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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Cleaner - what should I do

9 replies

wonkylegs · 15/08/2018 15:19

Just wondered how long you would give a cleaner to get used to a house?
We have a new cleaner as the old one retired. We're on week 4
I showed her round and explained what I wanted doing when she started (same as what last cleaner did in same amount of time)
First week wasn't great but she was clearly finding her feet, no problem.
Second week she ran out of time so didn't clean the bathroom - was a bit annoyed by this especially when I realised she had completely rearranged my bookshelves and sideboard (which I hadn't asked her to do) & chipped a precious (sentimental value) vase.
Third week I sat her down for a chat and apologised as I thought I couldn't have been clear when she started (English's isn't her first language) so I went through everything again and jotted down a note of the most important bits and things that HAD to be done every week no matter what.
I also went through stuff like using bleach down the toilet and using more than one cloth for the whole house and specifically asked her to take care with fragile items (showing her exactly what) & said if she was at all unsure about cleaning around them to just leave that bit.
She was very slow that week but did most of the basics, this week again seemed to do the bare minimum leaving a bucket of dirty water out and although she mopped the floor she clearly didn't hoover before like I asked because there were still hairs and dirt on the floor. She did about half of what my last cleaner used to do and nowhere near as well.

So not to drip feed.
I pay a decent rate, provide all cleaning materials, am flexible about days, house is generally tidy so only need to clean and have had 2 other cleaners in the past 10years (moved from one, other retired) who have managed to do the same stuff in same time or less. I am disabled so need someone more physically capable to do the cleaning.

Do I stick with this hoping she'll get better or do I cut my losses and look for someone else?

OP posts:
KitKatCHA · 15/08/2018 15:24

Cut your losses, she never going to improve. The first weeks should be when she's giving it her all to impress you, if that's her best she can only go down from here.

PaddysMarket · 15/08/2018 15:31

I agree, cut your losses now. If she thought doing a bookshelf and sideboard was more important than doing the bathroom then I don't think she'll get better.

Hellbentwellwent · 15/08/2018 15:38

Another vote for cut your losses

Cauliflowersqueeze · 15/08/2018 15:40

“If your horse is dead, dismount”

Anonymumm · 15/08/2018 15:41

Cut your losses, most definitely, you've given plenty of chance and communicated your wishes, I wonder how much experience she actually has, but no matter.

wonkylegs · 15/08/2018 16:37

Thanks - I always like to give people a chance but I think your right we'll have to find someone else.

OP posts:
saganorenscarandcoat · 15/08/2018 16:40

Get rid

lexer · 15/08/2018 16:43

Get rid ASAP. She's clearly not interested.

wonkylegs · 15/08/2018 16:43

Anonymumm She's started her cleaning business as a flexible job around her kids about a year ago but I suspect that she doesn't have experience past cleaning her own house & a few clients. She was recommended by someone locally who also gave me a reference but obviously they have different expectations.

OP posts:
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