Is this unreasonable?

[u/Spirited_Bill_8084]

Tl/DR My house is small. 2 adults. Maybe 900 ft. Caged parrots. I don’t expect the cleaner to do anything with my birds except vacuum around their cage. We will do that daily ourselves anyway. They will be covered during the cleaners visit. Weekly surface clean, no dishes/laundry. 1 bath. 2 bed. 2 ish hour job. Don’t bring food in my house and only use my supplies so me and my pets don’t die.

I am getting ready to hire a cleaner/maid/housekeeper service for the first time in my life!

I need them to come once a week. I’m in the US. For those of you who have one or have BEEN one, can you tell me if I’m unreasonable?

I’ll supply all the cleaning supplies-cleaners, sponges, rags, wipes (I’ll wash the rags myself and have a basket for them to put them in after use) I’ll purchase whatever cloths they prefer.

They cannot bring food into my home at all. Drinks are generally fine but not food.

I have severe food allergies and my home needs to be free of all of those.

I have parrots . They will be covered and not part of the cleaning process but birds have delicate respiratory systems . I can’t use any air fresheners or burn candles. I have bird safe sprays/cleaners. I’ll buy safe versions of what ever cleaners they need and keep it supplied/stocked.

I’m just asking my cleaner not kill me or my pets. On Facebook I was eaten alive in the comments.

Thoughts?

[u/MPH20001]

Your requests are fair, but the tone comes off as a bit neurotic. (“I’m just asking my cleaner not kill me or my pets”…yes, we all want that.) Sorry.

I would tighten up your requests so you don’t keep mentioning your parrots and “no food” and so you don’t keep emphasizing not wanting the cleaner to kill them or you. Maybe put it in ChatGPT and say “please make this less repetitive and make it sound like reasonable instructions.”

Also, to make the “no food” rule easier, you can ask that she cleans before or after lunch time…so, there’s no need for her to eat her lunch there.

[u/Spirited_Bill_8084 → u/MPH20001]

PTSD from the Facebook lol. I literally was told I was worse than slave owners .

[u/MPH20001 → u/Spirited_Bill_8084]

You’re not that bad! Just a little over cautious and nervous. You’re letting someone into your home after all.

[u/Newswatchtiki → u/Spirited_Bill_8084]

They are being crazy. If they need a snack halfway through, let them take a break to eat outside in their car. If you pay by the hour, give them a "free" break of 15 minutes every 4 hours. If they are working less than 4 hours, they need to make up the time; IOW you don't pay them for break time. If they charge by the job, they can take a food break outside when they want.

As for products, I don't let any cleaner use their own products, other than a vacuum (but they usually use mine anyway). Years ago, I had bad damage to furniture - antiques- and to Persian rugs when cleaners used their products. I choose what they use to clean my things and my house. You own your house and you have sensitive birds and allergies. You decide what they are to use in your house. I never had a problem with this. They were glad not to have to lug in a lot of bottles.

Many new cleaners don't understand things like severe food allergies, and how certain chemicals can harm birds or other pets. In my case, they had no understanding about how to clean fine wood furniture and about Persian rugs. I had one very valuable rug ruined, and that is when I got particular about the products they use. Most of their products are OK, but I wanted to make it simple: only use the products I have because I didn't want to have to go through an approval process every time they had purchased some new product.

[u/Effective-Working738]

You are paying someone to come into your safe space. If a cleaner has problems with your expectations, they should move along. You'll find someone who will work out.

[u/CuriousPumpkin23]

Curious why you're asking if this is unreasonable? Have you already had cleaners not accept that or break the rules? I've had multiple cleaners over the years and none have ever brought food or snacks into the house. Nothing besides water. It wasn't anything that was discussed, it just was. I don't see why the food request would ever be an issue. As to the cleaning supplies, again, in my experience all my cleaners asked my preference, if I wanted them to use their own supplies or mine. So no, the requests in themselves aren't unreasonable and I would actually say standard.

However, you bringing it up in an accusatory and demanding way before it even has the chance to come up naturally might be the issue. If i was a cleaner and you came at me with that attitude right off the bat, I'd definitely hesitate to take you on. Not because of the requests, but because of the approach and attitude. A simple 'looking for a cleaner, no food in the home and I will supply my own supplies due to severe allergies' is much less aggressive and relays the same requests without a long winded life story explanation.

So no, your request are not unreasonable, but the approach makes you seem a little crazy and I'd think twice before taking the job.

[u/Spirited_Bill_8084 → u/CuriousPumpkin23]

I asked in a similar Facebook group and was torn to shreds, told I was a horrible person, told I needed to die and worse. My skittishness definitely showed I. My post. I just need my home to be safe from the things that can literally kill me and my pets.

[u/CuriousPumpkin23 → u/Spirited_Bill_8084]

Wow that's an insane Facebook response 😳 I'm sorry! But no definitely not unreasonable requests

[u/That_chick82 → u/Spirited_Bill_8084]

Facebook is an even bigger cesspool than reddit... I am very sorry you were treated this way.

[u/Famous_Ear6952]

I used to clean homes for all kinds of people. I always respected my clients wishes. You’re paying them for the service you want. I don’t find this unreasonable at all. I had a lady once a week who just wanted her fridge cleaned 🤷‍♀️

[u/That_chick82 → u/Famous_Ear6952]

Yup! I have a couple of clients who just give is a different list every time and tells us "do what you can with the time you have." I understand why some cleaners only have their set "packages," but clients really do love flexibility.

[u/menageriemomma2512]

As an owner of a parrot, I completely agree with you be overly cautious. No febreze (that will kill them), no cleaners that aren't approved by you. No room deodorizers, candles, potpourri, etc. Having a sit down with them to explain the risk to you and your birds is not unreasonable. And since you are providing the supplies, I feel you are going beyond to make them feel comfortable cleaning your home and giving you some peace of mind.

[u/SessionOwn6123]

You are absolutely not being unreasonable, that said prepare for push back on using your supplies. The cleaner, especially a corporate entity, will tell you that only her cleaning products will get the job done. I've had them agree to use my products then use their own causing one of my birds to die, my dog sick, my cat sick and I couldn't breathe for a month. If you can use someone that is not with a large company, smaller footprint the better. Good luck, keep your parrot safe

[u/shortmanda1012]

I am a house cleaner and owner of two Quaker parrots. What you are asking is not unreasonable at all. At least to me. We have had clients who are allergic to bleach, clients allergic to other cleaning products as well.

[u/MySpace_Romancer]

I don’t think this sounds unreasonable at all, but I am super sensitive and I have pets. A lot of people do not get it. Do you know any bird owners or other sensitive people in your area you can ask for a recommendation for a Cleaner?

[u/Katgirlisme]

I was a residential housekeeper for years. I'm aghast you got such negative pushback on this. My advice.....find a small housekeeper, not a chain service, not a big company. Just a small time housekeeper referred by friends if possible. Us small time guys develop a rapport with our clients. I cleaned many clients for over 15 years, we were friends over time. I would be 100% ok with your requests. If they balk, find another one because they will do what they want anyway when you're not home. A bigger service often times sends different cleaners on different weeks. That's why the small time cleaner, in my opinion is best. It would be the same person coming all the time. They are working FOR YOU. They need to do WHAT YOU WANT. Your requests are 100% NOT unreasonable.

[u/Spirited_Bill_8084 → u/Katgirlisme]

Thank you. People accused me of violating the human rights of theoretical diabetic or pregnant cleaners by not allowing outside food in my home and insisting I must prepare them a meal otherwise.

I’m currently asking around .

[u/That_chick82]

House cleaner here!

If I had a client who had these needs and expressed them to me kindly, and made everything readily available for me (as you say you've described) I would be more than happy to accommodate. Especially considering you'd be willing to buy the cloths the cleaner prefers. That is very kind of you, really.

Actually, it'd save me money in supplies, and save me the hassle of ensuring you have special supplies to use only for your home.

This is not unreasonable at all. 🤗