Cleaner

[mrsdanrose]

I recently went back to work. I have three children under 6 so thought, "get a cleaner. That will make life less stressful."

I found a cleaner. A lady who used to clean for my brother and brother in law about five years ago. She was highly recommended.

She came over and we agreed she would clean every week for 2 hours. I thought, "great!"

However, last week in her 2 hours she emptied four cupboards and cleaned inside. She did a very thorough job (a little bit over the top for a cupboard) and I was left having to put everything back. That was all she did.

This week I told her to just do a general clean downstairs and if time, the bathroom upstairs. She spent the entire time in my front room. It's a small living room with hardly any furniture. She didn't use the vacuum and when I went to inspect the room she didn't clean the fireplace, light fittings or under the TV cabinet. Cobwebs were on the ceiling still. I honestly don't know what she did with the time. I could have done a similar job in 20 minutes.

I'm going to tell her I don't need her anymore. But I'm curious, what should I expect for a 2 hour clean? I would have thought similar to what I could achieve in that time which would be the entire downstairs and one room upstairs. My house isn't cluttered and I tidied before the cleaner got there.

Feeling upset but determined not to dwell on it too much.

Ours does way more I can do in 2hrs! She does all this in under 2hrs. Hoovers and cleans 2 bedrooms and en-suite on the top floor. Cleans and mops the main bathroom. Changes the sheets in the main bedroom including hoover and moping the floors (wooden). Hoovers and mops hallway, landing, stairs, sitting room, kitchen/diner. Empties the bins and takes the rubbish out. Cleans the surfaces.

My cleaner would clean the whole house inc 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms in 2 hours. The best one would also change my bed linen in the master bedroom and so a bit of ironing, but she was unusually amazing. Yours sounds pants! She should be doing what you ask not faffing around cleaning the inside of a cupboard for 2 hours 🤷‍♀️. With the next one I would discuss and agree what they will do in the time allocated. I like it when 2 cleaners come for 1 hour (2 hours labour) as they will move furniture and clean behind etc.. They don't do that in every room every week, just one room deep cleaned on rotation and the rest a light clean.

That's so rubbish! I had a cleaner for 2 hours a week a few years back and she cleaned and hoovered everything so it looked amazing! She didn't do a deep clean but the place looked great. (just don't look under the sofa etc) That was a 2 bed house.

Cleaner here. Sounds terrible, get someone else.

Thanks for reassuring me.

I thought it was really strange. I was really looking forwards to having a cleaner. Definitely felt disheartened today.

I have a 3 bed semi detached home with a conservatory.

My husband has just lifted up the fire floor protector and she didn't even clean under it. I don't understand what she did. She definitely didn't leave the front room because I was in the house for the entire time.

I have 2 cleaners come together for 1.5 hours. They clean a bathroom, an en-suite and a downstairs toilet including mopping floors and any cobwebs etc. they hoover the whole house, 3 beds, and dust in every room, plus clean the kitchen. Sometimes they change 1 or 2 beds as well if I haven’t had time.
I think she’s taking the piss OP. I’d definitely get rid as you’ve planned. Maybe try an agency instead? I’d be very clear about what you want them to do and keep the relationship very professional. Write a list of what you expect to be done each week.

Cleaner here!

Definitely good you have got rid of her. As a cleaner bathrooms and kitchens are a priority. I feel sad for you I hope you find a much better one. Good cleaners are like gold dust these days x