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

Why are you bumping a 13 year old thread? WHY????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re making a bigger issue than it is OP. She likes using paper towels. You asked her to use rags, she told you she won’t come back if she has to use rags.

Given what you say that she charges less and cleans well, it seems that she can easily replace you as a customer. So it’s easier for her to find another customer than to spend extra time polishing surfaces with rags.

If the paper towel bothers you, it means you continue looking till you find a good fit.

OP started this thread 13 years ago. I'm sure she has moved on by now.

Given the posts from others ruminating about long past events, I doubt it.

My cleaning service used very few paper towels. They use clean rags. I made a point of looking for a service that used rags as environmentally. I would be disturbed if I had somebody coming to my house every two weeks and he's half a roll of paper towels. Not for the cost, but for the waste. Some paper towels are OK but not the entire house.

Anonymous wrote: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

Bleaching can't possibly be good for the environment either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re making a bigger issue than it is OP. She likes using paper towels. You asked her to use rags, she told you she won’t come back if she has to use rags.

Given what you say that she charges less and cleans well, it seems that she can easily replace you as a customer. So it’s easier for her to find another customer than to spend extra time polishing surfaces with rags.

If the paper towel bothers you, it means you continue looking till you find a good fit.

OP started this thread 13 years ago. I'm sure she has moved on by now.

The worst part of this thread is that I remember the original post. I've been on here way too long.

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

Is this a joke? 2012 post and you swing in with this bs comment?

Sigh

Anonymous wrote:I think you’re making a bigger issue than it is OP. She likes using paper towels. You asked her to use rags, she told you she won’t come back if she has to use rags.

Given what you say that she charges less and cleans well, it seems that she can easily replace you as a customer. So it’s easier for her to find another customer than to spend extra time polishing surfaces with rags.

If the paper towel bothers you, it means you continue looking till you find a good fit.

OP started this thread 13 years ago. I'm sure she has moved on by now.

I think you’re making a bigger issue than it is OP. She likes using paper towels. You asked her to use rags, she told you she won’t come back if she has to use rags.

Given what you say that she charges less and cleans well, it seems that she can easily replace you as a customer. So it’s easier for her to find another customer than to spend extra time polishing surfaces with rags.

If the paper towel bothers you, it means you continue looking till you find a good fit.

sometimes they quit when they get feedback because they are embarrassed or got their feelings hurt.

so if you have issues, i would bring them up asap and one at a time so you don't overwhelm her with your "complaints."

maybe if you buy a BUNCH of rags/washcloths, she would use them.

i do agree that fussing about a half roll of paper towels is weird.

wish i had a cleaner!

NP here. I think I know why the housekeeper wanted to not work at OP's house. They are good at spotting the nightmare employers.

I have a cleaning lady. I have told her that I wanted her to use my supplies (not asking for any discounts) because I am a germaphobe and I did not want her to use rags, vacuum that she used in someone else's house in mine.

Fair enough. She walked through my house, told me what supplies she would need. I went to Costco (automotive aisle) and picked out a huge stack of microfiber towels and of course bounty paper towels. She uses paper towels in the bathrooms and microfiber cloth for the rest of the house. When she finishes the work, she washes all the rags in my washing machine.

People like some autonomy.
She fell on her sword to assert her desire to use paper towels.

I would keep her under the assumption that she takes a pride in her job, and wants you to respect that.

If, however, she continues to push back when you give polite feedback (not micromanaging), the get a new company.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the cost of half a roll of paper towels?

About 50 cents. OP is crazy and a big old nitpicker.

I have to agree that I don't like the waste. Clogging our landfills and all. However, I will agree that some things (e.g., mirrors and glass) clean better with paper towels than with rags, as rags leave streaks.

You live in a house so big you need help to clean it. And you are paying money to a person who does a good job.

Let's say she uses 26 rolls of recycled paper towels a year. How does that really compare to your household consumption in terms of ecological burden?

And how does the annual cost of the paper towels compare to the annual cost of her services?

I think she was going to quit because people that work independently/with family don't like to be ordered around/want control over their work. Nitpicky customers usually have more than one complaint/pet peeve.

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

I know. This is such a non issue. I have no idea how many paper towels my cleaner uses.

So you want her to clean your toilet seat with a rag then clean your kitchen counter with the rag? You really think they're aware of cross contamination? Most don't. Im a former house cleaner 99% do not know this.