Cleaning

I worked from home for many years and found I was unable to keep the house as I would like. Enter cleaning lady – a real treasure, she did everything including cleaning the oven (unasked) and ironing our underwear something I didn’t do and tried to deter her from doing, but she would have none of it. She stayed with us for nine years until she met and married her second husband. We became friends during those years and still keep in touch. I hope you resolve your concerns but if nothing improves then she will probably have to go – there are good cleaners out there who take pride in their work, you just have to find one.

First day of a new clean-I said to her "my priorities are the windows and the (tiled) floors----I came bak 3 hours later, and she had those done- but nothing else! Kitchen was same as we walked out after breakfast, beds not make, nothing in lounge even touched! She literally did the windows and the floors--so maybe more clarification as to what you need done each time

I think it becomes an issue when you befriend your cleaner.
I have stopped mine for 3 months whilst builders are here, on starting again I shall go over what needs to be done, and hopefully as it will all be bright, shiny and new it will be more obvious if something is missed

....remember to do (such and such) job. Sorry!

What I would do is have a schedule of work listed for her to see and when the work needs to be done.
Ask her if she can do the work in the time, see what she says.

The issue of not working the hours you are paying her for needs to be addressed.

Say you had notice she is leaving early did she want to reduce her hours did she have problems in staying for the time you needed her and see what she says.

It may be she is travelling after you to another job if this is the case ask her to come in earlier if that works for you.

I'd say to her "Could you please remember to do job - you must have forgotten it last week". That would cover the work not being done but I'm not sure what I'd say about leaving early, maybe "Oh, are you leaving now, do you have an appointment?"
People can get complacent if they know they can get away with it so it's best to stop it before it becomes really bad.

If she's leaving early, suggest to her that she needs to start earlier as she clearly is finding being in 2 places at once stressful. Ask if she has to pick a child up. Be supportive. A trustworthy person in your home is hard to replace.

I would think offering to go round and train her would be worse than a confrontation.
I really don't see why you have a problem, you are paying the woman and her work is not satisfactory. Ascertain if there is a reason for her non compliance with your wishes and if not tell her how you want it doing. If she continues to fall short then look for someone else.

Do you leave her alone in the house?, if you do then you could leave a note saying about specific jobs you want completed, the ones she has stopped doing, and that you will be back at the time she is due to leave to make sure she does the full time.

It would be better to say it to her but I understand how hard that would be.

Isn't it hard when it is in your own home? I could hire and fire easily at work but not so easily at home. No advice, I'm not good at that sort of motivation.

I would let her know that you have noticed she is not keeping to her hours and is leaving a few jobs uncompleted. She may have a problem or is finding you too easy. If the latter is the case it may get worse.
You are employing and paying her to do a job which she agreed to so don't feel bad about confronting her, which can be done in a nice way.
I certainly wouldn't offer to train her as she might find this upsetting if she is doing her best. Does she have enough time to do all that you want done? Her best may not be up to your high standard in which case she is not the right person for you.