Cleaners in your house

[Mumintherain]

I was prepared to cancel my every other week cleaners but when I message them they said they are fine to continue and will take all precautions...
I’m not sure... surely it’s against the social distancing to have 4 people come and touch everything in your house? Or is it actually fine as they are cleaning and using gloves/ maybe masks?

I would like some guidance on this too.
I cancelled my cleaners this week (but am still paying them).
They are still working though and said they would wear masks and obviously keep to social distancing rules. It just still seems wrong though. Interested to see what other people think!
This is their livelihood so I’m sure they want you keep as many clients as possible but equally I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep paying them indefinitely either

I've cancelled mine for the next few weeks. I'll still pay her, but she is older (not elderly, tho), has asthma and looks after her grandkids a lot.

They will become secret spreaders moving from one potentially infected home to another. They are not trained in infection control so no amount of gloves etc will stop virus transfer.
I am an HCP who has to wear full PPE under normal circumstances. Just moving from clinical area to public area means removing all PPE washing hands etc etc.
No way is anyone entering my home at the moment.

I was prepared to cancel my every other week cleaners but when I message them they said they are fine to continue and will take all precautions...
Of course they are not fine to continue, even if they feel they are taking adequate precautions. Do they then go to other homes and clean? Do they mix with any other people at all? You will not be able to guarantee they are adequately protected at all times.

I’m not sure... surely it’s against the social distancing to have 4 people come and touch everything in your house?
Yep, that is not social distancing.

Or is it actually fine as they are cleaning and using gloves/ maybe masks?
Masks are really meant to be worn by people with symptoms to stop them coughing or sneezing on you. They obviously offer some protection but can you really ensure they keep them on at all times including gloves?

In these times we need to take responsibility ourselves to ensure we have as much protection as possible. Don't put yourself at risk. Just cancel and pay them a retainer fee if you can.

Mine argued a bit with me (even though I was offering to still pay!) But I insisted she couldn't come basically. (Am paying obvs)

Cancelled for the foreseeable. No way is anyone coming in to our house. The drawbridge is up (obvs do not have actual drawbridge, although have always fancied a ha-ha)

Cancel of course, pay of course. I would have thought this is really obvious.

Not worth the risk. I cancelled mine last week for the foreseeable.

NB in our household, we have health conditions, one very severe and are being therefore naturally extremely cautious.

I have cancelled but am still paying. We have no control over how many other people she comes into contact with. It's not worth the risk.

Why risk it? No visitors means no need to tidy up and you only need to clean enough to stay healthy not to show room standards. No kids means you probably have time to clean yourself. With kids at home there’s no realistic prospect of social distancing.

I think one of the social distancing guidelines says no unnecessary people in your home. Cleaners count for me. I’ve cancelled ours but am still paying her. Both her and her husband are self employed and I think they will both keep going as long as they can. I don’t want anyone in our house unnecessarily.

I cancelled mine. Yet still paying her.

I have cancelled mine and am still paying her.

@gower4 But if this goes on for 6 months or a year most of us won’t be able to keep paying will we? I’m still being paid at the moment but don’t know for how long.

No it would be totally crazy to have anyone in your house, even worse cleaners who will be going to many houses so potentially spreading the virus in all the houses they visit. Unless they are wearing a full hazmat suit they cannot take sufficient precautions. Don't take the risk. I have cancelled (on full pay) my cleaner and ironing ladies.

Thanks I have insisted they don’t come.

I cancelled mine and am still paying at the moment. I could probably do that for 3 months or so, but if this keeps going much longer than that I’ll have to give them notice. In fairness we won’t then be having a cleaner anyway as we won’t be able to afford it for a while!

We’ve stopped for now.

It's non-essential so stop it. Even if they are happy to continue.

Cancelled ours for the foreseeable future. It felt like too much of a risk. Will pay her 80% of what we normally pay. I lost my job this week so that really is the best I can do for now

My cleaner is wonderful. She gave us temperatures and she was disinfecting everything. Cancel!

Cancelled and paying

Unless your financial circumstances change I don’t understand why you wouldn’t?