Cleaning Lady Stole My Dawn?!?

Updated on July 18, 2013
A.P. asks from Arlington, VA
24 answers

I could swear when I left this morning that my Dawn dish detergent bottle was over 1/2 full. When I got home, there's less than 1/6 left (about an inch and a half). Only people here today were the cleaning crew.

I'm not sure if I'm bemused or ticked... I think it would help if I could put it into context. Did she use it to wash an oil stain out of my driveway? Did she wash a couple dishes and all these years I haven't been using enough soap? Did she refill her cleaning supplies with it? And if she did take/use it - what for? Should I be using it to mop all my floors? Clean my shower? I must know!!!

So, what do you all think happened?

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So What Happened?

I know - first world problems! LOL But my mind was just so awestruck at the idea that somehow there is some secret cleaning use for Dawn (besides dishes and oil stained driveways). Maybe next time I'll count the Cokes to see if she's dumping those in the toilet to clean.

What - you think I'd post a question asking for advice? Rofl
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Perfect answer Grey! I love it.

Featured Answers

J.O.

answers from Boise on

If I could get back all of the dish soap that has been knocked over into my sink. I'd probably never have to buy anymore again.

7 moms found this helpful

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

She's not a very good thief if she left some behind! She even left the bottle! What kind of thief would do that!?!

And..to answer the question of other cleaning uses. I use it for laundry stains, you can make bubbles for the kids to blow bubbles with, you can use it as carpet cleaner. I use it for all sorts of things that isn't washing dishes. That's what I have my dishwasher for ;)

6 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Well, it could have fallen over and drained out.... that has happened with me. (I'm not real good about snapping the top back shut, and if it tips, it drains out....)

Feel lucky that you have a cleaning lady!

Sorry to be a realist on this.....

5 moms found this helpful

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W.H.

answers from Sacramento on

I think the cleaning crew had a Wesson oil party in your guest bedroom, then used the Dawn for a group shower and washed the sheets!

20 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

I just got back from vacation, someone took the sticky notes off my desk!!

I know! The bastards!!

So I walked around the office sticking up sticky notes saying have you seen me....

I prefer to laugh about such things. :)

I think the funniest part were people coming up to me with suspects. Um, these are work provided sticky notes....I really don't care.

Might I suggest you check your cooking oil vessels. Dawn cuts grease you know?

10 moms found this helpful

V.S.

answers from Reading on

Yep. Time to log off of mamapedia for the day...

7 moms found this helpful

D.D.

answers from New York on

Knocked it over and didn't notice until most of it has spilled out?

6 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My cleaning lady uses a lot of dishwashing liquid. I'm not sure what she uses it for and I don't care, I'm just happy to have her cleaning my house!

6 moms found this helpful

X.O.

answers from Chicago on

Maybe she spilled it.

I really don't think she'd be desperate enough to steal a few ounces of dish soap.

5 moms found this helpful
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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

If the worst thing that ever happened to me was that half a bottle of dish soap disappeared, I would be the happiest camper on earth.

5 moms found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from New York on

Heck if I had a cleaning g woman, I would not give a flying fig how much she used, if she needed so,e for home etc. who cares.

4 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I actually use Dawn to clean the bathtub my 12 month old uses for her bath. I figure if I can't get all of the cleaning agent out for whatever reason, it's better for my daughter to sit in a tub with a bit of dishwashing liquid than bleach or other harsh cleaning agents.

4 moms found this helpful

K.M.

answers from Chicago on

I would simply say something like "Hey Helen, I noticed the Dawn was gone faster than usual should I pick more up before you come again or was this an isolated thing?" She will probably tell you what's going on.

4 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

it's such great stuff!
i rarely have much in the way of brand loyalty. i'm cheap as hell. but i love me some dawn.
i'd assume she used to clean stuff in your house. while i don't use it myself to clean the bathroom or floors, it would no doubt work well. what's your deal with your cleaning crew? do they usually use your supplies or bring their own?
my guess is that she probably DID use your dawn, and topped off her own supply too. but if it's a great crew, it's worth it!
:) khairete
S.

4 moms found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

This automatically made me think of the game "Clue"!

Funny! I'll bet she spilled it and didn't mention it to you. If she hasn't been snitching stuff all along, and this is an isolated incidence, it's probably nothing. Just ask her "What happened to the dishwashing liquid?"

4 moms found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Is the house extra clean? If it is, I wouldn't say a word.

I am in love with dawn. It does clean really good and I do find myself using it for a lot of things.

However, a little goes a long way.

My husband stayed home for 3 weeks and in the first week, he used an entire bottle of dish soap. Although I was in shock, I didn't say anything. I bought the costco jug and sat it on the counter for him to carry on.

4 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Austin on

Dawn is very, very good for cleaning soap scum. Use a 1/2 dawn and 1/2 vinegar solution as a spray, or if you are scrubbing with it, it won't scratch glass or marble. It's a good stain remover. Oven/stove cleaner. To clean the inside of the refrigerator. It is also an excellent weed killer.

And your maid probably didn't do this, but I use it to wash the car, too (it drives my father-in-law crazy - but it works!).

I'm with Kristina - just ask her what happened, and if she prefers to use it, if you need to be buying more of it.

3 moms found this helpful

C.T.

answers from Santa Fe on

Dawn is awesome at any kind of grease. Maybe she scrubbed out the inside of your oven with it? Maybe it fell over in the sink and a bunch dripped out slowly before she noticed? Maybe one of her kids came and wanted to "help" and squeezed a bunch out (that sounds like something my 3 year old would do!)?

3 moms found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

Your post made me chuckle! I've had the same thing happen, but at my house it was the Pinesol! One day after the cleaning ladies left I looked at the half empty bottle of Pinesol and thought to myself "Wasn't that brand new this week?!" I just guessed that the cleaning ladies topped off their own supplies. Sort of funny. I try not to let my mind stray in the direction of "If they'll steal your Pinesol what's next? Your jewelry?" Maybe it's naive, but I trust them. Your comment about the oil stain in the driveway was hilarious, btw :)

2 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Maybe it tipped over into the sink when she moved away, she could have bumped it or something. When she came back in she flipped it back up and that's all that was left.....?

2 moms found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Any dishwashing detergent is a good cleaning agent for almost anything except floors. It will leave a sticky film on your floors. The dirt will stick to the film and the floors will be much harder to get clean, unless you rinse it well.

2 moms found this helpful

D.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi, A.:
Does she come to your house all the time to clean?
If she does, ask her if she used the Dawn.

If she did use up your Dawn, she is preparing to steal other
things.

She may lie.
You have to decide if you want to continue with the relationship or get a video surveillance for your house.

D.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.B.

answers from Chicago on

This is so funny! That will teach you to have someone else clean your home. LOL. Just ask her. This is hilarious. It's works well on greasy stains on clothes, cabinets, etc.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Who else was at home, when you were not home?
Besides, the cleaning people?
Anything else "missing?"

1 mom found this helpful
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