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.

Maybe she was taken aback by your comment and she didn't know what to say. Although I'm sure you were perfectly nice about it, she may have felt defensive and responded likewise once she thought more it. I wouldn't worry about the drama. Hopefully it won't happen again.

I find the reaction of your cleaner a bit over the top. Does she not need this job. She would quit for the sole reason of not being able to use paper towels? I don't get it.

It's your house and you made one special request. Don't think it's such a big deal, either. I would find someone else.

Anonymous wrote:You know what. It's perfectly fine to make a simple request like "I would prefer that you use rags instead of paper towels." However, once the person responds that she can do a better job with the paper towels and prefers not to use rags, you should acquiesce and let her use the paper towels. You raised an issue, the responded. But you needed to impose your will and your choice on the employee. She felt that it was better to resign than to argue with the customer so she did. She felt that working under your conditions would mean that she would do a (for her) subpar job and she didn't want to be responsible for a subpar job. You wanted her to compromise her personal standards. I think you should have let it go when she replied that she didn't feel she could do as good a job with the rags. I don't blame her. I would hate to work for such a controlling employer as well.

If you're so worried about an extra dollar or two, get a cheaper brand of paper towels, put it on the counter where she'll find it when she arrives and let her use that brand for cleaning.

this. If the service is good, she can easily replace you, the PITA customer with another referral from someone who is not a PITA and doesn't care about the paper towels.

Anonymous wrote:I can afford the PT but it's wasteful and bad for the environment.

This is why I asked her to use the rags. But, it's not worth losing a good housekeeper. And the other comment about what other simple request is going to cause her to quit next time - that's more my concern.

But, I also know she wants to do as good a job as possible and perhaps I shouldn't be asking her to change her methods... so that point is well-taken and will factor in to any requests I may or may not make in the future.

We don't even buy paper towels in our house. Don't even have them in the house. I feel like it's spending $$ on something that is going to end up in the garbage; why don't I just skip a step and throw my $$ directly into the garbage? We use old towels and wash cloths to clean.

I also have to hide the PT when my cleaner comes. I can afford the PT but it's wasteful and bad for the environment. I have her use rags that I bleach between uses. When I forget to hide them she uses them (though I've asked her not to) she does a good job so it's not a dealbreaker for me

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.

You know what. It's perfectly fine to make a simple request like "I would prefer that you use rags instead of paper towels." However, once the person responds that she can do a better job with the paper towels and prefers not to use rags, you should acquiesce and let her use the paper towels. You raised an issue, the responded. But you needed to impose your will and your choice on the employee. She felt that it was better to resign than to argue with the customer so she did. She felt that working under your conditions would mean that she would do a (for her) subpar job and she didn't want to be responsible for a subpar job. You wanted her to compromise her personal standards. I think you should have let it go when she replied that she didn't feel she could do as good a job with the rags. I don't blame her. I would hate to work for such a controlling employer as well.

If you're so worried about an extra dollar or two, get a cheaper brand of paper towels, put it on the counter where she'll find it when she arrives and let her use that brand for cleaning.

At least she's not breaking stuff around the house and scaring the dog..............

Also, buy the Bounty™ paper towels. It's not worth it to even try to clean anything with a cheap, crappily made paper towel. A roll of 6 is like 10 bucks, tops. You have to get over this.

Anonymous wrote:If you can afford a housekeeper you can afford a half a roll of paper towels. Case closed.

And that would be half a roll of paper towels every two weeks. Not about to break the bank, I'm sure.

Can I just say that I lol'd at your wording of your interaction with this woman? Seriously though, just eat the cost of the paper towels. She will probably be a lot more conservative about how many she uses now. Good cleaners are very hard to find.

I thank the OP because I was getting annoyed at the excessive use of paper towels at my house too. At first, I hid them. Now, upon reflection and after reading these posts, I am going to buy paper towels just for this purpose. I don't like rags and sponges for everything. Gross.

If you can afford a housekeeper you can afford a half a roll of paper towels. Case closed.

Have you ever tried to wipe down dirty window seams or clean a bath tub? Cheap paper towels are impossible. Rags are just ok. Paper towels are easier. What if your boss told you to please stop using the good pens, or keyboard? Deal with it, OP. She's doing her job the best way she can.