Housecleaner ruined hardwood floor

[connorlevismom]

I am just sick over this. We built our house 1 1/2 years ago, so it is virtually new. I have had this house cleaner for about 3 months now and I really like her and think she does a good job. However, this week she put a new product on my hardwood floors and I think they are completely ruined. I think she put some sort of polish (when I think she meant to put on cleaner) and it left this terrible film on floor and it looks super dull, almost like the stain has been stripped off the floor. I have tried to clean it with everything I can think of and NOTHING is getting this stuff off the floor. I asked her what she used and she told me Bona. But there is a Bona product that is a polish that will completely destroy your hardwood floors and I think that she used that by accident. She was supposed to come over tonight and take a look at it and see if she could figure out how to get it cleaned, but she is almost an hour late (and she is NEVER late). I am afraid she won't show!

So my question is this. If my floor is indeed ruined and has to be replaced, should I pursue her in terms of asking her to pay for some or all of it? I have never had this happen before and this woman has been cleaning for 25 years and I cannot believe she would have made this mistake.

What does everyone think?

 

[indygirl99]

I am just sick over this. We built our house 1 1/2 years ago, so it is virtually new. I have had this house cleaner for about 3 months now and I really like her and think she does a good job. However, this week she put a new product on my hardwood floors and I think they are completely ruined. I think she put some sort of polish (when I think she meant to put on cleaner) and it left this terrible film on floor and it looks super dull, almost like the stain has been stripped off the floor. I have tried to clean it with everything I can think of and NOTHING is getting this stuff off the floor. I asked her what she used and she told me Bona. But there is a Bona product that is a polish that will completely destroy your hardwood floors and I think that she used that by accident. She was supposed to come over tonight and take a look at it and see if she could figure out how to get it cleaned, but she is almost an hour late (and she is NEVER late). I am afraid she won't show!

So my question is this. If my floor is indeed ruined and has to be replaced, should I pursue her in terms of asking her to pay for some or all of it? I have never had this happen before and this woman has been cleaning for 25 years and I cannot believe she would have made this mistake.

What does everyone think?

If she is bonded and licensed you file with her insurance. If not you are out of luck.

 

[Kimberle]

I'd try calling a professional hardwood floor cleaner. Maybe they can get it up. I doubt you'd have to replace your floors. Perhaps you'll have to restain them.

 

[Kellydelly]

I think she is responsible for fixing what she did. She should bear the cost of having a real professional take care of it, or if they need to be refinished she should pay for it. How many rooms are ruined? It doesn't matter if she is bonded or not, I would think you could pursue this in small claims court if she balks at taking responsibility.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

What a horrible situation! Is she bonded/insured, or is she on her own? If she's on her own, she may not have the money to replace your floors, if they have been ruined, no matter what. I would try to work the problem, and avoid scaring her, or getting mad at her, if possible, at least until you absolutely have to. Try to frame it (at least at first) as both of you working together to solve a mutual problem. You can always escalate later, if you need to.

Can you call your homeowner's insurance carrier to see if this might be covered? I know it's not what you want to hear, but at the very least I might try to negotiate with her to clean my house for free for a long time. (If you become the enemy immediately, that won't be possible, and you may get absolutely nothing out of this mess.) If she made a mistake, but has always been reliable and a good person in the past, at least a service worth $ might be salvaged. Good luck!

 

[mnrose]

Are they real hardwood floors, or something else? If real hardwood, then there is no reason in the world they can't be refinished. If it's not real hardwood (ie., "manufactured" hard wood) refinishing is not possible. Still, I would definitely call a professional and get an opinion on what can/cannot be done to salvage the floors, and the cost.

Once you have the cost, I would ask her to pay all of it, with the understanding that if she is indeed "on her own" and "without insurance" that you might get very little/nothing from her. You can't get what she doesn't have. I'd try to keep it as friendly as possible, because she might be willing to "work off" some of what she could potentially owe you....for example, free or reduced rate service for "X" period of time.

 

[srferson]

I would try to work the problem, and avoid scaring her, or getting mad at her, if possible, at least until you absolutely have to. Try to frame it (at least at first) as both of you working together to solve a mutual problem. You can always escalate later, if you need to.

 

[gwynne]

Oh, my. If it were me I'd get someone who repairs and refinished hardwood floors over asap. I suppose you can try to recoup, but I don't think it's likely you will prevail. Down the road, supply your own approved cleaning products. It's the only way to really know exactly
what's being used.

 

[connorlevismom]

She just texted and is on her way over so we will see what she says. I did not act mad and am not mad-but I am distressed.

The floors are not real hardwood so cannot be refinished. Hopefully she can come up with a way to get them clean, even if it takes all day for her to do it.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Bona makes a polish remover, maybe it will help.

 

[MickeySP]

Depends is she an actual employee, do you pay taxes on her wages or issue a 1099. If you pay her cash, think homeowners.

 

[Shanti]

No, you should not demand payment directly from her for that. If you can get it via insurance, fine, but demanding direct payment or suing her would be wrong. It was an accident, and she is low-income. For those reasons, morally, you should not try to get the money out of her pocket.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

No, you should not demand payment directly from her for that. If you can get it via insurance, fine, but demanding direct payment or suing her would be wrong. It was an accident, as you say she has loyally worked for you for many years, and she is low-income. For all of those reasons, morally, you should not try to get the money out of her pocket.

OP stated "I have had this house cleaner for about 3 months now". so not years.

 

[Shanti]

OP stated "I have had this house cleaner for about 3 months now". so not years.

My mistake, I misread that part & edited my post accordingly.

 

[connorlevismom]

No, you should not demand payment directly from her for that. If you can get it via insurance, fine, but demanding direct payment or suing her would be wrong. It was an accident, and she is low-income. For those reasons, morally, you should not try to get the money out of her pocket.

Just to be clear-She is FAR from low-income. She drives a very nice car and wears very nice clothes. Not that it matters, but please don't make it seem like I am trying to rob the poor.
She just stopped over and is going to try and get it clean. If she can't, I guess we will figure out what to do after that.

 

[Feralpeg]

Maybe, try contacting Boma and get their suggestion.

 

[StephMK]

Ugh, no advice but I don't blame you for being upset! I hope you are able to find a good solution.

 

[EMom]

No, you should not demand payment directly from her for that. If you can get it via insurance, fine, but demanding direct payment or suing her would be wrong. It was an accident, and she is low-income. For those reasons, morally, you should not try to get the money out of her pocket.

Are you kidding me? We assign blame based on income and not on wrongdoing? Did the homeowner mess up the floors? NO. The cleaner did. Therefore, she should be responsible.

 

[focusondisney]

No, you should not demand payment directly from her for that. If you can get it via insurance, fine, but demanding direct payment or suing her would be wrong. It was an accident, and she is low-income. For those reasons, morally, you should not try to get the money out of her pocket.

Why would it be wrong to hold a business person responsible for damage she caused??? She needs to be held responsible & either correct the problmem or compensate the OP. If I take my car in for routine service & the shop totally damages the car in the process, would it be wrong to expect them to fix it or pay for the damage? Of course not! Why is this any different??

 

[wishesuponastar]

Bona makes a polish remover, maybe it will help.

Hope the situation will be resolved easily. And if you need to, I hope the cleaning lady can pay for damages through her insurance.