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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Housekeeper left iron on

123 replies

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 11:25

I have a housekeeper who comes in a couple of times a week to clean, change bedsheets , iron dc uniforms, etc. she came on Friday and left around 6 pm. She irons in a small laundry room we don’t use much. Today I went there to take some laundry and found that she has left the iron on and it’s been on for about two days. Now I am at odds whether to keep her or ask her to leave. What would you do? I am so shocked. We could have burned down.

OP posts:
Sparklybutold · 12/03/2023 13:01

It's incredibly frustrating when the help makes mistakes. Especially as you yourself are immune to this.

As I know the latter is not true - talk to her so she's aware. I'm sure she will be shocked and will completely understand the risk involved.

inloveandmarried · 12/03/2023 13:01

I always leave the iron on. I bought one that automatically switched off if not used for an hour.

Tell her and maybe get a different iron if you are concerned.

Happysalley · 12/03/2023 13:03

I'm a cleaner and this is my worst nightmare! After each job I go through the house checking that cookers are off, gas knobs not turned on, lights off, irons unplugged, etc. Tell her and gauge her reaction, if she apologises I'd let it go as a one off.

Ariela · 12/03/2023 13:04

Does your iron have an auto shut-off? Many do - if there's no movement the iron goes into standby mode, and turns itself off.

If you don't have this sort of iron, then get one,

AlliumSeeds · 12/03/2023 13:05

I leave my iron on now and then. I've got one that switches itself off after 30 mins.

Agree - complete overreaction OP - we're all human.

ClaireEclair · 12/03/2023 13:10

She is human. We left the iron on all day in our hotel once. It was a really old iron too. It was all okay.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 12/03/2023 13:11

Why would you sack someone for a basic human error thing?

Fernanfrank · 12/03/2023 13:13

Or, like an adult, you can just talk to her. Explain and ask her to be more vigilant in future. It's an extreme reaction to fire someone this quickly over one mistake.

TheFairyCaravan · 12/03/2023 13:21

Don’t sack her. Just buy a better iron.

Mummyoflittledragon · 12/03/2023 13:26

I am shocked this is even a question. I am shocked anyone has an iron that old it doesn’t automatically shut off.

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 12/03/2023 13:27

ChangedmynameagainforChristmas · 12/03/2023 11:34

I thought ironing was for dinosaurs !

Not when you have someone else to do it for you it would seem.

beguilingeyes · 12/03/2023 13:33

I did that once and burned an iron shaped hole in the carpet.

cosmiccosmos · 12/03/2023 13:34

If you can afford a housekeeper then you can afford a decent iron. I'd be willing to bet if you had to do the ironing it would be all singing all dancing. What a crap way to treat someone who works for you.

I would be buying a new iron - fancy steam one (and they all switch off these days) and saying nothing.

SpaceNambo · 12/03/2023 13:35

Modern irons have an auto-turn off if unused. Time for an upgrade.

HaveTheDayOff · 12/03/2023 13:37

cosmiccosmos · 12/03/2023 13:34

If you can afford a housekeeper then you can afford a decent iron. I'd be willing to bet if you had to do the ironing it would be all singing all dancing. What a crap way to treat someone who works for you.

I would be buying a new iron - fancy steam one (and they all switch off these days) and saying nothing.

I think saving on buying a decent iron and splurging on a housekeeper fits more in with OPs image of herself.

If she bought a decent iron she wouldn’t be able to come here and shriek about how bad her housekeeper is.

Toddlerteaplease · 12/03/2023 13:38

Your iron should have a safety cut out on it. If she's otherwise good. Why would you sack her.

AhNowTed · 12/03/2023 13:38

I've done this many times.

Ridiculous overreaction and drama 🙄

WinterMusings · 12/03/2023 13:39

Well, every day is a school day!

I didn't know they had auto shut off ones now. I bought mine in 2009/2010 seemingly just as they were starting to do them? Mid priced. Popped it up in the loft (with half the contents of the house) when I was getting some renovation work done in, probably 2015.... & it's been untroubled since!

@Chelseacoffee 🙄🙄🙄🙄poor woman, I bet you're a real charm
to clean for. You'd be barking to ket a goid cleaner go over something so trivial AND preventable.

Barannca · 12/03/2023 13:39

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Just remind her to turn it off before she leaves. She will probably double check next time.

gamerchick · 12/03/2023 13:40

Irons tend to switch off when they get to a certain temp. It's bit drastic to sack her for it. Tell her to please double check the irons off for the future. This isn't a drama.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/03/2023 13:49

The worst that happened was that you paid for more electricity than had it been unplugged, as it would have switched off, then switched back on as it cooled down each time.

WonderingWanda · 12/03/2023 13:49

Surely you just tell her about her mistake and in future she will be more careful. She hasn't done this on purpose op.

Lovahotchoc · 12/03/2023 13:53

Just mention it politely. How would you like to be fired from your job for an innocent one-off mistake which had no serious consequences?

luladebulachops · 12/03/2023 13:57

My Iron cost me approx £35 from Argos recently. Will switch off if not used after a number of minutes. Rather handy as I get easily distracted!

IAteAllTheTomatoes · 12/03/2023 14:14

Can't be too careful OP, she's probvly an aspiring arsonist!!

If you don't fire her immediately, she'll escalate over time. A hair straighteners, electric blanket, the oven hob etc.

If you really want to keep her, you'll gave to remove all electrical items from the house while she's there. Do you have temporary storage in the garage?