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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be disappointed in new cleaners?

43 replies

Crazyladee · 11/06/2025 20:42

(Reposted for traffic)
So about a month ago I booked a cleaning company to do a 2 hour weekly clean. I told them I am looking for cleaners to help me with specific cleaning tasks that I can't do due to an injury. I am at home every day and manage to do day to day light cleaning but struggle with tasks that are considered more of a deep clean. They agreed and said "no problem" and all was well. It was agreed they would work from a list put together before they come by me. When I compile the list, it's in order of importance and I've told them because I dont know their timings, it's not a problem if they miss things off the jobs nearer the bottom (if they have ran out of time) in order to do the jobs at the top to a good standard.
They have been twice so far and each time I have felt a bit disappointed when they have left for the following reasons.. (these examples are from both 2 hour cleans)

I asked them to give the main bathroom a good clean including the blinds. They didn't touch the blinds as they are slatted blinds and still very dusty.
They cleaned the main bathroom with a dry cloth and, as I was watching TV from the bedroom next door, all I heard was the sound of a bottle being squirted. No hot/warm water used at all as I would have heard it.
When I asked them to give the kitchen worktops a good clean, they only cleaned in front of the toaster, because I found a big pile of toast crumbs underneath and behind the toaster.
When I asked them to give the kitchen/dining room floor (cream porcelain tiles) a good clean, they left it very streaky and they had only mopped around the legs of the chairs and table, instead of lifting up the chairs onto the table before mopping. So dog hairs and paw prints were still there around the chair legs after they left.
I asked them to give the kitchen cupboard fronts a good clean. (They are cream wooden units and were a bit grubby with fingerprint marks and dogs rubbing against them) When I walked in the room to get a drink, I saw they were using a dry cloth and glass cleaner for this job.
Stairs carpet was hoovered using just the pipe/ nozzle from a Henry hoover which created random horizontal lines on each step. So the corners were completely missed and dog hairs were not hoovered up in the corners/edges.
I follow a few cleaning accounts on social media who are very thorough with their cleaning and also a couple of traveller girls who are EXTREMELY pedantic about their cleaning, so I wonder if I'm being too picky because I've been so used to watching their work, or do I need to say something? Everything just feels extremely rushed and sort of slap dash.

OP posts:
Icebreakhell · 12/06/2025 07:24

They’re either slapdash or don’t have a clue.

Cleaning companies are rarely good.

Get an independent cleaner via a personal recommendation. People will also recommend cleaners via your local Facebook page if you post.

ButterCrackers · 12/06/2025 07:25

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 07:19

But they aren’t a robot. If she can’t clean to her standard or time frame then she shouldn’t expect cleaners too either.

The op can’t clean atm. They could run their list by the cleaning company. It sounds basic to me. It’s not a deep clean. A cleaning company offers a professional service not just a wipe around.

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 07:33

ButterCrackers · 12/06/2025 07:25

The op can’t clean atm. They could run their list by the cleaning company. It sounds basic to me. It’s not a deep clean. A cleaning company offers a professional service not just a wipe around.

I read the post. I stand by what I said. Yes, she’s been picking. To expect the same standard to influencers who have no job other than cleaning their home is a stretch. Cleaners only have a certain amount of time to get the job done, so do the right thing and pay them for the extra time it takes to get all the jobs done instead of complaining on MN about what they can’t complete in two hours.

cupfinalchaos · 12/06/2025 08:37

They’re just crap cleaners op. I’ve had one like that and the difference between it and a decent non-lazy cleaner is like night and day.

lovegoodcoffee · 12/06/2025 08:59

Mum2jenny · 11/06/2025 20:44

I’d find a different cleaning company and stand over them on their first visit.

Please do not do this! I am a professional home cleaner and believe me if my client is stood there hovering and watching me, I'm never going back there.

Mum2jenny · 12/06/2025 11:13

lovegoodcoffee · 12/06/2025 08:59

Please do not do this! I am a professional home cleaner and believe me if my client is stood there hovering and watching me, I'm never going back there.

Unless I had excellent references for a cleaner, I would watch them for their first visit to ensure they were cleaning with my chosen products in a way I was happy with.

Crazyladee · 12/06/2025 17:59

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 07:33

I read the post. I stand by what I said. Yes, she’s been picking. To expect the same standard to influencers who have no job other than cleaning their home is a stretch. Cleaners only have a certain amount of time to get the job done, so do the right thing and pay them for the extra time it takes to get all the jobs done instead of complaining on MN about what they can’t complete in two hours.

As I said in my OP, I gave them a list of three or four tasks to do in two hours and said it doesn't matter if everything doesn't get completed. The priority is to clean the items they do tackle on the list thoroughly. And exactly how much longer time wise would it take to lift up the toaster to clean underneath it??

OP posts:
Crazyladee · 12/06/2025 18:45

Badhunny · 12/06/2025 07:19

But they aren’t a robot. If she can’t clean to her standard or time frame then she shouldn’t expect cleaners too either.

Just read your (equally as snippy) reply from earlier. I am not a professional cleaner, so I'm not sure why you are asking me to compare my own cleaning skills and timing to professional cleaners. What relevance is it anyway? I asked them if the list of jobs was realistic in the time frame and they said yes.
Also, you asked in an earlier post how much I was paying them, which is completely irrelevant to my OP. Their rates are set by them and out of my control.

OP posts:
BlueFlowers5 · 12/06/2025 21:58

They aren't experienced cleaners. Find another company with a trial period.

Username205849292 · 12/06/2025 22:03

Cleaners these days seem to be very much ‘this is what we do’ rather than maybe back in the day when it was your neighbours sister or someone that did the cleaning and they actually listened to what you want. Now it’s all set ‘deep cleans’ and ‘end of tenancy cleans’ and screw what you want.

Funnyduck60 · 13/06/2025 18:43

Tbh a lot of domestic cleaners are doing the job because it fits around the kids. They aren't good and don't enjoy it. I would photograph any issues and speak to the office about the standard. You do sound picky though and I don't think you are giving them enough time for such detail. Pet households really should have a good upright cleaner to pick up hair. Stairs are best done with a power paw or by hand using a stiff brush or a rubber glove ! - look it up.

Crazyladee · 14/06/2025 13:15

Funnyduck60 · 13/06/2025 18:43

Tbh a lot of domestic cleaners are doing the job because it fits around the kids. They aren't good and don't enjoy it. I would photograph any issues and speak to the office about the standard. You do sound picky though and I don't think you are giving them enough time for such detail. Pet households really should have a good upright cleaner to pick up hair. Stairs are best done with a power paw or by hand using a stiff brush or a rubber glove ! - look it up.

As I've stated before, it's not a timing issue because I told them to priorise giving everything a thorough clean instead of finishing everything on my list (of three/ four items) Even so how much longer does it take to lift up a toaster and clean under/behind it? My dissatisfaction is regarding their cleaning methods/products used. (Window cleaner on dry cloth straight onto grubby wooden kitchen units)

I have no control on what brand of hoover they use. They provide all their own equipment/products and they use a Henry. On the stairs they just use the bare metal pipe.

OP posts:
lazyarse123 · 14/06/2025 13:29

Get new cleaners op. It's not difficult to do 4 jobs thoroughly when they've literally got 4 hours to do it in.

CopperWhite · 14/06/2025 13:53

You aren’t happy with their service, so don’t pay for their service. There is no need to overthink it.

cherish123 · 14/06/2025 13:53

Get another cleaner. Get the one you saw advertised online as they seem to meet your standards.

mondaytosunday · 14/06/2025 14:29

Have you given feedback? Are they the same cleaners each time?
my old cleaner definitely had blind spots, but I was satisfied with 90% of her work and she was very flexible and good with the builders during renovations. My best Chester was a hotel trained Polish woman - she seemed to get twice as much done to a high standard! Unfortunately a bit flakey with timing and would occasionally disappear further a few weeks. In the end she never came back and I still owed her money!
I can’t afford one now, but be very specific about what needs doing and if they can’t/don’t do it I’d find someone else. The couple times I’ve used an agency I’ve found them less thorough as they aren’t invested in maintaining the relationship or getting recommendations.

Doingtheboxerbeat · 14/06/2025 15:17

Between jobs I do my friends cleaning and they absolutely love my work. As a result, they tell their friends about what a great job I have done and they've asked me for quotes.

Now here's the thing - I'm not a cleaner by trade, I just do what I do in my own house , so blinds, Windows, skirting boards, door frames can all fuck right off because I don't even acknowledge their existence in my own place and yet it still manages to look and smell clean .

So if I did an amazing job for someone who hired me but they noticed I didn't clean inside of the microwave for example, then I haven't fulfilled their expectations. This is why I couldn't be a cleaner full time - or work with food for the same reason.

Silsatrip · 14/06/2025 15:21

(Window cleaner on dry cloth straight onto grubby wooden kitchen units)

This is really bad. Wrong cleaner and wrong cloth.

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