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Original poster

MB asked me to clean oven...

30 replies

gruber · 24/05/2011 14:55

It was in the diary as possible jobs for me when youngest is at nursery (so childless morning after school run).

I texted her very politely and said as I'd never cleaned an oven in my life it wasn't my sort of thing, but I could recommend an oven cleaning service! I honestly haven't, DH does at home.

I also feel it's not quite in my remit! Was I fair?

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StillSquiffy · 24/05/2011 15:23

There has been a thread recently about this. Are you left with no work to do between dropping kids off and picking youngest up? If so, what productive suggestions can you make to the MB that will be sufficient to keep yourself occupied for that gap?

Have a look here at the same discussion from the parents' point of view.

eastmidlandsnightnanny · 24/05/2011 15:25

Perhaps say its not something you have done in the past but happy to do as a one off (comprimise is key in any job)

get the oven kit that has the bags you soak the shelves in and put liquid in oven and leave for several hrs (hubby did ours so not 100% sure how it works) - we left ours overnight and literally rinsed it off - so much nicer than those sprays and scrubbing. (oven kit is £3.50 ish in asda at mo in a bright orange box)

they could argue its a child related chore as you use the oven to cook the childrens meals

RitaMorgan · 24/05/2011 15:33

I don't think it's in your remit either!

Child related chores, maybe some errands - but not heavy duty cleaning.

cumbria81 · 24/05/2011 15:43

I dunno, if you've got nothing else to do you might as well.

Strix · 24/05/2011 15:47

oven cleaning does seem to cross the line... unles you made a spectacular mess of it yourself. But, it this is just usual cooking build up from all who use it then she's crossed the line. But, keep in mind, she has probably crossed the line not knowing there was a line to cross.

I think your text is fine - so long as you didn't really put "quite" in bold.

Squiffy suggestion for you to make some suggestions on how you might fill your time with more appropriate nanny work is good. I think you should address that because it is probably why she suggested the oven.

Strix · 24/05/2011 15:48

Good grief, how many times can one talk of crossing a line in one post?! Blush

Laquitar · 24/05/2011 16:25

I see your point but tbh i wouldn't appreciate receiving this text at work - at some days or moments (i know i've been on mn every morning for the past few weeks Grin because i'm ill). Child related texts always welcome, other texts it depends....Always remember when you text someone at work you don't know if the workplace is hectic and shit at that moment and if her mood is bad and the text is taken the wrong way. Face to face is better imo.

I'm not saying you are wrong to refuse thu.

rookiemater · 24/05/2011 16:33

I presume you are a nanny rather than a home help or au pair. Childrens laundry-fine, some cooking (if for children) fine, tidying childrens rooms etc -fine, cleaning oven - not so fine.

harrietthespook · 24/05/2011 16:34

what had you agreed with the MB you would do during this period? If it includes some more straightforward 'housekeeping' then maybe you should agree some specific things you are comfortable with and those you are not.

It's a tough call because you don't want to be awkward - you do need to fill your time in some productive way. What are you doing now and as the others have suggested, what other suggestions can you put forward?

I wouldn't personally ask my nanny to clean the oven during the normal course of things but if we'd agreed that when a child was out of the house shewuold help with housework, and she used the oven herself to cook, then I might. I think you want to avoid an answer that is: "No, just because."

Penguindreams · 24/05/2011 17:41

My nanny arrived this morning as I was at home. I was playing with my son and was expecting her to come in and have a chat since she didn't need to be on 'nanny duty' with me there.

No, there she was cleaning the oven instead! I certainly hadn't suggested it (nor would it have crossed my mind to do so), but was extremely grateful too Grin.

Iggly · 24/05/2011 17:44

Blimey. DS's nanny doesn't do housework (live out) and I wouldn't expect her to. When DS goes to preschool I'll ask her to do chores relating to him - cooking, cleaning his room etc.

BarbaraBar · 24/05/2011 17:51

My former nanny used to make a real mess of our old oven whenever she cooked so it was in her remit to clean it as she went along.

Your employer asked you to do it, you politely said no. Might be worth suggesting other things you can do while child free - sorting children's clothes cupboards, having a mega tidy of toys etc.

KatieMiddleton · 24/05/2011 17:51

No I would not ask my nanny to do this any more than I would have asked any of my staff at work to do cleaning. It is massively disrespectful. If she offers as a one off that is completely different.

We've all pitched in during our working lives at one point or another (I cleaned up a lot of sick and worse when I was a high street branch mangager years ago) but I would not be accepting that as a normal part of my job.

Tbh I would not have text but would have had a discussion, in person, if possible, about tasks I could do while no child around to look after (ie child's laundry, ironing, preparing meals for child to eat later/freeze).

BoffinMum · 24/05/2011 18:15

Mine sometimes gives things a bit of a wipe, and we might do the oven together whilst chatting and generally doing womanly bustling around the kitchen in a collaborative kind of way, but I normally get a cleaning service in for it.

Shelley33 · 24/05/2011 18:49

I scrubbed work's aga last week, but that's because it was filthy! Children were in bed, so I spent an hour on it, lovely and gleaming now. Plus bosses are on pain of death getting it dirty again! Wink

nannyl · 24/05/2011 19:11

As a nanny i don't clean ovens either

wipe up spills that happen while i am cooking, yes, clean the oven, NO (and all my bosses have used oven cleaning companies too, i have in the past stayed in to let them in!)

Original poster
gruber · 24/05/2011 19:34

I do washing, ironing, sorting through old/too small clothes, tidying, 2nd hand uniform sales, grocery shopping, batch cooking, baking, hoovering, toy sorting- so never at a loss of things to do between 9 and 1145 ( when I leave to do school run).

MB was fine with it, I do cook but only for kids/batch cooking, and I did Hoover, 2x washing, ironing and sort & clean all toys in cupboard - so I did fill my time productively.

Thanks all for replies. It's not something I've ever seen MB do or refer to so I was quite surprised- but she wasn't put out I didn't do it. Which was nice.

OP posts:
ohnoshedittant · 24/05/2011 19:49

Oven cleaning is outside the remit for a nanny imo (unless specifically mentioned in the contract).

Jobs that you could do while child-free; shopping/errands for the kids, change children's beds, childrens laundry/ironing, sewing on name labels, making costumes for school play, sorting toys, batch cooking etc.

'they could argue its a child related chore as you use the oven to cook the childrens meals' - I think this is a stretch...they could argue you should mow the lawn because the kids play in the garden, or clean the carpets because the kids walk on them!

Original poster
gruber · 24/05/2011 20:01

Rookiemater- yes I am a nanny.

Harriet - thank you, yes, I think there might be a discussion in a nice way about household chores. Usually I do a grocery shop so it's unusual for me to have a big chunk of time.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 24/05/2011 23:22

am i the only one who thinks mb is cheeky asking this?

im all for if you dont ask, you dont get .....

but still!!!

that is a cleaners job and prob a heavy duty clean needed

so no i wouldnt clean the oven

hell i dont even clean mine Blush

Original poster
gruber · 25/05/2011 08:42

Thanks Blondes - my thinking exactly! MB does have a cleaner so if it was urgent she could ask her...

OP posts:
thebody · 25/05/2011 19:27

god i wouldnt let ANYONE look in my oven let alone clean it.. the smoke alarm went off at 150 degrees. the kids called it the dinner gong.. no shes got a cheek imo...

i had a lovely lady come and clean mine from a specialist company.. she telephoned to cancel her next appointment after looking into my range!!!.. bit embaressing... but its gleaming now..

she told me all about her lesbian realationships and the break down of her civil partnership as well so informative as well as productive....

mollymole · 25/05/2011 20:09

as a nanny - no way
as an au pair - maybe
as a cleaner - yes
but i never clean my oven -i would rather move house first (well OK buy a new oven)
my cleaners do the outside beautifully but admit defeat with the inside
does anyone know what sort of job these 'professional' oven cleaners do and how much they cost

thebody · 26/05/2011 09:42

Molly they are wonderful.. charged me £100.. got a huge double oven.. its now gleaming and wonderful.. well worth the money..

roundthehouses · 26/05/2011 09:49

i am absolutely boggled that such a thing as an oven cleaning service exists Confused

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