Dear Au Pairs: Take it all with you when you go

[Anonymous]

I guess you’d have to ask my 6 former au pairs if I’m kind. We’ve never rematches, extended twice and still are in regular contact with our former au pairs....doesn’t mean I can’t feel frustrated when I’m left with a carload of shit to dispose of. This year was by far the worst.

I love the checklist idea and our aps never work the full 45 so I can easily schedule some time for trips to goodwill and/or foodbank and or dump the last few weeks.

[Anonymous]

We have our new au pair arrive with some overlap for training/acclimating and we expect the old au pair to clean out her room before she goes, and we check it, although we still usually have to do a little cleaning/throwing out/replacing shower curtains/new towels stuff. Knowing the room has to be clean for someone who she will actually know face to face helps them realize how they should leave it I think.

[Anonymous]

Some people think they are doing you some sort of favor by leaving their extra shit behind.

[Anonymous]

Do you guys call it a “check out” list? Wondering how I should name it.

[Anonymous]

I just sit down with AP a month or before her last day and give her a list...includes reminders on bank account, mail, and a list of my from expectations. Basically I tell her that we don’t want anything, including her nail polish remover.

[Anonymous]

Our APs have a move out checklist they have to complete 48hrs before departure. They sleep in the upstairs guest room their last night. Thry basically have to have their space fully cleaned up and cleaned from top to bottom. There is a physical list they have to run down, including washing all bedding and towels.

[Anonymous]

yes ...but please leave our crystal and silverware behind when you leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just sit down with AP a month or before her last day and give her a list...includes reminders on bank account, mail, and a list of my from expectations. Basically I tell her that we don’t want anything, including her nail polish remover.

I did this every single year except this year, and boy do I regret it. You can't imagine all the crap this AP left behind! Fortunately, a former BP is visiting and helped me clear all her stuff out. Interestingly, having been given the check-out list and having cleaned before he left, our former BP was appalled at how AP left the room, so he really learned the "leave it as you would wish to find it rule" that we try to teach. Not sure why I flaked on doing the check out list with this year's AP, but we are now done with the program, so I can only advise others not to forget it!

[Anonymous]

Our AP loved to shop and I actually inherited a lot of really nice shoes, a few skirts and tons of hair products.
While i threw out some of her junk, she left some really nice stuff behind so I guess i didn't mind.

[Anonymous]

You sound too trashy to host an Aupair. Money can't buy classs.

[Anonymous]

Wow, you sound like a peach. An entitled, miserable, bigoted peach. Bless your heart

[Anonymous]

Man, these replies are shockingly nasty. Y'all don't deserve any help at all. Karma's... real.

[Anonymous]

I just literally filled my trunk with left behind random stuff that our last AP left. She left 2 weeks ago and New AP is arriving next week and I hadn’t even gone in the AP room until this weekend and can’t believe all that she left behind for us to deal with. She wasn’t our best AP and pretty immature....

Totally sympathize with OP...you should leave a space as you found it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our APs have a move out checklist they have to complete 48hrs before departure. They sleep in the upstairs guest room their last night. Thry basically have to have their space fully cleaned up and cleaned from top to bottom. There is a physical list they have to run down, including washing all bedding and towels.

How much of the general housekeeping did you make them do on a weekly basis?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Throw it away. What is so hard?

It is a big deal. It’s incredibly rude.

Then don’t have a young girl from another country live with you in exchange for cheap childcare! Life has it pluses and minuses. The AP program has its pluses and minuses. What an odd thing to be so upset over, tea! Ha!