Cleaning

I would ask her why she is leaving early. After all you are paying her for a certain number of hours which she isn't fulfilling.

If she needs to be somewhere else, then try to re-arrange her schedule so you get the hours you are paying for, otherwise tell her you will be deducting the time she owes you from her pay.

Ask her too why certain jobs have been left undone. She may think she has done them satisfactorily, but you don't so you need to discuss the matter.

If you say nothing, she can't know you are dissatisfied.

I used an agency to take on a cleaner. That way, they are insured and if I'm not satisfied I can notify the employers about it. Two young women come for an hour every two weeks which is enough for my small house and it saves wear and tear on my ageing joints!

My friend has a cleaner through an agency and this works well as you can ask the agency to speak to the cleaner if you're dissatisfied.

It is perhaps more expensive to have a cleaner through an agency so I suppose you have to weigh up pros and cons.

wow, this an eye opening thread!
I am actually employed by a well know "Charity for the elderly" as a Home helper (cleaner really) I take great pride in my job, and personally I would want to know if my client had any issue that they needed to address so long as it is discussed appropriately (nicely!) then I would not have an issue.
It is the salaries quoted which surprised me! I earn WAY less than some of the posts above, and I charge two of private clients £10 per hour.

Exactly why I have given up with cleaners. I have always worked on the principle that I treat others as I would like to be treated myself, but no more. We get off to a flying start and both seem to understand what’s needed then slowly but surely things tail off leaving me feeling cross and uncomfortable in my own home - do I say something or not? I am not a shrinking violet but dread the inevitable sulky interview. I wonder how stupid they think I am - do they imagine I won’t notice they have merely mopped round the cat’s food bowl when the floor beneath is scattered with old food, the breakages concealed, or their trimming of time at either end of their booking will go unnoticed.
Nowadays I keep on top of the kitchen and barhroom daily and do a room/area in rotation and instead I got a chap to mow the lawn to save time.

I'm afraid it seems as if complacency has set in and it will only go downhill from here. Yes, it's difficult to have 'a wee word' with her and will very probably leave an atmosphere, of sorts.

Maybe move on to a new cleaner?

I've had 2 different cleaners and neither were any good. The first just wanted to chat to me all the time about her domestic problems so after 3 weeks I let her go. Then I went to an agency. First week was perfect. Second week she left 20mins early and forgot to do the kitchen. Third week arrived 10mins late left 20mins early, stairs top 6 hovered and rest left, kitchen not touched, bathroom half done etc etc. Have now given up and manage as best I can. If you get a good one pay them extra to keep them, otherwise stop wasting money if you can manage on your own.

Sadly, complacently creeps in and it starts well and finishes badly. Mine was always late ..late on her first day even, we are talking 20 minutes late when she lived 10 minutes away and she never made the time up. Her work was acceptable ...the house stunk of bleach which is ok but after a while you wonder why a whole bottle goes in one day!
Unfortunately, I found she used to run all her other 'clients' down and I realised I must be on the list also and when I overheard her on her phone talking about me by using a nickname which was blatantly rude(and yes I know it was about me)the time to part company came. She was also doing other jobs in my time. Found that out by accident when I came home early to find her car parked down the road and waited for her to come out!She was quite upset and I tried to do the decent thing and let her down gently saying I was no longer able to afford her. She said I've never left a job without them having died. That was the last straw,I told her straight she wasn't up to par and I paid for work not idle chit chat, lack of confidentiality and downright fiddling her work times. I later found out she had 8 clients and declared no income!
Since then I've got a lovely young mum who works around my timetable and hers and always does the full amount. What a difference! There are excellent people out but there are also scammers!

I would go through a cleaning agency rather than word of mouth or pot luck with a private cleaner, then you pass the issue over to them if you feel unable to deal with it yourself.

I would mention it as she may not have noticed or forgotten ❤️

sorry that should have read £45. for one & half hour. not three hours

I think a lit of cleaners especially if not from an agency start off going great guns in order to keep the job then the cutting corners sets in. DIL has a cleaner who I woukd sack and have said this time and time again. DIL's response is that given the size of the house she knows an agency would want twice as much. The current cleaner is paid 50% above basic hourly rate for 3 hours! What she does I have done in half the time when I have been looking after GS and cleaner on holiday. Make a written schedule for your cleaner and give her an estimate if how long you woukd take to do the tasks. Does this match with her estimate. This shoukd show up why she is managing to leave early.

I would ask her if there is a problem as she is leaving early without having completed the jobs you wanted done.

I'm afraid there's no substitute for being direct with people in these circumstances, and it doesn't have to be confrontational.

I recently let go our window cleaner of many years because he was becoming increasingly nosey, gossiped about our neighbours and was only doing half a job by not wiping over the window ledges. I told him that we had decided to clean them ourselves when we want to, as we had a new extendable mop. He wasn't very happy, but accepted that's what we wanted to do without any bad feeling.

If you have to go around after her, then there's no point in keeping her on if you're not happy.

I had two marvellous Polish girls who came together - I prefer two then you don't have to talk to them. for £45 for three hours. plus extra for mileage. but sadly they stopped coming.
I now have a national Company. again two girls but for one hour - £54.00!!! so I have them once a month. which suits me.

I have tried two cleaners, they worked hard initially and then slacked off. Finishing early etc. Finally the last one who had a van and brought her own equipment, got rid of the van and came in a car and told me I had to provide all equipment. She had just put her prices up "because supplies had increased in price". I said that was not what I wanted. Try and keep up with it myself. Though it is hard as it is a large house for an 80 year old to keep clean.

Let her go and tell her why. I've never had a cleaning lady and I hate cleaning and do as little as possible. You have surely heard the saying "House work never killed anyone, but I'm not taking any chances" rather be gardening or out walking the beach or the hills all weathers!!!

Yes im paying for a cleaner via age uk,as though only 55 ive severe osteoarthritis so its hard to stand&hoover/mop,its quite expensive per hour,so ive cut to 1&a half hours per fortnight,but my cleaner ALWAYS arrives 10 minutes late,seems to try stopping to chat to me often,and does things her way if she can then often leaves before her full time.ive been mentioning to her ill shop around for another cleaner,as age uk keep putting the cost up,but of course as mentioned its getting someone trustworthy thats the problem.anyway im finishing her end of next month as i really wont be able to afford it anymore.but it always feels like im paying for nothing much really.

DIY. Simple

if she is paid at an hourly rate, as mine is, and she leaves early, make a point of checking the clock before you pay her. Then calculate out loud what she is due. it worked for me.

Just be honest and say kindly that you’ve noticed that things aren’t as good as normal, and ask if she is ok. No point beating about the bush.

Perhaps she has a personal problem going on in her life and is finding things hard at the moment. Perhaps a quiet word with a cup of tea might help her open up and you can voice your concerns about her work. You could start with saying you have noticed things are not as they were and although she has said she is ok but you think she still seems not quite right.

I would expect any cleaner to do what she is paid to do and the time she is paid to do it. If you are unhappy tell her you are dissatisfied and that if she doesn't improve then you will find someone else. Ask people you know for recommendations.

I've done cleaning work before and after the first session I say what I can do within the expected time. If I'm slower one week then I stayed to finish off, if I was quicker I did something extra till it was time for me to go. Why should people pay for sloppy work.

I think you have gone as far as you can with this lady so perhaps better to let her go and start again.

When I started with a new help I had a laminated sheet of tasks I wanted done in each room so there was no excuse for a falling off. I also somewhat overpaid for what needed to be done so my lady would have no cause for complaint and I paid when we were on holiday too and when she was.

I briefly had a cleaner when I went back to work. She started off very keen, but gradually things wound down. I reckoned if she was able to work to a high standard when she started, she'd just decided not to bother any more for some reason, so as it was an expense I could hardly stretch to anyway, I got rid of her.

Wonderful to see the title 'Cleaning' with 'Bobdoesit' against it! Sorry to spoil the effect.
She's likely to say she leaves early because she's done all her jobs. I'd remind of the jobs you agreed with her, and then find something extra and a bit arduous or messy for her to start 'if she has time'.