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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Cleaner unwell yesterday, came today

21 replies

Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:32

My cleaner’s agency cancelled yesterday saying she wasn’t well, but that she could come today instead. I said that given I have a newborn I’d rather not until she’s better. The agent then said (in a bit of offended tone) that the lady wasn’t unwell and they’d never send a cleaner in sick, but she ate too much sugar and it made her have a stomachs ache that day but expects to be recovered tomorrow. i said ok fine to the clean today (newborn + toddler means house is very in need!).

she then turned up and told me she’d been vomiting etc all day and was only feeling better by the evening. I was sorting the newborn baby out and getting out the door so didn’t think too much into it. But now I am out, I feel I should have sent her home. What if it was a virus? She looked ok, but who knows? And I now feel I want to go back and clean over everything she’d touched! Is this unreasonable of me? I want to say something but not sure what good that will do

OP posts:
Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:34

To add, If nothing else, I am looking for reassurance that me and my newborn and toddler and husband won’t catch whatever she possibly brought to our house.

is it ridiculous if I go back and bleach everything?! Not sure if I’m in newborn bubble too much so feeling extra anxious

OP posts:
CRbear · 18/09/2025 11:34

It’s the bare faced lying from someone I’d be annoyed about. Either the cleaner to her employer so she could skip the 48 hour rule or something, or the employer to you to avoid missing an invoice!

Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:37

CRbear · 18/09/2025 11:34

It’s the bare faced lying from someone I’d be annoyed about. Either the cleaner to her employer so she could skip the 48 hour rule or something, or the employer to you to avoid missing an invoice!

Thing is I’m not sure she bare face lied I guess she just believes it’s because of eating too much sugar (the cleaner told me the stand story on arrival) but I don’t understand how that can give such a strong reaction?!

OP posts:
DiscoBob · 18/09/2025 11:40

From the moment the 'manager' changed her story and claimed the cleaner was off work 'because she ate too much sugar' I would've known it was bullshit.

On what planet do minimum wage workers forgo a day's pay because they crammed a bunch of haribo into their gob?! 🤔🤣

MaryGreenhill · 18/09/2025 11:44

Is she on Mounjaru @Pregandcounting? Only too much sugar can cause vomiting/nausea in Ppl that take MJ .

TheReformedSlob · 18/09/2025 11:45

No need to go mad with the bleach. Open all windows and Dettol door and cupboard handles and taps. Wash your hands as you normally would.

Poirot1983 · 18/09/2025 11:46

But no-one has said it was a virus?

Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:47

She mentioned it could be bacteria

OP posts:
Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:51

TheReformedSlob · 18/09/2025 11:45

No need to go mad with the bleach. Open all windows and Dettol door and cupboard handles and taps. Wash your hands as you normally would.

I’ll do this thank you for the reassurance I feel so anxious tbh!

OP posts:
Keepingbusyeating · 18/09/2025 11:51

I’d be suspicious! If they’ve given their reasoning for the sickness, true or not, they’re unlikely to admit any wrongdoing.

I would wipe down high risk areas like door handles, countertops, taps and I’d wash your towels on a high heat just to be safe. Annoying for you!!

Sleepingoverrated5 · 18/09/2025 12:17

I wouldn't be happy with this either, I despise sickness bugs.

Pp's mention of Mounjaro is somewhat reassuring, as that could be a reasonable explanation.

I'd decide on some bleaching to do after she's left that isn't too OTT or extra work for you, but enough to provide reassurance.

So handles and taps, perhaps kitchen worktop and wash any hand towels she may have used.

NoKnit · 18/09/2025 12:26

Was she just hungover but not wanting to admit it?

Sera1989 · 18/09/2025 12:29

She ate too much sugar, but it could also be bacteria 🤨. Surely they shouldn’t be commenting on the cause if they don’t know. But most viruses or food poisoning (bacteria) don’t make you sick for half a day and well again in the evening so that should be a comfort. She will have used cleaning products and not touched the surfaces directly other than taps and handles but you could open windows, spray the Dettol that you don’t have to wash off, and then go out for a bit if you were really worried

Swimminglywell · 18/09/2025 13:06

I hate this railroading over people’s wishes to stay away when unwell. People know it’s wrong, which is why they make stupid shit up or lie. Maybe your cleaner doesn’t have anything contagious, but how does she know she doesn’t?

Mauhea · 18/09/2025 13:24

I wouldn't be happy at all. Norovirus is rampant at the moment and is highly contagious up to 48 hours after symptoms end. My aunt had it, saw her daughter and grandaughter less than 48 hours after symptoms stopped, they had it, and went ahead and saw my other cousin (again, less than 48 hours after recovery) so now she has it too. I'm probably the outlier and catastrophist in the room but I'd detol all the things 😅

ShesTheAlbatross · 18/09/2025 13:26

DiscoBob · 18/09/2025 11:40

From the moment the 'manager' changed her story and claimed the cleaner was off work 'because she ate too much sugar' I would've known it was bullshit.

On what planet do minimum wage workers forgo a day's pay because they crammed a bunch of haribo into their gob?! 🤔🤣

I agree. What manager would even accept that??

ShesTheAlbatross · 18/09/2025 13:27

Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:47

She mentioned it could be bacteria

From the sugar…? Sounds like bollocks.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 18/09/2025 13:31

The too much sugar story was obviously bollocks - unless it was due to Mountjaro or similar but they should have said so if that was it. Otherwise it makes no sense.

Id have said to stay away to be on the safe side at the point of the phone call, but now she’s been, I’d just follow the pp’s suggestion re door handles etc

DiscoBob · 18/09/2025 13:42

ShesTheAlbatross · 18/09/2025 13:26

I agree. What manager would even accept that??

One that's clearly telling porkies! If she was smart she could've said the cleaner had 'women's issues' or a migraine. Or just simply say that cleaner was unavailable that day.

Then at least briefed her on what lie to tell OP to corroborate the story!

Nearly50omg · 18/09/2025 13:44

Pregandcounting · 18/09/2025 11:51

I’ll do this thank you for the reassurance I feel so anxious tbh!

Personally I WOULD bleach everything!!! Detol wipe every surface especially door handles and cupboards etc - anywhere she and you might touch!! Stomach bugs can put babies in hospital!!

Swimminglywell · 18/09/2025 14:35

Leave windows open too - airborne.

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