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Original poster

I've just had 3 young girls knock asking to wash the car

37 replies

Silverclocks · 07/04/2022 16:59

Very young. Definitely primary age. I didn't recognise them, so they don't live in the immediate vicinity.

First, I was surprised at my initial reaction at seeing children walking up my drive. I felt sure something must be wrong or that they must be up to no good. It's occurred to me now that it's really very unusual for children to knock on my door, whereas when I (and my DC) was young it would have been common, asking for a ball back, looking for a lost cat, selling raffle tickets or collecting milk bottle tops etc.

However, back to the point. They wanted to clean my car for "less than £10".

Would you let young children you didn't know do that?

OP posts:
Arianya · 07/04/2022 17:01

No. I don’t engage with any unsolicited cold callers at the door regardless of age. And I think it’s quite dangerous for them to be knocking on strangers doors.

viques · 07/04/2022 17:01

No, because they would probably make a mess of it, and would be back next week asking to do it again, or sweep your drive, wash your windows. If you set yourself up as a soft touch then you will be a marked woman! I would ask them where they live and do their parents know they are knocking on strangers’ doors.

Aimee1987 · 07/04/2022 17:02

Probably not but when I was a kid we used to do knickers and jobs as a fun raiser for scouts so go around ad get a pound to weed someones garden or other random ones. Now I wouldnt let my kids wander up the street into randoms houses.
Different times I huess

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QOD · 07/04/2022 17:03

My sis in law did … the kids naively used a scourer

greenlynx · 07/04/2022 17:04

No I wouldn’t and I would never do this as a child.

Arianya · 07/04/2022 17:05

QOD that would be my concern too. If they damage the car you have no comeback.

Antarcticant · 07/04/2022 17:11

Not when we can clean it ourselves for £0.

I don't really care if it's dirty - easier to spot it in a crowded car park when it's filthy. I can recognise the specific dirt from a distance, rather than just another of dozens of small white cars..

The last thing I'd waste money on, whoever was offering to do it.

126orbust · 07/04/2022 17:15

@Aimee1987

Probably not but when I was a kid we used to do knickers and jobs as a fun raiser for scouts so go around ad get a pound to weed someones garden or other random ones. Now I wouldnt let my kids wander up the street into randoms houses. Different times I huess
I have to ask *@Aimee1987* what knickers and jobs are? It made me Smile
Sprogonthetyne · 07/04/2022 17:16

I would not let my kids do this, but remember doing similar as a child.

shinynewapple22 · 07/04/2022 17:19

Honestly I would have to tell them that I thought what they were doing was not safe. Did their parents know they were knocking on strangers doors? I would also contact the HTs of local primary schools (via email) and suggest they do a bit of stranger danger work with the kids .

Christmas1988 · 07/04/2022 17:28

It’s the norm here, Northern working class town not for £10 though, usually £3. We did it as children too, it’s installing a good work ethic in my opinion. You want some money for sweets go and do a job.

shreddednips · 07/04/2022 17:32

We used to do this when we were about 10 or 11, we'd do it to raise money for charity. We mustered a team of kids large enough to split into teams, each with a smaller one who could be lifted to wash the roof. I'm not sure if I'd let my DS do the same but it was good fun and kept us busy!

Gherkingreen · 07/04/2022 17:33

We had two boys offering to wash our cars to raise money for Cancer Research the other day.
I didn't know them and we didn't have any cash on us anyway (rarely do these days), so said we'd make a donation online in return for them washing our car.
They said no, so we parted ways. Call me cynical but not sure their offer was entirely charity-focused.

chisanunian · 07/04/2022 17:34

I'd have said 'Ooh, yes please' and offered them £2 each. I like encouraging entrepreneurial spirit and a work ethic in the young. Mind you, I would probably have asked them if their parents knew where they were and what they were doing.

We used to get the Scouts coming round when it was bob-a-job week years ago - until this thread I'd practically forgotten about that.

traveste · 07/04/2022 17:39

Oh this has just brought back such lovely memories ! We used to do this while at middle school prob 10 or so and almost everyone we knocked at offered us a drink and plate of biccies and came out and helped us and filled our buckets up with water! Why is everyone so uptight they are just kids , if your worried about them damaging cars go out and supervise and chat with them ! They aren't burgling your house in the dark they are coming to speak to you about it in the day?

1forAll74 · 07/04/2022 17:41

it was quite a common thing to do some years ago., you just have to work out if the kids seem sensible, and are aware of what everything entails, and give them some simple instructions in cleaning, and not to go slinging water all over the place. If all seems well, it will keep the kids occupied for a while. I would decide what to pay them, when the job is done. I wouldn't be swayed,if they said an amount that they wanted to get for doing the job...

LondonQueen · 07/04/2022 17:41

I wouldn't let them do it, it's not safe to be knocking on strangers doors.

Mumoblue · 07/04/2022 17:45

I wouldn’t want them doing that. And maybe I’m a big grump but I don’t want random people’s kids knocking on my door.

Cheekymaw · 07/04/2022 17:48

Was common growing up near Glasgow and when my children were younger ,(they didn't as lazy lol) . Not seen it down here (Down South) but imagine it goes on same as walking the dog, cutting the grass , babysitting etc Not usually wee ones though ,more teenagers and a parent was always in the background . I don't see anything wrong with it but I would be concerned about very young ones doing it ,OP.

Ohfgsnotagain · 07/04/2022 17:49

No. And I would judge their parents for allowing them to knock on the doors of strangers!

VioletCharlotte · 07/04/2022 17:53

I used to do it when I was 11/12 and DS and his friend did when they were a similar age.

crackofdoom · 07/04/2022 17:53

I would want to find out who their parents were first and just touch base with them first, but in theory I'd be up for it.

When DS1 wanted to go on the school ski trip (which sadly didn't happen because of Covid), I told him he had to earn half the money and I 'd match fund it, and offered him round all the friends and neighbours as a car washer for a tenner a go. He did a roaring trade for a while, but when the trip was cancelled he sadly lost all motivation and won't even do mine now. He was 10.

Original poster
Silverclocks · 07/04/2022 18:00

Yes my initial (internal) response was a mixture of:

  • don't be ridiculous
  • My car's not dirty Grin
  • Why are you out knocking on doors at your age?
  • I don't want strangers' children knocking on my door
  • How much???
  • I think the cars likely to look worse after than before
  • Is this some sort of scam? (they had no buckets etc)

But then I realised it would have been completely normal when I was young, which isn't that long ago.

OP posts:
Lesperance · 07/04/2022 18:01

Bob a job week? Haven't heard of anybody doing that since the 80s though.

Lesperance · 07/04/2022 18:01

Right time of year for bob a job week though.

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