To suggest that cleaner buys a new vacuum cleaner?

[Rollergirl1]

My cleaner has been with me for 2 years or so. I have to admit that she is not the best cleaner that I have had but we have built up somewhat of a relationship now (I pass on clothes, toys, etc from my DD to her DD who is a year younger. Also her DH is a plumber and has helped out at quite short notice on a few occassions when we've had a plumbing problem.) She has always brought and used her own vacuum cleaner. This is something that she stipulated right from the very start. The last 3 weeks or so I have noticed that it is giving off a really horrid smell (kind of a bit like a wet dog smell) and it is permeating the whole house smell, to the point that DH has commented on it when he returns from work at 7.30, a whole 6 hours after she has finished cleaning. Surely she must be able to smell it too? I reckon that the vacuum cleaner is on it's last legs and needs replacing and I would have expected for her to come to that conclusion herself but she apparently hasn't.

How do I go about raising this with her? I should add that english is not her first language and sometimes things get "lost in translation" so I would need to make it very clear what I am saying.

I doubt she can smell it. Why don't you suggest it or offer for her to use yours instead? Just say "Phew that hoover's starting to smell odd! Will you use mine till' you get a new one?"

It will more than likely need a very good clean and all the filters changing.

YANBU to not want your house to smell bad, but YABU to suggest a brand new one without looking at other options.

Besides there's no point getting a new one if she doesn't know how to clean the machine, the smell will just return.

I have seen her empty it and clear all the filters while she has been here in the past. I have no problem with her using mine at all and don't expect her to buy a new one if it's just that the current one needs cleaning. I just don't want the smell.

I guess i just feel a bit uncomfortable having to bring it to her attention and wish she would deal with it without me having to mention it.

DP once hoovered up dog vomit and it ruined the vacuum cleaner. No matter what we did afterwards it stank of vomit every time it was used. Maybe she did something similar?

Ask her to use yours from now on, explain to her that hers is leaving a smell in your house.
Or if you don't wish to confront her then tell her you no longer require her to hoover and do it yourself??

You just have to tell her you want her to use yours from now on. It can feel a bit awkward but just bite the bullet and go for it.

Just tell her the Hoover is leaving a funny smell which lingers in your house. If she does the hoovering last and then leaves after that it may be that she doesn't smell it as much as you. Sometimes smells need an hour or so to percolate around the house. If English is not her first language then I think you will just have to tell her plainly that you wish her to use a different hoover

We inherited our dyson off my dad who had three dogs and two cats, and the first few times we used it, it stank the place out! We had to take it apart and scrub every inch of it. I suspect a PP is right and she's started to clean at a place with pets.

Well, you are paying her to leave your house clean, part of that is smelling nice. She is making your house smell.

Tell her. Maybe "Sorry, X, but that hoover is making an awful smell, DH can still smell it when he comes home at 7.30. You need to do something about it as I don't want to put up with it any more. Feel free to use my hoover but please don't use yours again."

You don't have to put up with it and if she takes umbrage, get a new cleaner. English not being her first language won't effect her nose...