Private cleaner and what's expected

[Lucy Long Socks]

I'm a cleaner. I have had my business for 15 years. I have been going to the same places for years.

One of my customers has a teenage child. Very messy. But normal with teenagers. Today I turn up and they've spat in the sink. They're obviously ill as is dark green. I am unsure how to approach this professionally. I was thinking of politely saying to the parent that I just can't do it as is horrible. I know I'm not going to do it that's for sure.
What do others think?

I don't think you should be expected to come and clean when someone in the house is sick.

Sorry but what would you do if he had left a big poo in the loo? Spray and turn the tap on ffs.

• I am also a cleaner....

It's a bit grim granted but bleach and running the tap would sort it, presumably you're gloved up anyhow. If that's the worst you've come across in 15 years I think you've been extremely lucky

Op are you the poster whe once made a thread about becoming a cleaner but would never be cleaning any toilets??

To be fair. I didn't know until I turned up. Then the teenager had gone out, so I was fine with it. But I know what you mean. If somebody is ill. I just say to stay in another room.

I don't understand what you mean. What relevance does turning the tap on have lol. And why so rude "ffs" No need to be rude.

Bleach and turn the hot tap on.
I expect my teens to leave their spaces in a reasonable condition before the cleaner comes but as a one off like that I don’t see it as a big deal

Tried the tap and a spray. Over and over. There isn't just 1 in the sink. There's a few.
Yes I do feel lucky. My houses are lovely. Its not the worst, no. But I have recently got this app so thought I'd see what others think.

No.
That's a bit bonkers lol

It's no worse than cleaning a toilet, I would just rinse and clean the sink as usual.

If this is a home you've been cleaning for years, then presumably you know the teen well enough to ask them to rinse the sink after they spit in/ use it ( if you feel this issue needs raising at all).

I'm also a self employed cleaner and have cleaned up worse than a bit of snotty spit in a sink;
Mouldy food in bins,
Maggots
Sick stain on a child's carpet
Nappy bins
Unsanitary products in bins
Poo marks on toilets...

It comes with the job I think.

I tried the tap and a spray. Over and over

Is this a wind up? I don’t know any cleaners this squeamish about some gunk in a sink! Put your gloves on and scrub it.

Is it that you don't want to clean it?

I would scoop the grot up in a teaspoon, clean the sink and replace grot for another family member to discover. It's gross not to wash it away, like leaving turds in the loo.

It is worse than cleaning a toilet. With a toilet you have a brush with a long handle. I've been at this job a few months and only said hi a couple of times to the teen. I've also cleaned all the things you've listed, and more. I don't think spit comes with the job. Spit is on purpose.

No it's not a wind up. Are you a wind up?. Its not gunk. Its phlegm. I personally think it's disgusting. When you are ill and coughing up dark green thick phlegm that clings like glue, and you know the cleaner is coming. Why would you be so disrespectful and gross to spit in a sink a few times and leave it there. Why not down the loo. This is a deliberate thing. Showing total disrespect. I didn't clean it up. But if you do. That's up to you.

Haha.
If I ever, rarely, come across a poop in the loo. I just flush. I assume it's the children as its only happened in houses with children.

Maybe you need a new career op.

Cleaner here, it's grim but I'd put bleach on it and clean the rest of the bathroom and hopefully it'll have broken it down and rinse with hot water, if still there clean sink with disposable gloves on. I'd let it go if it's the first time it's happened but if it happens again I'd mention it. If it's a family bathroom their parents might not know they're doing it if they just use an en-suite.

I would have left product in it and cleaned it too.

I doubt it was a deliberate attempt to disrespect you, teens are thoughtless sometimes- he probably didn’t remember you were coming today.

If you are going to leave certain areas on principle of “grossness” then it’s probably best to explain that to your client. The child could be asked politely to rinse his sink after use to avoid it happening again.

I personally wouldn’t have been phased by phlegm in a sink.
My customers have varying levels of hygiene; some clean in between my visits, some leave debris and mess everywhere. I charge by the hour so it just costs slightly more if it’s particularly dirty.

Don't be silly.

Yeah. Did that. Also filled sink with hot water for an hour. This was thick and stubborn. It worked on one bit though.
Thank you
Their mum definitely wouldn't have known. She wouldn't be happy about something like this.

This was disgusting. I didn’t clean it up

But you did clean it? Or you made some attempt with hot water and then left it?

Did you mention it to your client? I think it just looks a bit sloppy otherwise. You know, making a half arsed effort and then leaving the sink dirty.
Sorry op you did ask for opinions !

Yes, it's grim but a bit of bleach and boiling water should sort it. My issue would be that it's disrespectful of teen to leave sink in that state for someone else to deal with! Same goes for eg Skid Marks in loos etc.
My sister is a cleaner and she really resents cleaning teenagers bedrooms as they're old enough to be doing it themselves and can't understand why their parents don't make them sort their own mess out. I'm with her on that one!