AIBU to back out of hiring a cleaner who smokes?

[Aria999]

I have just over a week to find a housekeeper before DD2 arrives.

It's a big house (we moved into it in November) and I'm struggling to keep it cleaned even now so it's probably not going to happen when I have a newborn.

I interviewed someone today through care.com. She seemed nice, competent and affordable. I have details to get references for her and we provisionally agreed for her to start tomorrow.

But.... she smelled of smoke. It said on her profile she is a non smoker. (We are non smokers). I wouldn't expect her to smoke in the house but I dislike the smell and not sure whether I should be worried about 3rd hand smoke at this level (once a week, no direct contact) for the new baby.

AIBU to tell her I changed my mind about hiring her and why? Also would it be stupid to? There are not that many people available round here so I may end up with no help.

Wow. What does it matter as long as she does the job right? 3rd hand smoke? Lol.

Our cleaner smokes but I've never noticed any smell of it in our house.. she's not a very heavy smoker though.

YANBU but you shouldn't have arranged fot her to start if you weren't happy, bit unfair.

However, I get your point. We had our stairs carpet done a while back and the fitter went for fag breaks, left his tobacco etc across my counters, and smelt of smoke. I'll be asking the company not to send that one again.

Your baby is not going to die! However, I agree that the smell of smoke is unpleasant and not what you want in a clean house. I sacked a cleaner once who left a faint trail of BO wherever she went.
You can hire whoever you want in your own home. If she realises she's losing work through her smoking, she might even give up.

I have a client who doesn't smoke but her son does. He isn't there very often but when he is I have noticed I smell of it. I visit a non smoking house after I clean there and I can really smell it on my clothes.
A year or so ago I had another client who smoked like a chimney and everything right down to my bra smelt terrible after visiting. I used to quickly nip home and change after visiting her but I know my hair would have stunk. At the time I couldn't afford to turn down the business but it was awful.

Wow. What does it matter as long as she does the job right?

It matters if you don't like your house to smell of smoke. I loathe the smell of cigarette smoke (was brought up surrounded by it). If a smoker has been in my house I can smell it for hours afterwards. I wouldn't want to pay to have my house made fresh and clean, only for it to be left smelling of stale fags. And I'm no clean freak and don't have a freakishly strong sense of smell. I just hate cigarette smoke with a passion.

Third hand smoke
When I gave birth to DS the midwife said if any smokers were visiting to ask then ti change their clothes at least 30 mins before coming and refrain from smoking.

I would not be hiring a smoker in my house especially with a newborn. Not a chance. Use an agency, I've had some bad experiences with care.com

There’s no point hiring a cleaner who’ll stink the house out. The fact she lied about it doesn’t bode well either.

I wouldn't hire someone who smokes. Besides stinking, she would be popping out for a smoke every 15mins while at your house, too.

Probably not worth the debate but no, Cantwaitforsummer2020 not ‘anyone’ can get an STI. There are behaviours that increase the risks, there are people that are unfaithful and lie but there are also people who are not sexually active and those who are in an enduring faithful and monogamous relationship. Definitely not me that lacks understanding here! To say ‘everyone can catch an STI’ when there are definitely behaviours that dramatically increase the risks normalises promiscuous behaviours and casual sex. Those are not behaviours I would want in people coming to my house. Old fashioned but true. Would I put it on an application form? No. Would I do a social media search? Absolutely. I recruit personal staff from a known pool of local people whose reputations precede them

Just when I think I've seen it all on here. Well, guess you're entitled to your opinion in your own house. Not sure what someone enjoying a bit of sex has to do with their ability to clean your house though.