Cleaning service did a crappy job today...

[Anonymous]

and I am mad and disappointed. I am not one to complain a lot, either.

It was their third time at my house. I pay $140.00 for a smallish 4 bedroom 1939 colonial (no addition) and they are supposed to stay for two hours. I came home 1.5 hours after they arrived and they were already gone. The floors weren't even wet from the mopping they are supposed to do. Nothing was dusted, there were crumbs on the dining room table (from breakfast), they didn't move my couches to vacuum/mop underneath, beds were made sloppily, hair was in the upstairs bathroom sink, they didn't move small appliances in kitchen to wipe behind them, baseboards were dusty, wooden plantations shutters weren't wiped down, and it was just an overall shoddy job.

We just got home from vacation and I didn't even have them change the sheets, I just had them make up beds because they were only slept in on Sunday and Monday nights.

The contract we have says all of the above is included. I emailed and heard back from the owner. She said they would come and dust, but to tell you the truth I am over it. I don't know how to kindly tell them that we're done because I feel badly, but truth be told they did a crappy job. I would not feel good shelling out another $140.00 two weeks from now. It takes a LOT to ruffle my feathers and I hate confrontation.

I am willing to pay good money for someone to come in and clean my house decently but I am feeling frustrated. The cleaning people (not a service) we had before them were nice and did a good job overall, but they threw everything out. We are talking library books, DVDs, magazines from inside drawers, etc. I talked to them about it, but it kept happening.

Are my expectations out of whack or should I expect more for $140.00?

[Anonymous]

Maid Brigade? I have them and they are terrible. I am going to switch companies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maid Brigade? I have them and they are terrible. I am going to switch companies.

OP here- Nope, not them...

[Anonymous]

Call the company and have them return. If it is not done right some of the companies have a return policy. Don't just complain to a board, call the company and complain.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I pay $110 for fairly large 4BR. Always do great job. Much better than last housekeeper who had a guy who constantly broke stuff.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps they fled because of the earthquake and never finished.

[Anonymous]

OP- I really hate these cleaning companies. I didn't have a good experience with 3 of them so I gave up. But it's been one year since my friend recommended her cleaning service with a couple(a guy and a woman) and oh my gosh. I pay them with pleasure!!!! Plus, it is the same people in your house every time. I hate the fact these companies send different maids each time. With the same people, you can trust easier.

[Anonymous]

i have had great luck from our neighborhood listserve. you might want to post and see if anyone has someone they would recommend. It has worked out well as our person can now do 2 houses in the neighborhood in 1 day so she does not need to drive all over the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps they fled because of the earthquake and never finished.

Yes, I thought that too. I would cut them some slack. Sounds like it was an incomplete job for an unusual and scary reason. But they should offer to do what they didn't complete at no charge. Make a list.

[Anonymous]

I have noticed that cleaning services clean great the first time or two, and then the attention to detail drops off the cliff. not sure why this is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Call the company and have them return. If it is not done right some of the companies have a return policy. Don't just complain to a board, call the company and complain.

I emailed the owner. She offered to return (I put it in the post) but I just don't know if I feel like dealing with it. I just wanted to know if my expectations are out of whack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps they fled because of the earthquake and never finished.

Yes, I thought that too. I would cut them some slack. Sounds like it was an incomplete job for an unusual and scary reason. But they should offer to do what they didn't complete at no charge. Make a list.

They came at 8:30. I returned at 10:00. They were gone. Earthquake was much later... Of course if it was while the earthquake happened I totally would have cut them slack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i have had great luck from our neighborhood listserve. you might want to post and see if anyone has someone they would recommend. It has worked out well as our person can now do 2 houses in the neighborhood in 1 day so she does not need to drive all over the place.

OP here. Thank you. Great idea.

[Anonymous]

For $140 I would expect the house to be clean. No dust, no crumbs, no hair. Everything sanitized, everything clean.

I know what I can accomplish in 2 hours and I would expect he same from one person and twice as clean from a crew of two.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't deal with them any longer. My cleaner has also slacked off, once too many times, so I am done. The last time, blinds were still dusty, kitchen floor was gritty, kid table was not wiped, bag of trash left on dining chair, shower still had mold. No more.