What is everyone doing with things like cleaners?

DD265

We had the cat sitter booked next weekend but now aren't going away - we're still paying her as it's only £24 and both of us are still earning. I don't know how I'd feel about something more regular/expensive, probably pay the next month and then reassess.

In normal circumstances I'd probably object to paying for a service that I'm not receiving, but these are most definitely not normal circumstances!

BrassicWoman

I'm doing the cleaning but paying the cleaner - for as long as I'm getting paid, anyway.

NeilCr

My cleaner came today.

Although I was in (usually out when she is here but gym closed) we maintained a gap of comfortably  more than two meters. In reality she did all the rooms apart from the one I was in. I then changed rooms. She finished and let herself out and I then emerged. 

She is happy to keep coming but, obviously, any total lockdown will stop that. She drives here.

Misslayed

My cleaner was willing to come and work in different rooms to us, but VERY relieved when I said not to, and that we'd continue to pay her. Extraordinary times, extraordinary measures. Feeling very fragile now that our local hospital has reported its first virus death.

oystercatcher

Yesterday evening my cleaner and I agreed she would come and we would stay in different rooms as we  all seemed healthy, I was feeling a little uncomfortable with this though. So, this morning I was quite relieved when she messaged that she had decided to self isolate. Only problem now is humping the blooming great big vacuum cleaner around. I do have a small one but it's not working well. 

I  must admit I feel no obligation to pay her while she's not working I believe as a household her family are probably more comfortable than we are .

ceh209

I've cancelled this week's clean as OH has a cold, the company completely understood. Normal arrangements for cancelled cleans with a week's notice are that you pay half, so that's what I'm doing this time.

I hope to have them back in 2 week's time as long as they're happy with it, we're WFH now so will stay in different rooms while they're here. It's a cleaning company  (small, 6 employees) so at least there is some protection for the staff if people do cancel.

beedeedee

I've arranged that she comes in and immediately washes her hands in the downstairs loo, drying her hands with the blue paper roll, then putting the waste in the bin by the loo. There is a box of gloves at the bottom of the stairs, so she puts some on, then upstairs to clean just the bathroom and en-suite as usual. Gloves into the bin. 

All other doors are closed and she doesn't do downstairs right now, but we still pay her the same. Afterwards I wipe the front door handle and cloakroom door handle with bleach.

Fireflyaway

I don't have a cleaner but if I did, the way things are right now I would ask them not to come. Especially if they use equipment that's used in other people's homes such as hoovers, cloths or mops etc. Because people can carry the virus for a good while and have no symptoms it's risky even if they feel well. Our letting agent has now cancelled the 6 month visit which is good!

NeilCr

Fireflyaway said:

I don't have a cleaner but if I did, the way things are right now I would ask them not to come. Especially if they use equipment that's used in other people's homes such as hoovers, cloths or mops etc. Because people can carry the virus for a good while and have no symptoms it's risky even if they feel well. Our letting agent has now cancelled the 6 month visit which is good!

My cleaner uses my own equipment. It is relatively easy to maintain the required distance and we discussed it beforehand to make sure that we were both happy

Anyway from about ten minutes time I doubt she'll be here for a while. She, helpfully, gave me a tutorial in using and emptying the vacuum before she left.

silvercar

My cleaner has told me that one of the other people she cleans for now has a temperature, so she feels (and I agree) that she needs to stop working in other people's houses. I've agreed to give her 2 weeks money for now and then we will speak again.