to think a 22 year old Romanian girl

[deliakate]

could be an excellent child-friendly Housekeeper? We are hoping to hire a live-in housekeeper for at least 6 months whilst no 2 is little. There would be some involvement with the children, some sole-care, but not much and she does have good childcare qualifications. But the main role is to "keep house" and cook occasionally.

She has applied for the job, and seems nice, and is very reasonable in her wage requirements (obv still above nat min wage).

My mum thinks this is too young, and she is just not going to have the experience to clean properly - we live in an older property, which really shows when its not been thoroughly cleaned for a week or so..... Obv I'd provide guidance, but memories spring to mind of past cleaners who have used 10 rolls of kitchen paper each week despite having loads of cloths etc, and still not managed to get anything sparkling..l...

It may suffice to tell you that when DP (white british male, aged 3x) introduced me to his family, his step mother asked me in a casual way what was I good at when it comes to house work... you know, in a nice "genuinely interested about me" kind of way (not). When I said "I'm OK with looking after the house, I like cleaning but I'm not much of a cook", she said to DP (who has a reputation as the most untidy family member) quote: "Oh well BSP, you finally found yourself a cleaner!"

Lovely. Thanks.

How does that sound OP?

Don't worry OP I'm just kidding it's fine

The answer to your very first question is "yes".

And with regards to your mum's concerns - it's a bit naive (with all do respect) to think anyone who's 22 is too young to clean properly.... It's much more to do with a person's willingness to learn how to clean and to do a good job, than with their age!!! (or nationality.......)

So if you interview her and you think that this girl/woman (she may like being called a girl, it implies that she looks young, "we" like that ) is a good learner and looks like is willing to work hard, then - bingo!

It has all to do with her as an individual, nothing to do with age and nationality.

Doh.

thats not a stereotype, and everyone is disagreeing about the cleaning. Do find a point and try again.

We had a 22 year old Romanian au pair and she was not allowed to do extra work for more cash, or to be an "au pair plus" because of nationality and border requirements... Romanians are only allowed to be a "basic au pair". This is not the same as a housekeeper. This may have changed but doesn't seem to have:

www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/eea/bulgariaromania/liveworkuk/

so I think you would need to get any Romanian a work permit or she needs an accession worker card. There are very stiff penalties for employing someone illegally.

By the way, our Romanian au pair smoked in her bedroom (expressly forbidden), regularly lost the dog (by not paying any attention) and ran off after a few months with various items from the house, including a birthday present of mine (a bottle of wildly expensive vintage champagne I was saving for a very special occasion). She also turned out to have been going to an illegal waitressing job when she told us she was "seeing friends". All of our other au pairs (French, Swedish, Swiss, Austrian) have been lovely, but this one took us for a complete ride.

Incidentally, the very best au pair (in terms of keeping the house spotless, far beyond expectation and brief) was Swiss and only 18 years old. Age is not really the point IMO. Nationality is only relevant insofar as Bulgaria/ Romania have different rules for employment in the UK. If a Romanian is prepared to work for you illegally, then you already know that she is dishonest.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the Romanian au-pair, amy. I promise it wasn't me.
Please don't think all Romanians are like that.

I find it somewhat unpleasant to think of people having a live-in cleaner/maid of all works to pick up your mess because you're too busy to clean up after yourself. I can just picture her being instructed NOT to use too much kitchen towel etc.

What do you do with your time OP if you are a stay at home Mum who doesn't have to do any cleaning and regularly doesn't do childcare?

Vallhalla - I nearly fell for ituyself, that's why I waited for others to reply first.

amyamyamy yes, yes, but did she get things clean?

Ahem, also Romanian. And completely useless when it comes to cleaning.

DP on the other hand...

Are you guys saying this is a wind-up?

I guess I was an easy target being a Romanian.... thank goodness at least I kept it light hearted!

Hello Iron Curtain! Whereabouts are you?

You need an Italian ,according to my mother. She basis this solely on the fact that her cousin lives in Italy, married an Italian and has a very clean house.

Personally I think Germans are clean freaks, and green freaks, so certainly won't use up 10 rolls of kitchen paper each week.

I'm British, late 30's and rubbish at cleaning, if that helps.

My Polish cleaner goes through rolls of paper towels, so when I asked her why, I felt stupid when she said "so it doesn't leave streaky marks and damage your wooden furniture". We do have a lot of wood.

If she grew up in a household of a very houseproud mother, then she will def know how to clean.

"If she grew up in a household of a very houseproud mother, then she will def know how to clean."

Yes, you must check out her mothers house.

I blame it on my mother that I can't clean. She wasn't at all house proud, but is fond of telling me I should clean my kitchen floor as many times each day as I have children.

Lots of 22 year olds are running their own house and looking after their own children. She's probably much better at cleaning than I am and I'm nearly twice her age.