Have you ever thought about how you treat your cleaner?

[Looobyloo]

Just reading a book about a woman who has everything, big house, loads of money then loses it all & takes up cleaning to make ends meet. She reflects on how she's treated her past cleaners as some of her clients aren't very nice.
I'm a self employed cleaner & have had many clients over the years & most have been great. Though I've had a few strange ones. Including a couple who made a drink In front of me & didn't offer me one on boiling hot day & I was there for 3 hours. Another client would never make me a drink but would offer any other visitor, handyman, computer guy, plumber etc one straight away. One husband could barely look at me, his wife was so lovely though.
I have one at the moment who is driving me mad. She's in & out of the room I'm cleaning, tidying up, saying little comments telling me what to do, when I go in another room she'll come in & ask if I'm alright! I feel she's trying to undermine me although I'm a bloody cleaner for goodness sake. Anyway she's getting my notice this week!

So all you with cleaner how do you view, treat them. Be honest.

[Mumsoftwolittlebears]

So I felt she took advantage of my good nature and just made me rethink on where to draw the line with being too nice and keep a line of professionalism but then again this was the first time I have experienced this behaviour, with all my previous cleaners there was always a level of respect.

[Mumsoftwolittlebears]

I had the opposite issue... i’ve Had cleaners for over 10 years and always had lovely chats with them , offered them snacks etc and always let them get on with their clean, dropped them home many times if they where stuck for a lift. However the last lady we had started to control everything I did in my house!? She was OCD and it worked for us in the beginning as we love a clean spotless house however she started nagging me if I left a spoon in the midst of cooking or wet the basin to wash my veggies. If my husband had accidentally dropped a piece of chocolate on the bedsheet as while lying in bed, the next day . she told me we are not suppose to eat in our rooms 😳 there is a long list of her nagging me but the final straw was when she walked in on her shift and started asking me why am I cooking (I was making lunch for my 5 year old daughter) . Also it’s not like I leave a mess for her after I cook, I clean everything up myself. So that made me all flustered and accidentally while reaching for the sugar canister in my drawer I dropped the rice canister and all on the floor. Whilst I went to clean it all up , she stood over me and started shouting at me for dropping the rice in front of my daughter!!! I made her leave the very next min for good!

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

I've just pondered on this and, thinking back to when I was the only cleaner within my business I honestly feel that there is so much work available that you only need work for the clients who seem to be in love with your service. In fact I feel the service level you offer as a cleaner should be so high that clients will definitely fall in love with your service, then price that accordingly.

You will never be the right service for every client and you shouldn't try as with all the different cleaning business models around you need to decide on what yours includes and how you will operate ie are you going to be fully equipped or not? Charge per hour or per house? All these things are important as the service level you choose should be priced accordingly and then 'your clients' should find you. There will be other clients who are not for you and you are not for them they are simply not 'your clients'. Pricing your worth will help weed out the ones which are not for you.

I think if the majority of clients are super happy it doesn't matter so much about the ones who aren't for you, you have a service level which most will go for and treasure, let the dissatisfied clients go and find what they need elsewhere and focus on what you are doing and do it very well, build a client base of 'your clients' who will be loyal to your business for many years. Anyone who isn't thrilled can be replaced by clients who are so happy to find you and then they can go and be thrilled by another service more for them elsewhere (if it is possible to please them at all that is!).

There's no 'right or wrong' (apart from fraud as in my last post) it's just finding your match each time you take a new client.

[DanglyEarOrnaments]

I can't remember who mentioned this but I think it highly in appropriate to offer a self employed cleaner a contract of employment, he/she is running a business and you are one of their clients not an employer.

I am obviously assuming we are talking about legally trading tax registered and insured cleaners who are operating as a legitimate business rather than the illegals who ask for 'cash in hand' and work 'under the radar' - that's obviously not legal but the cleaners most use are building a small business.

Obviously as cleaning business owners, our staff are employees but they are employed by us and not the clients, clients must book additional services through us and not through the cleaners. Clients are never employers, they are simply purchasing a cleaner's service.

We have around 80 clients now and over the past 20 years I think I must have had hundreds and hundreds of clients, very few are disrespectful and most of them value us highly and send lovely feedback about the work our teams have performed and how it helps them. I really love clients their happiness makes all the work involved in building a solid business worthwhile which was what I wanted in the first place. I would never do this and go through all the stress if it wasn't for our clients' support and faith in our service. I love getting referrals from clients more than the jobs who find us via our website.

I have experienced the odd client who was ... I won't say difficult just not a good match for us and our services but someone else may find them better to clean for, it depends if they are the type we want to work for and also if we are the service offering what they wanted, both parties have to be a good fit for one another to make it work.

I have remembered one horrid client about 18 month ago, who said our cleaner had stolen from her, she didn't want the police investigation, just a pay out but I insisted in calling the police, during the investigation our cleaner went through hell as did we but it was uncovered that this client had told several lies and the case was thrown out. I am so glad I made her get the police involved as they can ask certain questions and uncover lies. It went on for around six weeks and it scared us all for a long time and knocked our trust in clients, some of our staff considered leaving but now we are all happy again, we have recovered from the rotten experience just more aware of the dark side of human nature unfortunately.

I

[Burgerbobismydad]

I'm nice. I always have a coffee ready for her arriving, and I turn the heating off because she hates it when it's too warm. We chat about anything and everything and get on very well. I couldn't be without her!

[cankleofglitter]

I work from home and have a lovely cleaner who comes for four hours a week. I insist that the children tidy their things away before she comes and take their bedding off - my cleaner makes the beds. We had a bit of a stand off last week when DD "didn't have time" to strip her bedding (but had plenty of time for instagramming make up and watching Zoella). Cleaner wanted to do it for her but I insisted that she must not.

I pay her well and offer her drinks. I chat to her if I am around and not on the phone. She initially found it odd cleaning when the householder was in but I think she's used to it now. We gave her a bonus at Christmas and we will pay her for the weeks we were on holiday.

She's young and was a teen mum. Her son is a year younger than my DS so I do offer his clothes if they are due to go to the charity shop. I hope she isn't offended I'd just rather she had them than some anonymous person - especially when it's nearly new Boden stuff that DS refused to wear once I'd take the tags off! I don't mind if she ebays it at all. I know that they are saving for a house deposit so I'd like to think it's a help.

I have always got on with my cleaners except the last one before this one. She spent more time on holiday than actually cleaning for me (she had a property in Spain) and she rushed and broke things.

I also use an ironing service but that is outside my home. Again I pay a bonus for Christmas and offer holiday pay.

[Canyouforgiveher]

My cleaner has been with me for 15 years and I consider us friends-not as friends who go out together but friends in that we can rely on each other. We both know about the difficult times in our lives - her unexpected pregnancy, her son mitching off school, my parent's deaths, my daughter's depression. We usually have a chat if I am in the house when she arrives. I am very appreciative of what she does to make our lives better.

She isn't well off - not compared to me anyway and she knows she can ask me for money if she is stuck. I have people I can go to if I am ever truly stuck, she doesn't because she is probably the best off of her family/friends. I also sometimes give money to her for her daughter who is going to university - first in her family to do so. She would have no one else who could easily give her a couple of hundred dollars for books or furnishing her dorm. My kids get that from family. I remember when I had nothing and got an unexpected hand out and it made all the difference.

I wouldn't presume a cleaner needs a handout though - this is after 15 years of knowing each other well.

[MagicalHamSandwich]

I don't have a cleaner anymore ... oddly enough I suddenly didn't have half as much of a mess at my place after I left ExH.

Never saw much of my former cleaner. She had a key and would let herself in and out while I was at work. Made it clear to her that she was welcome to help herself to drinks and snacks (but not the stuff for the week's planned dinners). She used to get a generous tip and a box of chocolates or a bottle of wine for Christmas.

I'm probably not the nicest client she's ever had but I like to think I was decent enough to her.

[mylife123]

I used to be a cleaner but i always face bad clients, one of my clients one day told me to take the rubbish out of the container outside the house and put it inside of plastic bag because no one can take the rubbish if it's not inside the plastic bag. Another told me to sweep the garden and clean all of dirty things in the garden whilst i am cleaner not gardener. Another one screamed at me and kicked me out of the house cause i didn't say sorry when her mum was died or i didn't know her mum is dead, another one invited her friends to come over whilst i cleaner her place i had to say could you lift up your legs please because i am cleaning because she want to show off of her friends that she had a cleaner, ... i got almost 60 clients all over London but few of them give me a drink.

Even though, there is some very nice clients and i am so grateful for them cause almost of them treated me as human being not rubbish anymore. Some even prepared a food before i am going home, some give me a lunch before going to another client, some give me nice gift in christmas, some give me some nice clothes and stuffs at home, ... If one of them see my replies in here i just say thank you so much guys you are my best clients in the world which i always remember till the end of my day.

[ClarkL]

when my 2 were little I had an amazing cleaner, she knew I was forgetful and would turn up with milk and bread if she noticed I was getting low! so I tarted leaving money out and it became a thing!
She wasn't great at cleaning, didn't do sofas, skirting boards etc but she get the house respectable and on one occasion when I was really poorly dragged me to the doctors, demand they see me immedietly then got my home and back tucked up in bed. I felt truly awful when I couldn't afford her anymore.

[FeelingSmurfy]

Just to say that our cleaners really do stop cleaning to study etc, not that we drive them away and they make excuses! The lovely lady who comes ast the moment is starting college in september, we were told that when she started

[FeelingSmurfy]

We treat our cleaner as we would treat anyone, we don't do holiday pay etc because its through an agency and they are who we pay, but we get her a little something at Christmas and if we knew when her birthday was (we have had a few due to them going back to college etc) we offer hot or cold drinks, make sure everywhere is tidy so its easier to clean. They have all been lovely, if one of us isn't home they will ask if we are OK and if we were at the hospital or something they will ask how we are when they come next week.

The first one we became agony aunts for! It did her good being able to talk about all the crap going on in her life, it ended up getting too much for her and she had to give up the cleaning, but we still talk now (Facebook/text/email etc). She was amazing though, never had a cleaner as good as her (and accept she was exceptions, don't judge others by her standards!) Even though we were talking most of the time, she didn't stop. We have double hours a few times a year to do a proper spring/summer/autumn/winter clean and it doesn't look as good as she made it look in her normal hours!

[hifi]

my cleaner is poor, lives in London and pays a huge amount of rent.She has no spare cash at the end of the month. She uses everything i give her, what she doesn't use she distributes to other people in her church.
Even if she wasn't poor i would still offer it to her first.
my kids have loads of hand me down clothes. people dont give them to me because they think im poor, its to cut waste.

[nooka]

My mother always had a cleaning lady when we were growing up, to me they felt like part of the family, an extra auntie really. Not sure I was always nice to them or kept my bedroom tidy enough, but I only remember two of them growing up so we can't have been that bad!

We then had a lovely cleaner ourselves when we had children and it was fantastic. She came once a week for however long she thought was needed (we were at work but the few times I was home ill or looking after an ill child she stayed longer than I thought we probably paid her for). She was quite funny about where things should live (not always where dh though was best) and found all sorts of things that needed a clean every now and then (like emptying and cleaning all the kitchen cupboards). The house was so lovely on days when she was there.

We don't have a cleaner any more as after we emigrated we were much poorer, and then when we had money again we couldn't find anyone we liked for a sensible rate of pay. Where we are it's all small companies and it seems really expensive. I know we paid over the going rate in the UK, so there's obviously some difference here. Houses are much bigger so that's a part of it I guess, but it only takes about an hour and a half for our family to clean the house (including the two teenagers) so I can't see that it's worth $100s.

[What2]

Saying that I wouldn't assume other cleaners were 'poor'.

[What2]

I don't assume my cleaner is poor I know she is. I offer my old stuff to her because I know she wants it. I leave everything in a box in the garage and tell her she can help herself if she wants - she always takes everything. She ebays a lot of it. I prefer her having it rather than me dealing with it.

[Looobyloo]

Hifi, that las post wasn't only aimed at you btw a few posters have said it.

[Looobyloo]

As lovely as it is you give your cleaner you old clothes, furniture etc don't assume we're all poor because we clean. I'm not rich but I'm perfectly comfortable & I clean because I like the hours I like being self employed & I like the fact I can pick & choose my work to a certain extent. If my clients offered me their old clothes I think I'd be offended.
I'm a scruff when cleaning but certainly not at other times.
Don't make assumptions because we clean. Not being arsey but I find it a bit patronising to be honest.

[hifi]

ive had a cleaner for 24 years, when dh and i both worked before kids it was just one day a week,Friday. So nice coming home to a clean and tidy house.

dc's came along and increased the days to 3 a week.
I always offer drinks/toast/biscuits and tell them to help themselves to cold drinks from the fridge.

I ask what products they prefer to use and make sure they're well stocked.
I always inform them if i have visitors,so she knows when to change the beds/towels etc

Also how much ironing there is to do. If theres less than usual i let her go home early with pay.

She gets all my old clothes,ad has first choice on anything i'm clearing out too.

She gets 4 weeks paid holiday. If our holidays are different she still come in but tidies/cleans cupboards etc. Or we just pay her while we are away.

[Looobyloo]

Filmstar. I don't care if people are in or out as long as they keep out of my way, it works much better & I get a lot more done. If you want specific things doing make it clear from the start. I always tell clients if there's something I don't do just tell me & I'll do it.

I really wouldn't care if I went in a house & the owners were sat with their feet up watching tv or reading a book so stop with the guilt, you pay us to do a job.

I want to clean for you who pay holiday pay & give a nice bonus at Christmas!

[StealthPolarBear]

What as I understand it most cleaners in the UK are self employed. It would be very unusual for a cleaner to be an employee, surely that's a housekeeper?

[TheRadiantAerynSun]

If I'm around when my cleaner comes I'll give her plenty of cheek and order her to make me a cup of tea. In response she'll usually hit me with the broom and I have to make the tea myself!

(I should point out I pay my mum to do my cleaning)

Bur seriously, when I had a professional cleaner I rarely saw her, but when I did we always had a cup of tea and a chat and usually found myself pottering round doing stuff at the same time as it felt lazy to sit doing nothing while she cleaned.

[What2]

Sorry for typos

[What2]

Sorry posted too soon.

I think I'm nice to work for because I pay well and that includes bank holidays where I'll pay for them to not work or give them the OPTION of working for time and a half. I also pay sick leave with no note. I also pay two weeks Xmas bonus with a nice card

I offer all my old stuff (clothing furniture etc) for free to my cleaners before I eBay or give to charity.

I am clear about what I expect from a cleaner when I hire someone. I pay an hourly rate and expect my cleaners to work the hours they are paid for. I do this before they accept the job. I think it's kinder to be upfront about it that's being all awkward and embarrassed about having someone clean for you. I'd always tell a cleaner if there was a problem and give them a chance to address it. I think it's unfair to 'let someone go' because you feel awkward in asking them to do something.

I've offered my latest cleaner a proper employment contract but she prefers to stay self employed. I'm glad as its easier for me but I'm not sure it's 100% legal - which is

Cleaning wise I almost never need to say anything and if I do it's always a polite request. 'Could you please do the kitchen floor today' rather than a complaint. I've never had a lazy cleaner though so maybe I've been lucky. I never mind in the slightest if something gets broken as I assume that I would break things if I was cleaning.

I don't make coffees but tell the cleaner to help themselves. That works fine.

I had a maid when I lived overseas. I paid extremely well for short hours, bought her groceries, paid her full pay for her maternity pay ( not a legal requirement) paid all her medical bills and we bought her a house (brick) when we left - she was amazing. I think she was very intelligent. She supported 5 other people with her wage. I got her a job with someone else when we left but they also moved after a while and I don't know what happened to our 'maid'. I often wonder what she is doing now.

I genuinely don't look down on my cleaners or treat them any differently than I would treat other people. I respect anyone who works hard. I'm not embarrassed about sitting down and reading or mumsnetting when my cleaner is here. Why should I be? I pay well and I think I'm a decent employer.

I've never had a cleaner leave me so I presume I'm ok to work for. I've only had to change cleaners when we've moved.

[Filmstar01]

I'd love to have a cleaner but I don't really know how it works! Should we be in or out when they come? If out, what do we do about keys? Do they bring cleaning products or use mine? Will they do skirting boards, lampshades etc - it's these things I struggle to keep on top of. We would be very nice and appreciative!