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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Is my cleaner taking the micky?

45 replies

sandalfi · 07/03/2024 12:36

Have name changed as this is v outing, I am a regular on MN though.

I've had a cleaner for two hours once a week for a few months. I used to do it until my work hours changed so I know two hours is plenty to do what I ask of her.

We work off a spreadsheet each week of the jobs I'd like her to do as not all rooms need doing. There are some regular weekly jobs, then other jobs bi weekly or monthly.

She does a good job, there's been times I've had to mention that she's missing things, but I'm generally happy with her.

A few weeks ago we put up a ring door bell, mainly as we were always missing parcels and having to schlep across town to the post office, so now I speak to ask them to leave them hidden somewhere, it works great.

However, it also means I see all the comings and goings and last week the cleaner was in and out in and hour and 20 mins, she'd done all the jobs on the list so I thought she's quick and not got enough to do.

So this week I added more jobs to the list, well today, even though she had more to do, she was in and out in an hour!

I've not been home to check yet so unsure if she's done everything.

How would you handle this? On the one hand, if she's done everything then do
I accept she's quick, done the job and pay her the full 2 hours, or not ask she's only working half the time?

OP posts:
PossumintheHouse · 07/03/2024 12:40

Yes, she’s taking the piss. Surely if she finishes the jobs on the list there is plenty more to do? And if she’s finishing a large list in an hour, it’s pretty likely she’s doing a half-arsed job and missing bits.
Only pay for an hour this week.

TheLastTimeEver · 07/03/2024 12:42

Not the question - but how is this “outing”. Half the nation has a ring doorbell and a cleaner Id say 😂

This gets raised a lot. I’d just say I’d like you to do the full 2 hours. If you’ve finished everything on the list please do x y z.

Original poster
sandalfi · 07/03/2024 12:45

TheLastTimeEver · 07/03/2024 12:42

Not the question - but how is this “outing”. Half the nation has a ring doorbell and a cleaner Id say 😂

This gets raised a lot. I’d just say I’d like you to do the full 2 hours. If you’ve finished everything on the list please do x y z.

I think the spreadsheet part and I was going to mention something about her that would have been outing but decided against it, 😂

I like the bit about adding if you finish before the 2 hours do this ....

@PossumintheHouse there is plenty more to do on the list that I haven't been ticking due to me thinking she was up against it with 2 hours!

OP posts:
Original poster
sandalfi · 08/03/2024 10:15

Update ... I got home last night and checked right round the house and she's done the absolute bare minimum, ovbiously, as she was only there an hour!

I pulled her on it, and she said she'd not seen my message about the additions, never mentioned scooting off after one hour.

Anyway, my DH thinks we pay her this time and tell her when she's finished the list to then work on the non regular jobs until she's done her 2 hours.

Will give it another week.

OP posts:
YesThatsATurdOnTheRug · 08/03/2024 10:18

Definitely don't pay her for the two hours and absolutely bring up that she was only there for one hour! That's madness, she's contracted by the hour not by the job. Also make it abundantly clear that the list is the bare minimum.

To be honest I'd be looking for a new cleaner, why would you keep on someone who wants to scam you.

PossumintheHouse · 08/03/2024 14:15

sandalfi · 08/03/2024 10:15

Update ... I got home last night and checked right round the house and she's done the absolute bare minimum, ovbiously, as she was only there an hour!

I pulled her on it, and she said she'd not seen my message about the additions, never mentioned scooting off after one hour.

Anyway, my DH thinks we pay her this time and tell her when she's finished the list to then work on the non regular jobs until she's done her 2 hours.

Will give it another week.

She sounds like a really poor cleaner regardless. Red flag that she won’t acknowledge she cut her contracted time by half. You’d be mad to pay her for two hours. It’ll only show her what she can get away with.
I’d probably be looking for a new cleaner.

Shiningout · 08/03/2024 14:20

Regardless of job role if someone is lazy or a piss taker then it's unlikely to change. I value honesty and wouldn't like to have to monitor and check up on people, you should be able to trust that they are doing the job for the time you're paying them.

happyhippo24 · 08/03/2024 14:20

I’ve noticed (not that I have a cleaner) that more and more of them are just doing set jobs in however long it takes them rather than doing 2 hours at £X per hour like it sort of used to be.

Original poster
sandalfi · 08/03/2024 15:36

She's come back and her excuse is she works until she's done the job, not per hour, I've told her that I pay her for 2 hours and if she finishes before then, then she needs to do what's next on the list, whether it's a monthly job or not.

She's going to be having some time off soon so I think that will be the time to look elsewhere.

Also, I've recommended her to friends and she's got more work because of that.

OP posts:
OkayKinkade · 09/03/2024 09:29

Of course she's taking the piss. Get rid.

OkayKinkade · 09/03/2024 09:29

Oh and you need to update your friends too, so they can decide I they still want her on this basis.

BrutusMcDogface · 09/03/2024 09:33

TheLastTimeEver · 07/03/2024 12:42

Not the question - but how is this “outing”. Half the nation has a ring doorbell and a cleaner Id say 😂

This gets raised a lot. I’d just say I’d like you to do the full 2 hours. If you’ve finished everything on the list please do x y z.

Do you really think that “half the nation” have ring doorbells and cleaners? 🤔

modgepodge · 09/03/2024 09:34

I think she is taking the piss. My old cleaners once went to my husband (works from home) to say they had to leave early to collect a child from school, and said to pay them £X less to make up for it. As they’d done everything they normally did and it was only about 15 mins we just paid the full amount. Obviously they couldn’t get away with it as he was there - but another time I left a key and cash for them and they messaged to say they’d finished early so had left £5 cash behind. If the cleaner advertises an hourly rate they should stay the full time - there’s always something else to clean surely (or perhaps that’s just my house 😂😂😂)

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/03/2024 09:39

She’s probably cutting corners and not cleaning thoroughly and using the time she slopes off to do another job. Suggest you reduce her time to an hour as she’s so efficient or get rid.

As a pp said re more cleaners doing this recently it’s prob a CoL thing but rather than scamming employers they should be more honest.

Teddleshon · 09/03/2024 09:43

She’s dishonest so I would find a replacement.

VestPantsandSocks · 09/03/2024 09:46

Schedule the cleaning for when you are home so you can see for yourself what she is doing and when she is leaving.

Its very disappointing behaviour from her.

Jk987 · 09/03/2024 09:53

I say if she's done everything on the list to a good standard, why should she hang around? It's not like they get paid a lot. Many office jobs are flexible so should cleaning jobs be.

You've got a clean house and she gets a bit more free time to travel to the next job or be with her kids.

Jk987 · 09/03/2024 09:56

It's dishonest if she's doing a crap job but cleaners who finish what they're supposed to clean should be free to go early. Why should they stay around, they're not your skivvy!

PoppingTomorrow · 09/03/2024 09:57

If she did everything on the list to a good standard and was able to leave early then there might be a conversation. But she didn't.

I'm in a similar position and reluctantly think I'm going to have to get rid. But I have a newborn and the house is a total mess so I'm not sure anyone else would take me on!

Reallyitsonlyme · 09/03/2024 10:02

We have had similar issues, it is extremely difficult to find reliable cleaners. We got rid of the last ones when they did less than half the agreed time the first time they had a key and we weren’t here. They said they went when they had finished but loads of things weren’t done.

We have also had similar issues with previous cleaners. As to the person who said why should they hang around they are not your skivvy. Well in the OP’s case to put it bluntly they are, they are being paid for two hours work so should do two hours work.

We now have wonderful new cleaners who work to within 5 mins of the agreed time and do a great job. We are always here when they come though and they don’t have a key. We are going away soon and they are not coming while we are away. I just don’t want to take a risk that they may disappoint when left alone as I think they are great.

Original poster
sandalfi · 11/03/2024 15:53

@modgepodge
Sounds like you had a good one 😊

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain

She’s definitely cut corners

@VestPantsandSocks
I like it done on a Friday before I get home so it’s nice and clean for the weekend, I like my peace on a weekend so don’t want her there then

@jk987

I agree with this, if she’s done everything on the list and she’s finished in less than her 2 hours, fine, but like I previously said, she’d done the bare minimum and missed loads, that I’m not happy with as I haven’t got a clean house. And I didn’t say she was my skivvy, she’s my cleaner, she’s happy to take my money for 2 hours but then scoots off after 1 hour having missed loads and not finished her job.

I'll see how she does this week and take it from there.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 11/03/2024 16:02

sandalfi · 11/03/2024 15:53

@modgepodge
Sounds like you had a good one 😊

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain

She’s definitely cut corners

@VestPantsandSocks
I like it done on a Friday before I get home so it’s nice and clean for the weekend, I like my peace on a weekend so don’t want her there then

@jk987

I agree with this, if she’s done everything on the list and she’s finished in less than her 2 hours, fine, but like I previously said, she’d done the bare minimum and missed loads, that I’m not happy with as I haven’t got a clean house. And I didn’t say she was my skivvy, she’s my cleaner, she’s happy to take my money for 2 hours but then scoots off after 1 hour having missed loads and not finished her job.

I'll see how she does this week and take it from there.

I just don't see how cleaners get away with cutting corners and being so blatant about it.

I've had cleaners and the odd 15 mins I don't mind but when it's huge chunks it's annoying.

My huge gripe was a small office where I worked and where we had cleaners, they regularly sent round the boyfriend of the cleaner and he did it in half the time. I was all for them terminating the contract and it was only until another cleaning company came in for a quote and spotted filthy toilets which I never knew to look at - under and round and also dust a mile high on the reception desk top (glass) - that my boss agreed and we got new ones!

Original poster
sandalfi · 11/03/2024 16:36

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I agree, I didn't mind when she left early the first week as she'd done everything on the list, however when she did just an hour last week and hadn't mopped, or cleaned the shower tray properly etc (and I've found more she's not done since) then it's not on.

It's a big treat to have a cleaner as me and my DH work long hours, but I'm not paying for a service I'm not getting.

OP posts:
T0ASTER · 11/03/2024 16:38

TheLastTimeEver · 07/03/2024 12:42

Not the question - but how is this “outing”. Half the nation has a ring doorbell and a cleaner Id say 😂

This gets raised a lot. I’d just say I’d like you to do the full 2 hours. If you’ve finished everything on the list please do x y z.

Half the nation definitely do not have a cleaner

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 11/03/2024 16:39

sandalfi · 11/03/2024 16:36

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain I agree, I didn't mind when she left early the first week as she'd done everything on the list, however when she did just an hour last week and hadn't mopped, or cleaned the shower tray properly etc (and I've found more she's not done since) then it's not on.

It's a big treat to have a cleaner as me and my DH work long hours, but I'm not paying for a service I'm not getting.

That's so sloppy. I think when a cleaner does a worse job than you, e.g. you can do it better, then if you're thinking that, that's the time when it's best to rethink having a cleaner. And not all cleaners are the same, some are thorough, conscientous etc.