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How to deal with her personal odour?

(79 Posts)
GinJeannie Wed 28-Aug-19 16:07:02

For the past 5 years we have been so grateful for a neighbour who does cleaning in and around our village as a part time job to come to us once a week to hoover through for me. She's 40, a really nice person, so friendly, often does a little extra job for me and goes home every week with my previous week's magazine and maybe a slice of cake. We know her very well, since living in a small village.......but recently she has developed an awful odour, not BO, the other end! I find I cannot be in the same room as her, it's so strong. What to do, I don't want to lose her but how to deal with this situation tactfully, or not? Advice needed from GN girls!

Madgran77 Sat 31-Aug-19 15:46:53

*Not wishing to be a scaremonger but I do now wish that I had had a conversation with a family member who had a similar problem.

She died of ovarian cancer. I will never know if the odour was connected with that. I did not have the courage to broach the subject about the odour but, with hindsight, I so wish that I had.*

Says it all really about the right thing to do for someone!!

SparklyGrandma Tue 03-Sept-19 11:40:23

I take solafenicin too anxiousgran....a dignity saver..

JenniferEccles Wed 04-Sept-19 16:50:18

Oh gosh this is really an awkward situation isn't it, and difficult to know just how to deal with this.

I don't think it's appropriate for you to mention it to her, no matter how gently and tactfully you might raise it, for the simple reason that you are not a close friend.

I know you said you are quite friendly with her, but what you have is a business relationship, isn't it? You are the employer and she the employee and I think it's best to keep it like that.

I think a delicate matter like this needs to be broached by a family member, or a very close friend, not her employer.

It's going to be incredibly embarrassing for the poor woman when she hears from someone, but that someone shouldn't be you.

In the meantime, I feel you have to let her go by maybe making some excuse about a family member helping with the housework from now on.