new nanny avoids laundry like plague... what to do?

Was it in the job description? How does she respond when you tackle her about it? Could you get back in touch with her referees and see if they have any advice for you?

is she young?
does she actually konw how to do it? i don't mean to be funny but she may feel uneasy as to what goes in with what, at what temp, what is tumble dried etc... dh was like this, he used to just wash everything he had together (work shirts with sports kit etc.) and thought i was a loon when he saw me sort and use different washing powder too.

I think you have to sit her down and tell her how much it's pissing you off otherwise it will cloud all the other issues. There's no excuse for her not to do it - I assume she can work a washing machine? Remind her that it's in her job description and therefore has to be done regularly (specify how often) and that you do not expect to live in a pig sty just because she can't be arsed to do her job properly. It's just not on.

I think you should tell her that you expect all the children's laundry to be washed, ironed and put away in it's proper place on Friday evening (I presume the nanny has the weekend off), bar the clothes they have worn that day. And that if she doesn't do this, you will have to give her a formal warning.

Maybe you could go through the children's clothes with her, making suggestions as to what she washes when and with what?

could you explain again where things go tell her you dont mind if she has the children help (if they are old enough) tbh i can do several loads washing washed and dryed but putting it away is right pain i try to do it every other day!

meandmy - don't tell me about putting away ... I've done all the washing from our holidays (18 days away) but it's sitting around in piles in the boys' room awaiting ironing etc...

i dont mind sorting folding the occassional lot of ironing but i hate putting it away with passion!

I t6hink sitting down with her and drawing up a schedule of the laundry is a really good idea.
Mon-bedding
Tues -Lights
Wed-Darks
Thur -??
Fri -Uniform

Each day check that she has done it. I think keeping the 'chat' as friendly as poss 'I've noticed you find organising the laundry a bit difficult let's sit down and discuss how we can work through this. Do you need help in organising the laundry? Let's work out a schedule....'

Having a routine is a good idea.

Have a talk with your new nanny, making it very clear that doing the laundry is not optional and that failure to do it will result in a written warning... should be enough to scare them into doing it.

Provide training as required... such as what wash symbols mean, what the dials on the machine do, where laundry supplies are kept, where to find where things go for putting away.

Personally, I find putting clothes away the hard bit - working out whose is whose. Quite often I leave a small selection of items in the basket which I don't know where they go. Much easier of course with school uniform as that is named!

yes perhaps you should explain to her exactly how to do it and about white washes etc. One load a day should be plenty for childrens clothing....how often are they getting chnaged!

being at uni does not necesarily mean you have used a washing machine, most have laundrettes now where you just take the powder and press the whites or colours button so she my not be used to a real washing machine.

When I started my last job it was the first time I had done laundry, at home my mum wouls go mad if I touched her washing machine! I got employer to show what to do, how to sort, powder/liquid, what could and couldnt be tumbled, even were to buy each sort of powder etc. Even efter that I wasnt so cofident, as it was the whole houses laundry not just little girls. But when I asked again I was very uncomfortable and was treated not so good, like I was stupid not to get it 1st time. so I winged it.

I know to someone who has been doing this a long time it may seem silly but I know how scared I was over getting it wrong, paying for new clothes or worse a new machine if I got it wrong! I'm just saying the girl may be embarresed to ask for more explanation or worried you think shes thick. or maybe shes just a piggy, and needs a verbal warning to boot her up the bum.

Of all of my APs, I haven't had a single one who has mastered the laundry. They always used to pile their own washing up and do it when they had run out of clothes. And I could never see their floor!!

So what I do is have a daily schedule that a I had with a previous Nanny that worked really well. I put the machine on delay so that it is ready for them to deal with once they have come home from dropping dds at school (9.15am). They then put it in the drier/on the line. At 4.15pm they then have to take the washing in, fold it up and put it on the relevant beds for putting away (okay my dds are bit older).

I personally don't thing your Nanny's ever had any structure to her daily life (apart from going to lectures) and may need a gentle push. Good luck!

how old is your dd? Is she old enough to go through the clothes she has used during the day with the nanny and putting away the ones that weren't really worn. Hopefully this would teach your dd that changing 4 or 5 times per day creates work for herself and hopefully less washing for the nanny to do! Make that part of the bed time routine?

Its clearly then a case of lazy rather than worried, in which case I'd give her the serious chat and threaten the warning. I've had many, many employees under me at the nursery and sometimes you just have to give up and get someone new, there are people who just dont learn. I had one girl sent to the laundry (carry a bag of towels to the hotel laundry, drop them, come back) and hour later no sign.. she'd started chatting up a kp! And one girl who fell asleep on the loo, leaving me alone with 8 children...

Can you just casually mention tomorrow morning you'd really appreciate it if the laundry was sorted by the time you get home? Say it with a smile, then give her a brief 'thanks in advance' and shoot out the door?

If she says she can't find time in the hours she works in the daytime, perhaps she can do it in the evenings when you get home?

As a live-in nanny, does her contract specify the standard two evenings babysitting? If it does, I think you're within reason to suggest she does the laundry then. I've been a live-in nanny, I wouldn't object to this.

I know all that makes it harder, especially when they are nice, have a good attitude etc. Hope the chat goes well and you can keep her on, not just for you but for the kiddies, if they've started bonding. I've always found that putting the grievences on paper, with examples if possible, before the meeting helps, not to show her but to keep you focused.

Oh yes doing laundry while babysitting is a good idea, I do the ironing in the evenings with the radio on!

how is it going? never had a live in nanny, but i really sympathise as if i did have one this would drive me bonkers!

good luck with the review

Oh god stop your dd wearing loads of outfits during the day. I do my own washing and do not let the kids change frequently because it adds ridiculously to the washing and general sorting. It really helps if you cut down on unecessary changes of clothes. How old are the kids? Could you suggest she does a general tidy up with the children (i.e. teaching them to help type thing). Perhaps she's not good at getting stuff done when the children interrupt (I know I'm not I get distracted by them and its the reason clothes get piled up and not sorted); I find having a time to rope the children in & get involved is the only way I manage it at all when they're around (and then badly).