Lockout

You know you've been in the cleaning business long enough when you consistently get told things at the last minute, such as "Can you come back later? We're still having a party now" or "We changed all the locks without telling you". And that's if they even want to tell you...

Hand washing

A friendly reminder that washing your hands is never a bad idea... even if it means you have to go back and wash your hands again about 70% of the time.

Swept under the rug

Face it, can you really get out this kind of situation in one piece? Wait for someone to provide you with essential equipment and you're labelled as lazy and without initiative. Go and obtain your own equipment and people say you don't trust people to deliver on time and aren't a "team player".

But if you continue doing your job anyway without ever bringing up the fact that you're literally cleaning with a broom without a head, then... nobody cares enough to check up on you.

The Cleaner's Paradox

Surely, I can't be the only one who's noticed a smudge on a plate or bowl, tried to rub it off with a tissue and only ended up either spreading said smudge or just getting tissue bits everywhere. So lesson learned: Don't clean what you don't have to touch. Besides, someone else can clean it up, right?