Has anyone got/had a cleaner/maid

[unimatic1140]

We would love that!

Fred and I are talking about getting a cleaning person, we both do it but hate to do it. Fred loves to vacuum and I love to do the wash obviously, but the rest of it we'd rather have done while we are at work. Can I say how nice it is to have a husband who likes to vacuum, I totally love that!

Years ago with my ex we had a cleaning person who was gay and he was always very nosy asking all kinds of inappropriate questions that amused me and mortified my ex-partner lol. I would be fine with that except the house was never as clean as I thought it should be and I would always have to "redo" some things.

I think as Fred N said above, the key is finding the right person.

 

[spiraclean]

Robert, someone I know has a cleaner just like that. Drops by once a week, bringing his boyfriend in tow, and only makes a half-hearted attempt at cleaning. My friend gets home later that evening and has to finish off the jobs that were missed or not quite done right. I mean, seriously, what's the point of that... paying someone to do half a job and then finishing it off for them?

When I suggested that he may as well fire the cleaner and look for someone else who actually wants to be there, he agreed but pointed out that's it's such a hassle finding and interviewing a replacement. You can bet his existing cleaner is all too aware of this fact, and is pushing his luck to see what he can get away with.

 

[unimatic1140]

Yeah Spiraclean, I do have to admit that is why I kept our old cleaning person, because it is a pain to try to find someone. After a while I did get fed up and when he said he wouldn't be available for a few weeks, I decided not to have him come back. I do want to try again though sometime soon.

 

[air-waycharlie]

I have a fantastic live-in housekeeper that not only cleans the house, but does the laundry AND all the yard work. Best of all, free!

That would be my partner Todd. I used to do a lot of it but he is like Mrs. Morgenstern and would come behind me and re-load the dishwasher, not sort the clothes properly or fold them the right way. He is now, "trained"!

I still like vacuuming and I always move the furniture--Todd does not. Move the furniture that is. I received a G-4 from Fred N., sent it off to the Kirby spa and it is now one of my favorites.

 

[tolivac]

Remember used to have housemaids at some time when I was a child-both my Mom and Stepmom used them at times.They did well and no problems.Usually were very nice black women.One was German-only thing about her was she fixed saurkraught all of the time--HATED that stuff-would try to feed it to the dog under the table--even he didn't like it.The stuff would make me barf!
Today-would NOT use maids-many today you can't trust.And what would they think and do about all of my vacuum cleaners?Those ones during childhood were very good.

 

[countryford]

I've never had a housemaid(growing up or now), but my grandmother used to clean houses for a while. I remember once, that she mentioned while cleaning one of her regular houses (A single gentleman lived there and was normally working when my grandmother came to clean). She showed up at his house at the regular time and started to clean. After a few minutes he came out from the bedroom in I believe just a towel and tried to suduce my grandmother(she would have been in her late 30's early 40's at the time.). Needles to say, she left there and never went back.
Growing up my parents weren't the best housekeepers. The house was never dirty, just cluttered and would get dusty. When I mean cluttered it would be mail and newspapers covering the sofa and tables. Had to move things to sit down on the sofa. I would bout once a month dust, organize, and vacuum. Also would make the beds.
Now my partner is very much a neat freak. He stays at home(On disability) and does the upkeep during the week, then on weekends we do the majority of the work. It works for us, He enjoys doing it. I tend to do the outside upkeep.
We have jokingly talked about getting a "House-Boy".

 

[kirbyvertibles]

I had a customer who is a cleaning lady come over one time to get her vacuum serviced. While she was here I told her to tour the house and tell me what it would cost me. I said all I want is dusting (main thing), bathroom, change all the beddings, regular vacuuming with a vacuum I had set out for her and simple wipe downs. No laundry The price was good but I just can't bring myself to do it. I can use that money else where but maybe someday lol. I'm not home much and when I am yard work takes up a lot of time so the dusting ( and there's a ton of it) gets backed up. What i'd really like is lawn service but I could never afford someone for my huge yard.

 

[vinvac]

Phillip,

That is me...I could never justify the cost. I will have to hire someone to mow while we are in Russia....and it is killing me. First, I know they won't do a good job and for our yard it cost about 65.00. It takes me around an hour to mow the three lots we have.... I mow in a pattern and leave them instructions...it just won't happen. They are never allowed to use our mower because they won't clean it up properly and keep the blade sharpened.

Last summer due to the heat and the drought, inside cleaning and work managed to stay on task...it was too hot to do anything outside so inside cleaning never slipped..LOL

 

[compactelectra]

Mowing the Lawn?

Yikes! I hire that out too to professionals. They were just here this morning. I definitely would not consider myself lazy. Now that I am keeping the house and renovating it, I really don't have time on the weekends. Spent the morning cleaning out the garage to get ready for cabinet installation, and packing up books to move them to the basement. I love the sound when they are here. Knowing the lawn will look great when it's done. I sit on a acre with about a half acre of lawn. It would take me forever to mow with a regular lawn mower. And in the August heat? No. Gave my wonderful Honda lawnmower to Greg. Have fun Greg!

 

[compactelectra]

Actually

I think they do a good job. They do the spring cleanup of the beds, trim the bushes and do the fall cleanup. When I first moved back from California I asked if they clear the snow. They said yes. I said then we are all set! They even put in the snow stakes in the fall. When Charlie was here in the winter he asked what those sticks were around the driveway. Silly Southern boy.

 

[alexhoovers94]

That thing on the grass....

Is it a Dyson??

 

[air-waycharlie]

Sorry Ida.........

But snow just gives me hives! Markers for the, "snow plow"? Yikes, the horror of the thought. 85 degrees by the pool with southern sweet tea.........now you have a reason to put out markers.........those that say, "Trespassers Shot On Site!"

Don't anybody go nuts. Just having fun.

H.

 

[polkanut69]

We've had a pair of women come in for over 6yrs now, and they do a fine job.  We have them come in every 2 weeks and we supply all the chemicals, paper toweling etc.  They use their own vacuum (Bissell).  At first they charged $50 per visit, but about 3 yrs ago they upped it to $55.  We love the job they do for us.  They gave us a list of what products they prefer to use.

 

[isufan11]

I am a very clean and organized person, most call it OCD, on my own I keep a very clean house, but there were always those cleaning tasks that I hated to do or didn’t have time to and would drive myself crazy over getting them done. I am also a very busy person working long days and have a very busy social/volunteer life. So about 5 years ago I started having someone come in every other week and perform the “mundane tasks”.

My previous cleaning lady had been with me for 4 years constantly until last year, when she decided to move somewhere warm. So after she left I went back on the hunt for someone to replace her. I tried a few people and companies, I personally found the corporate companies such as Molly Maids or Marry Maids never did the greatest job and were usually higher priced. Then one day last fall I met my dream lady at a fundraiser who was “donated” as an auction prize. She comes in twice a week for 2 and a half hours each time. Not only does she clean but also does the laundry, and few other tasks. She is very kind and professional, most days when I get home from work she has not only done her job but will typically have some surprise waiting for me, be it cookies, brownies, or a full blown crock pot meal. She now cleans 2 other house in the neighborhood and has about 4 or 5 others who want her too.

When I tell friends or family that I have a cleaning person there reaction is typically, “you must be lazy”, or “it’s not that hard to keep a house clean” to my personal favorite “snob”. I always respond with the same response, “so you have never hired someone to do a task or project for you?” Because the truth is most of us have the physical ability to do anything, like change the oil in our car, paint the house, remodel a room , groom the dog, and so on. It just depends on how you want to spend your time.