Cleaner problem

[ZenNudist]

I know this has been done to death but having just searched I honestly can't find anyone whinging about this. It's quite a common problem.

Got a new cleaner in July. She told me it was a 3 hour job. I said all our other cleaners had taken 2.5 hours (with varying results of cleanliness over the years) but agreed to 3 hours thinking she could do the 'detail' jobs I don't routinely expect. Oven clean, fridge clean, change the odd bed etc. She's not really done this.If I give her list she just ignores certain tasks on it.

Problem is she's only ever done 2.5 hours, maybe 2 3/4 max at first but now she's never here more than 2.5. We are meant to pay her £10/hr but dh just gives her £30 as doesn't want to quibble.

It's a 4 bed semi, not huge and not a lot of floor space per room. Big kitchen and hallway.

By and large the house the house is clean enough. I'm just getting a bit tired of cleaning after she's gone on things I feel could have been done better.

Ime cleaners do not do as good a job as I would like but it's great to have whole house reasonably clean at once. So I'm not expecting miracles. Should I just leave as is (effectively £12:hour) or tell her we will only pay her £25 for 2.5hrs?

Thanks for getting through all that!

I've never had a cleaner but I'd say if you can bring yourself to do it I'd cut her down to £25 for the 2.5 hours.
It would be different if she was doing a really good job but from what you say,she's not.
What kind of tasks is she missing out?
what does she do? I think 2.5 hours isn't a lot of time to thoroughly clean a house tbh. could you split it into 2 1.5 hour visits?

I ve got a cleaner.

I ve had several, afew have been sacked due to not being up to standard.

If this was my cleaner, she would also be sacked.

Sack her.

FGS this isn't Victorian England!

Don't just sack her without speaking to her. Tell her it's 2.5 hours for £25.00 or a full 3 hours for £30.00.

By the way, I give our cleaner 3 hours to clean our 3 bedroom 1 bathroom house, of which she spends about 30 minutes ironing.

Get rid.

After 22 years of having cleaners, I now ask myself if the job they're doing is worth the money rather than fret about rate per hour. And also, the primary thing is that you trust them not to steal from you.

2.5 hours isn't a lot for a 4 bed house tbh if you expect it all done thoroughly and the fact she ignore your direct requests would make me say 'sack'.

Talk to her, if she still ignores the extra jobs and leaves early get rid.

Plenty of cleaners out there.

Thanks all for feedback. I appreciate the guidance on whether 2.5hrs is enough. Clearly it is as she more or less gets round in that time. I'm just paying for 30mins more I don't need.

It's 4 bed but the bedrooms are small and there's not much to do in them.

VWblue trust is really important which is why I've not sacked her yet. I know her via a friend and feel comfortable with her in the house alone.

I'm going to have to do what Mintyy says. I hate talking to her. I find her really difficult to criticise. I am ok dealing with staff at work but waver in my authority at home. It's like I have to apologise for getting her to clean things!

Also going to look out for local adverts for a new one. I don't really want to have to criticise and inspect after cleaning. It makes me anxious.

I hear you about not wanting the confrontational talk, but I'd have to ask her why she's told you It's a '3 hour job' and then obviously made it into a 2.5 hour one!? I don't think that's on at all.

I run a business finding staff for people and so regular chop and change cleaners hours for people - just mention to her that you've noticed it is only taking 2.5 hrs to clean the house so you will change it from 3 hours to 2.5 each week. It's pretty standard to alter things as you get more insight into the job

Logically I know that I should be able to just mention it, breezily. Sadly I turn into a mumbling wreck whenever I want her to do anything.

Pathetic.

I appreciate the responses that it's not unfair to change things now.

Could you leave a note?

"Hi cleaner, was just going through things last night and realised it's only been taking you 2.5 hours to clean each week - your so much quicker than me! Let's change it to that officially so we both know where we are with schedules etc. Thanks so much, zen :)

It will be fine, I promise!

You don't have to feel the need to breeze around a problem.

For her, it's work. So treat her how you would like to be treated at work.
Tell her politely what the problem is, give her a chance to sort it and take it from there.

I'm a fairy new cleaner and I'd want someone to say if they wanted something done differently. The fact you have asked her to do things and she doesn't even clean for the agreed time, I think means you have no choice but to find another cleaner.

In the past I have cleaned with other cleaners and they just rush thru and go to the next job having only spent half the time cleaning. The poor cleaning I witnessed made me think I could do a much better job and set up on my own, so far everyone is happy they tell me how little their old cleaners did.

If you don't address things, nothing will change.
Either that or as someone's already said, it's thirty quid for a house clean regardless of times and you have a trustworthy cleaner in your home.

Hi Zen,

Have you thought about putting a cleaning schedule together and then sitting down with her to work out exactly how long it takes her to clean each room & what needs to be done etc?
Inform her there will be additional chores within reason each week.

Once in black & white if she still continues to a) not do a great job and b) ignore your instruction then I would suggest replacing her.

Hope this helps.

Hi zen just wondered how you were getting on with this. My gut feeling is that you have employed this cleaner to help, to make life easier for your family. If it is giving you stress then it's not quite working, not easing life. I would politely advise her you no longer require her & look for another - bound to be others that can be recommended. Good luck.