6 Ways You May Be Annoying Your Housecleaner

Anyone lucky enough to have a housecleaner knows what a gift their service is. And their hard work should be rewarded with fair pay and a positive experience in your home. We already shared what cleaners wish you’d do before they arrive (yes, you need to tidy up), but how else can we ensure they do their jobs comfortably and well? Here’s what the owner of a popular cleaning service, plus some professional cleaners on Reddit, had to say about the habits that peeve them.

You’re Way Too Chatty

Of course, you should greet them politely and give them any instructions they may need, Maker says. “But then leave it at that and let your cleaning person get to work.” Don’t launch into a monologue or rope them into lengthy conversations. Since you’re the boss, Maker notes, they may not feel comfortable disengaging from the conversation. “If you’re chatty, they’re going to try to respond in kind because they don’t want to be rude. Then that takes them away from focusing on the cleaning.”

You’re in Their Way

If you follow them around and comment on what they’re doing, or if you remain planted in the room they’re trying to clean, “it’s very uncomfortable,” Maker says. “I’ve personally been in that situation, where no matter where I went, they were always there. I want to be able to focus. So give your housecleaner some space.” Similarly, one annoyed housecleaner on Reddit recalled, “I had a client start cooking food while I was in the middle of cleaning the kitchen!” Another wrote, “I was cleaning a mirror and I saw the home owner staring at me in the reflection behind me. I got chills like I was in a horror movie.”

Maker adds that it’s ideal if you leave your home entirely, but if you can’t or don’t want to, coordinate with your cleaner when they arrive about how you’ll share the space. “You could say, ‘I have a Zoom call at 11:30, so could you start in my office, and then we’ll switch spaces?'” she suggests.

You Ask Them to Do Extra Chores (and Don’t Pay Extra)

This is a big complaint among housecleaners on Reddit—that after they’ve agreed to a fee and a job scope with a client, the client will expect them to do additional tasks without offering a higher rate. One Redditor complained: “After I take my gloves off, wash hands, and gather my things: “Oh I forgot to ask, before you go, could you do one thing?’ That ‘one thing’ is a long, arduous task.”

Maker notes that it’s unfair to simply assume cleaners will do your laundry and wash a sink full of dishes, which are usually seen as beyond the typical scope. “That’s a conversation to have ahead of time: ‘Can you also strip and wash my sheets, load and unload the dishwasher, and clean up from last night’s dinner? I’ll pay you an extra hour.'” Be reasonable with your expectations, Maker says, and if you’re expecting more, be willing to pay more.

You Cancel at the Last Minute

“They’re relying on that income,” Maker says. “So give them time to find an extra booking so they can earn money. And if you cancel within a short time, like 48 hours or less, offer to pay them anyway, in full or in part. They might take it, they might not, but it’s the right thing to do.”

If you or someone in your house is sick and you’d like them to come anyway, let them know what’s going on. “You can offer to wear a mask, or offer to have them wear a mask. Make it part of a conversation and see what they’re comfortable with.”

You Skimp on Supplies

Clarify ahead of time whether your cleaner will bring their own supplies or whether they need products and tools from you, Maker says. Usually, even if cleaners bring some stuff, they’ll need basic supplies, like sponges, rags, and mops. “Make sure they’re set up for success. You can’t just give them a spray bottle with water and a roll of paper towels and expect them to make magic. If you give them crappy tools, you’re not going to be happy with the results.” A Redditor notes that a big annoyance is “when a client provides a pile of rags, but over time, each of the best ones disappear until I’m left with the lintiest, stiffest, nonabsorbent ones.”

If something you own—like a lacquered piece of furniture—requires a specialty product, provide that product for them. “And take the time to teach them how to use it,” Maker adds. Likewise, let them know if you’d prefer them to use nontoxic or homemade products. “This can be part of the conversation you have during the hiring process, to help you find the right cleaner for you.”

You Don’t Give Constructive Feedback

“Some people struggle with giving feedback to a cleaning person,” Maker says. “But it’s much better than being permissive and just getting annoyed, or saying, ‘I’m so fed up; I have to find a new person.” The key, of course, is to be polite and reasonable. “Find a way to express your concern to them,” Maker says. “Like, ‘Susie, I really appreciate all the work you do, and you do a great job. I’ve noticed you’ve been missing the baseboards, and that’s really important to me. Is there a way you can incorporate that? Is there a special tool you need?'” Remember: like most people, professional cleaners will appreciate polite but direct feedback.