The kakelugn or tile fireplace in our living room. I liked to call it the Liberace diva of fireplaces as it had so much gold and pink decoration that I know the pianist would have loved it.
I'm sure that if you look closely, you can find the offending dust in the right corner of the room.
On Friday, we had to turn in the keys to our apartment and have it inspected.Robert and I had cleaned the place and it looked fantastic – it was definitely much cleaner than when we moved in and I was not worried. In fact, Robert thought we should just leave. I vetoed that and so we hung around while the two Swedish women from the rental company looked around.
“Sandra, komma hit.” Come here, I heard from the bedroom. I walked in to see Anna standing on top of a ladder and pointing to the top of the closet. In dramatic Swedish, she gestured and spoke and I wondered if something horrible had died up there or what. No, there was just some dust that she insisted I needed to take care of right NOW.
Meekly, I said forlat or sorry while thinking, OK, that’s not at all horrible, inspector lady, why can’t YOU take care of it? I was tired from all the move stuff of the past few days and wanted to be out of there, so I was just a little cranky. But dutifully, I got some cleaning supplies from downstairs and began to climb the ladder, only to hear once again: Sandra, titta här or look here in an even more dramatic tone. Now what, I wondered as I walked into the dining room and left Robert to chase the closet dust away. Our apartment had beautiful moldings along the ceilings and floorboards. And oh horrors, there was one corner of the dining room where, when she took her finger and swiped it, there was a little dust! Oh my! It was such a tiny area and there was so little that I had to bend down to even see it. I found it so ridiculous that in this huge apartment, she felt compelled to point this out – something she could have cleaned in two seconds with a tissue – that I wanted to stick my tongue out at her. Instead, I rolled my eyes and took care of it.
At the next call of my name, I made Robert go to take the hit. And when she showed him that there was a little laundry detergent on the washing machine (in the part where you put the detergent, my word) and said that it needed to be cleaned, Robert barked OK so loudly back at her that it echoed in the empty apartment. And that was all it took, I got the giggles. “Do you feel like you’re back in high school and have just been yelled at by the teacher,” I asked him as I went into the bathroom to commiserate with my partner in crime. And then we both were laughing.
Luckily, we were done with our penance after this final infraction of the apartment cleaning code. As we left, Robert said, “Wow, was she on some power trip or what? I could see making us clean things up if there was really something to clean, but she just wanted to put us in our place because she could.”
Oh my. At least she made me laugh at a point when I otherwise probably would have wanted to cry. So thanks for that, Anna.
{ 12 comments }
Oddly understandable, but too funny! Some people do take their dust seriously! There was a period in my early adult life I dreaded my mother coming to visit me as she pointed out every dust ball I missed while cleaning my apartment and insist I wipe them up immediately. Eventually (after several irritating visits) I stood up to her and said, “Hey, this is my apartment. We have different cleaning standards. If you want that taken care of, do it yourself!” And, after a brief balk, she did. Now that I think of it, my mom cleaned for a living for a brief period. I do think when cleaning is your business, you are apt to look at spaces differently. Regardless, I called my mom White Glove Lady.
I so feel for you – two rental moves ago (two bought houses in between taking ages to process) I so dreaded having to clean because of all that inspection stuff, that I hired a company to do it for me. It cost £400, and the rental company still complained! As we had inspected after the cleaners had finished, we were astounded. It was immaculate. The carpets had been cleaned, but even though there was only one day between us inspecting it, two days since it had been shampooed, one complaint was the layer of dust lying on the carpet! Since there were no complaints at all about dust on all the wooden floors, we were at a loss. I think they just have to find something to justify their job, but 7 years later it still annoys me.
BTW, my mother (your aunt!) was the one who helped me clean for my early apartment moves in Ohio. I wonder if she would have passed the Anna-level inspection!?! I think she would be uber-offended if not 🙂
You have my sympathies! I’m about to move out of my flat as well, and have the landlord writing me emails pressuring me to get a professional cleaner in before I move out. The thing is, when I moved in I had to spend two weeks cleaning dirty dishes out of cupboards and picking cigarette butts off the carpet – so why I’m supposed to foot the bill for professional cleaning when nobody bothered to do the same for me when I moved in is beyond me… there’s the evil power of landlords/rental companies!
Keeping your sense of humor is the only way to go in a situation like this! I hope this petty woman watched you laugh!
A sense of humor is crucial, miss footloose! While I’m pretty sure she heard us laugh, I’m not sure that she knew why.
Oh my, Marianne. Good luck with it all. And thanks for the sympathies.
Kezia, It was pretty funny. We KNEW the place was truly clean and that she was just looking for something to complain about to make her job worthwhile.
Jane, I am sure that the companies just complain for the sake of complaining! My biggest regret is that I didn’t take photos (with dates) of a few of the things I found!
Sandy: Oh, I would have laughed too! I just couldn’t get over the Darlene-Anna connection. Personally knowing your cleaning standards, I know it was spic and span 🙂 It sounds like the Swedish apt inspectors are like our Dept. of Health inspectors who will always find some sort of correction in my program’s child care homes. It shows they are doing their job and reminds the providers that they control their license. This mentality is part and parcel with the front line person in large bureaucracies!
Wow! I think it’s great that your apartment gets inspected. Not so many landlords out there care as much. Personally, I prefer a clean home so with this service, I know I can always come in a clean residence.
Travis and I were told by a Swede living in St. Paul, MN (before we moved to Sweden) that Swedes practice at a high level passive aggressiveness. Your real estate check-out ladies were on top of their game.
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