Dirty sink.

[Flowersforyourchocolateprettyplease]

If you're a cleaner or housekeeper, how do you feel about this:

Stay at home mum of two, kids at school all day. Very capable, no medical issues.

Leaves milk out opened, dishes on the side of the sink, teabags in the sink.

Dirty kitchen towel on the floor.
Obviously have to pick the towel up to clean the floor but clearing the rest seems to be enabling her to do more mess.
Easy option is to get another job of course, which I'm looking into, but how to deal with this day to day.
First thing when coming into work is being confronted by this scene everyday.
YABU- just clear up.
YANBU- An adult should be able to do bare minimum and put stuff back/bin.

Yuck, that just seems slobbish and disrespectful to you. I think i would feel a bit like "I'm too good to pick up my own crap, the skivvy can do it".

Lots of women who post on mumsnet complain bitterly about their male partners leaving rubbish and dirty crockery lying around because they assume a SAHM should pick up after them in return for benefiting from their monetary income. This seems similar to me, though I am aware posters may disagree.

I don't have a cleaner currently but we did for a few years and we always left things clear and tidy so they could clean which was (a) more pleasant for them and (b) we got more time spent on cleaning rather than picking up crap lying around.

Not surprised you are leaving. Wonder what he next cleaner/housekeeper will make of her slobby ways.

I'm really confused.

If you're hired for 2 hours cleaning- why wouldn't you just do what you can in the 2 hours?

If it's wasted with dishes and teabags then that's not your fault.

I think YABU.

I would love this. He would be my Tea Bob and we would have a lovely time together, going on tea-fuelled adventures.

At different times I have worked as a cleaner’s assistant and employed a cleaner. When I was cleaning I was appalled by some expectations/ what was left for the cleaner. Spilled ash trays on carpet, soiled underwear left on the floor, kitchens left as if a meal had only just been prepared without any “clean as you go.” My boss tolerated it as (I assume) she was making money regardless of what tasks she was expected to do.

When I had a cleaner I ensured my home was tidy so that the cleaner could do her job without picking up after me. I think that is respectful.

I still wonder about the mindset of those people who would leave their knickers on the floor etc. it’s quite filthy even if they didn’t have someone else coming into their home.

I think there is a difference between cleaning and dealing with someone else’s laziness and filthy habits.

An honest conversation with clients is probably the best way to deal with this, setting out expectations and ground rules. It shouldn’t be necessary so might be difficult to get the point across. Perhaps with people like that, explaining how they are wasting their own money by leaving additional tasks that take time before actual cleaning can begin.

Have left them for months now, she eventually puts them in the bin, interestingly, never in front of me.

I clean 3 days a week.

Totally understandable if you've been out, that's why I initially did it.
But it then started to spread and she'd do less and less.

I'm on my feet until I leave as it's a big house. Have helped with other jobs too like clearing stuff, taking stuff to the tip as I'm going that way sort of thing.

I don't think it's your place to judge her. How can you know if she has hidden disabilities? (Physical or mental health). Many invisible conditions fluctuate. It's unlikely she'd share something personal like this with an employee.

A towel on the floor and teabags in the sink, is not a big deal IMO. You have no real idea why she leaves it in this state for you to sort out. I can imagine it's quite easy to leave sink in a mess, breakfast stuff on table and drop a tea-towel before school run. I usually clean when I return from school, so if you're arriving early, I'd put it down to timing.

Depends if you are a cleaner or a housekeeper?

We used to have a "housekeeping service" as our cleaning agency and they tidied, did laundry and changed the bedding etc. we employed them think they were a cleaning company and were pleasantly surprised by the other services provided.

All cleaning services I've seen/ looked in to only do cleaning - no tidying or washing up or laundry etc.

Unfortunately there's no other housekeeping service near us and the old one retired. I used to live having my laundry put away!

That's why I posted, it's irrational in some way but also grates a lot. Can't explain it as it wouldn't be a great reason for leaving a job, hence thinking it might be just another thing that is the last straw.

True, imagine if I'd posted:

AIBU to leave used teabags in the sink for my cleaner to put in the bin.

She DOESN'T have disabilities, hidden or otherwise.

It depends on the job description. Where I live some cleaners make it clear they don’t ‚
'tidy' the clean around mess.
Other offer a more expensive service where they also tidy/move items.
Maybe it’s time to have a chat with your client.
Personally I do think it’s a bit disrespect of the client.

i put my teabags in a bowl near the kettle until they are dry enough to put in the compost bin. Not sure if there is similar thinking about not putting wet, hot things in a closed bin?

Teatowel on the floor? that's scruffy. Milk out? She's either in too much of a rush (should get up earlier), forgetful or lazy or thinks of it as part of your job.

Do you get paid by the hour with fixed time? tell her it takes 15 minutes out of your working time to fix the things in the kitchen, and what does she want you to drop instead.

If you have carte blanche to stay as long as you like until you get it done, and are paid for your time, i would just suck it up.

Are you her Dr, How do you possibly know this?

I am so intrigued with how you know she doesn't have any disabilities?
For what it's worth, I'm in two minds about this. I totally agree with you quitting if it annoys you, but I also think that she could expect a different cleaner to clean/tidy these things up. I think it's just a wrong match and neither of you are actually in the wrong. This isn't your job and you aren't her ideal cleaner if you see what I mean. And I'm neurodiverse (you ABSOLUTELY wouldn't know it) so I can understand how something that annoys you if tipping you over the edge 🤣

What medical condition makes people levae tea bags in the sink as and when they choose?

Again, No disability!!

You don't know that. You can't always tell if someone is unwell by looking at them. My cleaner of over a decade has no idea how sick I've been because I don't want to talk about it and it's none of her business. I know about her husband's affair, the separation and her anxiety, but I'm a more private person.

She only comes in for two hours a week so everything is tidy and ready to go but it takes me significant effort to get it that way because of my illness. I would hate to have a judgemental cleaner like you. I can just imagine the MN post "there were crumbs on the work surface". Yes, of course there were because if I was planning to clean the whole house myself I wouldn't have a cleaner.

tbh, OP, i think you're just fed up with the creeping amount of mess she leaves and the teabags are emblematic of that.

Just leave and go elsewhere, and remember to tell them what you accept and what you don't.

I do know! You're private, she isn't.

Possibly this.
There always seems to be something else being left.
I don't like to leave until the place is spotless, even if it means going slightly over my time (except for the teabags 😅).

Maybe stop judging her. If you don’t like the job she’s given you, you don’t have to work for her!

You don't say 🤔.

Not the same.

You don't sound like a professional. Wondering if you 'enable' her by doing a job your employed to do is a bit odd. You talk more like you're her partner with the enabling comment, the being on your feet the whole time is odd, cleaners are on their feet the whole time they're working (unless they're on knees scrubbing). Asking how people would feel if they get in from work to tea bags in the sink, I don't get that question? You're going in there to work/clean. She isn't messing up your house.