spinoff to cleaning person thread

I hired a cleaning lady and have been using her for about a year. I find some of the things she does (or doesn't do) to be odd but since I've never had one before I'm not sure if this is normal. Here are my examples, please let me know if this is bizarre cleaning lady behavior. Last christmas she didn't touch the tree skirt and left it on the floor with all the pine needles still on it. Please note there were no presents on the skirt at the time. I personally think she could have just taken it outside and shook it out. Also, if there are times that the dishwasher is clean but we haven't put the dishes away yet we might leave a glass or 2 in the sink. She takes the glasses out of the sink so she can wash it and leaves them on the side of the sink with a note that reads the glasses are dirty and need to be washed. She NEVER does the windows or the refrigerator. Is this something I should be asking of her? She also doesn't clean all the way in back of the furniture. I know my vacuum reaches the back because when I vacuum myself I don't miss it. Is this normal?

eta: we usually make the bed before she comes but forgot once and she left the bed unmade

Message edited 12/14/2011 6:20:50 PM.

Re: spinoff to cleaning person thread

I think it's fine for you to ask her about any of those things, and to let her know that you would like her to address them. I would assume that the windows would be more, as most cleaning people charge extra for them. You can probably ask her to wash the refrigerator periodically, but if you want her to do it every week, you might have to pay more.

I give my cleaning person an extra $10 per week to address one "extra" thing - that could be anything from organizing the pantry to cleaning the refrigerator to deep cleaning the couches (or anything else that I think of that needs addressing).

I do think that it's strange that she leaves dishes dirty, but again, just talk to her about it. I ask my cleaning person to always check the dishwasher and if it is clean, to empty it. She doesn't charge extra for that. For vacuuming under the couches, I would definitely let her know...maybe even take out the vacuum and show her how you do it. Same for the tree skirt.

Re: spinoff to cleaning person thread

Do you have a specific list of things the cleaning lady needs to do? I dont use cleaning lady or any service but my friends who do advise me to have a list of "must do" items before they agree on a price - anywhere from dirty dishes, making a bed, dusting under certain pieces of furniture, bathrooms, etc..If all these are spelled out CLEARLY, then there is no room for a cleaning lady to say she "didnt know" that was part of the contract.

Another thing is - if there was no agreement or suggestions made to clean certain items, and the lady forgot to make my bed or left dirty dishes in the sink, I would never hire her again. My $$ is too valuable to throw it away on people who dont do a good job.

Re: spinoff to cleaning person thread

Posted by MrsS1976

Do you have a specific list of things the cleaning lady needs to do? I dont use cleaning lady or any service but my friends who do advise me to have a list of "must do" items before they agree on a price - anywhere from dirty dishes, making a bed, dusting under certain pieces of furniture, bathrooms, etc..If all these are spelled out CLEARLY, then there is no room for a cleaning lady to say she "didnt know" that was part of the contract.

Another thing is - if there was no agreement or suggestions made to clean certain items, and the lady forgot to make my bed or left dirty dishes in the sink, I would never hire her again. My $$ is too valuable to throw it away on people who dont do a good job.

Re: spinoff to cleaning person thread

Sometimes while my cleaning lady is here, there will be a dish or two in the sink. ESP if she is here while we are home. She will do the dishes.

She doesn't do all my windows but she does the blinds and stuff for dust. We bring in a window cleaning company every spring. Our house is tall and the windows generally need interior and exterior cleaning. She does do the storm door and our sliding door though.

I would certainly ask her to do the dirty dishes and in my eyes there is NO excuse for leaving your bed unmade.