a long term arrangement. Then find someone else and ask them to do a trial session before you confirm you're happy with asking them back. Lots of companies offer this type of process as standard.

Get rid immediately. She has set the standard (low) and it will get worse.

Changing days, not arriving on time and not doing a good job are not things contributing to you having less stress to make up for your extra working hours. Get rid!

I would find someone else. You need a cleaner to make life easier not harder.

I think of you have reservations already, don't continue with her. I've never been lucky with cleaners so I've given up and do it myself.

With mine I found they started out fab but after a while became complacent and standards started to slip. I haven't bothered to find another yet, not sure if I will either.

You can't fire her as you're not her employer.

But yes, just stop using her services.

YANBU with regards to the cleaning and not doing the full 3 hours but YABU about being pissed off because she got asked to be paid. My sister used to be a self employed cleaner and the hassle she had getting paid from some of her customers was bad so I think you need to have a thought for her point of view in relation to your payment comment.

Am I correct that 2 out or 3 visits, she has called and changed the day? Then arrived late with no message about the supposed broken down car. Oh, and the below par cleaning on every visit? Anything else?

I'd be speaking to her about the poor clean and changing days etc. IF, before her next clean, she changes the day yet again- cut.

But OP paid promptly after each visit! I can understand if she'd delayed by a few days and needed chasing previously, but she didn't!

Ok so I see both sides to this.. It would be kinder to no longer require her services anymore and find someone else rather than keep on going and not being happy with the standard.. I did cleaning work some time ago. some of the people I cleaned for were lovely others not so much the not so much bunch that couldn't even be arsed to use my name but happy to shout 'cleaner' to get my attention but thats a whole other story ! BUT.. In terms of her asking to be paid I don't think she was asking to be cheeky its just that unfortunately there are people out there that promise to pay and don't (via bank transfer in particular.) I had one women have me there on a job for 5 hours who thought it would be ok to pay me 2 days later without telling me this was her plan. You are told by the company that I worked for that when you do the clean you should be paid instantly and you have to remember this is a form of income for this person and regardless of if your not too happy with the standard they have technically been and done the work although she shouldn't of left early and expected to be paid in full for this.. The advice would be to use someone else, not having a go just giving another angle on one of your points made.. good luck op 😊 x

I think you should ask her why she went home 20 minutes early expected to be paid up to the three hours. But if she then says well all the work was done, you can say well actually no it wasn't done to a very good standard, you were obviously rushing which is why you finished early full stop you should also only pay her for the two hours and 40 minutes. And start looking for a new cleaner.

You want a cleaner to clean for 3 hours. She isn’t cleaning properly and she isn’t staying 3 hours! Just tell her the ad hoc timings aren’t working for you and find someone else. I’ve worked as a cleaner before, staying for the time you’re paid is the most basic requirement.

I'd transfer the pro rata payment and send her a message to say I've paid you x for the 2 hours 40 minutes this week. Thank you for cleaning for us over the last couple of months, it's not really working out for us with the change in days/times and you not being able to do the full 3 hour clean, so thanks again but we wo t be needing you from now on.

I do think you’ve got to work at it sometimes with cleaners. Take the long view and gently reinforce your boundaries. She’s turned up every week that she’s supposed to so far and you trust her so that’s a massive plus.
Tackle one thing at a time week by week.
Firstly the time/leaving early would be crucial for me.
The language “please include x in your routine” has worked for me as well. Maybe “the limescale under the radiator in the bathroom is really stubborn. Please make tackling it part of your weekly routine” or whatever.
Plenty of praise every week too so she feels valued
This is working great for me with current cleaner and she is doing everything exactly as I like it now: I’ve had enough cleaner to know there are very few that turn up every week on time and stay the whole time
and do an impeccable job.

This. I wouldn’t pay for 3 hours. It’s not a service service like a hair dresser for example who mayb be quicker the next time you go in for foils but you wouldn’t pay less. You are paying a cleaner based on time. Less time less pay. I’d be paying less to make the point that you are paying for what she does and she does less than agreed = less pay