Nanny doing her own washing at my house.

[eastnorth]

I have just interviewed a nanny for one day a week who seemed really nice.however she asked if she could bring her own washing in to do. I was a bit taken aback but she said most nannies do. Is this right?

I have never heard of anything like that. And she would be with you for a day per week only anyway? I would assume that, on that one day, she would minimize the amount of personal stuff she does on your time.

I would consider letting a nanny use my washing machine on exceptional occasions, for example, if her own machine was broken and being fixed in short order but not on a regular basis.

I would never have dreamt of using my boss' washing machine for my own washing

It's not an inherently unreasonable request (though I've not heard it done by live-out nannies) but how would she get it dry? If she'd be using your tumble dryer to get it completely dry then that would be real money on your leccy bill.

She said when my child was asleep she would do her own ironing like she does on her other job, so would be drying it too.

never heard of that

I would never asked that and been nannying for 9 years. I occassionally wash my trousers/jumper at work if my charge is sick on me but that only happens once or twice a year!

What a great idea. I will take my washing into work, do in the student laundrette at the uni's expense and I can be running the iron over it while the students have small group discussions in my seminars.

Ridiculous notion, isn't it? And your nanny doing her washing and ironing on company time, so to speak, that's ridiculous too.

This is over stepping the boundaries and to be frank very odd, maybe she has been led to think this is normal by her other empolyer but whilst she is at your house earning money she has to do house work in your house-very strange.

employer*

Thing is she seemed perfect and if my child was asleep I suppose she would only watch TV anyway. Should I just say no but hire her anyway or do you think this would start us on the wrong foot?

I've had several nannies over several years and this has never been asked nor done. I wouldn't agree that most nannies do this. However, I do have sympathy because I used to lived in a crap accommodation that didn't have a WM, and I had to use the laundrette, in which I was verbally assaulted by a drunken stranger one night. I realised that you can be quite visible and vulnerable in a laundrette. So, I have sympathy.

When kids have naps nannies usually have a coffee and a sit down, and then they tackle the ironing, make purees for the freezer or clean the playroom or buggy, that kind of thing.

Well to be fair my childminder would not do any of this. It is only one day.

how odd

I dont know a single nanny who has ever done this (other than live in)

Only exception being the odd occasion if the nannies washing machine has broken (and when my bosses washing machine was broken, i did their washing at mine in the evenings a couple of times too) (bear in mind i was their FT nanny, not 1 day a week.

Also of child is sick all over you or poo's on you, or you fall in a muddy puddle etc etc then nanny may wash their clothes amoungst the childrens, but clearly as a one off due to a disaster... not the norm!

No, not at all normal.
She should be doing nursery duties when your children sleep, putting their washing away, making food, tidying toys etc (after she has eaten lunch anyway). I've had a one day a week nanny and they've done that.

Seems a strange question to ask at interview - did they say why they wanted/needed to do their laundry at your home?

Sure nannies do laundry but they do the employers laundry not usually their own.

Children sleep during the day? Some do, some don't sleep that much. As children get older, daytime naps get dropped. So how would this work in a year, or two years time... or anytime your child does not sleep?

Have you had many takers for the job? May be worth looking at another candidate or two and then make a decision.

I really do not know whether to employ her or not. Does it seem petty to not have her because of this.

Nope, never had a nanny who's done this. It is a bonkers thing to ask (her not you!)

Nick she said she would only iron if my son slept. You are right I should see all the nannies that have applied.

Seems odd request.When I lived out I never really did it other than couple of times the children were sick etc on me.
I did know one nanny who did it but she was 5 days.She never asked though.While she was employed with this family she moved into a flat which had no washing machine.The family offered to let her do it at theirs

It would be a deal breaker for me. I would not hire her.

Thanks boffin I needed to hear someone say that. I just thought was I petty.

No, it's not petty.

Telling her off for doing it if she was puked on would be petty, or refusing to help her out if her machine at home had broken would be petty.

Telling her to work a full day and not bring her domestic chores to work on the one day a week she is employed by you is reasonable.

How really odd - never heard of it before... I sometimes struggle to get all the childrens washing done in the day, let alone doing my own too!