How to safely have a cleaner right now

[unmummsymummy21]

Does anyone have any advice ? I haven't had a cleaner since Feb 2020 because of covid.

I had my first vaccine 2 weeks ago. My husband has not had his and obviously my one year old daughter can't have one.

How can I safely have a cleaner in my home ? It would help immensely, but I've been too worried to have one all this time. I have a nanny and we do lateral flow tests once a week just to feel safer, as she also nannies somewhere else.

Can I ask the cleaner to wear a mask ? Or is that inhumane ? Can I ask her to do a test too ?

I was thinking she could clean rooms while we are not in them etc. I could then wipe door handles and surfaces with dettol wipes. Or I could ask her to wear gloves while she's here cleaning.

Sorry I know this sounds really OTT but covid freaks me out as I'm vulnerable and my husband smokes and I just really want to avoid it.

My cleaner wears a mask and either go for a walk while she is here or stay in a separate room.

My cleaner hasn't been since Christmas due to high case number ms but prior to that we would go out while she cleaned and she, by choice wore mask & gloves!

If you’re vulnerable you really shouldn’t be taking any risks like having a cleaner in once a week/fortnight. The cleaner will likely be going to numerous other homes every week- none of which you can know are being sensible/careful or not. Cleaner could come to yours after being in 2/3 other houses already that day. I’m a cleaner and no I wouldn’t wear a mask whilst cleaning. I get far too hot as it is when I’m working. Nor would I be testing myself every week without symptoms at a clients request. I also request that where possible my clients leave the home while I clean. Exceptions being for those who are elderly or unable to safely leave.

@UhtredRagnarson thanks for the insight. This is what I've been worried about all this time. it is a bit risky isn't it.

I got the cleaner back last month. They wear gloves and masks. We open all the windows and stay in a separate room. Obviously this means one room doesn't get cleaned, and god it shows.

My cleaner wears gloves and if possible requests you aren’t in the house or at least same room. I’m CEV and sometimes wipe handles and switches if I remember but I rarely do remember!

Our cleaners wear masks.

My cleaners wear masks and I always go out. It's fine

Ventilation is very important. Now that weather is getting warmer, I would suggest having windows open in the rooms where your cleaner is working, and leaving the windows open for a while after she's gone.

Wearing gloves won’t help much if someone is touching their face with their gloves on and not changing them.

DP is convinced (he is no expert but has ‘looked into it’) that fomite transmission, ie through objects someone has touched is really low risk with this virus. IF that is true, then the main things you can do are avoid being in or near while your cleaner is present, and ideally staying out of the rooms she has been in for 2-3 hours after (appr

Sorry posted too soon...appreciate that may not be practical but ventilate well, and maybe even consider an air purifier...some of them claim to help capture viral particles though whether this is true I don’t know.

You could ask your cleaner to wear a mask where possible, even some of the time might help. You could also wear a mask yourself that may offer you some protection, FFP3 or similar, while she is there or just after. It won’t be fit tested but might be better than nothing.

Also obviously ask your cleaner to not come if she has any symptoms or has reason to think someone she has been around may have Covid. Encourage that by being clear you will still pay her should she have to miss a visit for that reason.