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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Irritated - Cleaner (just a rant)

22 replies

ThetollofTime · 08/08/2023 10:42

I've injured my shoulder so I have got a cleaner in to do the bits I can't do as I'm now in line for some surgery, so will be out of commission for quite some time.

I was super excited that i got to take something off my to do list and was mainly looking forwards to a vacuumed/mopped house! (Background - two bed new build, one adult, decently clean - just the big stuff starting to get away from me - 3hrs every two weeks on a Tuesday that is the only day that works for me - paying a upper hourly rate)

The problem is, I've not actually really had actual regular clean in yet.

The first clean was by a recommended local lady - she cancelled on her starting day due to a timing clash with an another existing customer who wanted to move their clean. She asked if I could change my day or agree to a 'as and when' with her keeping a copy of the keys. I very politely declined with an explanation why its wasn't possible. Her reply message was 'your loss'

Second cleaner - Cancelled on her starting day, due to personal circumstances. Apologised profusely. Also asked if I could change my day or do a 'as and when' if I left a copy of the keys with her. I politely declined and we agreed the following week. Then the following week she arrived said she was felling a bit under the weather and left early (and didn't do much of anything especially the vacuuming which was a priority as its not great on the shoulder). Then we had a week with an great clean - it was wonderful. She was brilliant and the house sparkled and I was so pleased. She handed her notice in as her pet sitting business had taken off.

Third cleaner - Turned up with children in tow and I advised that just couldn't happen but she was insistent that they would be fine, stay out the way and be quiet - she had been let down with child care and also needed the money. Long story short the clean didn't even get started because of the children (she reimbursed the breakage). She was extremely apologetic. again asked if I could change my day or do a 'as and when' but when she cancelled the following week I advised I would no longer be needing her.

New housekeeper due today (apparently, according to the service, they are a house keeper if they do other chores like laundry, ironing and shopping services - who knew) , I decided to try a known and reputable national service this time. She has just messaged with the almost exact same excuse as the very first cleaner with a bit of a sad story that makes you feel bad for saying no. Asked to reschedule to another day..... or even better how about an 'as and when clean' if i was happy to leave a set of keys with her.

I feel super mean, but I've just politely messaged back that I was sorry about the circumstances of her cancellation but I had booked and paid for a service needed on a particular time and day, so I cant reschedule & that I have gone back to the service to ask them to reallocate to another housekeeper.

Is there an issue with Tuesdays? or a set schedule? what am i missing here? I am perfectly polite, I'm not scrimping on hours or pay I'm not even expecting a huge clean - I'd be happy with vacuuming and mopping!. Why does everyone want 'as and when' & copy of the keys? is this expected?

Am I asking for something that just isn't done in the cleaning world?

OP posts:

omgsally · 08/08/2023 15:42

You've not had a lot of luck there 🙈 What a pain in the bum. How rude was that first cleaner though!!! I'm a cleaner. I've just taken on another client. Every other Friday, 10am for 2 hours. Cleaners that can schedule their week do exist...I'm one of them! Nothing wrong with a Tuesday. You've just a run of terrible luck.

Cloudsandrainnotsunandsand · 08/08/2023 15:45

Wow that's all shoddy!! Cleaner here.. Never off. Never cancel. Been going 11 years now!!
Have set days and some set times. Few customers more casual times but still same length of clean... Open to swapping at customer request but I almost never do...

QueenofFox · 08/08/2023 15:59

I think it’s because it’s every other week. In my experience in SE England, cleaners hate this as it blocks space for someone to be a weekly client as well as blocking it for bigger one off cleans ie end of tenancy, casual Airbnb etc. that’s why they’re all asking for “as and when”. As soon as we went weekly also on a Tuesday, we never had this issue but had the same experience as your fortnightly so had to do as and when.

VinEtFromage · 08/08/2023 16:03

@ThetollofTime it's most likely to be. As WueenofFix said, because you don't want a weekly clean. Can you afford it weekly & just get different bits done?

fellow shoulder surgery sufferer.

greenmarsupial · 08/08/2023 17:17

Agree, every other week is not popular. Can you ask for two hours every week and then alternate the jobs you want doing?

Original poster

ThetollofTime · 09/08/2023 09:19

Thank you for the replies everyone.

I could do every week, but locally there seems to be is a minimum two hour booking window. Being I'm paying top of the pricing range it edges the service out of being helpful into the realm of unaffordable - especially to have to have two extra hours a month to make it two hours a week.

Also, to be fair, its a small two bed with one adult, two hours every week would be a bit overkill. (it only really only needs two hours bi weekly , but i upped it to three on the advice of the 'your loss' cleaner who said that four hours a month wasn't worth someones time)

I've not had a reply from the service (who I've already paid the fee too) despite the fact the housekeeper didn't arrive and they are supposed to have a cover service for such situations.

I'm going to be calling them shortly because reliability was one of the points they sold themselves on.

OP posts:

fizzyfood · 09/08/2023 13:34

Cleaner here. My advice is go on a recommendation from a friend or colleague.

CherryMojito · 09/08/2023 13:42

Where are you OP? Maybe one o'clock us could recommend a good cleaner or company?

RedDoughnut · 09/08/2023 13:53

Have you looked for recommendations on a local Facebook page?

283nouveauxnoms · 09/08/2023 13:53

I feel your pain OP.

we had several people cancel on us or just not turn up. We currently have a lady and her employee coming every two weeks at £18ph each.

They are lovely people but not great cleaners, BUT they are still better than nothing as DH and I really struggle to get the time to clean. They keep us at a basic level that we can top up and they are reliable so whilst not ideal they are worth it for us.

there is such a shortage of good and reliable cleaners around.

Floribundaflummery · 09/08/2023 13:58

That’s ridiculous, what rude/unreliable behaviour from the cleaners. Definitely persevere until you find the right person. I just asked friends and one was stopping hers so I took her on and she has never not turned up or made excuses. Is hardworking and good at her job so they are out there OP. Try more word of mouth recommendations and ask everywhere you go. Good luck.

hedgehoglurker · 09/08/2023 14:00

I don't think Tues is a problem either and have to agree with others. A 2hr fortnightly clean with no flexibility will simply be unpopular. A good cleaner would probably only agree if they also had a client to fill the alternate weeks.

Do you have any flexibility at all with the arrival time to offer them a window? Eg arriving between 9 and 11 every week, without having a rigid appointment in place.

drunkpeacock · 09/08/2023 14:07

Are Tuesdays set in stone because you want to be in for the cleaner or out for the cleaner?

Good cleaners are like gold dust at the moment and can pick and choose their jobs in my area anyway so a bit of flexibility will probably increase your chances of building a successful relationship.

Original poster

ThetollofTime · 09/08/2023 14:50

drunkpeacock · 09/08/2023 14:07

Are Tuesdays set in stone because you want to be in for the cleaner or out for the cleaner?

Good cleaners are like gold dust at the moment and can pick and choose their jobs in my area anyway so a bit of flexibility will probably increase your chances of building a successful relationship.

I work from home and the nature of my work is highly confidential. Tuesday is an electronic admin day - I don't have papers out or tasks/meetings/calls that day. I am free to schedule the work how I wish so can work round the cleaner, for example go out if they don't want me under their feet.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThetollofTime · 09/08/2023 14:52

The first two cleaners were recommended. Cleaner three was from the village facebook. The last one from a cleaner/housekeeping service.

OP posts:

Original poster

ThetollofTime · 29/08/2023 13:03

UPDATE

I had a few more failures to get off the starting block. The service never bothered to call me back as did a few more people i contacted.

I just happened to mention to an acquaintance the issues I was having with my shoulder (after she asked) and she breezily said 'I would get a cleaner if I were you!' so I explained the OP and the trouble I was having.

Three seconds later she had messaged her cleaner and sent me over her info. The cleaner does a big manor house in the area before mine so lift shares with another lady as it takes two.

While its not on a Tuesday, there are two of them and they can get two hours work done in one hour over my lunch break, which is not ideal - but it is so much better than nothing!

They have done one week and it was brilliant and I'm hoping that they will be regular and reliable as they have to come over for the big house together anyway - so fingers crossed!

OP posts:

Mojodojocasahaus · 29/08/2023 13:11

You’ve been really unlucky op, ask friends and relatives for a recommendation. I love my cleaner, life changing.

283nouveauxnoms · 29/08/2023 13:48

Glad you now have hope OP. Fingers crossed they continue to be good.

Iloveburgerswaymorethanishould · 31/08/2023 00:06

I got let down by many companies in my hunt for a cleaner. In the end, one of my friends who has a bit of OCD and lives cleaning offered to do it as a favour. She sorts the things I hate doing (clothes folding/sorting, going through cupboards etc). Been helping my out for almost 2 years now… maybe worth asking a private cleaner or friend.
She is classed as a PA rather than a cleaner and it’s a private arrangement, but it works for us both. Hope the new routine works for you but may be worth considering this if you’re let down again.

FineMom · 31/08/2023 04:34

i appreciate this isn’t the whole answer but I got a robot hoover (an Eufy- mumsnet recommendation) when we retired and stopped having a cleaner and all the floors get done daily (including under beds and sofas).

Original poster

ThetollofTime · 01/09/2023 11:16

@FineMom - I have a robot vacuum and agree they are great! (I have a very good one that mops) Sadly its the stairs that are the killer and they have not invented one that does stairs.... yet. The stairs are very light coloured with a carpet that shows up a speck and have a long tall aspect and a turn. The dragging of the hoover up and down and using the attachment messes with the shoulder. Its also both a high traffic area and the first thing you see as you come in. Bathrooms are the worst too.

The cleaner just messaged to cancel the next visit - but its because she had a spot open up on a Tuesday (Yay!)

OP posts:

omgsally · 01/09/2023 20:39

@ThetollofTime Get one of these for the stairs.

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