Cleaning while babysitting?

[Anonymous]

So I used to be a nanny, and during my downtime (naptime) I would straighten up a bit. I would do dishes, pick up toys, maybe run a load of laundry. My bosses would always tell me that it wasn't necessary, but they were grateful I did it for them.

I am currently a preschool teacher and I've been taking babysitting jobs for parents in my school. I babysat for a family once, and did my usual routine of getting the child to sleep, then cleaning up the mess we made. When the mother came back, she asked if I would please clean up more in the future. I was a little taken aback. I didn't think it was typical for a casual babysitter to clean an entire house.

I talked to my coworker who has babysat for this family, among many others at the center. I told her I was surprised that I was asked to clean more outside of the mess I made. She told me she ALWAYS cleans up the familys' homes. She was shocked that I don't.

So as a casual babysitter, what is typical? Do you normally just clean up after yourself, or do more heavy cleaning, such as vacuuming and dusting?

[Anonymous]

I clean up the messes that I've made with the kids and that's it.

[Anonymous]

As a casual babysitter I always cleanup after myself. I might load the dishwasher if its empty, or finish folding a basket of clothes mom was working on when I walked in, but generally that's it. If she wanted you to "clean up more" that was on her to specify (and pay for). Its not a given for an evening sitting job. Your coworker sounds like a dipshit, and you will probably deal with this expectation with families she has worked for.

[Anonymous]

Seriously!?!?

[Anonymous]

We have a nanny, and expect that the kids' laundry will be done, clothes that are to small will be set aside, bedroom and playroom picked up, and after the kids eat the kitchen will be cleaned.

But when we hire a babysitter for six hours on a Saturday night, we only expect/hope the babysitter will clean up from what they've done and that's all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and expect that the kids' laundry will be done, clothes that are to small will be set aside, bedroom and playroom picked up, and after the kids eat the kitchen will be cleaned.

But when we hire a babysitter for six hours on a Saturday night, we only expect/hope the babysitter will clean up from what they've done and that's all.

+1 from a MB. No way would I expect a babysitter to clean my house! If I did want this service, I would make sure that the sitter was ok with it in advance and pay them more for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and expect that the kids' laundry will be done, clothes that are to small will be set aside, bedroom and playroom picked up, and after the kids eat the kitchen will be cleaned.

But when we hire a babysitter for six hours on a Saturday night, we only expect/hope the babysitter will clean up from what they've done and that's all.

+1 from a MB. No way would I expect a babysitter to clean my house! If I did want this service, I would make sure that the sitter was ok with it in advance and pay them more for it.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a nanny, and expect that the kids' laundry will be done, clothes that are to small will be set aside, bedroom and playroom picked up, and after the kids eat the kitchen will be cleaned.

But when we hire a babysitter for six hours on a Saturday night, we only expect/hope the babysitter will clean up from what they've done and that's all.

+1 from a MB. No way would I expect a babysitter to clean my house! If I did want this service, I would make sure that the sitter was ok with it in advance and pay them more for it.

+2. I would actually be more irritated if a casual babysitter DID vaccum and dust than if she didn't. Seems like an imposition. I expect that a casual babysitter would clean up the mess she had made while with the kids and nothing more. If a babysitter empties the dishwasher and/or puts away a few dishes that I left out when she arrived, I will fall completely in love with her.

[Anonymous]

I have around 10 families for whom I do occasional weekend babysitting. I have NEVER been asked to clean anything. I clean up the mess we make and that's it. If there are other dirty dishes in the sink I will do them but it's never been required of me.

I probably wouldn't work for that family again. It's very off-putting.

[Anonymous]

As a casual babysitter especially if its your first time working for that family. You don't even know where things go or what cleaning products they use. How rude of her to say that to you.