Having a cleaner. Or not.

I have never had a cleaner. I hate housework, but also hate the idea of someone wandering around my house.
In your situation, Watermeadow, I think that I would do the following. Next time she arrives I would say, in a cheerful way, that all this coffee-drinking was holding up production, and stopping the work from getting done. I would then tell her that when she had finished her jobs I would put the kettle on.
It’s only fair to give her a chance to redeem herself, as you have been going along with her being so lackadaisical.
If she still fails to give satisfaction I could the fire her off with a clear conscience.

If I was you,I would stop paying her the extra and if she asks why which she will then let her know that her work has declined and if she wants the extra money then she should concentrate on her job and do it right.
Also let her know that if the tasks that you have given her are not satisfactory and shes not on time in the future then she should seek alternative employment.
That way you have given her the option to sort herself out to be punctual and to regain your trust and extra payment.
There are other people who need cleaning jobs so if she leaves place an add in your local shop window for another cleaner you will be a lot happier.
Hope this helps..

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

A friend engaged a cleaner to help out in her house when she was working, upshot was that the cleaner took a shine to her partner and when she discontinued the employment he re-employed this woman to help out with their move, the dog could clean better than she ever did and to this day she still has a relationship with him when it suits her. So be careful who you employ and perhaps an agency is best.

I don’t think cleaners are entitled to a coffee break any more than the rest of us - coffee breaks come after a st least two hours and in this case we’re only talking about one hour - however, one hour isn’t much for a cleaner to come out for so I would simply tell the current lady that your needs have changed and you’re re-thinking how best to serve them. Then you can advertise for a cleaner for two hours a week and create a clear programme of work that you know will take up that time - make it plain to the new person that they can take a drink of water or fill up their water flask any time and thst will implicitly say that coffee breaks are not allowed. I had a cleaner once who asked me on arrival if she could make herself a cup of coffee and I also allowed it but I told her because she dawdled with this thst I would start to count her time from the time when she started cleaning and not drinking the coffee - she lasted about six months before I sacked her for continually taking calls on her mobile.

So much good advice. I can't contribute because I've never had a cleaner but would really like to know what Watermeadow decided.

Sounds like its time for a different cleaner, and set some boundaries about what you want doing and breaks.
Have you told her what you need doing? A list of regular tasks and then some extras like insides of windows, washing paintwork, cleaning out kitchen cupboards.

Have a quick word with and be honest - you’re paying her and she needs to know what you need her to do - good luck xx

I had a private cleaner when I worked full time .She was great spotless house but had 2 operations and packed up.
Then when I was ill got a local firm cleaner she just hoovered the life out of 3 carpets and dusted the living room .We noticed the kitchen floor was dirty and bathroom not done. Terminated the contract done it myself since downstairs one day upstairs the next .

I use a big national company, on the understanding that they will come whenever I feel that I need a big clean. I do it myself most of the time, but they have powerful equipment and are very thorough. They send two women (I always request the same two). They don't have breaks. They do the whole house between them in about 1.5 hours. We have a cottage with a loft conversion, so 3 double bedrooms, one single bedroom, two shower rooms, one bathroom, a large kitchen/ diner and two reception rooms. It costs £108 per clean. I have it done about every 4-6 weeks, with a big clean after Christmas every year. I am self employed and work from home, so some of the cost is tax deductible. Worth every penny, as I am 63 and semi retired. I justify the cost because I hate cleaning and would never do it as thoroughly as they do it. As the house is currently on the market, I will be having it done more often for the next month or so. Another solution which I have tried is to eat one room each day, which is feasible for most people. As long as your kitchen and toilets are clean, nothing else really matters. And remember that dull women have immaculate houses!

Its hard to do but maybe talk to her and she may realise she is a time waster,and you cant keep her on, if she really wants the work she might buckup her ideas.You do need help.

CLEAN one room per day! (Not eat).

I changed a cleaner I wasn’t happy with as I feel I am choosing to spend my (hard earned) money as I want and I expect value for money

I had a number of cleaners over the years when i was working. The first one was a friend who fell on hard times. I knew i could trust her. She was good at some things but not others so i adjusted my list.
Then i had cleaners via an agency. The first was excellent but she left to set upher own catering business. The rest were OK. But two were awful. They expected me to pay them for holidays which was not part of the contract, as the agency was meant to send someone else. Another one kept short hours.

If you work through an agency they can sort out any problems, and you know where you stand.
My mum had a home help, but she really valued sitting down with a cup of tea and chat. Not much work was done.
Watermeadow, i hope you have let your cleaner go and found a better one.

Gabrielle56

You employ a child to Do your cleaning? "Girl" ? Odd way of describing a young (presumably) woman? If a man used that term we'd all be up in arms!

Speaking as a Feminist, you are being unnecessarily pedantic!

GreenGran78

I have never had a cleaner. I hate housework, but also hate the idea of someone wandering around my house.
In your situation, Watermeadow, I think that I would do the following. Next time she arrives I would say, in a cheerful way, that all this coffee-drinking was holding up production, and stopping the work from getting done. I would then tell her that when she had finished her jobs I would put the kettle on.
It’s only fair to give her a chance to redeem herself, as you have been going along with her being so lackadaisical.
If she still fails to give satisfaction I could the fire her off with a clear conscience.

Good idea, try this first!

If you are uncomfortable about getting rid of her just say you arent around next week so need to cancel. Then do the same the following week and just say you’ll be in contact when you need her again.

Just tell her that from the end of August you can no longer afford her. Don't feel bad.

watermeadow
Reference to your small cottage What to you is small
Payment should only be for the hours worked that day
It is normal for an employee to have a coffee break just don't make it a social occasion if you want them to get on with the work you are paying them to do.

It sounds to me as she’s taking advantage of you! I’d get someone else, things like this really annoy me, you are paying this person you are ill but you are doing most of it yourself, tell her over her cup of coffee that things are not working out, so you have to let her go, best wishes hope you find another person soon x

write a list of everything you want doing, so that that it is quite clear what your expectations are?
Good luck....................

You have a contract with her to do your cleaning therefore you are her employer. If she isn’t doing her job properly then there is no point in having her there. Your money, your house, your rules. She is taking advantage of your good nature, let her go, you will feel better afterwards. It is difficult.

I keep the house tidy and have a cleaner a couple of hours every other week. I would recommend being pleasant but not too friendly as it’s harder to complain about anything if she becomes a friend. I wouldn’t offer coffee after only one hour. Tell her you no longer need help and after a decent interval get someone from an agency and although you’ll pay a bit more she’ll probably whizz around and do twice as much in the time. as the other one.

I was ill after my second child, and he was a difficult baby.
I hired a cleaner through word-of mouth and took her on,
I always tidied before she arrived.

She seemed to want to clean with me, as a partner. Wanted a coffee break during 2 hours and told me about her foreign holidays. This stuck in my throat as we couldn't afford any sort of holiday.
I told her I didn't need her any more and go used to a messy house.

I would not tolerate this cleaner. If my cleaner is going to be late he telephones me if he is stuck in traffic or something unavoidable crops up. He has a cup of coffee, looks at the cleaning list I leave for him, gets on with it and if he finishes before the 2 hours are up he will do something else for me. He chats quite happily but does not waste time.