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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Thieving cleaners - how to prevent them?

32 replies

FloatingMonkeys · 14/12/2019 08:02

I'm so bloody sick of this. I live in a fairly large house, I work full time in a physically and mentally draining job, I've got teenage boys, dogs, DH works long hours, we are a messy family. I need help with the housework.

Just found out this week that my cleaner has been stealing from me. I suspected it was happening and left some money on my bedside table and "dropped" a fiver in the hallway to test her and they both went. My last one stole directly from my purse in my handbag Angry. The one before that I strongly suspect stole some jewellery, but could never prove it.

Because this has happened before I don't leave money lying around and I lock valuables away, but as the one who took from my purse proved, even that doesn't stop them.

I don't have the option to be here whilst a cleaner is here (and if I did I would do the it myself) so I have to just trust them. But I'm feeling so fed up. I always treat anyone who cleans for me with kindness and respect. I pay generously and promptly, I give presents for birthdays, I give extra money at Christmas. And in return I get stolen from.

Anyone got any tips to stop this happening again?

OP posts:
FredaFrogspawn · 14/12/2019 08:08

Sounds like you have been very unlucky. I think you have to trust even with this experience. Because there’s no alternative and the majority of people are honest.

Lock away any valuable jewellery and don’t leave money lying around. Perhaps an agency might be the best way forward (if you haven’t already got cleaners through them) as they will do references etc.

Hopefully you have had your share of the rare dishonest ones now.

JoJoSM2 · 14/12/2019 18:49

I’ve had a number of cleaners over the years and it’s never happened.

Could anyone else have taken the stray fiver?

SunshineCake · 14/12/2019 18:53

Cameras everywhere then police

Recommendations.

A safe for all valuables

I recently read about a woman aged 27 who stole from her best mate of 13 years. Some people are just horrible.

Northernsoullover · 14/12/2019 18:58

You've been very unlucky. I'm a cleaner and I also employ a cleaner and have had several over the years. I've never been stolen from and I haven't stolen . I'd just get CCTV and tell them its there because you were burgled (thats true).
As an aside I have found plenty of money in obscure places. I assume its 'test' money Hmm
I always put it in a prominent place with a note saying 'I found this under the bread bin' or wherever it was left.

Elieza · 14/12/2019 19:05

CCTV everywhere should do the trick. Lock your valuables including your handbag away.

TwattingDog · 14/12/2019 19:07

Buy a robot hoover instead. They are a game changer.

Khione · 14/12/2019 19:49

Maybe mention to your next cleaner that your previous one is now in prison (or has a criminal - or caution depending how far you want to go) because of police involvement after them stealing from you.

Don't go in too heavy with it or they will feel persecuted before they start and may decide against working for you.

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 19:51

Where are you getting your cleaners from? I’ve always got mine through recommendations and never had this problem.

chrisski33 · 14/12/2019 19:54

Sack em and get someone else!

Expressedways · 14/12/2019 19:58

Go with an agency that are fully insured?

A friend of mine had clothes stolen by the cleaner- she’d been at it for years, didn’t do it often or pick clothes that were worn regularly so she didn’t twig, just thought she was misplacing stuff. Then saw the cleaner out and about in her jacket which was quite distinctive and had been bought abroad.

FinallyHere · 14/12/2019 20:01

Personal recommendations is the way to go.

Over thirty years we have had two on personal recommendation. Not had any reason to not trust them. after all, they are in a unique position to know everything about us.

The first question people ask anyone who is leaving the area - "can you tell me who does for you "?

Rainallnight · 14/12/2019 20:04

Finally I completely agree with you but you’re also hilarious! Do you by any chance live in the same place as Mapp and Lucia? Grin

yellowallpaper · 14/12/2019 21:01

Visible cameras in each room you have valuables and hidden ones in case they get sneaky.

Mckenzie2923 · 14/12/2019 21:26

As a cleaner myself of large properties I can honestly say this is beyond acceptable
You should report the cleaner to the police and her done for theft,it’s disgraceful that anyone can enter someone else’s property as take what doesn’t belong to them is beyond me I’ve always said any thief wants there hands chopped off disgraceful I hope you find someone who you can rely on I have a client who is in the same boat as yourself and I go in everyday to ensure when she gets home she can be rest assured she doesn’t need to lift a finger
Be very careful who you choose in future a dbs doesn’t always mean they are not a thief it may be that they have never been caught !!! References from other clients are a good start lovely

GOOD LUCK we are not all bad hunny 😊

Indiebear · 15/12/2019 02:55

Oh my that's awful McKenzie is spot on. Get the enchanced Crb certificate, then make sure they are insured and go for a sole trader with a business page or references. I run my own business cleaning and gardening I always insist on meeting any potential client first . Don't hire a company they don't even check the cleaners background. If you're in Newcastle let me know xxx haha

Indiebear · 15/12/2019 02:56

Some advice x

1503a · 15/12/2019 06:02

I have been a housekeeper for over 25 years, I have pretty much got my jobs through people recommending me which is great as it works both ways my clients know each other so I feel happier joining a new family, as a cleaner so have to be trusted you are in a position where your often a key holder, I take in parcels food deliveries walk the dog all sorts, I expect to be paid on time which can be an issue at the start but I would never dream of taking anything even when people have said help yourself to food and drink I take a bottle of water , I am also insured some of my clients I have been with for 14 years and watched their children grow up, it's an important position and if you find the right person it can be a great friendship too 😊

DoTheHop · 15/12/2019 06:12

I had two cleaners (who couldn't clean for shite - one ironed my clothes with a cold iron - said she'd never ironed before) but I was sat here while the next one cleaned around me. I had a tenner in the kitchen - sort of haphazardly sitting beside empty shopping bags. Wasn't a plant. Just organised chaos here. Gone when she was gone. I was really disgusted at her nasty little money grabbing paws. Dirty thieving bitch.
Would only work on a personal recommendation again. Between now and then, I have to clean myself.

DoTheHop · 15/12/2019 06:15

Oh and the first one who couldn't iron was from a company called maid2clean. Second one (the thief) was a random from local facebook page.

Original poster
FloatingMonkeys · 15/12/2019 08:23

No one could have taken the stray fiver. There was nobody else here. Dogs were at daycare, kids at school, me & DH at work.

First thieving wonder was via a flyer through my door. She was fab for five years and then it all went weird; so weird I suspected she was ill. Her entire attitude to me changed overnight to one of weird hostility, a few things went AWOL and she vehemently denied seeing them (blamed my boys, actually). She then got really hostile and accused me of abusing my dog because I worked full time and I had a dog walker.

The next one I got via an ad on Gumtree. A more mature lady. I followed up her references. She was reliable, a grafter, and we loved her. She stole money from my husbands wallet and my purse. We were in the house on both occasions (both because we weren't 100% sure she'd taken DH's cash so I set the second one up, left my handbag on the table with my purse in it and she helped herself - in less than a month she took almost £400!!). I reported her to the police but did not press charges. She was in her 60s and I struggled with giving a pensioner a criminal record. Personally, I had a huge lot of other stuff going on so I didn't have the emotional energy to take it further. I regret not pressing charges now.

Current one via Facebook although what I've not told her is that one of her clients is a mutual friend of my best friend. She has worked for her for a few years with no problems except reliability, but one of her friends suspects she stole from her to the tune of £200 so both women sacked her.

I do actually have CCTV (well, one of those doorbell cam things). I have checked her timings last week when she came and left and she's charged me for more time than she actually did. AngryI'm reluctant to have CCTV inside because you can't do the whole house and who knows how or where the next theft will occur.

I've got an agency cleaner coming for an interview next week. Ironically Maid2Clean. 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Freesunglasses · 15/12/2019 13:46

@DoTheHop why would you sit there while your cleaner cleaned around you? Off topic I know but very odd.

I've been a self employed cleaner for 10 years and would never dream of touching any money and there's always plenty left around. It's such a job of trust.
Can you get personal recommendations? That's how Iget a lot of my clients. It's horrible for you and disgusting behaviour from the cleaner.

DoTheHop · 15/12/2019 15:32

Em, I sat there because I was working from home and she was being paid to clean?

DoTheHop · 15/12/2019 15:36

Well OP - while maid2clean have an impressive website etc., the cold ironing lady confessed that it was her first time cleaning... She was an adult and clearly had never used an iron before. Everything nicely hung up still wrinkled lol. Silly woman must have actually 'ironed' everything with the iron set to cold lol. So, I wouldn't have much faith in them to be honest.

bogginmacaroni · 15/12/2019 15:46

Do your own cleaning??

DoTheHop · 15/12/2019 16:29

And the award for the most insightful, meaningful, intelligent contribution to a thread of 2019 goes to..................

Drum roll...........

@bogginmacaroni

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