How to find a decent cleaner?

bobwilson

spadoosh wrote: »

Its a domestic task that most people in the world are capable of doing irrespective of their ability to speak.

I won't respond to the rest of your post because I think if you garnered racism from my op, you must find it everywhere in life. Perhaps take note of your own signature "don't be angry :mad:".

Re: speaking english, it does actually affect cleaning more than you might think. Our cleaner couldn't work out how to unlock the front door, couldn't find the mop, didn't know how to clean the shower glass, didn't put away plates or tidy the kitchen. Explaining things to her (even in hand gestures) proved useless. Bare in mind, when I mentioned she doesn't speak a single word of english, I meant not even "thanks" or "hello", so we are limited to google translate, but by the time you've typed out a sentence & received a reply, that's 15 minutes of cleaning time gone - and the meaning is often lost regardless. So I don't think your idea that cleaners don't need to speak english is necessarily true. (nor your opinions of me as a person!)

bobwilson

teneighty wrote: »

I feel your pain. The other day I had to have my coffee and sandwich served in Pret by a surly British person. Oh the horror! I had to go and have a lie down in my safe space.

I get the sarcasm in your post but just because you feel so attracted to British & put out by foreigners, doesn't mean the opposite applies to me. :cool:

spadoosh

bobwilson wrote: »

I won't respond to the rest of your post because I think if you garnered racism from my op, you must find it everywhere in life. Perhaps take note of your own signature "don't be angry :mad:".

Re: speaking english, it does actually affect cleaning more than you might think. Our cleaner couldn't work out how to unlock the front door, couldn't find the mop, didn't know how to clean the shower glass, didn't put away plates or tidy the kitchen. Explaining things to her (even in hand gestures) proved useless. Bare in mind, when I mentioned she doesn't speak a single word of english, I meant not even "thanks" or "hello", so we are limited to google translate, but by the time you've typed out a sentence & received a reply, that's 15 minutes of cleaning time gone - and the meaning is often lost regardless. So I don't think your idea that cleaners don't need to speak english is necessarily true. (nor your opinions of me as a person!)

I dont find racism everywhere in life. Its actually quite rare for me to highlight it. And im not angry, highlighting racism doesnt make me angry in the slightest.

Fantastic points you make yet the Filipino lady we had live with us for two years as a live in maid whilst living in Hong Kong also didnt speak a word of english. She did of course by the end of it but at the start didnt know a word unfortunately for her. Me and my sister probably wherent the most helpful in that regard. My mother hasnt been able to find someone comparable (pro rata of course) since and that was 25 years ago.

You might be correct in that the language barrier prevented the cleaner from doing anything at all effectively i dont disregard that possibility. I suspect though its more likely that the person just wasnt that committed to the job and therefore was happy to get away with doing as little as possible.

bobwilson

spadoosh wrote: »

yet the Filipino lady we had live with us for two years as a live in maid whilst living in Hong Kong also didnt speak a word of english. She did of course by the end of it but at the start didnt know a word unfortunately for her. Me and my sister probably wherent the most helpful in that regard. My mother hasnt been able to find someone comparable (pro rata of course) since and that was 25 years ago.

... which is great you found a cleaner costs who doesn't need to be spoken to, to do a good job! Not everyone is so lucky. My cleaner costs £17ph, spent almost 2 hours doing a tiny bathroom & I couldn't manage to communicate to her that I needed the kitchen & hallway done as well. Not understanding which rooms need cleaning isn't a laziness problem. Therein lies the communication problem. That doesn't make me racist.

Given that I mentioned in my posts that I wish people hadn't voted for brexit, I'd suggest that your idea I'm racist is a little short sighted.

Mistral001

They are working in someone's home and that comes with pressures that you do not find in ordinary workplaces.

People who can handle those pressures are hard to find.

bobwilson

Spadoosh I think stretching to accuse anyone of racism is vulgar & unnecessary.

spadoosh

bobwilson wrote: »

Spadoosh I think stretching to accuse anyone of racism is vulgar & unnecessary.

Im not stretching. Ive offered validity to my argument with reason.

Might be worth bearing in mind that my opinion was formed in response to your pompous post where youre derogatory to a number of members in society.

From your post id say youve probably insulted half of the electorate, cleaners and those who dont speak english at the very least.

Is confrontation new to you? I get the feeling that rubbing people up the wrong way isnt?

My end, all ive done is insult you, i dont feel like im losing the moral high ground here.

Aylesbury_Duck

bobwilson wrote: »

Re: speaking english, it does actually affect cleaning more than you might think. Our cleaner couldn't work out how to unlock the front door, couldn't find the mop, didn't know how to clean the shower glass, didn't put away plates or tidy the kitchen. Explaining things to her (even in hand gestures) proved useless. Bare in mind, when I mentioned she doesn't speak a single word of english, I meant not even "thanks" or "hello", so we are limited to google translate, but by the time you've typed out a sentence & received a reply, that's 15 minutes of cleaning time gone - and the meaning is often lost regardless. So I don't think your idea that cleaners don't need to speak english is necessarily true. (nor your opinions of me as a person!)

Why did you imagine yourself naked when speaking to her?

No wonder she was a little confused when you're typing out sentences like that!

bobwilson

spadoosh wrote: »

My end, all ive done is insult you, i dont feel like im losing the moral high ground here.

Well, as long as you have the moral high ground...

DigForVictory

Have you tried an agency that doesn't just do cleaners? I was on a nanny agency's books as a babysitter but given my postcode I got asked if I'd do cleaning (for the rates offered, yes) & even cat-sitting.

Look around from cleaner to care agencies as if they have people available, the agency likes its percentage.
As has been mention in London you may need to offer more per hour but you can insist on references etc.