Cleaner leaving 30-45 mins early

[MyWiseBiscuit]

I’ve had a cleaner for 5 weeks. First week she did a great job, then second week asked if it’s ok to leave (10 mins early). Everything was done so I said yes. The last 2 weeks she’s left 45 mins early and then 30 mins early and the time I’m paying for is 2.5hrs. Didn’t ask just left.

What she did looked ok (not amazing) but things got left (cup marks on coffee tables, dusty skirting boards, few bits on kitchen floor, kitchen cupboards had a few food splashes. It’s like she’s rushing so she can leave as early as she likes. I ended up spending 30mins finishing after she’d done. Like the main things were done but details missing and I’m so annoyed she’s leaving so early.

After the initial 45mins early leave I gave her an extra job the next time, but all she did was then did a worse job on the other areas to leave 30mins early! I’m not going to quibble over 5-10 mins but 30-45 mins feels a lot.

what do I do? Find someone else or tackle it? I hate confrontation and it’s a lot of trust having someone in your home and relies on a positive relationship (always the worry if you upset them they’ll do something to your tooth brush). I also don’t feel great knowing they are in my home but not staying the whole time I’m paying them for which makes me question their integrity

if I do tackle, what do I say?
thanks

If she’s leaving that early this early on, it’s not going to work. Find a new cleaner.

I hate managing people lol. Happy to send a text saying I no longer need them. Just then I’ll be without a cleaner unfortunately

Text her. Find a decent small agency in my experience.

What happened to your previous cleaner?

Do you live alone?

Another thing is, we are a no shoes house and she has worn shoes in my house twice even though I’ve said no to

This is the first cleaner I’ve had in a few years. Previous ones that weren’t up to the job I’ve messaged to say I no longer need a cleaner. Never ever had anyone leave 45mins early though in 14 years

dont live alone but work long hours so does DH

I had a similar experience. I said my circumstances had changed, and I no longer needed her.
Cleaners only ever get worse.

Very good point

And how did you find this one?

No I’ve had loads over the years. Never had someone leave this early. Previous cleaners (not had one in 3 years) I got rid of as I found the work not great and the tidying before (small kids back then) too stressful

the tidying now is fine plus I’m not so picky these days about the standards

Was someone off FB who suggested themselves. Tried an agency before that and they were worse. Stayed for ages but missed entire rooms!

She’s a cf - get rid. side note it makes me laugh that it’s always dusty skirting boards that are the red flag for cleaning. I keep a pretty clean house but very rarely dust my skirting boards. It seems to be some kind of barometer on mn.

I leave the money out for her. I am working in my office with a closed door. I only notice she’s left when I check the ring

FB. They commented on a post

You are correct. I now have the hassle of replacing. The frustrating thing is the bits they do clean are great however staying less than 2.5hrs it’s impossible to do a decent job on a reasonable sized family home

Haha very true about skirting boards!! Also sticky orange mark on dining table, cup marks on coffee table, food mark on kitchen cupboard front are all things she’s left

I think you have 3 options:

1. Start leaving money out for 2 hours instead of 2.5 hours and say why
2. Say "I've noticed you've been leaving early, I can either pay you for the 2 hours or give you extra tasks for 2.5 hours but please work the full hours I pay you for"
3. Get rid of her

I would go for 3 because combined with only being your cleaner for 5 weeks and the shoes she comes across as disrespectful.

I’d start with only paying her for the time she worked and then texting to state that this isn’t working for you and that she need not come again.

"Hi X,

Last week you left 30 mins early there were cup marks on coffee tables, dusty skirting boards, few bits on kitchen floor, kitchen cupboards had a few food splashes so still things that could have been done.
If you need to leave early i am happy to pay for time worked or we can do a different day that works better. But ideally i'd like the same level of cleaning you did in week 1 (which was fab)"

Hopefully she will buck up her ideas for the month it takes you to find a new cleaner.
And you need a new cleaner.

I was going to start a thread asking if people on here thought our cleaner arriving 5 mins late and leaving 5-10 mins early most weeks was ok or not, but bloody hell 30-45 minutes?! She's definitely a cheeky fucker! Also, very disrespectful not taking her shoes off in a no-shoes house (unless she's got special cleaning shoes/slippers she changes into?).

I agree with a pp - cleaners only ever get worse/more lazy as time goes on. We've had ours for just over six months and now I regularly have to ask her to do small things that should be glaringly obvious. Also lives locally so don't want any awkwardness, and she is very lovely and reliable. Just annoys me that I pay £18 p/h x 2 every week but she only cleans for 1hr 45mins (she doesn't factor travel time in I don't think).

Good luck sacking her and finding a new, decent cleaner OP.

I stopped botheringg having cleaners and so did friends of mine as we found this just continually happened, you paid for 2hrs and got 1.5, or paid for 3 and were lucky to get 2hr 15 min.

When they are charging £20-£25 an hour (and always cash! None will ever accept a bank transfer, funnily enough) its just not worth it.

A few friends were shocked when they installed ring doorbells and discovered how little time their cleaners actually spent.

Dusting skirting boards and light fittings are why I get a cleaner. That and mopping the floor. I can keep my kitchen and bathrooms clean but staying on top of the dirt that builds up is why it's worth paying a considerable amount of money.

45 mins is not a small sum. 10 mins is about standard for many cleaners. I'd get rid.

I’ll be honest - it is rare that you hear about a cleaner who doesn’t get worse with time. Could you work it that you keep on top of the basics and say every 2 months book for a one off deep clean? E.g skirting boards, cupboards, under and behind furniture, windows and doors? I always think that’s what I would do if I could afford a cleaner. And get a robot thingy that hoovers and cleans your floors. Just an idea.

That’s true. I’ve tried doing it myself but it’s the bathrooms that get really dirty and I sometimes work weekends (as well as 5 day week) so cleaning is the last thing I have time for

Exactly. I love that someone does a better job than me (well that’s the idea!). Also the cash thing is a right pain as who has cash these days