House cleaner uses toilet water as mop bucket despite a real bucket being provided, flushes toilet 15 times to replenish the water: 'It’s an old-school way of cleaning and a lot of old school cleaners do this'

Author image for Emmy Pratt
Emmy Pratt • Writer and Editor
Dec 19, 2024 1:00 PM EST

Everybody has a different standard for what is considered "clean." I am a bit messy, but I know that if there's gross residue on my bathroom sink, I should clean it up. Some people take cleanliness a little too far and think they must do a complete, deep clean of their house every week, which is unnecessary unless you have little kids making a mess daily. While clean freaks walk among us, I think it's more common for people to be filthy without caring. There's definitely a problem with parents not teaching their kids how to clean correctly, and those kids become adults who have no idea how to live a sanitary life. 

If there's one group of people who should know better regarding best cleaning practices, it's housekeepers. They are supposed to be the professionals in the deep cleaning game, and that is what makes this situation particularly egregious. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10444009472
    via Sincerely Media (Unsplash+)
  • 02
    Most disgusting thing happened today while getting house cleaned
    via u/celenastar
  • 03
    First off, we have been using these cleaners for a few months. I'm immunocompromised and have them use our products, buckets, and supplies to prevent flare ups from certain chemicals. I also have a clutter free home and take generally about an hour to make sure we have all the supplies out for the cleaners and
    via u/celenastar
  • 04
    to make sure they have the easiest job ever. Literally moving stuff and making sure that they won't have to move anything. So, in my opinion, this is a pretty easy home to clean. It's mainly light cleaning. Everything is laid out and provided for them. They don't have to bring anything in but their abled bodies.
    via u/celenastar
  • 05
    So the last time they cleaned, we suspected that they could possibly be using toilet water to clean with, specifically the bathrooms. We provide them with rags, buckets, products etc. We never hear water running. The buckets are always bone dry.
    via u/celenastar
  • 06
    They also flush the toilet like 15 times in each bathroom. So we thought it was odd. We ask questions and they tell us what we want to hear, as we didn't want to accuse them. So we just went with it and monitored the situation.
    via u/celenastar
  • 07
    So today, they came to clean and my Mom asked them to specifically use the buckets for the bathrooms and she would provide them separate stuff for the toilet. They didn't listen. Same thing flushing the toilet 15 times. Long story short she caught them using the toilet water to clean all the surfaces with. She told the
    via u/celenastar
  • 08
    boss and the boss questioned the girl and she never denied it. So there you go, if something feels off, it usually is. And you never know what anyone is doing in your house unless you keep all eyes on them. The End
    via u/celenastar
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    AcanthocephalaNo5889 • 6d ago This is just odd. Why do this when multiple other sources of water (sink, bath) are more readily available and a bucket is right there. It's actually more work lol
    via u/AcanthocephalaNo5889
  • 10
    celenastar OP • 6d ago • I thought the same thing! I don't understand why this happened and why they thought it was so convenient. Also, why would they keep wanting to dip their hands in a strangers toilet? It's just beyond disturbing
    via u/celenastar
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    Acanthocephala No5889 • 6d ago And talk about a waste of water! Flushing 15 times per bathroom!?
    via u/AcanthocephalaNo5889
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    Ragelntelligently101 • 5d ago • HOW clean did they think toilet was before using toilet water; because any kind of bleach in toilet tank corrodes seals, and tbh I'd like to see them brush their teeth with that water if they're so chill spreading toilet nook and cranny germs on surfaces. Have you ever had to get something clogged in there, out of a toilet, by removing the toilet? I assure you, what you cannot see being splashed back into that bowl after flushing, or whatever- out of sight- isnt c
    via u/Ragelntelligently101
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    Glittering_knave 6d ago. And, you can fill the bucket at the sink or tap with warm or hot water, not freezing cold toilet water.
    via u/Glittering_knave
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    Skorpion_Snugs • 6d ago A lot of old school American techs insist that the water that comes from the register is clean and if the toilet is clean, it can essentially be used as a bucket.
    via u/Skorpion_Snugs
  • 15
    Skorpion_Snugs • 6d ago You would be SHOCKED at how common this is. It's an old-school way of cleaning and a lot of old school cleaners do this. Someone tried to train me like this and I refused to do it. The company I worked for said, and I quote, 11
    via u/Skorpion_Snugs
  • 16
    whoisthismahn • 5d ago how on earth was this ever a common thing the sink is right there is it literally just because it's more convenient to not fill up a bucket?
    via u/whoisthismahn
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    celenastar OP • 6d ago Why would they train people to do that?! The cost of the water is not the cleaners responsibility. I don't understand. If everything is provided for them and such, what is the point of cleaning with toilet water? These people didn't look any older than being in their 30's. That's crazy to me.
    via u/celenastar
  • 18
    Broad_Pudding3783 • 5d ago I've been looking for a housekeeper and you know what? After reading this, I think I'm going to continue to clean my own house.
    via u/Broad_Pudding3783
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    boydbunny03 • 6d ago I can't actually comprehend this. Are they putting cleaning solutions in the toilet bowls then using that on rags and mops? Or are they rinsing cleaning products off with "clean" toilet water? I am so confused!
    via u/boydbunny03
  • 20
    • Sue101010 5d ago • Maybe they're dipping a mop in the toilet to wash the floor, like using the toilet like a mop bucket? Cause it's too much work to fill and dump an actual mop bucket? 100% disgusting no matter why they thought it was ok to spread toilet water everywhere, ewwww!
    via u/Sue101010
  • 21
    Apprehensive_Leg_760 • 5d ago In one of my college epidemiology courses, the professor told us about how he was called in to find out why customers kept getting sick after eating at a particular Dairy Queen. He said he watched them work, had them walk him through each step one-by-one, etc. When it was time to close, he watched how they cleaned.
    via u/Apprehensive_Leg_760
  • 22
    He said they used the toilet brush from the bathroom supplies like it was a totally normal thing to use to clean out the ice cream drum (can't remember exactly what the device was called).
    via u/Apprehensive_Leg_760
  • 23
    Tenancy_help ⚫ 6d ago • Fire them immediately and report it to department of health and safety if they work with or for a company. That's disgusting
    via u/Tenancy_help
  • 24
    celenastar OP • 6d ago • It's a small company, but thanks for the advice. I will definitely report them. They were fired. They didn't ask for payment and I didn't plan on paying them. As they contaminated my house and didn't really clean. She kept apologizing and offering to come back out, but they broke our trust and I would never trust them again. They knew they were wrong.
    via u/celenastar
  • 25
    Substantial_Lake8951 • 5d ago My cleaner told me one client grumbled about how much hot water she was using. But when I was working noticed the cleaner wiped the lunch room table with the floor mop. Always wiped it off before I sat down to eat.0
    via u/Substantial_Lake8951

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