A professional cleaner has made the decision to terminate her contract with a client after what she described as a "demeaning" and unusual test involving one hundred miniature toy ducks hidden throughout a property.
The Unusual Discovery
Devon Weitman, a 26-year-old cleaner, arrived at a client's apartment at 7am on a Monday morning to begin her work. Upon entering the property, she was immediately confronted with a jar and a note placed conspicuously by the front door. The flat's owners were not present, having provided Devon with an access code.
The note explained that the client had strategically placed one hundred small toy ducks around their home. Devon's task, beyond her standard cleaning duties, was to locate each duck and return it to the jar. This was presented as a method to "ensure a job well done" and complete what the client termed a "game".
A Demeaning Demand
Devon, who had already been paid for the scheduled cleaning session, decided to proceed with her work despite the shock of the discovery. She cleaned the apartment to the best of her ability within her allocated time frame while simultaneously searching for the hidden ducks.
"I read the note a couple times, kind of shocked," Devon recounted. "I had other jobs to get to, so I could not stick around to find the 34 remaining ducks. I kind of pondered it for the day, questioning if I was being petty, but I decided to end the contract at the end of the day. It just felt demeaning."
She managed to locate 66 of the ducks but was unable to find the remaining 34 due to her tight schedule. The experience left her questioning the client's approach, ultimately leading to her decision to sever the professional relationship.
Online Outrage and Professional Perspective
Devon shared her experience on social media, posting photographs of the colourful ducks scattered across various surfaces in the apartment. Her post quickly gained significant traction, amassing 3.8 million views and over 161,000 likes, sparking widespread discussion about respect for service professionals.
"It's pretty uncommon for clients to test cleaners in such a bold way," Devon noted. "I definitely agree that if you're hiring a cleaner, you should get the job that you pay for. But you should be able to talk to your cleaner, trust that they know their profession, or leave a list of priorities – instead of a hundred ducks."
Public Reaction
The online response was overwhelmingly supportive of Devon's position, with many commenters expressing shock and disapproval at the client's actions.
- Linda remarked: "Obsessed with the fact that it probably took them just as long to place the ducks as it would to clean their own damn apartment."
- Tania Burning, a fellow cleaning business owner, stated: "As someone who owns their own cleaning business, this would be my last clean for them."
- Leah declared simply: "I would walk out."
- Another commenter observed: "They had time to hide 100 ducks but not clean their own house."
- One person summarised the sentiment: "This feels so disrespectful."
The incident highlights broader questions about trust, professionalism, and respectful employer-employee dynamics within the domestic service industry. Devon's decision to quit has resonated with many who view the client's "gamification" of her work as inappropriate and patronising.
