minimal housework for au pair

[gillo98]

hi, im just looking for a bit of advice re "minimal housework" for the au pair which she has said she will do....she starts next month and i was wondering what do people class as minimal...im not expecting cleanig house from top to bottom obviously but would appreciate some advice...thanks

tidying up the kids bedrooms.
helping put dishes away.
Ironing kids clothes.
Unloading dishwasher/washing machine.
Ensuring their own room is clean & hoovered.
Tidying up bathroom after kids use and her own use.

Obviously not all on the same day. These are light bits of housework.

I expect mine to fill/empty dishwasher, wipe down kitchen sides, process laundry through washing machine and do ironing. they also tidy up the living room when the kids have gone to bed and sometimes change the sheets in children's bedroom.

But TBH that's it. I have found from meeting lots of my APs' friends over the years that they all loathe housework and I feel life is too short to get them wound up by it. I personally think it's easier to get a cleaner in to do the heavy stuff (cleaning toilets, mopping floors). If my APs have hours to spare I will get them doing stuff like nipping to dry cleaners/walking dog, rather than doing housework. But am sure others will differ...

I think it is important to be very clear with your AP what household chores you expect her to do and how frequently you want her to do it - otherwise this could lead to discontent later on. I would also recommend setting aside sufficient time for her to do those chores - bearing in mind that she will probably be slower than you.

I allow my AP 1 hour per day for cleaning tasks (when she works), and this generally includes laundry and/or keeping the house tidy - pretty much the chores outlined in the 2 posts above. Like Squiffy, I also have a cleaner to do the heavy cleaning stuff.

IMHO an AP is either good at cleaning or at childcare - rarely both. Personally, I'd far rather my AP was great with the kids than cleaning any day.

our ap's have never had to do our wasshing but do their own and will occasinaly bring dry washing in from the line if im at work and it looks like its going to rain!
I agree that it has to be set out before they start as there seems to be huge differences in what is expected by different peoiple. Ive found that they are responsible for their own room, will tidy up if im at work and more recently as im on ML as ap wants to stay on ive renegociated to have some heavier house work done.. so far so good! like cleaning under and around things i cannot move/ reach.. or hoovering upstairs and moving furniture as needed.