To sack the cleaner?

I agree with Poll. If, for whatever reason, I don't need my cleaner to come, I always pay her - I don't want the responsibility or guilt of reducing her already meagre income. If you didn't need or pay your cleaner for several weeks at a time, how could you square this with your conscience? And - I've had teenage sons - they create untidyness but not dirt; unless your son is a filthy slob, surely she could still have come in to clean around his chaos?
We have only heard one side of the story here - I wonder how your cleaner would explain things?

I have a really nice cleaner but I hate being around when she is here, I try and find a mission away from home to fulfill on the afternoon she is in the house. She prefers it that way too I am sure. However, to be the devil's advocate in this affair, I am puzzled as to how you could expect your cleaner to turn up on demand as and when it suits you, you stopped employing her all summer then required her to start working for you again at the drop of a hat. Maybe she feels a bit used?

Your cleaner shouldn't be telling you anything! The relationship obviously isn't working and you need to say goodbye to her. Before that, demand that she properly removes from her phone the photos she took of your house.

Ruby...you don't need this lady in your life right now (or ever) you know as others I was on the road to develop my own cleaning business, but didn't succeed.I have cleaned in the past and no way would I speak or behave in the way that this cleaning person is behaving towards you.Your cleaner needs to be your friend, not your enemy like this person sounds.Sounds very rude and not very confidential taking photos of your home (what if she is showing the photos to others) it's really not on, she sounds very rude and certainly doesn't/wouldn't fit my criteria if a cleaner, as other have said, find your self another cleaner! not easy I know but it sounds like she makes you agitated when she is there.

I would terminate her employment and get a new cleaner.

If she has a key, make sure she has to use it when she comes next time and have someone there with you when you ask for it back. That's the only issue I had when I changed my cleaner. She said she had forgotten the key that day, until I said I'd send my husband round to collect it from her house. It would have been easier if I had had some back up.

I would not give her a reference, it is not normal to be taking photos of your kitchen or wherever. If you cannot face telling her the truth, just say that her services are no longer required and thanks.

Get rid of her now! My cleaner comes for two hours and in that time does the ironing (when there is some), makes the beds, dusts, mops and hoovers everywhere (including my bed and the sofa, to get the cat hairs off), cleans the hob in the kitchen, polishes the silver...
I'm only in a 2-up-2-down, but she does the lot every week - I love her to bits!

My DS has done some cleaning in the rest of the house over the summer for me, hoovering and the suchlike, I don't want you all thinking I am now living in a total mess.

I just have an idea of how I want to do things, in which order. I use these cleaning wipes and they are a lot easier so the bathroom got the done when he had left, new stuff in place and it looks lovely now.

I do wonder, if she was a bit jealous yesterday, seeing me now living on my own (she has teenagers still at home making mess, as they do) and my new things in place and it coming together nicely. But I have worked hard for it all and I thought she would be pleased for me, not jealous, but it didn't seem so somehow. Anyway, time to send the text. I'll let you know if I get something back. Thanks again. X

I think she needs to go sounds like one of those people who looks busy doing nothing, find someone who is not going to demean you in your own home.

You are paying her. It is for you to say what she does, when she does it (at least until you both get into a routine you are happy with). And why would you employ a cleaner if your house DIDN'T get into a mess?! I too would find it difficult to actually sack her, but i agree with those who suggest that you fib a little and say you think you will be doing it yourself again, then look elsewhere for someone who suits you better. Or if you feel up to it you could simply say that the arrangement isn't working for you, you will give her a reference, but you need to let her go. If at that point she argues, allow yourself to get angry, give her chapter and verse on her shortcomings, and escort her out of the front door, locking it loudly and firmly behind her!!!

Complain to her boss telling them everything you told us.

Thank you ladies for your words of wisdom once again. I drafted a text in the early hours, just to make me feel better, so I will look again at that and send that.

She took one photo yesterday of the kitchen, I don't know what to do about that? I wouldn't have minded if she had asked for like a business profile, but she has established clients so why she did it I have no idea.

No, she is not SS, or agency, she is private. I told her over the summer that I wanted to leave it until DS had left for uni as it would make it easier cleaning without him here and his mess of course. His room still needs doing.

It's the floors I struggle with. I can tidy, at my own pace, but the floors are hard work. She told me that we were doing the living room next week! That would mean that all the paperwork I want to sort out would have to be done these next few days. I have stuff to get rid of now that he is in higher education, finance stuff and I like to burn paperwork in my incinerator, so to do it all in a few days is far too much. I never know from one day to the next how I am going to be and I would not be getting much rest if I listened to her and followed what she wanted to do. Even my mother didn't tell me like this!

Also, I need to be getting out a bit too. I have been in a few days now and it starts to tell on me that I have to be out for a bit or I could start to go downhill and that is the last thing I want. So I have to factor that into my time too. And to get my very patient doggie out on my hot rod of a mobility scooter. Today, hopefully, we are off to the library. No dogs allowed apparently, but hey ho, I'm only dropping off, not browsing so they will have to lump it that she is with me. She needs some fresh air, poor love.

As much as I love my home, there is a balance to giving time up to dedicate to it, I think. Not every day can be given up to clean. I used to have a poem when my ED was a baby:-

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow,
For babies grow up, we learn to our sorrow,
So quieten down cobwebs and dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.

X

Wave goodbye and find a proper cleaner. Am sure your friends can help with the name of a reputable cleaner. ?

I moved house once to leave the cleaner behind, she was like a demonic robot just did her stuff relentlessly and only what she wanted to do.

I am scared to get one now and really could use some help. It is just the thought of being tidied up that I hate, I need a cleaner to wash windows and clean skirtings not someone who puts all my paperwork in tidy stacks.

She is not for you, and you are not for her.

You stopped her coming during the summer as DS was making a mess and it was pointless cleaning. It was not pointless cleaning all summer as the dirt and grime must have been building up and what a big cleaning job she had no wonder it took her 2 hours. Maybe that was why she took the before and after pictures and told you to keep it clean.

You also seem to have made it more difficult to clean by having double things around filling up spaces and it sounds like she was trying to clear areas so she could clean. Before my cleaning lady comes I tidy and put things away so she can clean properly not have to move things to clean as it takes longer.

When you cancelled her over the summer did you consider her loss of wages she needed to live not easy to find short term jobs. Think how you would manage If your pension was stopped for a few weeks. I think this comes under nil hour contracts. She most likely insisted on staying the 2 hours in case you complained that she left early.

I think a company like Mollymaid would be better as they have other work for their employees when needed.

Sorry others if I sound harsh but employing someone works both ways.

Yes not worth the stress. Only you there now so not much mess, ask around your area, look on Streetlife, try to get a cleaner who comes recommended by a neighbour or friend.

Sounds a bit like you're doing the necessary cleaning anyway, she's just collaborating in the primping! Did the house get really dirty when your DS was there?

I would tell her that her services are no longer required, you don't have to give a reason. If by some chance she is from an agency, and to do with social services then get in touch with them. I would avoid agency cleaners if you can, they are not all bad of course, but better to have someone self employed in my opinion.

You cannot beat word of mouth, ask around your friends to see if they can recommend someone who is good at her job, and very importantly also respectful and nice to have in your home. Good Luck

You need to tell her you no longer need/require her services.

She had no right taking photographs in your home.

There will be someone out there more professional and understanding.

For goodness sake get rid of this woman. Taking photographs of the interior of your home is very suspect and had she done that in my house she would have been out of the door immediately.
As far as her work rate is concerned, well, I have a cleaner who cleans and vacuums the whole house, steam mops the kitchen floor changes my bed linen and does my ironing (I live alone). She then sits and has a cup of coffee with me and all of this within the space of two hours.
It seems that your cleaner is taking advantage and it's time for her to go.

I agree with Iujaha. She is a bit odd and you have to be careful about having people who had a bizarre approach to life in your house. This seems to be outside people who are just socially awkward where a compassionate approach is necessary. There is something unsettling about someone who doesn't leave the house when you ask her to.
I think I would be inclined to make an excuse.

Just tell her you no longer need her. Do not be intimidated by her. She sounds a bit odd

She is so rude and unprofessional. Just tell her straight. It's your home, how dare she take photos. I'm seething. If she's employed through S'S report her. Grrrr

Ruby how did you tell her last time that you didn't require her services whist you had your DS at home?
Could you use similar tactics.
Maybe that she's sorted your house out now and you are going to give it ago on your own. If you can't manage then you will give her a call (not)

Or your thinking of going a way for a while not sure when you will be back and will call her when you get back.

I've just read on another thread that you were a truckie I'm sure you didn't stand any messing from the other truckers!
Can you get back to that mind set and say 'Sorry but this is just not working out'.
Or Alan Sugar would say your Fired

However you do it the sense of relief after will far out way the few seconds of discomfort.
Good luck

Good luck