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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Cleaner... am I right to think this is not good enough or AIBU

99 replies

spaghettihooper · 17/02/2025 19:05

Hired a cleaner for the first time in my life as I've gone back to work (from home) but have my toddler here so don't get as much housework done as I would like.
I thought I'd give a cleaner a try, and booked a 3 hour clean (they sent 2 cleaners who stayed 1.5hours so fair enough). Not really knowing what to expect from it I guess but I really thought the basics would have been done so please tell me if I am wrong to expect the following tasks to be done within the time ( I have a 4 bed house with one bathroom which wasn't overly dirty just needed general cleaning and they told me 3 hours was more than enough time to clean a whole house):
-Bathroom window cill not even wiped (toothpaste marks)
-Didn't move washing hamper/waste bin when cleaning bathroom floor so dusty underneath
-Didn't wipe down kitchen cupboards
-Didn't clean inside microwave
-Didn't descale around bathroom tap

I could go on, but I'm just wondering if I'm being petty or if this is the norm. I.e. do I rebook them or look for a different cleaner.

OP posts:
lnks · 17/02/2025 20:31

spaghettihooper · 17/02/2025 20:29

No she didn't. She knew it was 4 bed / 1 bath but that's it.

Yes thanks I will definitely do that in future, I think I just thought some of these go without saying

If she hadn't seen it then the 3 hours was an estimate really.

I found that after a few weeks, once the cleaner has got it up to their standard, they seemed to get more done.

spaghettihooper · 17/02/2025 20:38

intrepidgiraffe · 17/02/2025 20:22

Ok maybe deep clean isn't the right word, but after cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, mopping, vacuuming everywhere etc (the main jobs) it's unreadable to expect every surface to be wiped down/ things to be moved in 3 hours

Yes I get what you are saying; but part of my point is that the toothpaste marks were not even wiped from the cill and the floor not completely cleaned therefore the even bathroom didn't get a full clean in my eyes! When I say descale the tap, I mean any small bit of limescale that can be removed quickly and easily with a spray of viakal (not hours of scrubbing or anything like that.

OP posts:
DubLass · 17/02/2025 20:45

Doesn't sound like a good clean at all.
The bathroom examples show lack of attention and a not very thorough job . Not moving the laundry basket ? Or wiping the window cill ?

I'd also expect the microwave to be wiped out .
I'm not sure what you mean by 'descaling' around taps but I'd definitely expect them to clean well around, under , behind taps .
Try another company !

Flossflower · 17/02/2025 20:52

It is a long time since I had a cleaner, but the one that I had managed to clean my 4 bedroom 2 bathroom house in 3 hours. I do not have pets, which I think makes a huge difference. She did wipe the kitchen cupboards but never the microwave. She would not have stopped to use a different cleaner like vikal so no descaling would have been done.
Occasionally the agency would send her with someone else and they would do 1.5 hours each. Then the clean was not as thorough.

gmgnts · 17/02/2025 21:10

I have always given my cleaners a list of what I would like done each visit - e.g. this time, wash the kitchen floor, hoover the stairs, strip and change two beds, clean the sinks and sweep the front step, in order of priority (i.e. if time running out, just leave the front step). Otherwise, you get someone else deciding what cleaning to prioritise in your home. If you want cupboards wiping down and the microwave cleaning (which is certainly not a standard task for a cleaner), then you should say so. Take control of what you want done in your own home - you're in charge and you're paying. It can be said nicely. My cleaners have always stayed for years and I've had great relationships with them. To answer your question, I would certainly expect the laundry basket to be moved to clean the floor and anything obviously grubby, like toothpaste marks, and non-shiny taps, to be wiped clean.

Flossflower · 17/02/2025 21:14

I have always cleaned my own toilets. I don’t mind a cleaner doing the rest of the bathroom but I don’t think they should have to clean the toilet after you even if they are spotless.

Sparko99 · 17/02/2025 23:46

The thing is you can see from this thread that everyone thinks different things are standard. I'd like kitchen cupboard fronts done for instance but would think window sills is more for deep clean.

beenonthebox · 18/02/2025 10:13

Well, this all depends on what's been agreed...you said you "booked" three hours, but did the person who took the booking come out to your house to see what it looked like and to meet you? If not, and this is on them, you're not starting off on the right foot to begin with.

Anything such as inside microwave and limescale on taps is the exact thing which should have been discussed at the initial consultation...insides of microwaves are, in my experience, the sort of things that have to be requested, and limescale is a difficult one (no matter how easy it might be to remove) as it takes time and the process can easily damage fixtures...but again, a consultation was the time for all this to be discussed.

Again, this is all in my experience and by no means that of everyone, but ordering cleaning from a company where the cleaners are "booked" and work in twos or threes etc. is only ever going to be people coming in to "go round the house" and spruce it up...fine if that's what you need to keep it going, but for an on-going routine clean with different parts of the home being given more attention each time so that all of it remains continually clean, you need to hire someone who works for themselves, alone.

And don't get me wrong, that's easier said than done, and can be hugely unreliable, but there are people out there for whom cleaning houses is their focus and who take it very seriously.

However, from your post, you said Not really knowing what to expect from it I guess but I really thought the basics would have been done...while I totally get that any new experience is one where you need to try it to see what it's like, when it comes to cleaning, you already know what needs doing because it's your home, therefore ideally you need to express what it is that you need, rather that wait to see what they offer you...a good cleaner who works with you one-to-one should be able to come in and do the things that you aren't doing, whether that's a general weekly clean, or a few hours every month to do additional cleaning jobs that you never get round to doing.

My late mother always ran a spotlessly clean house, but towards the end of her life could no longer manage a vacuum cleaner, which really distressed her. She had someone to help clean, and her instructions were basically "please come every two weeks to thoroughly vacuum every inch of the floors, mop the kitchen and bathroom, and if there's time maybe wipe out the fridge (etc), but above all, don't scrimp on the vacuuming as this is where I need the help".

She was lucky as she found a young lady a few doors away who was happy to do what she wanted, to the standard she wanted. Other people are much less specific in their needs, so be clear on what yours are, because someone could spend all day cleaning your house and still not do the parts that are on your wish-list, so tell them what they are.

BobbyBiscuits · 18/02/2025 11:03

My cleaner doesn't do any of those things at all, except microwave but only when I specifically ask. But she's not very good tbh.
Three hours for a four bed house to me isn't really enough time. But my cleaner spends an hour on ironing before she starts the other stuff.
I think those things could be pointed out to them. They're brand new and you may need to give a checklist just so you're both on the same page. I would give up on them just yet.

flower858 · 18/02/2025 21:34

It took me two years to find someone good 😭🤦 spell it out but yea eventually I found that person

flower858 · 18/02/2025 21:37

BobbyBiscuits · 18/02/2025 11:03

My cleaner doesn't do any of those things at all, except microwave but only when I specifically ask. But she's not very good tbh.
Three hours for a four bed house to me isn't really enough time. But my cleaner spends an hour on ironing before she starts the other stuff.
I think those things could be pointed out to them. They're brand new and you may need to give a checklist just so you're both on the same page. I would give up on them just yet.

I disagree I have that every fortnight and it's fine but for example she wouldn't have time to do all the inside windows as we have a lot of glass. Ironing is not something mine does so I think unfair to lump that in and maybe not the norm 🤷 she also wouldn't clean inside my oven etc as I have built in so you'd oeobineed to specify that

Hackedoffinoldage · 18/02/2025 21:39

Snowmanscarf · 17/02/2025 19:28

Bathroom window sill - should have been cleaned
washing hamper - wouldn’t necessary have expected thus to be moved
kitchen cupboards - should have been wiped down if finger prints showing
microwave - wouldn’t necessarily expect this to be cleaned
bathroom tap - wouldn’t expect this to be cleaned

Surely you’d expect the tap to be cleaned if cleaning the sink etc? It literally takes 2 seconds

somanythingssolittletime · 18/02/2025 21:43

My cleaner does all that and more every week. But I live in a 2 bed flat and she does 4 hours, so I guess you may need more time and better instructions. I had to tell mine to move the beds and hoover behind for example. But everything else gets done, the flat is spotless when she leaves.

Wexone · 18/02/2025 21:45

5 bed house here cleaner comes here every twi weeks. she cleans whole house apart from spare rooms in three hours. she would move the hamper as you listed but not anything else on your list. that to me is classed as deep cleaning. my microwave is a combination oven as well to note. if it was your 1st clean you should have got a deep clean. then they keep on top of it every two weeks. with extra deep cleans done when asked for and extra time allocated. my cleaner has just started for a relative ( she was full but someone moved ) she has done a full sat deep cleaning their house then will do it every 2 weeks on agreeded date.

beenonthebox · 18/02/2025 22:02

Hackedoffinoldage · 18/02/2025 21:39

Surely you’d expect the tap to be cleaned if cleaning the sink etc? It literally takes 2 seconds

Clean, yes. Remove limescale as per OP, no.

I think the confusion here is that @Snowmanscarf said "clean" but may have been referring to the removal of limescale.

Rachybabez · 18/02/2025 22:03

I'm a cleaner and I would say you are asking too much for 3 hours. Especially first time round. Cleaners get better the more on top of things they get and once they get in a routine and get to know your house. The windowsill should of been done and washing hamper moved but easily missed. However jobs like getting rid of limescale and cleaning inside the microwave I wouldn't expect that done in the time frame of 3 hours. It would be everything dusted, vacuumed and kitchen and bathroom general cleaned for that.

Cowsontheloose · 18/02/2025 22:18

You say your bathroom wasn't overly dirty - I'm a cleaner and I've had this said to me multiple times. Cleaners see things differently. I would make a list of what you want, how will they they know if it wasn't discussed?

MyBeloved · 18/02/2025 22:26

3 hours for a 4 bed house? Completely unreasonable, particularly as a first clean.

Inside of microwave and descaling taps is not a standard clean.

welshmercury · 18/02/2025 22:57

I have yet to find cleaners that do a decent job. I pick people that are recommended but left disappointed. I had 3 people here for a two hour clean (should have been 2 people) so they did 40 mins and it was a disaster. They were just talking and one spent at least 10 mins folding the toilet paper into bow whilst talking to another. Didn’t ask them back.

you do need to tell them. I tell them to ignore my teenagers room as if he won’t pick up all the stuff off the floor then they can’t hoover. His loss. So that’s one less room. Husband office isn’t cleaned so just main bedroom. One bathroom and downstairs loo. We massively tidy up so kitchen surfaces are clear etc no dishes out - clean or dirty!

beenonthebox · 18/02/2025 23:05

welshmercury · 18/02/2025 22:57

I have yet to find cleaners that do a decent job. I pick people that are recommended but left disappointed. I had 3 people here for a two hour clean (should have been 2 people) so they did 40 mins and it was a disaster. They were just talking and one spent at least 10 mins folding the toilet paper into bow whilst talking to another. Didn’t ask them back.

you do need to tell them. I tell them to ignore my teenagers room as if he won’t pick up all the stuff off the floor then they can’t hoover. His loss. So that’s one less room. Husband office isn’t cleaned so just main bedroom. One bathroom and downstairs loo. We massively tidy up so kitchen surfaces are clear etc no dishes out - clean or dirty!

If anyone who I was paying to do a job used the time to fold toilet paper and still not do the job properly, I'd be so pissed off.

In the case of cleaning, I think there's a world of difference between putting things back neatly after cleaning the surface beneath, and making shapes out of bog rolls and towels. In fact, if I saw folded toilet roll, I'd be preempting a poor clean having taken place.

Imbusytodaysorry · 18/02/2025 23:15

spaghettihooper · 17/02/2025 19:05

Hired a cleaner for the first time in my life as I've gone back to work (from home) but have my toddler here so don't get as much housework done as I would like.
I thought I'd give a cleaner a try, and booked a 3 hour clean (they sent 2 cleaners who stayed 1.5hours so fair enough). Not really knowing what to expect from it I guess but I really thought the basics would have been done so please tell me if I am wrong to expect the following tasks to be done within the time ( I have a 4 bed house with one bathroom which wasn't overly dirty just needed general cleaning and they told me 3 hours was more than enough time to clean a whole house):
-Bathroom window cill not even wiped (toothpaste marks)
-Didn't move washing hamper/waste bin when cleaning bathroom floor so dusty underneath
-Didn't wipe down kitchen cupboards
-Didn't clean inside microwave
-Didn't descale around bathroom tap

I could go on, but I'm just wondering if I'm being petty or if this is the norm. I.e. do I rebook them or look for a different cleaner.

Some things are for a deep clean .
some things should be done as a matter of course .

With a new clean it’s always best to have a deep clean and a few cleans to get things in order then start the normal hours .
not wiping the toothpaste of the window or moving the basket is pretty shocking. .

Voneska · 18/02/2025 23:24

A cleaner should clean kitchen, all surfaces. Bins.HOB OVEN , kitchen table
Clean Sink and dish rack window sill. Washing machine front . Inside microwave. Tidy away any cups dishes. Wash floor. ...Bathroom Bin. Walls Shower walls Taps soap dish , shine mirror. Clean bath scrub toilet wash seat, handle , toilet pan. Basin pedestal. Wash floor....Tidy beds. Dust bedside table. Window sills. Shine mirrors Hoover under beds.Empty bin. Hoover Hallway stairs. Polish surfaces in Lounge, straighten cushions. Straighten magazines. Dust window sills . TV. Hoover Lounge.

livelovelough24 · 18/02/2025 23:52

I have never hired a cleaner so no idea what they would usually do, but I would say, make a list of things you would like cleaned and give it to them. I clean my house once a week, but that is vacuuming, dusting, cleaning washroom, wiping down kitchen and fridge. All the other things I do every now and then when I notice that they need cleaning. What I am trying to say, I do not clean everything every time the time.

I live in 3bdr townhouse. It takes me 2-3 hours to do what I just mentioned.

JMSA · 19/02/2025 00:00

It's not a realistic timeframe.

mikulkin · 19/02/2025 00:21

The replies on threads about cleaners always surprise me. I have 4 bed, two bathrooms and one toilet house, albeit not a large one and we don’t have small kids. never cleaner took more than 3,5 hours, I also never tidy up before cleaned comes. Descaling is not deep clean, that is normal, cleaning inside microwave has always been done, never have I asked for it specifically, so is wiping kitchen cupboards and moving staff around in bathrooms and rooms to wipe underneath, same with windowsill. I have always had cleaners, I think in the past 15 years I had maybe 5 cleaners and all of them did all these jobs without me asking. So, you are not unreasonable, OP from my perspective. But then again I read mumsnet and I think maybe all my cleaners are superheros.

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