IT’S DOMESTIC BLISS FOR ALL

Here’s what bugs your cleaning lady about your domestic habits

Language. It’s a minefield. Take the possessive pronoun “my”, for instance. We often use it less to show ownership than to explain something in relation to us. But for some, referring to someone as “my” anybody is a problematic. For example, referring to someone as “my boss” is fine because of the power dynamics (they don’t work in our favour), whereas saying “my helper” can make us come across as though we are claiming ownership of someone because we pay them. At least that’s what everyone on Twitter says.

Whenever someone shares an anecdote about their helper, they are accused of being part of “my helper Twitter” — folks who (perhaps) treat their helpers like pets you can share cute anecdotes about for social media amusement. Oh, and if you’re black and a member of “my helper Twitter”, good luck, because you’ll also be called a “702 black” (black folk who think “they are better” and listen to Radio 702).

But I digress.

Anyone with a helper in their home knows that the relationship dynamics can be especially tricky. Some people preclean before their helper arrives so that a) they don’t seem like slobs and/or b) they don’t seem like they are disrespecting their helpers by expecting them to clean a really dirty place.

Another challenge for some is when when it’s time to give instructions. The overly apologetic among us can’t ever outright ask “our” helpers to do something. What should be “Please clean out the fridge” comes out as “Um, sisi, perhaps if you don’t mind, if you have time, could you please just clean the fridge a bit ... ?”

But have you ever asked your domestic worker what you do that irks them? If you did, how honest would they have been?

Well, cleaning app SweepSouth recently conducted a survey among its SweepStars (7,000 cleaning ladies whose services are offered through the platform) to ask what they wish you would stop doing.

Here are a few takeaways:

Leaving messy, grimy dishes: it might be a good idea to put water in a used pot or pan so it’s easier to clean. Another good idea? Pile your dirty dishes neatly.

Not picking up after yourself: the women surveyed find it “really helpful when people stash their dirty clothes in the laundry basket and pick up other items like shoes and bags off the floor”.

Wipe your surfaces: no-one’s asking you to scrub your counter tops, but if you spill something on them (or the floor), a little wipe won’t kill you. That way it won’t dry and be harder to clean.

Get out of the way: look, fam, if she’s cleaning while you’re in the house, maybe give her the space to clean? And don’t, for the love of manners, make a mess in a spot that has just been cleaned.

Zip it: we all love a good conversation, but cleaning time isn’t the time for you to lean against the fridge with a cup of tea, looking for a good gossip session. Especially if it’s someone who only has a few hours to clean your place. Give them the space to do their work.

I’m sure some of you think this is common knowledge, but we wouldn’t have needed an entire survey asking SweepStars what annoys them if people were doing better. So please, pick up after yourself. Even if you are a “702 black” and a card-carrying member of “my helper Twitter”. ● LS