Page 4 | Housekeeper left iron on

BlooberryBiskits · 12/03/2023 14:16

Agree with PP re systems: make sure the iron goes away after use them it cannot be left on

anyone can make a mistake like this …

furryfrontbottom · 12/03/2023 14:19

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?

A good point, but can she be trusted with cleaning fluids? Most of them are at least slightly poisonous.

PillBoxes · 12/03/2023 14:23

Why do you even need to ask, of course you don't fire someone for this! Were you at home for the 2 days it was on, is the laundry room out of bounds for you, did you not notice it yourself, or were you away from home. Get a life dear and a bit of understanding.

Anyway it reminds of my dear sister back in the day when leaving the iron on was a dangerous thing to do according to our mother. Never ever leave the iron on. My sister was a scatterbrain (she sadly died young from cancer), so was in a heap every time she would go away somewhere, always worried that she had left the iron plugged in. So one time she decided she was taking the iron with her so she would know for certain! And she did - in the boot of her car. Such a good un and so hilarious, bless her.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 12/03/2023 14:41

Missing the point all together, but a housekeeper manages all aspects of a household. Someone who pops in a couple of times a week to make beds, do some cleaning, laundry and ironing is a cleaner or, if you did actually have a housekeeper, a maid 😂

FKATondelayo · 12/03/2023 14:52

I'm really paranoid about turning things off but really what would happen? Even if it didn't have a switch off mechanism, nothing. Even if for some reason, left alone in an empty room, it fell on the protective plate of an ironboard or on the board itself. These are designed to take a lot of heat. Do your clothes burn when you iron? Of course not. If the plug overheated (unlikely) it would short the electrical supply which would switch off. And even in that unlikely sequence of events, presumably your smoke alarm would go off to alert you of singeing or smoke?

Are irons a common cause of house fires in 2023? I thought open fires, candles, fags and the occasional fiddling with a gas pipe?

Also a housekeeper? Really?

MMAMPWGHAP · 12/03/2023 15:14

Pretty certain the British standard for irons ensures that even if they are left face down they will cut out before causing the fire.

I know because my dad was involved in that work in the 70s or 80s. His arm was on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World programme demonstrating the improvement.

Clymene · 12/03/2023 15:16

Tryingtokeepgoing · 12/03/2023 14:41

Missing the point all together, but a housekeeper manages all aspects of a household. Someone who pops in a couple of times a week to make beds, do some cleaning, laundry and ironing is a cleaner or, if you did actually have a housekeeper, a maid 😂

Oh no, I think it's totally connected to the OP being generally insufferable.

Original poster

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:18

Funny but my iron has a switch off function I didn’t know about (and she didn’t know about too) but it didn’t.

OP posts:

Original poster

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:19

Yes, someone I know from Dc school had a fire because of the iron. The worst that would happen the house will burn down when my Dc are in it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:20

Ok she is a cleaner, who does ironing, not a Housekeper but it is semantics.

OP posts:

AlliumSeeds · 12/03/2023 15:21

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:19

Yes, someone I know from Dc school had a fire because of the iron. The worst that would happen the house will burn down when my Dc are in it.

Are you aways this dramatic OP? You didn't spot it for a couple of days! Move on, your cleaner is a human being.

Original poster

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:25

I am not being dramatic. I am trying to see it from other peoples perspective. That’s why I am asking.

OP posts:

Seaweasel · 12/03/2023 15:29

@viques I loved how you described pretending to go out then sneaking back in to see if your iron's auto-off feature worked. As if you wanted to catch it in the act of failing to turn itself off 😅

Theos · 12/03/2023 15:30

Tryingtokeepgoing · 12/03/2023 14:41

Missing the point all together, but a housekeeper manages all aspects of a household. Someone who pops in a couple of times a week to make beds, do some cleaning, laundry and ironing is a cleaner or, if you did actually have a housekeeper, a maid 😂

Lol. Mate you’ve got a cleaner

FKATondelayo · 12/03/2023 16:10

MMAMPWGHAP · 12/03/2023 15:14

Pretty certain the British standard for irons ensures that even if they are left face down they will cut out before causing the fire.

I know because my dad was involved in that work in the 70s or 80s. His arm was on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World programme demonstrating the improvement.

I love this. Your dad is amazing.

Anyway I can't believe I've started googling but irons are very low risk for causing fires. Dishwashers and tumble dryers are the main culprits and people go out and leave them on all the time.
www.which.co.uk/news/article/revealed-the-brands-linked-to-the-most-appliance-fires-aIUph0F3zHoK

MMAMPWGHAP · 12/03/2023 16:23

Thanks @FKATondelayo Yes my dad had a lot of stories about fires. He spent most of his working life investigating and trying to prevent them. Windsor Castle, York Minster etc. I remember him telling me that the death toll in the Woolworths fire (in Manchester I think) was higher because the people in the self service restaurant had already paid for their meals so were determined to eat them.

And candles also dangerous. Which I NEVER use except for the odd birthday cake. I hope the OP doesn’t use candles.
Of course we all know that default Mumsnet present of ‘a nice candle’.

Hartlebury · 12/03/2023 16:30

Get home with an auto shut off or a smart plug for the one you've got so you can turn it off remotely if needed.

"Oh Sheila you left the iron on on Friday and I didn't find it until Sunday, the laundry room was like a sauna, nearly made a margarita! I've put it on a smart plug so it won't happen again but can you double check it please?" In a pleasant tone.

Nothing caught fire and everyone is fine, people make mistakes.

Hartlebury · 12/03/2023 16:33

Get one. Not home.

Although you can probably get auto shut off for your home 🤷🏼‍♀️

AhNowTed · 12/03/2023 16:47

Chelseacoffee · 12/03/2023 15:25

I am not being dramatic. I am trying to see it from other peoples perspective. That’s why I am asking.

"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."

Drama and a complete overreaction.

LucyLeave · 12/03/2023 16:51

Surely even the most basic irons click on and off if left.

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 12/03/2023 16:52

I’d do my own ironing is what I would do

rockpoolingtogether · 12/03/2023 16:55

I'm more shocked that you didn't need to enter a room of your house for two days! Don't sack her, just explain- she will be more careful from now on. You do sound quite harsh as an employer

GoodChat · 12/03/2023 17:06

Definitely just mention it to her. She'll be mortified.

Youpillock · 12/03/2023 17:08

BellatrixLestrangesHeatedCurlers · 12/03/2023 16:52

I’d do my own ironing is what I would do

Do you realise just how ridiculous comments like that are. She could have a disability or work full time and be knackered or have bags of money and outsource everything or just quite simply not want to do it. Why judge people who live differently to you.

Mariposista · 12/03/2023 17:15

Gosh how uptight. She made a mistake. Tell her, she will apologize no doubt, won’t do it again and move on.
Or do your own housework if you are so perfect.