It’s just a quick window clean, a small stain on the carpet, and a request to simply use some Oven Pride after a Sunday roast. So why is your cleaner being so obstructive? Are they really just a breed of stubborn people, or is there more to it than meets the eye?
Here’s 5 reasons why your cleaner is telling you no, and why you shouldn’t think badly of them for it.
1. You aren’t their boss… or are you?
There is a misconception that inviting a cleaner in to your home means that you can manage what they do, how long they spend doing it, which products to use, their methods etc.
While this is not true, it is generally tolerated to the point that it accepted as fact. However, in this circumstance, you are not employing the cleaner, you are employing the services of a cleaner, and the difference is enshrined in law.
Many cleaners, even ones that work for companies, are self-employed and own their own business. This comes with many drawbacks, but it does have some benefits – a few being that they get to decide what services they offer, what products they use, who they work for, how many hours they work and what they are charge. In fact, some of these rights are what define a person as self-employed.
If you have the ability to dictate what your cleaner does, how they clean, what products they use, then you leave their self-employed status open to dispute. A famed example of this was Pimlico plumbers who dictated the terms under which self-employed individuals could function. Pimlico is now a direct employer of said previously self-employed people after a court battle.
2. They’re a cleaner, not a housekeeper
“Why won’t they just change the bed if I provide the bedding?”
“An hours work is an hours work. What’s the problem?”
Cleaning and Housekeeping are distinctly different job titles with different training, insurance, liabilities and personal skills. If that person did not sign up to be a housekeeper you might understand how they’d be hesitant to invite negative feedback by undertaking jobs they are accustomed to.
If a cleaner destroyed your favourite dress after you asked them to do the odd load of washing, it is likely you will want some form of compensation which will probably be the burden of the cleaner and not their insurance company should they not be insured to undertake laundry.
Cleaning is also underestimated as a physically taxing job. You might find that your cleaner will do jobs upon request, but charge more for them because they are harder physical work. This isn’t because they are being opportunistic, it is simply that they should charge more for tasks that wear more heavily on the only body they have. Here’s an example: If you were offered the same wage for dusting ornaments as scrubbing skirting boards on your hands and knees, which would be your choice?
Cleaners are inherently people pleasers – they want to help people and often go above and beyond, but you should not pressure your cleaner to work outside of their comfort zone, particularly if you expect to hold them accountable. It’s advisable that you acknowledge your cleaners guidance as it is probably sound advice.
3. They might actually know better
Some people prefer to give to‐do lists and manage the visiting cleaner, however, a good cleaner knows how to methodically clean a room and might find such lists clunky and unneccesary. Sometimes to‐do lists can result in a larger bill for the client as the cleaner is forced to work in a way that less efficient for them. If your cleaner insists on using a different method or says no, it might be reasonable expect that they’ve declined for a good, professional reason.
4. They’re not insured to do the task
Ovens, carpets, windows, heights and bleach – all are expensive words when it comes to insurance quotes. Cleaners are not insured to put cloth and chemical to every surface within a house. Some surfaces are more expensive than others and it’s not a given that every cleaner will want to try their hand at every task. There are item’s and surfaces that they deem too high risk to address or that their insurance will not cover. For this reason a cleaner will wisely decline the task.