To be upset the cleaner has shrunk my children’s clothes... again

[Wobblywombat]

I know many may think it’s unreasonable to have a cleaner in the first place, but since I work very long hours and have small children it’s a choice I made to have more time for family.

I don’t buy many expensive clothes, let alone for the children but every so often I will buy or be gifted nice woolens (like for Christmas) and hope they will last and be passed on from child to child and generation to generation (my mother kept all my nice outfits).

Our cleaner has managed to ruin every single nice piece in the last 3 years. I explained many times how woolens should be washed, then asked her not to wash them, then eventually asked her not to wash any delicates and stay away from them.

Yet she just ruined a lovely outfit that my family gifted our newborn.

Is it silly to feel so gutted about an outfit?

Our cleaner is really smart, amazing and has worked with us for many years. One of her few weaknesses is she is very proud and can never admit when she makes a mistake or apologise properly when she breaks / ruins things.

I would feel bad for taking her to task about this just after giving her a nice Christmas gift but I am so gutted that she ruined this and didn’t think to even mention it to me.
What would you do?

Why would you continue to allow your cleaner to do the washing if she's not doing it properly & ruining things? Just tell her to stop - you're her employer! If she defies you, then you need to reconsider your situation with her, surely??

If laundry work is taking up 50% of her time, you really need to address this problem.

I do the delicate / wool / hand wash items myself and my housekeeper does the rest. I have also had a few ruined items. But. She has saved a few items for me that I ruined myself.

I'd do the washing myself. It's not exactly a difficult task. You put the washing on, she takes it out and irons it.
Let's face it it's the ironing that takes the time (I'd love to employ someone to do mine).

Buy a lidded basket or crate and stick a huge red label on all 6 sides - and yellow and black striped tape around the labels - that says "Items in this basket MUST NOT be washed!"