Community Chat

[Snoopp]

The cleaning ladies in my area seem to want a set schedule of once a week cleaning or every other week cleaning.  One person I know has someone come each week, even when they are away for months.  It makes it harder for me to hire someone when they want that type of schedule since I don't need it done that frequently.

[qvcaddition]

I was always a neat perfectionist and even as a single mom working cleaned my own house. I also had the boys do the yards and car, the daughter learn how to cook and clean.  I don,t think we had car washing services back in the 50,S.

Today at 80 I still clean my own house and do my own yards.  Trimming the last of 17 bushes today.  Took me three days dividing them up.  My trimmer losing it charging power and have to buy a new one for the trees.  I could hire, but they either don,t show up, (Calif.) Or they do a lousy job. My neighbors said they would hire me and can,t believe I do it ,if they  Didn,t see  it with their own eyes. I round out each Bush.

I clean my own house also.  I hire a rug cleaning service once a year, and do my own with the Bissell every three months.  I lived alone with my dog.  

My kids have said I taught them well in the responsibility department, but now my  boys complaining they are getting to old to climb ladders.  They are in late 50,S.  My God, I was full of energy in my 50,S.  My DIL,S said I taught them how to be great husbands. They cook, clean and shop.  This is the product of having been a single mom with three kids.  They had to help. 

I am doing spring cleaning now. Kitchen cupboards, closets, etc. Not hard because I do projects, like all window one day, inside and out, including mirrors. In all fairness, my house  is small one story.   My front and back yards are bigger than my house.  

My 90 year old friend and her husband still clean their own pool, takes her two days now to clean house, and he does yard work.  Their son comes and uses the riding mower for the mowing on the land of their ranch.

 I am not saying anything wrong hiring out, just never did it.  Back in the day, our kids were taught to help. They got an allowance.

Again, not judging for hiring out, just,IMO they can,t do as good a job, time is money, or they steal.  If you get a good cleaner,you are very lucky.

[missy1]

I would have to clean before they came. lol... Even if I could afford help, I am just to private for people to go through my house and such.

[Moonchilde]

I know that many who use cleaning people like the freedom of trusting them enough to not be home when they are there, but the times I have used a service I have been there, in the apt. Makes it kind of difficult for anyone to steal, and if you see they aren't doing something you wanted done you can catch it right then, not when they're gone. You also get at least somewhat of a feel for how hard they are going to work in general, in case you want the same one(s) back another time.

[ladyroxanne]

we have had a cleaning lady for 16 years now, since we moved into this house.  she only raised rate  once last year by $5.00 which i found extremely fair considering she brings her own cleaning supplies and does everything.  on occasion i will ask for something extra and nothing is too much trouble for her.  She is golden!! 

btw, she has a key.  i trust implicitly.

[kivah]

Always hide ur valuables, jewelry and money - so anyone doing work in ur home doesn't find it. I suggest u check out Yelp - better than contacting strangers from a flier or ad. You could also ask friends/family/neighbors for recommendations.

[Lipstickdiva]

---

@MaggieMack wrote:

I'm sure I wouldn't complain that a cleaning service wouldn't do as good a job as I! I just like to clean myself, when the spirit strikes me, which is usually when I know I will have guests, not very often. When my late DH and I owned a business, he would comment now and then that we should get a cleaning lady. I said, "I will quit my job before that happens, I would rather be home cleaning than working 80 hours a week." Since he really understood that, hmmm, no cleaning lady.

---

I never thought I would feel that way either until I was spending money for people to do a poor job cleaning. 

[Irshgrl31201]

---

@Pearlee wrote:

Please just keep in mind that, although people may be bonded and insured, to me that's practically meaningless.  Go try to prove that it's the person who stole the item...your word against theirs.  I can't see you ever recouping anything for stolen items.  If you hire them, stay home to supervise.

---

I do find being bonded isn't as important as it once was with being able to check criminal records by googling but it does insure the person hasn't been arrested or in trouble with the law, I think that is very important to know especially if they are around your home that could be filled with expensive items.

Being insured it a separate issue and I wouldn't have someone cleaning my house who was not. While my homeowners insurance most likely will pay for any damage she does to herself or my home while cleaning, a significant claim can have a big impact on what you pay for your coverage and even losing your coverage. I once made a claim on my insurance that was 2 different claims (one to my house and one to my shed) caused by a horrible snow storm. Despite it being the same storm that caused damage, they considered this two completely separate claims and dropped my insurance despite this being the only claim I had made on a home during my 15 plus yrs of having homeowners insurance. 

[shoekitty]

Years ago I had 2 ladies from our church clean, and they were great.  When they gave it up I hired Merry Maids.  I found they were inconsistent, as people were quiting all the time.  I was getting 4 or 5 new teams a year.  Then I changed cleaning services to another licensed and bonded company.  They are the best I ever had.  The ladies are so professional, and can they clean.  I have had the same team for over 2 years.  Every once in a while the lead girl is out and the company calls me.  They send substitutes if I want.  Of course, they are good too!  I would never go with a self employed cleaner again.  The main reason is, no matter what they are always there.  You can count on them being there.  That was the problem I had with self employed ladies.  When they got sick, their kids were sick, they had emergencies, I was cancelled until next cleaning.  I had cancellations before I was to have an event one to many times because they had emergencies...which is totally the way life is.  I just needed the security.

The other reasons are if they do break something, which has happened only once in 16 years, they offer to replace.  They have dropped a soap dispenser and reported it to supervisor, who called me. It was about 4 dollars, no way did I care..  I said forget it.  But they do say to remove irreplaceable items. I am home when they come, I trust them, and so far so good,  They do replace items, as I had a friend whose cleaner dropped a vase worth about 225, and it was taken care of..  There is a process. depending on replacement value. I think they automatically do it for under 150, but over they use their insurance and it takes a month or longer.  I heard that thefts are very rare with some of the major companies.  They value their jobs too much as they get decent wage, some medical, and vacation days as they earn them. They also have the security of getting paid.  You wouldn't believe how many self employed cleaners run into bounced checks, or "I'll pay you next time", or I am 20 dollars short, can I pay you next week.  And some self employed cleaning ladies do get abuse.  Frivolous complaints.  One lady told me she had a lady who made her clean cat poop out of the bathtub, because her cats box was in the tub and she didn't change it, and poo was all over..  Some women stand there and watch every swip of the dust rag, follow them around.  The cleaner has no where to go when they are eing abused!!

I have had in the beginning with my licensed company, have them come out and rewash a floor.  They always do that, because they guarantee their work.  I think the girls strive to do a perfect job, because they know they can be checked by supervisor any time.  They have had a pop inspection once at my house.  They call after every 2 visits to check if I am happy, or have suggestions.  But heck, I worship the ladies who clean my house.  I NEVER want to loose them.  What a team.  My home gleams after they leave, and I tip them because I respect their work, totally!

I think ladies who work for themselves can do just as good a job.  I just need that peace of mind for the reasons I mentioned!

[KathyPet]

The price is definitely going to vary a lot depending upon the cost of living where you are.  I live about a hour west ow Washington DC in the Shenandoah Valley.  I have a cleaning lady (not a service).  I have had her for about 5 years.  She comes every other week and spends 4-4.5 hours and she charges me $90.00