housekeeper issue - wwyd?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We had a service (Ash Maids) coming every two weeks up until a couple months ago. We'd never been thrilled with them but too lazy to find anyone else. Finally in March I decided to find a new cleaner so we contacted someone that had received rave reviews. Turns out she sent her sister to clean our house. She's done a great job but last time she was here I noticed that she went through half a roll of paper towels. So, I thought I'd ask her to use our rags instead of paper towels. I was here when she arrived as I am working from home so I brought up using rags. She said that she could get things shinier with paper towels and I said I'd prefer not to go through so many paper towels and would rather she use rags. That was the end of the conversation and she cleaned the house.

Fast forward a couple hours and she's leaving. She says totally out of the blue "I called my sister and I'm sorry but this is my last time cleaning your house." I asked why and she basically said she needed to use the paper towels, she felt like she couldn't do as good a job cleaning with rags, I think she felt like I was being controlling by accusing her of using too many paper towels, etc. I was really surprised - didn't realize it was such a big deal. After a weird 10 minute conversation about paper towels and how she needs them because our house is really dusty and there's a lot of hair, I asked if she would come back if she could use the paper towels, and she said yes, see you next week. I'm sure some people will accuse me of being a be-otch about the paper towels, which I was not. Just expressed a preference to not use so many paper towels. It seemed like a fine conversation which is why I was seriously shocked when she apparently had such an issue with it.

I don't know how to react to this. We like her, she's less expensive than the service we were using and she does a good job. She obviously has a lot of pride in her work. There are definitely some language issues that might have made the whole interaction a bigger deal than it needed to be. She seemed genuinely upset at the idea of losing a house but I guess felt like she couldn't work under those circumstances (using rags instead of paper towels).

I think I'm still comfortable using her but this whole thing was so dramatic and weird, I don't know what might set her off and make her want to quit next time.
Would you keep her on?

The thought of using rags is disgusting.

[Anonymous]

idk how this got revived from 2012 or something, but:

If you are supplying the paper towels OR rags, you damn well better be withholding for Social Security and unemployment because they are your employee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:idk how this got revived from 2012 or something, but:

If you are supplying the paper towels OR rags, you damn well better be withholding for Social Security and unemployment because they are your employee.

Also, if she is less expensive (aside from the OP being years ago) then that pays for paper towels, right?

[Anonymous]

You have to be more flexible when it’s not a big business. I had something similar because we didn’t have paper towels the first time they came. I went out and bought two from dollar tree and also gave them cleaning cloths. They use both. During the last visit they asked if they could use a mop they brought. It looked like a squee something you clean windows with but was very long. I said sure that’s fine even though I prefer to use our mop. Sometimes you gotta be flexible op! I end up mopping a second time because I feel like the floors downstairs aren’t super clean but they get everything else clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree on the rags spreading germs but she went through literally a half a roll of paper towels last time - I was just surprised by the sheer volume. It's both the cost and the general waste. But, probably worth it for someone that does a good job...

I may need to figure out a way to not be here when she comes so that I can't offend her again. LOL.

Thanks for the quick input.

If you can afford cleaners every other week you can afford to spend $5 on paper towels once a month.

Maybe your rags look nasty, esp if you have a hair and dust build up after 2 werks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi - OP here. It's actually not about the paper towels - it was more the drama that she was going to quit over it. If she had initially said, "I really prefer paper towels and here's why, and I don't want to clean your house if I can't do it the way I like to do it" I would have thought it was a little weird but no big deal and been fine with whatever. But, when I made the request she didn't act like it was a major issue, and then after she was done, she told me she wasn't coming back. That's what I was shocked by. Just seemed so dramatic and was definitely awkward.

We're going to keep her (for now, as long as no issues emerge) and I will try to avoid making requests that may indicate I am not pleased with her cleaning style. She does a good job and clearly takes pride in her work.

and I am amazed on this forum that only one person called me crazy and nitpicky. I was expecting a lot more of that.

She didn’t respond right away because she had to talk to her sister first!!! I’m shocked you don’t understand this.

[Anonymous]

Why the heck are people responding to a 13 year old thread?

If this thread were a kid, it would be in middle school.

[Anonymous]

What the heck op? You are upset she used half a roll of paper towels? You'd prefer her to dip her hands in gross towel and dirty water?
I'd quit on the spot. You don't deserve to have help.
Hint, the other housekeepers were not the issue, you are the issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why the heck are people responding to a 13 year old thread?

If this thread were a kid, it would be in middle school.

I did not notice, and answered. Now I am not happy. Why are people reviving 13 year old posts? Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Supervisors in the work place in the real world frequently make requests , demands of subordinates that they may not like or agree with but the employee is still obligated to implement the request or they could be considered insubordinate . The homeowner in this situation also has the right to enforce requests . The house keeper has the right to terminate employment and look for another job just as they would in the real work place . The home owner can cater or compromise or refuseas they wish just as a supervisor in the work place would. Homeowner pays for services rendered and that does not include lip service . Employment is at will for either party . I side with the home owner

It seems you are new to dcum. Do not waste our time, but resurrecting long ago threads. Unless you are the homeowner from 2012? Also you sound cheap and insane, we just don't post on dcum.

[Anonymous]

I’d prefer my cleaning person use paper towels. Rags risk spreading germs if they aren’t changed between surfaces. Personally, I use rags to dust and polish furniture. I might use a clean rag to clean the kitchen but only if it is designated kitchen only. I never ever use rags in the bathroom unless I am ready to dispose of them. If I walked in on someone I hired using rags, I’d probably feel like I needed to go room to room and disinfect as soon as they left.

[Anonymous]

if we can afford housekeepers, we can afford the materials that they are comfortable using to do their best job.Also, an independent housekeeper is way better than any service.