Slightly long one, but want to explain:
Our cleaner is arranged by a lady who I'll call Mary. She charges £2 per hour for making the arrangements / providing holiday cover etc. She's been doing this for 2.5 years for us and we get on v well. She recently had a prem baby who spent 9 weeks in icu. She worked the whole way through this juggling hospital, her other DC and work. The baby is home now and thriving but just wanted to say that she's had a tough time and a really nice person.
We started self isolating 10 days ago and offered to pay our cleaner for 2 weeks and then review. Mary has emailed this morning to explain that our cleaner has been declaring all income and qualifies for the 80% support. Mary doesn't qualify and is asking if she could do ironing for us - picking it up / dropping off outside. She said she has lost 90% of her income as her cleaners can't go out and she is desperate for cash.
I've been googling and can't really see how long the virus can last on clothes. I'd need to add in time for her household to be safe from us and then would leave it here in the garage to be safe to bring into our house. Does anyone know how long it lasts on fabric and whether humidity (steam ironing) affects it???
My other ideas were to give her some money (not sure how much) just to help out. I could also pay in advance now for some help when we're all getting back to normal. Sort of a down payment on a spring clean. I don't know her well enough to lend her money but really want to help. She must be feeling quite desperate to say that to me.
Any advice or thoughts really appreciated 