Cleaning Lady Dilemma

[JustAskJulie]

I've been smelling this smell for the last week or so and it's been driving me nuts. I thought it was the garbage disposal but I ran vinegar and baking soda down it and didn't seem to help. Well, today I'm home and I decided I'm going to clean the kitchen until I get rid of that damn smell. I finally found it - a garlic ball (whatever those are called) sitting on the window sill. Yep, that was it.

The problem I'm having is this, I pay someone to clean my house once a week and as I was cleaning the kitchen I'm realizing she doesn't do a very good job. What she doesn't do, evidently, is move things when she cleans the counter tops. We don't have a lot of counter space so there is always a bunch of stuff on the counters. When I cleaned today I moved everything off the counters and CLEANED, and had she been doing that, they would not have been as nasty as they were.

So now I'm torn. Do I ...

ask her how much more I have to pay her to actually move things when she cleans?

fire her?

take over cleaning the kitchen and baths myself and retain her to just do the two jobs I absolutely can't stand - vacuuming (which includes furniture since I have cats) and floors in general?

[tribbles]

If you have to tell her how to clean, is she a good cleaning lady?


Moving stuff to clean is not required? Hey, I clean as good as she does! Can I pretend I'm a neat freak now?

[cocpl2007]

We've been there with you Julie. We were lucky enough to have the same cleaning lady for over a decade, then we moved! It has not been the same every since. Not an easy "one correct answer" solution, that is for sure.

Perhaps if you are able to suggest to her that you are particular about the cleaning, and offer her some suggestions that may get you over this current dilemma?

We gave it a shot at doing it ourselves...and it became much more acceptable to put up with nuances of a cleaning lady, but ugggg with capital u's and g's! :-)

[sweet_tna]

She's your employee. As her employer, it's your duty to let her know what the problem is and ask her to improve the situation. You should NOT have to pay more for her to clean around stuff--that should be part of the service, unless specified otherwise. If she gives you any grief about it, and/or the situation doesn't improve, then I'd look for someone else.

=)

[JustAskJulie]

I've been using her for 2 years now and while there were small things I noticed it just seems like lately I'm noticing a lot more. Before it seemed more related to areas that I didn't really expect her to clean anyway. But lately it's been kitchen counters, bathroom counters (the gunk that builds up around the faucet handles). I guess I feel like if I'm going to pay someone to clean something they should do it AT LEAST as good as I do.

[redeye69]

A quick flick with the feather duster seems to be the norm with cleaners, what was originally agreed with her. Because there are so many cleaners out there they offer there services for next to nothing to get the job, "you pay peanuts you get monkeys", I think you should speak to her and give her the opportunity to do the job right if shes not agreeable sack her and get some one else under contract.

[havefuninsun]

Are you normally there when she cleans? What I found with my employees that they do exactly what is expected, and not one damn thing more. So, I started making them a daily "to do" list. Most of what is on this list is what they SHOULD be paying attention to (I manage a help desk and a computer lab. I have as a thing to check off as, "did you check the paper in all the printers in the computer lab?" They should automatically do this. They do not).

I find that having a detailed to do list at home helps with my boys, too. I have a sign in the kitchen that says "if you have a penis, and you are under the age of 23, it is your job to take out the garbage." The original sign did not have an age requirement, but Mr. Fun decided it wasn't his job either, so the sign was modified.

So, your check list could say "remove everything from the counter tops and clean with a cleaner" the next item can be "put stuff back on counter."

It's a damn shame you have to treat everyone like 2 year olds, but that's what it's about. It drives me absolutely bananas, but now that I've started my check list, my irritation level is less, and the employees are doing a better job.

[JustAskJulie]

No, I'm not usually here when she cleans.

If I have to provide someone detailed instructions on how to do their job, I don't want them working for me.

It's easy enough for me to leave her a note asking her to make sure that when she cleans the counter tops she removes everything and cleans under/behind it. But it's the more detailed stuff... the grease that was on the backsplash behind the stove, the gunky build up around the sink faucets, etc.

I'm leaning towards just telling her I'm home more now (which I am) and I'm going to do the kitchen / baths myself (because I really don't mind cleaning those) but since I hate to vaccuum (especially the furniture, and she does do a really good job at that) I just need her to vaccuum and do floors. Or drop her altogether and find someone new (which is a whole different PIA).

[tribbles]

I have a sign in the kitchen that says "if you have a penis, and you are under the age of 23

Do your boys have friends over?





(We have signs at our house to remind us to do things too!)

[sweet_tna]

So I'm not the only one that leaves signs around the house, lol! I have sign by my front door, complete with pictures:

Do you have your:

Backpack

Lunchbox

Coat

Hat and gloves


Whatever works, right?

=)

[two4youinswva]

We had the same problem. She actually started out really well, then eventually got "comfortable", and started getting really slack.

Mrs two4you wanted to fire her. I talked her into leaving a detailed note or two on what we expected.
- She quit within a week.

[Ellyanne77]

We have had this problem before as well. We have found that using a service works better than an individual. That way if the cleaners start getting lazy, then you just call the service and let the manager deal with it, that way you don't have to have the uncomfotable conversation with the cleaner yourself.
Man after writing that it seems such a pretentious awnser. Sorry if it sounds that way.

[fun4Ds]

Julie, Does she work for a company, that you could leave your list of undone or expected duties with?

Or is she a self employed independent contractor ?

If the latter ( self employed) I would have to talk to her on a personal level. The employees that are under my area, I find it best to deal with face to face. A note, sometimes is misunderstood or mistaken. She has been with you this long with a few details that have either slipped out of control, or perhaps just need a little boosted attention. As an employer, someone new may be worse at the vacuuming, or require allot of training or just breaking in. I don't think I would pick up the slack with where she is failing at, and start doing what you feel is her job... just yet.

PLAN A: Take the time to talk before she begins her cleaning.(not after) Just ask for a talk about an overview of your needs. First thing with Her good qualities brought to attention. Make a note of all the stuff she is doing to your satisfaction. Thank her for those things and show your appreciation. Let her know since she has been with you so long, you would like to go over some things. A little praise first goes a long ways, and takes away the feeling that she is not being good enough.

Then ask if she could help with some details that mean allot to you. Like moving everything off the counters and doing some extra cleaning behind the stove. Let her see a list of things that you want to improve on your business arrangements.

Your a paying customer. Hopefully if she is a good business operator, or employee, she will see things with a good attitude and say "sure I can do that, no problem". That is the goal you hope to achieve.

I'm not implying to give a raise, but if she does improve with no problem, a little gratuity might be in order. Even a free lunch or dinner certificate works for me.

We all, sometimes over time, with either duties at work or even at home. Let things slide down hill with just the same old routine. Its natural as humans to just simplify our every day tasks. Some of us, when we begin a jobs are eager beavers and then over time, turn into lets just get this done a easily as possible, and move on, type workers. Lets face it, we all need a boost sometimes. I know I do.

If that doesn't work let me know( Plan B: ) I can be a real asshole to work for if plan A: Fails.... You can either see it my way, Or be wrong... Lets go over my way, or the highway one more time.

[beachguyz]

Sometimes a gentle suggestion can go a long way.

For example, you do a great job but I noticed that the following items need a little more attention. The next time your here please pay closer attention to these things.

Thanks again for all your good work.

[havefuninsun]

Originally Posted by tribbles

Do your boys have friends over?





(We have signs at our house to remind us to do things too!)

Yep ... but I'm not sure either of them allow their friends in the kitchen ... when my son saw the sign, he just rolled his eyes.

But -- I agree with Julie. If she has to leave a bunch of detailed assignments, then maybe she needs a new person.

(Not only do I hate doing the floors, I hate doing the kitchen and bathrooms, too ... bleah ... maybe I need a cleaning lady!)