Cleaner left the hub on

[leonardo871]

Cleaners were in this morning and today I got in from work to see the gas hob where they were cleaning was left on at very low.

Thankfully I noticed and turned it off.

It was definately not me as I have not used gas hob for cooking for a week or so.

Is there anything more I need to do as it has been potentially left running for 8-10 hours?

I have been with these same cleaning company for 2 years and no issues like this before.

Thanks for that.

I was just meaning the practicalities of it to be honest. Was not wanting to create a drama just wanted some advice.

Why would they OP have to do all that if the flame has been lit?

I think you need to mention it but obviously you can do it kindly.

God I’d just let this go, it’s clearly an accident. If it’s so sensitive get something to put over it.

Please do send me your pay details. I'd rather give you 20p than you bothering your cleaner for making a mistake while you were out earning more than they do.

I suspect they cleaned the hob and turned the rings on to make sure they lit afterwards - I’m assuming your rings come apart to be cleaned and can be hoovered.

just leave a post it note asking them to double check they are off next time.

My DH has done this a couple of times (cooks his porridge in a pan on the hob for breakfast). The first time I noticed about an hour later. The second time I didn't notice until lunchtime. Of course I mentioned it to him so he could be more careful in future. I don't understand why you wouldn't mention it to the cleaners.

I don't know how you light your hob OP but with ours you have to turn the gas on with the knob and click the ignition button separately so it's not possible to light the ring accidentally. You could however lean on the knob and twist it slightly releasing gas accidentally - which is clearly not what happened here. Have the cleaners been using your hob to heat their lunch up?

Big assumptions. 😅

Yes - they come apart. I think this is what has happened.

I'd ask for credit towards the gas bill.

Is part of their job to clean the hob? Does it even need cleaning if you haven't used it for a week?

I'd suspect that the cleaner had lost her lighter and quickly lit a fag on the hob then rushed outside to smoke it.

Do they smoke?

@DenholmElliot now that’s a leap! 😂

I also thought lighting a cigarette !

My immediate thoughts 😂

I guess you'd have to be a smoker yourself to get it. Non-smokers, it wouldn't even be on their radar that someone would do this.

Its quite sensitive. They might have pressed by accident.

Would you not notice your wrist suddenly getting very hot indeed?!

I guess you'd have to be a smoker yourself to get it. Non-smokers, it wouldn't even be on their radar that someone would do this.

I've never smoked personally, but I've seen smokers do this - sounds perfectly plausible to me.

I'm sorry for the question but why would the flame be on? If the flame was on low it had to be turned on intentionally (you said it's gas right?). So, why was it on in the first place? Did they have lunch at your place before leaving? Sorry if it's a weird question but I've never had a cleaner turn on the stove tbh. I've done it myself when cleaning but there was no flame just gas coming out. The only time I've left the flame on low is when I'm cooking and then take the pan off and forget to turn it off.

You might light a cigarette that way (in a pinch) but when I did it -waaaay back in the day- I'd have a hand at the ready to turn it off imediately because you might burn yourself otherwise. My flatmate burnt her hair that way and "almost" burnt her lashes too.
Usually when you lift the face from the flame you turn it off at the same time because it gets too hot... Boy was I an idiot then, can't believe I know this from experience, how embarassing. Get a lighter kids, don't be cheap!

@Oceanus you should light the gas after cleaning for several reasons.

1. just turning the gas on and listening for hiss, doesn’t work for those hard of hearing!
2. gas that is lit is easier to remember to turn off - thermocouples do malfunction. Not often, but they can and do. Gas is smelly but not everyone has a good sense of smell. But yea you do need to balance the risk of fire (if left lit) v explosion (if thermocouple fails)
3. to check you’ve reassemble the parts correctly. The flame will tell you beyond all doubt if you’ve failed to reassemble correctly. The client may not know how to reassemble their hob or have physical restrictions preventing them from doing so.
4. it ensures that you’ve not blocked or broken any of the keys with cleaning materials. - paper or cloth.
5. a quick high flame ensure any residue from cleaning liquids is burnt of quickly. If using plain water it ensures no droplet drying splatters mare the finish.
6. if the appliance has been damaged or broken, it can be reported and the process for repair/replacement/compensation can be started quickly.

@Alphabet1spaghetti2 Thanks for that very sensible advice. I haven't got a gas stove at home now. Every now and then I'll use one but I haven't deep cleaned one in a while. I've always had a gas one while at uni but we were young and stupid (using a stove to light a fag says it all really)! I don't think we ever turned it on after taking it apart for a deep cleaning but what you say makes complete sense.

I’d definitely mention it just so they’re more vigilant next time.

’Hi Kim and Aggy, noticed when I got home today the hob was on, no harm done, but please could you double check it’s off in future. Many thanks, leonardo.’

@Oceanus just to add to the very sensible advice above, should you ever wish all these years later to light a fag from the hob just hold the end of it in the flame, wait until it glows and smoulders and then lift it to your mouth really quick to drag on it straightaway.

Yes, evacuate the street, buy a new hob and sue them all

@Dauncets Do people still use splinks to transfer the flame from hob to cigarette? I got quite good at rolling them for mum as a kid! Apparently hairspray + gas was not a good recipe!