This is a housekeeper issue. This is a rant.

Let me say first that I do realize that many will want to come on and say how they wish they could hire a housekeeper. Be careful what you wish for! I wish more than anything that I could do it myself! The right way. On time. For free.

Here is the issue: Convenience products designed to "make life easier, less work, blah blah blah". The current gal has been on her way out for some time but I haven't found a replacement.

Her JOB is to CLEAN and she is forever asking me to get her the latest convenience items at a much higher product cost. Much of it I have just accepted as the inevitable lower standard that comes with someone else cleaning my house (no one, but no one, can do it right like my mom taught me).

I almost fired her on the spot when I discovered that she had been dragging that stupid, useless Swiffer duster all over the house after USING IT ON THE KITCHEN COUNTER. The furniture here is wood and is supposed to be cleaned with an oil rag. My mistake, I bought the freakin' duster for her. New Girl will not see one single Swiffer product here, ever.

Today, I'm wondering how she had the sheer audacity to ask me to unload the toilet brushes and buy the new spot clingy toilet things. I almost pushed her into the toilet myself.

Am I overreacting here? Should I pay to make her paid job easier? It's absolutely proved by her history that no matter how much or how little she is asked to do, it will be her absolute 4-hours fee every time.

C'mon want ads & networking feelers, we need a good replacement now!

Usually they bring their own products! I don't clean house, but my brother has a housecleaner and they bring their own cleaning products.

Sounds to me like she is very young and inexperienced.

Maybe if you tell her you will give her a raise, but out of that raise, she is supposed to purchase her own cleaning products. See if she still wants the latest and greatest supplies! It's different when it comes out of her own pocket.

LOL, I feel so much better after posting that, I'm gonna go fire her right now!

It's like old times, sometimes I so miss my job !

Wow. The swiffer thing got me. Totally understand the need to vent about this.

I've never hired anyone personally, but know others who have.

Those cleaning services brought their own stuff, except the toilet thingys. They had their own rags, cleaners (would only use those in the HH if someone was allergic to something or client was insistent), brooms, dust mops, etc.

If it was me, I'd definitely put feelers out for a new service. Asking them about products they use, what their policies are for what's used (like getting new ones between jobs), experience, etc.

Hope the next experience is better.

Cindy,

Fire her now.

Her job should require that she bring her own equipment just like every other housekeeper does.

She is taking advantage of you.

Fire her.

-Vic

I have done condo cleaning WE BRING OUR OWN CLEANING SUPPLIES!!!!!!!!!!
That includes cloths detergent mops brooms garbage bags wood polish and or oil..etc. Never do we ask the client to buy supplies!!!!!!
fire her hire me!!!

Wow AMN. I don't even buy the fancy stuff for us! If someone were cleaning, they'd either use the cheap but good stuff I buy or bring their own!

My niece has a flourishing cleaning business. She brings all of her own supplies and machines. She gets paid big bucks to clean fancy houses too!

that is the person doing the jobs' responsibility, to have the required tools, and maybe if and when a special item is warranted then perhaps. If I wash windows I am not going to ask the home owner for anything other than the water I will need, I am not going to say hey do you have a bucket and sponge maybe a squeegee, that's totally unacceptable. sub standards for sure, all want a pay check but they don't want to do the work needed for said paycheck.

I agree i clean like I was taught by Mom and Nana, I have a few times tried to explain to my kids, if you want the floor to look great get down there and scrub, and i still do, self cleaning ovens bite too, spray it leave it over night and ten get in and do it, I am not sure if and when this day may come for me but I can see a lot of problems already insight for me dealing with someone halfwit, that will do what your halfwit is doing.

if you shoved her in the toilet you would of taken a picture and posted it right? No you are not wrong

yes good money doing condos on the Beach here 30-50$ a unit that takes maybe 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
AMN you should of posted this sooner and fired her when you had that first thought!

The Swiffer does not clean as well. We have a similar situation here. We use the Swiffer as a convenience ourselves and to clean up after our pets. We have health problems and this makes things much easier. We need a good complete cleaning now and again and honestly, this is why we have the cleaning service once in awhile. Now, our person wants to use the Swiffer and the Shark no chord vacuum we bought. She sneeks them when we are not home, etc. I have the same dilemma and have wondered about it. Personally, I would not agree to buy these things. What I think I am going to do is tell her she is not to use them unless she asks first. Naturally, under special circumstances, like she is not feeling 100% or has to leave a little early and would like to save a little time, I wouldn't mind. However, I really don't want it to be a regular thing. I personally need the more thorough cleaning done now and again and don't have top notch health to do it. I am counting on her and paying her to do it for me. The convenience items are my fill ins.