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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To employ my 15 year old neice to clean for me?

46 replies

shinyshoes · 08/09/2009 13:33

I live in a small 2 bed terraced house. There are 5 of us. We both work DP full time and myself part time, the children have clubs during the week.
Over time my house has become what I consider a little filthy. The kitchen cupbords seriously need a deep clean inside and out, the skirting boards need serious attention as do bits of wallpaper that need reattaching to the wall.
As I will be spending the next few weeks slowly doing this my other jobs will need doing, the everyday jobs. So, I was thinking of asking my neice to come
in every Saturday to do some of the everyday jobs.

I have spoken to my sister and she seems to be ok with what I'm proposing which is
Hoover through the house = 25 mins
wash the tiles on the back of the cooker = 15 mins
polish/dust sides,mirrors,woodwork= 15 mins
mop my bedroom floor,toilet, bathroom = 15 mins
unload/load dishwasher = 5 mins
clean bath = 10 mins
clean bathroom sink = 5 mins
now that's about an hour and a half works but I said I'd pay £10. 00 for 2 hours work it might take her a while on her first few visits then it might take her hour and a half but this is what I consider to be at worst 2 hours.
there might be the odd thing now and again like bring The washing in or take it out.

What do you think? Is this too much for a 15 year old? Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:

skybright · 08/09/2009 16:20

I think it sounds fine.

Rhian82 · 08/09/2009 16:23

£5 an hour seems perfectly reasonable for all that.

When I was 15 (only 12 years ago) I worked in a burger bar for £1.50 an hour, evil work but I still appreciated the money!

Sassybeast · 08/09/2009 16:23

I think £5 an hour is fine but I do think she'll need more time - I'd say 3 hours for £15, then she'll be under less pressure.

donkeyderby · 08/09/2009 16:26

I used to clean houses for a while (now I employ a cleaner to do mine occasionally). I think you may have underestimated the time it takes, especially if you want mirrors cleaned etc., and you are employing a young teenager to do it.

If she works as well as a proper adult cleaner, it would be an incentive for her if you up the wage bit by bit. Teenagers get bored easily and it's not a job that offers a social life or many transferable skills.

flopalong · 08/09/2009 18:17

I have used my neice to clean my hour on and off since she was 15 (she's better than me) sometimes its my kitchen and frontroom, sometimes it putting away the massive pile of clean washing (had some babies close together and still worked as a childminder and working towards a degree so not lazy but busy)
I still pay her £5ph at 19 its more than mimimum wage (a bit) she has no job at the moment and is glad of a bit of extra money, I don't hvae much to spare and am glad of the help. She is never on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor, theres no ground in dirt I would pay her more if I could afford it as she is really good. I keep telling her to set up a business she can make any room look spotless, then my mindees come along and do there thing and she tells me she is glad to have the job as it reminds her why she is waititng to have a baby. She would also make a fab nanny, she loves kids but likes to give them back and go to sleep

MmeLindt · 08/09/2009 18:25

I had a teenager clean our home when we lived in Germany, she was 16 and earned the equivalent of £8 an hour and it took her 3 hours. Our house was a bit bigger than yours, but not much.

I think that she will take a good bit more than 2 hours to clean thoroughly.

If you are paying her £5 an hour then ok, but don't do a flat rate.

I am very jealous. Our cleaner here in Geneva takes £15 an hour.

Cies · 08/09/2009 18:37

YANBU - if she's happy to do the work, it's cash in hand and I'd imagine a bit flexible. I did this for various friends and relatives when I was a teen and would get 5 pph and be very happy with it.

hmc · 08/09/2009 21:27

"when I was a teen and would get 5 pph and be very happy with it. "

Yes but how long ago were you a teen? What about inflation. £5 in yester year is not the same as £5 today.

ADifferentMe · 08/09/2009 21:49

HMC - believe me, £5 an hour for a 15 year old is very good. Most of DDs friends earn much less.

dogonpoints · 08/09/2009 22:00

£10 for spending two hours cleaning your aunty's house? Absolutely fine. lol @ those who think this is too much hard work for too little money

dogonpoints · 08/09/2009 22:02

the minimum wage for a 16 yr old is about £3.70. Get out of mn world

stickylittlefingers · 08/09/2009 22:15

I had a similar arrangement when I was a teenager - much better than working for a stranger so long as everyone gets along. YANBU at all.

hmc · 09/09/2009 10:20

Yes that's the minimum wage dogonpoints - doesn't make it right

hmc · 09/09/2009 10:21

And wind your neck in telling me to "get out of mn world". Jeez

Tortington · 09/09/2009 10:25

i'd be worried about family fall out if things went wrong.

i think the money is fine though

dilemma456 · 09/09/2009 10:30

Message withdrawn

MrFlibble · 09/09/2009 10:38

Ohhh I used to clean for my aunty, the rate of pay you are proposing is fair, but I think you are expecting her to do alot in the time given. Those jobs may only take you that amount of time but a 15 year old wont be as quick!
I used to get 30 quid for working from 9 till 3 and an hour of that was spent on my lunch break, raiding her food cupboards! And sometime she would give me extra for busfare home, either that or give me a lift!

katiestar · 09/09/2009 11:35

sorry i'm going to go against the grain.I think think business arrangements with your family are a bad idea.it will end in tears !!

gagamama · 09/09/2009 16:26

I think you're being optimistic with how long it will take her. I'd struggle to unload my dishwasher in 5 minutes, let alone someone elses where you don't know where everything belongs, and then reload it again afterwards!

Plus she probably won't have done all of these chores before (I'd certainly not cleaned a bath when I was 15, it's a difficult job when you only have short arms!) and won't be familiar with your vacuum cleaner, cleaning products, mop or dishwasher. Sounds easy but everyone uses different ones, and when you're 15 and have only ever encountered one particular type, it's going to take demonstrating and getting used to.

I think it's a good idea, but you need to make sure you're not going to both end up exasperated and resentful when things aren't as you both expect...

MaLopez · 09/09/2009 16:30

Go for it. Undergoing a massive decluttering due to being pregnant and nesting. So far 17 year old niece has earned £115 at £5 an hour over her holidays and we are both happy. Definitely win win.

amtooyoungforthis · 09/09/2009 16:40

I think your timings are off, don't forget to allow for getting cleaning supplies out/putting back, filling bucket etc

I would put it to niece that these are the jobs I would like done every week, I will pay you £XX

I pay my own children to clean but each job has a flat rate (kitchen top to toe is worth £5, bathrooms £5 each etc) If they have longer to do them, it's a better job

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