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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Are we the only household still not letting our cleaner back in? What is everyone else doing?

52 replies

slightchill · 07/09/2020 14:46

Sorry for the first world issue!

If you usually have a cleaner, whose visits you cancelled owing to Covid-19, have you invited them back to work in your home yet? What is everyone doing?

We live in a country (not UK) that's been badly affected by Covid-19. During lockdown it was against the rules for our cleaners (a married couple) to come to our office and home. The state paid 80% of their wages (as they are employed through a state subsidised agency) and we have made up the other 20%. As I work p/t doing admin for our business, I have been doing all the cleaning in the cleaner's absence (DH working 60+ hrs per wk keeping the business going as all other staff still WFH) and it's a hard job because of the configuration and age of the properties involved. Now restrictions have been lifted somewhat (but not totally) I would like to invite the cleaners back but my DH says it's too risky as they live with their adult daughter who works in a care home. And the husband also has an evening bar job too.

What does everyone else think about the risks involved? Just for context: my daughter is going to secondary school every day and is on public transport twice a week to get to the school's sport centre (this is obligatory). And we live in a country where nearly everyone (including dd's classmates) seem to have gone abroad to visit grandparents in Italy//Spain over the holidays.

DH says the start of the academic year with everyone flying back in from various locations, and schools starting back after six months, is a particularly risky period which we shouldn't add to by adding cleaners back in to the mix and we should watch and wait for a bit?

Does anyone else agree with this? Or is he being over cautious? I would dearly love to stop having to spend so much time cleaning!

OP posts:
TorkTorkBam · 07/09/2020 14:56

Over cautious. Easy to be when it doesn't impact him and it saves money.

TorkTorkBam · 07/09/2020 14:57

Would you have to be in close proximity to the cleaners as they work?

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 15:01

Not particularly TorkTork - I usually go out with the dogs when the cleaners come - but they would be touching all the taps, sinks, door handles, banisters, etc etc.

OP posts:
TorkTorkBam · 07/09/2020 15:02

Ask them to wear gloves.

AvengingGerbil · 07/09/2020 15:10

Not had mine back since March. Not terribly inclined to have them back at all, to be honest, though if the house descends into a pit of filth, I will revisit the decision.

bigbluebus · 07/09/2020 15:11

My 92 yo MIL let her cleaner back in once lockdown was eased. She just keeps out of the way.

movingonup20 · 07/09/2020 15:14

My cleaner came fortnightly throughout. Strictly speaking she shouldn't have but I don't live there and she keeps an eye on my dd with mental health issues and lets me know if things aren't well

EasilyDeleted · 07/09/2020 15:16

My friend is a cleaner, her customers started asking her back as soon as lockdown started easing.

I think provided you all keep out of her way when she's working it should be fine. I can't imagine there's much spread due to an asymptomatic person touching surfaces. Perhaps instruct her to wash her hands on arrival and provide hand sanitiser.

Othering · 07/09/2020 15:17

Unless your cleaner is going to be licking your eyeballs, then I think you should be ok and even then, you'd still probably be ok.

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 15:59

Yes I could do that. Although I don't think gloves would stop a spread of germs if they had Covid-19 would it?

Is it ok to ask cleaners to wear gloves? It might be quite uncomfortable because the work is quite heavy in parts.

I am a bit suspicious about dh's motives tbh because he was complaining about the cost of the cleaners before Covid-19 ifyswim, and we'd already reduced their hours. He is not a person who values domesticity at all and doesn't really appreciate or value the hard work that goes in to keeping it all clean and maintained. He does a lot of cooking and nearly all the food shopping (well the stuff that isn't ordered on-line.)

For example he would happily buy a case of wine but complains about how much cleaners cost per hour.

That's why I am wondering if others have had their cleaners back or not? Or am I being overly suspicious?

(Feel rather disloyal writing this as he is very good and hands on in other ways outside the home eg driving errands, helping with animals, outdoor maintenance etc)

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 07/09/2020 16:04

We had ours back at the end of July. DH was shielding until August. We have all the windows open & keep away from them.

Dragonsanddinosaurs · 07/09/2020 16:05

I'd have them back, and just keep out of their way. Surely they are cleaning as they go, so there must be very little risk of them contaminating surfaces even if they did have Covid. Its not as if they will be putting their hands all over surfaces after they have cleaned them.

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 16:06

Sorry the above comment was in response to Tork (interrupted by phone call).

Thanks for your responses everyone!

think provided you all keep out of her way when she's working it should be fine. I can't imagine there's much spread due to an asymptomatic person touching surfaces. Perhaps instruct her to wash her hands on arrival and provide hand sanitiser.

^ This is very useful thanks Easilydeleted!. That's exactly what I was hoping to discover - about the spread on surfaces I mean.

It's also v useful to know that a lot of cleaners went back to work as soon as restrictions were lifted.

No licking of eyeballs here Othering Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 16:07

Is it ok to ask cleaners to wear gloves? It might be quite uncomfortable because the work is quite heavy in parts.

^ Sorry I meant mask here of course, not gloves!

OP posts:
TDogsInHats · 07/09/2020 16:08

I'm a cleaner and returned to work once lockdown was eased in the UK, late May if I recall.
I've always practised vigorous hand washing upon arrival at a property, this has been increased to hand washing several times more.
I open doors and windows and the occupants stay out of the room I'm working in.
I use disposable gloves when cleaning bathrooms. Rubber gloves for washing up
I honestly think that your cleaners could return. Ask them to wash hands upon arrival and then frequently (I think they'll do this anyway)

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 16:10

Thank you Dragonsanddinosaurs and Cookerhead

That's a good point about the cleaning as they go!

And yes,will open the windows wide and keep out of the way.

OP posts:
TDogsInHats · 07/09/2020 16:10

I wouldn't want to wear a mask by the way, I think that's a bridge too far.

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 16:11

TDogsInHats those are great tips; thank you!

OP posts:
TDogsInHats · 07/09/2020 16:12

I bring my own hand towel for drying my hands (funnily enoughGrin)
I wear an apron that is only used in that one house and I wash it at 60° after each use.

TDogsInHats · 07/09/2020 16:16

slightchill you're welcome. I'm just as keen to avoid risk of infection as anyone I'm cleaning for. I have caring responsibilities for my elderly parent so I always do my utmost to protect both myself and my customers and by extension, my mum.

Lockdownseperation · 07/09/2020 16:16

We are not having our cleaners back. They have now filled our time slot. DD1 has just started back at school but DH is WFH and extremely clinically vulnerable and the toddler and I would be around so it would be too difficult to avoid them.

Sk1nnyB1tch · 07/09/2020 16:16

I haven't had a cleaner back partly because I'm high risk and partly because my cleaner moved in lockdown so I'd have to find someone new and I find that stressful.
Nearly everyone else I know that has cleaners have them back since July at the latest though. They leave the house or do some gardening while the cleaners are there and leave windows open.
The more cautious wipe down kettles/ door handles after they have been.
That should be safe enough. You could always ask about a mask if it would make you more comfortable, my old cleaner wore one for the bathrooms before Covid by her own choice.

Original poster
slightchill · 07/09/2020 16:22

TDogsInHats wow you sound incredibly professional and organised! I hope your employers are appreciative! Thanks again!

OP posts:
Othering · 07/09/2020 16:23

@TDogsInHats

I'm a cleaner and returned to work once lockdown was eased in the UK, late May if I recall. I've always practised vigorous hand washing upon arrival at a property, this has been increased to hand washing several times more. I open doors and windows and the occupants stay out of the room I'm working in. I use disposable gloves when cleaning bathrooms. Rubber gloves for washing up I honestly think that your cleaners could return. Ask them to wash hands upon arrival and then frequently (I think they'll do this anyway)
Why would you repeatedly wash your hands at the same property? That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Once you've arrived and washed your hands once, why wash them again? Unless between cleaning the toilet and mopping the floors you're dipping your hands in a bowl of covid juice that you brought with you and smearing all over the kitchen taps.
TDogsInHats · 07/09/2020 16:29

Reasons for frequency of hand washing vary.
I perspire and wipe my face.
My nose needs wiping
I empty the bin.
I've cleaned the toilet.
I've put some dirty laundry in the machine (I'm protecting myself, too)
I don't randomly wash them, there's always a reason. I also wash my hands in my own home after all the above activities.
I've not got OCD, I'm very laid back about stuff but hand washing is important.