Today’s Mantra: Accept responsibility for your own actions
Ok so my record’s not great. I’ve had six cleaners in the last year.
I need a cleaner because I am not great myself. They are supposed to be better than me at it.
They start off ok and then decline. Decline to the point where I have to text message them and tell them I can no longer afford a cleaner (I don’t like confrontation and in part, it’s true, we can’t afford them. The thing is we can’t afford a dirty house.)
I then start the frustrating task of finding a new one, being happy with them, then not being happy, then resenting spending that money and having them in my house, then I get rid of them.
So it got me thinking.
Maybe it’s me.
I’m not being direct enough. Not being clear. Expecting them to mind-read our expectations.
But…..
I hate telling someone that they are doing their job badly. It makes me cringe. Plus I do foist Enjo cleaning products on them, despite none of them knowing how to use them.
So I’ve come up with a solution.
I’m going to tell my cleaner that my husband’s not happy (deflect the blame) then I am going to hand her a comprehensive list of the tasks I want done and to the level I expect them completed. (Please don’t put my bedspread on sideways again).
It makes me wriggle with discomfort. I feel like, “the lady of the house” telling the servants what to do.
But I guess I’m being cruel (or at least direct) to be kind.
Wish me luck.
PS I tried to google some Enjo cleaning lists to give cleaners (explaining when to use what fibres and cloths) but couldn’t find one so am putting together my own. If anyone wants a copy let me know.
I have also had this problem…I would be an awesome cleaner…but very expensive taking in to account my extensive education and the fact I would need to ‘live in’ to make sure noone messes up all my hard work!
so what your really saying is you are a nanny too? You’re hired!
I had the exact same problem. Enjo is the issue it just confuses everyone except those who want to use it. I wrote 2 pages of instructions including how to use each fibre and still found them using every possible extra ie marble paste and calcium dissolver because they can’t get their head around the water and glove concept. In the end they ‘retired’ and I did it myself. No one will ever do it as good ad you. There are some enjo cleaners though but they come at a price. Thanks for the great read.
People do clean better than me unfortunately…they just don’t clean better than my ideals of clean 🙂 Great to know i am not alone in this enjo struggle haha
Nic, I’ve had the same problem so I created a checklist for my cleaners (yes another list). I pull it out each time they come to remind them what needs to be done. It seems to be working so far! I’ll pop it on my blog!
Good idea. I should have done mine a long time ago!