To not pay cleaner in full?

[Cheesybroccoli]

I hired a cleaner at the end of last year for a fortnightly clean via a cleaning company. The actual cleaner keeps changing due to staff leaving, so I seem to have a new cleaner every time which is frustrating but I appreciate this can’t be helped.

A new cleaner came yesterday and all seemed well until I went up to the bathroom, the glass shower screen hadn’t been touched and was still covered in water marks and the tiles hadn’t been wiped down, with a blob of shower gel foam still on it. Everything else in the bathroom was clean, including the shower taps, so it was odd that it was missed.

I spoke to the woman who owns the company and brought it to her attention who said she would speak to the cleaner. However, she’s still invoiced me for the full amount. DH thinks I shouldn’t pay in full since the job wasn’t completed properly, but I feel awkward asking for a discount. What would you do in this situation?

And to add, the shower doors/screen is my least favourite job! It’s a blooming nightmare…I’d rather the toilet be missed.

You pay for the clean. If you are not happy with the company or service you go elsewhere and/or leave a poor review.

Or give them a warning to say that you are planning on going elsewhere as the cleans are not up to standard if you feel like giving them a last chance.

It the water is left to dry it won’t.

I think cleaners are expected to do a lot in the time they have- I couldn’t do it !

I find it odd that people tell a cleaner what they want doing and how long to take. If an electrician or plumber came to do a job I bet you wouldn't give them a time limit.
"I want a new fuse box fitted but I'm only paying you for an hour"
"I need 5 new radiators installed so I'm giving you 2 hours to do it"

Was she working for the time agreed? Depends what else she did that may have taken some of the time.

Only on Mumsnet 😂

This is not going to work. You sound far too uptight, as if you can't afford it and begrudge paying for a service you've requested, and/or are being wound up by your husband. . Give up now OP, for everyone's sake.

I didn’t ask for 2 hours, the lady who owns the cleaning company came to my house, had a look around and after I’d explained what I was looking for, told me it would be 2 hours

I am guessing this if your first cleaner.
Cleaners are usually paid by the hour not the job list.
You can't ask for a discount for this bits being missed.
Personally - and I have had cleaner for 25 years - I don't think 2hrs is enough for what you are suggesting.
But the problem is simply solved - this cleaner or your new one, give them a written job list. People have different priorities - take them through what you think means bathroom being cleaned as they might have different ideas. I am not disagreeing with you that the screen would normally be cleaned - she might have been running out of time and choose to do the toilet or whatever and leave the screen.

That would make sense. A total of 4 person hours to do the house.

Size of bathroom rarely matters. They've all got a loo, a sink, a floor, a shower etc. Some have 2 sinks, more floor to clean etc but typically and on this occasion only, size doesn't matter 😉

@ittakes2 i think you’ve missed my update where the cleaner told me she got distracted and forgot what she’d done.

This isn’t my first cleaner, I’ve had many over the last 10 years, and whilst they haven’t all been incredible, I’ve never had someone miss something as big as cleaning the shower. I don’t think I need to include cleaning the entire shower and not just the taps as part of cleaning the bathroom, that’s basic common sense. I also didn’t ask for 2 hours, this was suggested to me by the woman who viewed my house.

For a basic clean in a standard house, I estimate on 20 minutes per room. Some are 10, some are 30 but as a rough guide, I allow for 20. You've then also got to allow time to get equipment, hoover etc up and down stairs.

OP is it 2 cleaners for 2 hours or 2 cleaners for 1 hour?

Because 2 person hours to for what you've described sounds like too little time.

That's averaging 17 minutes a room. It would be less than that in reality as there is the bag changing and moving around the house. Considering bathrooms and kitchen would take considerably longer it just doesn't work. You'd be expecting the non wet rooms to be done in less than 10 minutes.

@Cheesybroccoli personally I would be more concerned with the high turnover. Employees seem unhappy and so I'd question the ethics of the company and then whether id want disgruntled employees in my home. I would pay the bill and find another cleaner - someone independent.

You've already made up your mind - so what are you hoping to gain from the replies here?

I pay for 2 hours, as this is what the cleaning company suggested after seeing my house - I’ve always had just 1 person so was surprised by 2 people coming yesterday. I have no idea if they stayed for 1 hour or 2, the cleaning company told me they were sending one lady, so no idea if she just brings along a friend to help?

Based on the size of my house, small amount of furniture and the fact that I leave it tidy before a clean, I don’t think 10 mins for a non-wet room is unreasonable. For example, items to be dusted include in the living room one sideboard and a coffee table, coffee table has nothing on it and the sideboard just a lamp and a couple of candles. Master bedroom just has two bedside tables, again with just lamps on, and nursery has just a small chest of drawers. That’s literally it for dusting. The whole house can be dusted in 10 mins.

If you read my responses you’ll see that I’ve paid in full and am going to change from the cleaning company to an individual I can build a relationship with. Thank for your helpful input though 👍🏼

Good idea OP…ditch the agencies and hire your own cleaner… then you can dock their wages directly or maybe even sack them when/if they happen to miss a spot… 🙄

My cleaner had a full meltdown today when I was WFH and I tied up the bin she'd emptied in preparation for taking it outside once she'd gone. She thought I was hinting that she should do it! I had to calm her down and assure her it was fine and not to worry. 😂

First world problems eh?!

I would expect 50% discount for this, i can’t believe the comments disagree that your not due a discount. If my cleaner missed the shower I wouldn’t pay the invoice. I’ve docked my gardener 50% pay for missing a patch of grass!

It’s probably better to do it yourself, if it’s so straightforward and quick to clean!

I think you’re owed a discount for something as big as the shower not being cleaned by a cleaner that’s paid to clean it. But this is MN, where cleaners should be treated like princesses who are doing you a favour.

Just ignore the crazy.

I would pay, seems like an oversight ...