Am I expecting too much from a cleaner?

[Myusername2015]

Hi I'm in the East Midlands and have a private cleaner; 12.50 an hour for 3 hours a week. I have a 2 bed house; all wooden floors and no children so pretty minimal. She's been coming for a few months and although she cleans fairly well she leaves everything out; so bath mats not put back; shower head unscrewed and left out; Hoover not put back; Cushions put on floor etc. Although I've raised I would like it left looking tidier she hasn't changed. She also left a note asking for a specific type of tea bag and biscuits to be brought for her visit. In 3 hours in a minimal house am I expecting too much for things to be put back?

Are you paying for her tea break or does she take it after she's done the 3 hours work?

I expect to be able to come home and find everything clean and orderly. No, I wouldn't expect to have to go round replacing what she's moved in order to clean it.

I think you need a new cleaner. My house is immaculate when mine leaves (lasts about ten minutes!), but she really should be putting everything away, and demanding certain Biscuits is taking the piss.

You pay for a cleaner who leaves your house messier than when she found it. I think that's all you need to say really. But she also demands you do her shopping for her little luxuries

New cleaner.
House should be tidy. She it taking the piss a little by having a cup of tea but completely taking the piss asking for certain tea bags and biscuits!!

New cleaner. You probably don't need 3 hours in a 2 bed house either. She must have had a long tea break, what with the extra time and biscuits.

Thanks all; first cleaner so although I was a bit 😮 at the tea and biscuit request I know how hard it can be to find a ok cleaner so wanted to check I wasn't be too fussy! We don't have a contract or anything would you all give her a months notice in this situation?

I wouldn't give her a month's notice and expect her to work it - I wouldn't want someone in my house when I wasn't there if I'd fired them.

You don't need to give her any notice really. She sounds a shockingly bad cleaner and you are paying good money for your area.

I'm in Surrey in a 4 bed house and pay £10 an hour for two hours every other week. Your cleaner is taking the piss. I'd cancel straight away and find someone else.

My cleaner is a bit like this. Mine does 5 hours but bigger house in country with dogs and kids so she has her work cut out really. Sounds a bit of a cheak about the biscuits!

I have a cleaner for 2 hours. 4 bedroom house. I never have to pick cushions etc up. I have no idea what your cleaner can be doing in that time. If I am in I make her a coffee because that's just polite, if she left me a note asking for specific tea I would be gobsmacked. Go through an agency.

I think some cleaners leave stuff out or move things slightly to show that they have cleaned that particular item or area. I don't understand why she would continue to do this if you have asked her not to though!

Don't think it is unreasonable to have a short tea break when working intensively for 3 hrs although putting in a request for a particular brand of tea & biscuits is a bit OTT perhaps.