AIBU to think washing up is not the job of a cleaner?

I think your husband is right here although it might be a waste of your money if you want your cleaner to be doing other stuff. I don't think it is an unreasonable request to ask a cleaner to do washing up...unless you want her to lick the plates clean first!

The idea of a cleaner having set duties is strange to me. Either there's a discussion of what's involved or the cleaner decides what needs doing. Mine always does the floors, then she'll look around to see what she can do in the remaining time. She might do some ironing, clean a few windows or mirrors, polish up a fireplace or change the cushion covers - whatever she notices really.

A cleaner needs access to a sink and hot water if she is to clean the kitchen, and there is nothing worse than having to empty a sink full of dirty pots soaking in greasy cold water to access the taps. My cleaner would start with any washing up before she did anything else, as I do when I start cleaning, so I quickly learned to clear the sink before she came.

Your right i have someone who cleans for me and I try to do as much as I can I always tell her you clean for me your not my slave

I'd ask the cleaner directly...but I wouldn't waste my money on someone washing dishes. I'd rather the cleaner do big jobs: oven, shower, bathroom, floors, windows...

Get on the same page as your husband...

No big deal in asking whether it be washing up or any other jobs within the house. She may happy to take on extra household tasks. Does she work set hours or is she flexible ?Don't ask don't get.?

When I worked as a cleaner I was expected to clean - and told to ignore the washing up as it was up to the office workers to do their own.
Cleaners often have a set time to do the bin emptying. vacuuming, dusting and toilet/sink cleaning and floor mopping. If an unusual mess is left it eats into your time and you have to rush to get it done - no overtime.

You were unwell, so I think your husband was justified in leaving the washing up and asking your cleaner if she would tackle it, as you were ill.

It sounds to me as if you perhaps don't have a list of jobs the cleaner does. It would be a good idea to have on, so the you, she and your husband know exactly what she does. If washing up isn't on that list, she could just leave it.

Chewbaca: I don't suppose the cat stayed either!

I have been a cleaner and I did both the washing up, the washing and ironing, hoovered floors, washed floors and cleaned bathrooms.

All this was agreed upon at the start. I would never have dreamed of tackling a task I hadn't agreed to do, as that leads to trouble. Either you are a nosy so-and-so for doing something that wasn't agreed upon, or offering to do something extra was seen as having time on your hands because you didn't do other jobs properly.

I’ve recently started having a cleaner and no she doesn’t wash up but it’s probably because I or my husband have already washed up the breakfast things! I’m sure she would if I asked her. She hoovers dusts does bathroom and will do antything I ask and she’s worth her weight in gold!!!!

Imo one of the advantages of having a cleaner is it makes people tidy stuff away, so the cleaner can clean. Cleaners do jobs that wouldn't get done if they didn't do them, eg not just hoover the floor but pull the sofa out and hoover under, or clean windows, or not just wipe the worktops but give the cupboard doors the onceover.

I would only expect a cleaner to do the washing up perhaps as a favour occasionally. Otherwise I would expect them to give the house a general clean and polish.

I have always felt if there is one section of workers that are always looked down on and almost treated like slaves it’s the cleaners of this world, no one appreciates what they do but soon moan if it’s not done. Do your own washing up or buy yourself a dish washer. The lady next door works as a nude cleaner @ £75 per hour. I bet her Clients don’t want her standing at the sink half-hour or more washing up dirty dishes. We have had two different cleaners in the past and we have always tided up the evening before they came to save the house looking too messy

I have been a cleaner many years ago and properly once or twice I cleaned the dishes. The house I cleaned in was very tidy anyway and I had my routine. I remember ironed as well but I'm sure I got extra for it.
The thing is yes you can leave the dishes but you are quite right if its loads it cuts into cleaning time and something else would get left. US Cleaners love clock watching.?

''The lady next door works as a nude cleaner @ £75 per hour. ''

for real, oh wow ?!?

My daughter had a 'specialist' cleaner who would empty/load the dishwasher, pick up dirty washing and pop it in the washing machine/tumble drier when clean and clean the cooker etc. She also stripped and remade my GC beds and cleaned the bathroom as well as hoovering two bedrooms, stairs and living rooms. My ex son in law did no housework at all, he expected my daughter to deal with it although she worked full time too. The cleaner did two hours a week and was paid £20 per hour (this was in Kent) - my daughter considered it worth every penny.

I was a cleaner when my kids were little, I did private houses in a very posh village nearby. I was never asked to wash up dirty dishes or do laundry. I would not have considered it my job and I guess your husband just didn't fancy doing the dishes himself! I hope you are now feeling better and can read him the riot act

Sure your cleaner wouldn't mind doing dishes but I am with you, is that the best use of having a cleaner. Doing dishes would bite into usual cleaning tasks.

Good morning! I have been a housecleaner for over 12 years and I have never had a client that left dirty dishes 8n the sink knowing I would come the next day to “sort it out”! When I start with a new family, I ask if they want dishes done or put in the dishwasher and run the cycle for them. This is agreed upfront. It normally is not something that a housecleaner is expected to do. I hope this clears it up a little.

I've never had a cleaner but I wouldn't rely on them to do the washing up because she might not be able to come for any number of reasons and dishes that have been lying all night are much harder to face for anyone.

I would say the cleaner should do any job asked if her (or him) but if it's not something they usually do then they may be put out but I do think that it is just an excuse on your husbands side because he was too lazy to do them himself, hope he realises that as you pay the cleaner by the hour that if by her doing the dishes she has to work longer than the hour then she will want paying more

I don't have a cleaner but I wouldn't think washing the dishes would be part of her job either. If your DH wants her to do it and she is happy to then she would have to not do something else as you say you pay her by the hour and she is with you a set number of hours. So is he willing to clean the bathroom, or wash the floor, or hoover etc because she doesn't have time to?

I had a cleaner with whom I had agreed the tasks - she came in every afternoon while I was at work for set hours and I asked her to prioritise dishes and tidying, and wiping surfaces (ie make it possible to start cooking straight away after work) and there was a short list of larger jobs to begin if she had time. I asked her not to do any ironing. The first day she ironed a bra and melted the elastic. I reminded her no ironing thankyou. Second week she ironed another two bras and ruined them. I reminded her again. Third time she did it, I was getting a bit annoyed and she said "well I run out of things to do in the time". So I took her around and showed her all the things she had not done that she was meant to. She got really huffy and we parted company.

The husband is the problem. Washing up is beneath his dignity. His wife is ill and he doesn't lift a finger to help. I'm guessing she did all the cooking as well...... Charming.

I’m shocked your husband didn’t just do the washing up without being asked! How selfish. The. cleaner won’t be doing any cleaning if she does your washing up unless you pay her for extra time,