For anyone who’s ever worked inside someone else’s home knows the job often comes with unspoken rules, awkward moments, and the occasional strange request. But in Louisiana, one cleaning assignment crossed into the realm of ridiculous so fast that it left people both irritated and oddly entertained.
Something about this particular job didn’t sit right from the start. There was an odd energy to it. A feeling that the homeowners were far more invested in “testing” their cleaner than actually having a clean house. And it wouldn’t take long before the real reason became clear.
The post shared on X reveals that once inside the home, the cleaner discovered a note waiting near a container with instructions that went well beyond wiping counters or vacuuming floors. Instead of focusing solely on cleaning, the worker was expected to complete an added task. One that had nothing to do with sanitation and everything to do with control.
Louisiana Woman’s Cleaning Gig Turned Into a Game
Hidden throughout the house were 100 tiny ducks. Yes, ducks. The cleaner was expected to locate every single one and return them to the container as proof that the job had been done “properly.” These miniature surprises weren’t casually tossed around either. They were tucked into pantries, bathrooms, behind furniture, and in places only someone deliberately searching would find.
The homeowners had clearly spent a lot of time setting this up. Ironically, far more effort than they appeared willing to put into maintaining their own home. Once the story surfaced online, reactions poured in fast.
Many people found the situation insulting rather than clever. The idea that someone would turn a paid cleaning job into a scavenger hunt rubbed people the wrong way. It wasn’t quirky or wasn’t funny. It felt like a trust issue disguised as a “game.”
Homeowners Go Too Far
Others pointed out the irony. If the homeowners had enough free time to hide 100 tiny objects throughout their house, they probably had time to clean it themselves. Instead, they chose to micromanage and inconvenience the very person they hired to help.
As strange as the duck situation sounds, it’s far from the only bizarre request other cleaners have encountered. Some report being asked to rearrange personal items to test attention to detail. Others have been instructed to photograph completed rooms as “evidence” or scrub already-clean surfaces repeatedly just to prove effort.
In extreme cases, homeowners have planted fake messes or hidden objects to see if a cleaner would notice. The reason this Louisiana tale resonated so widely is simple: it highlights a lack of respect. Cleaning is already physically demanding work. Adding unnecessary tasks under the guise of “quality control” only makes the job harder. Not to mention seemingly more demeaning for some.
Many agreed that no cleaner should feel obligated to play games just to keep a client happy. Cleaning a home should be about hygiene and upkeep, not jumping through hoops to satisfy someone’s trust issues. At the end of the day, this duck-filled debacle serves as a reminder that boundaries matter.
Internet Reacts
“The way I would find all the ducks but not clean and then quit,” one commenter writes.
“I hated cleaning other people’s houses. Some people do weird things knowing someone else will clean it,” another adds.
Hiring help doesn’t mean treating workers like contestants in a reality show. If a homeowner feels the need to hide toys around their house to feel secure, the problem probably isn’t the cleaner. While the story is amusing on the surface, it also carries a clear message. Respect the people you hire. Or don’t get angry when they decide to walk away.
Hunter Spears 
Nina Franklin 
Sabrina Russell 
