Bizarre Funny Story: House Cleaners & I Just Don't Mix!!

12 years ago

I don't know what it is but every time I hire people to clean my home, disaster strikes . . . and it happened again!

I used to have a housekeeper who came every other week. One day she sat down in our good rocking chair, the thing broke into 3 pieces and she crashed to the floor. She was thankfully ok. That was my main concern and I wasn't angry with her at all! The chair was a total loss, though. Soon after that she decided that house cleaning was not for her. I was sad, because I really liked her.

Her replacement was a gal who repeatedly tried to talk me into paying her 80 y/o mother, whom she brought along with her. She told me that she helped keep her company while she cleaned . . . I'm serious! That one didn't last long (LOL!).

Our first Christmas in this place, I was 4 month pregnant and already having some complications (I went eclampic at 7 months and had DD via emergency C-section). Anyhoo, we hired our neigbor's housekeeper and her adult daughter to clean the morning of a big catered dinner party we were throwing for all of DH's staff and their SOs. The daughter tripped over our new vacuum, broke the vacuum, slamming it into the adobe wall of our foyer, knocking a 12" hole in the wall and breaking an expensive 3' vase in the corner there. Again, I didn't get angry or yell or berate her. Just made sure she was ok and helped her clean it up.

Thankfully DH was able to get the hole semi-patched (just)before the guests arrived, but I swore off cleaning people after that. . . until last Thursday (sigh).

I tend to get very stressed out getting this place cleaned for the holidays, as we host Christmas Day here. DH talked me into getting a little help this year in hopes that it would help. Four housekeepersand the company owner arrived. He was training 2 new gals, so he came along to work with them. They were very nice and did a pretty good job cleaning, but the one wiping down my beautiful Hudson Valley pendant light in the kitchen, accidentally unscrewed part of it and the glass shade and diffuser dropped onto the counter, shattering. The owner had me call HVL while he was there, promising to pay for replacements. HVL gave me a local place to call. Their cost for the replacement glass shade and diffuser is place HVL suggested we call, told me it will cost $159.99! Now the cleaning company owner is not returning my phone calls.

Soooo, now I have a dangling bulb lighting my kitchen while I try and figure out what to do next! Honestly, although I know all of the above were just innocent accidents and I didn't get angry about any of them, I'm now thoroughly convinced that house cleaners and I just don't work! I must be jinxed and am doomed to forever clean this place on my own from now on ;^D

Please tell that there ARE housekepers out there that really do manage to clean homes without causing mini disasters (LOL!).

Lynn

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Comments (9)

Fun2BHere
12 years ago
It's not just house cleaners. I do stuff like you've described all the time, unfortunately. I get going too fast and accidents happen. The worst is the little hallway between my garage and laundry room. The walls are dinged, dented and scratched because I seem to be unable to carry a bag or box in or out without hitting the wall. I've had it skim coated and repainted once, but it was messed up pretty quickly afterwards. I've decided to wait until I get ready to sell before fixing it again.

I hope you are able to get reimbursed for your shade by your housekeeping service.
kkay_md
12 years ago
Oh, I'm sorry about your pendant--what a shame! I hope that the cleaning company will pay up!

I've had the same cleaning woman for almost 20 years now. But we've had our share of mini-disasters! The biggest disaster was that her assistant knocked a painting off a shelf. It tumbled down the stairs, shattered the glass, destroyed the frame, and punched a big hole in the drywall at the bottom of the stairs! The painting (an original) was thankfully not damaged, but I had to get a new frame and glass. I was miffed--that painting had rested there for years and years, through troops of children, house guests, and dusting with nary a nick.

I feel as if I have been pretty lucky. But I think I will go dust my Murano glass pendants right now, just to set my mind at ease...
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nancybee_2010
12 years ago
I'm sorry about your pendant too. I don't use housecleaners anymore, for several reasons, and breaking things is one of them. I had a cleaner who broke a few things. It was simply because she would get in too big of a hurry.

I hope the company pays for the replacement!
maire_cate
12 years ago
Since he knows that he's responsible for the broken glass and not returning calls can you stop payment on your check?
kellyeng
12 years ago
My housekeeper is a gem. She does lots of little things I don't ask her to do and is super reliable, sweet and honest. Occasionally her husband helps out and he always has a screwdriver at the ready just in case he comes across something that needs tightening - I guess it's his thing!
caminnc
12 years ago
I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you get reimbursed for your pendent. Next time you hire anyone to do work in your home make sure they have insurance that will cover this type of thing. I once had a house cleaner break an expensive Waterford vase and her insurance paid for it right away.
Oakley
12 years ago
Send him a letter with the bill and politely tell him small claims court is next. :)

And if he's bonded, doesn't that cover it?
polly929
12 years ago
That really stinks. Sorry you've had such bad luck, it is really nice to have someone clean your house when you can afford to.

Timely post. Lately my cleaning lady and her helper have been slacking so I called her discuss some areas that she needs to pay special attention to. I was also upset because they left the dirty rags in my washing machine without running the washer, for the second time. Rather than take any criticism, she quit and hung up on me! This lady has been cleaning for me for 5 years!
Lynn- I swear I liked her--until yesterday :(
Don't give up- you don't need to do it all if you don't HAVE to.

Good luck with getting in touch with him. Did you pay them for the cleaning already? Maybe you can stop payment on the check or CC if you used that.
mary_lu_gw
12 years ago
We were considering hiring a cleaning lady and she and her helpers came to view our home and give us an estimate. She commented on all of our antiques several times. DH asked her if she was bonded and she said no. We decided that we didn't want to take the chance. I continue to clean myself. :-(

Bizarre Funny Story: House Cleaners & I Just Don't Mix!!

Comments (9)

Fun2BHere

kkay_md

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