How do I terminate a cleaner's employment?

[Tia4]

I am going to have to let my cleaner go. She just isn't doing things to an acceptable standard (and I'm not over the top with my expectations - I just want "properly clean"!) and is cutting corners. I pay her well, not through an agency, and she has been with us for just seven weeks but I feel so awful having to face her and explain that I'm disappointed with her work. She is a pleasant lady and came recommended. All I ask is that she vacuums all rooms and cleans the kitchen and bathroom - no dusting involved, but some areas are hardly touched in the two hours that she's here. I did raise a couple of issues after the second week but she has made no attempt to change things so I do feel she's been given a chance - I'm SUCH a coward! I am going to do it as I'm not daft enough to throw good money away but I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who's done this before!

Many thanks, Tia.

I am a total pussy and told mine that we were having work done on our house (true) and that it was pointless her continuing. She told me to call her when they were finished but I told her that it may be months and therefore I understand she cannot wait. I told you I am a total wimp.

What I should have said was 'I am sorry but your cleaning is not up to scratch, I have asked you to work you full hours and you don't, and I am fed up of hearing you talk on your mobile so you are fired.'

Really you should just say that you will not be needing her anymore. Nothing more.

Trot out the money is tight line and she's part of your cut backs. Or tell her she is crap.

Hi Tia this is a 2 part reply.
If you and your partner if you have 1 are both working people then whatever your expectations on how clean you want your house she should be doing it , after all she is being paid to do a job and it should be done properly and to the standard you want if your not happy then let her go.

On the other hand if you are not going out to work then why on earth are you not cleaning your own house then you could do it to the standard that you would like it. I am a single parent of 4 children (1 Disabled boy) and i do ALL my own housework eg: shopping, drop kids at school & pick up, washing, ironing and of course dusting , hoovering , scrubbing ect ect. and this is everyday and it's done to how i want it doing.

The only reason this is a 2 part reply is because you never said if you where working or had any children. Also it depends on the size of your house/apartment eg: 1 bed , 1 living room , kitchen & bathroom then 2 hours is plenty of time to do it properly.

But you could also be on about a 6 bed house with 2 reception rooms kitchen & bathroom then 2 hours is really unrealistic to have it done to the standards that you want. This reply is not ment to offend but an honest answer to your post does depend on which situation above best serves you ok

Some people hate cleaning. And if they can afford a cleaner why not have one? It's not a degrading job and someone else gets the dosh...

i have come to the conclusion that, if you want cleaning done well, you have to do it yourself.

fortunately for me, my first terrible cleaner sacked us because of our 'pest control problem'. in fact, our cat brought in may beetles, which she thought were cockroaches. so she freaked, and resigned. saved me the hassle of having to sack her.

my second lot of cleaners were no better. there were 2 of them working together. every week one of them would break something (my bin / my lamp / a mug etc). and they didn't move things to vacuum / mop etc. i used the 'cutting back due to financial pressures' excuse and off they trotted. no contract with them, though, fortunately.

can't see myself ever having a cleaner again. and i am a working, single parent with 2 kids (4 and 2).

Why not be honest with her?

Last time I had a cleaner (pre DCs) who was rubbish I just asked for the keys back before I had DD1 and said I would be doing it myself whilst on Mat leave (had to make cut backs etc) so you could just lie and say you need to economise....my new cleaner is lovely...

You are being a coward! If as you say, you are paying her well and give her the opportunity to approach you and are slightly flexible with hours then you need to have a sit down with a cup of tea and have a discussion. Revisit your expectations/requirements with her.
Your opening gambit is to ask how she feels she is getting on, does she have any problems/ issues, the right products etc...Could be she is waiting for you to give better direction, to show a bit of determination/see what she can get away with depending on her experience. Having said that, a cleaner's job is to clean, unless it is agreed that they will pick up and tidy before hand. Do you clear the areas where she is to clean? It is unfair if you do not, it's a different job altogether if you have to tidy an area before you clean it. When I have had a cleaner, I have made it clear what can be achieved in a given period of time, based on my own experience and building into that a bit of margin. I was always there to begin with, or left a note so that my priority was communicated. Always leave tea, coffee and biscuits and share occasionally. If she comes recommended and is local, chances are she is in a network. My point is that it is worth developing a good working relationship unless she has done something awful or you feel she is untrustworthy.

Hi all. sorry for the late reply but I have been away for the past few days. Thanks to each of you for your responses, they are helpful to me - no offence taken DDC - it's all exactly the type of feedback I was looking for!
Driftwood, I did say that I knew I was being a coward :) and that I had already raised the issues after two weeks (and I did so again the day after my original post), so she has been given a fair chance to change. However to clarify for you all, she is only required to vacuum three bedrooms, living room, hall and staircase and one bathroom and kitchen. I also ask that she cleans the kitchen work tops and all surfaces in the bathroom (no toilet or sink etc). She does not need to mop floors and the house is always clean, clear and tidy. I have two children and am working a 40 hour week for the next year (my husband works long hours too) though I agree with Pancakeflipper that stay at home Mums and Dads may very well still prefer to have a cleaner if they can afford it and good luck to them. I quite enjoy housework and see this as a temporary situation but I do need someone who will be thorough - I think the list of tasks, which we went through and agreed before she started, are manageable in two hours but I did specify that I expected armchairs and tables to be vaccumed under (they do not need moving), items on kitchen worktops to be wiped under and this is rarely done. I pay her £10 per hour and travelling expenses as she is not local. I always leave a friendly note of thanks and ask her to let me know if there are any problems. Anyway, the upshot is that she will be going and I have asked her to start earlier tomorrow so that we can have a chat - I feel that she may well have an inkling as to what will happen. I have decided that I will be honest with her otherwise I will be annoyed with myself. I just wanted to sound people out before I weighed in or wimped out :) Thanks to every one of you! Tia.

Just an update ... my cleaner has texted to say that she will not be able to continue working for me due to other commitments! My neighbour's daughter is starting next week :) I have been to her home many times and I know how fastidious she is - she has school age children and her home is about the size of mine and she has agreed that two hours is ample to do all that I require. I am happy at this outcome though I do wonder whether my first lady guessed what was going to happen tomorrow. I am still grateful for all your comments, thank you! Tia.