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[Katcat1]

I decided to try a housecleaning service to help me get organized. I have difficulty due to COPD and a hip post surgery problem.   First of all, they normally bill for 2 hours plus.  So I schedued an appt. for today at noon.  At 12:20 pm, I call the service to let them know that the lady is not here.  I am told she had another job before me and it ends up that she will be at my home at 1:45 pm.  I was p____ to say the least because that appt. was deliberately over booked.  The tone of my voice changed on the phone with this service.  Now they scheduled someone to come tomorrow between 2 and 3.  I was told 2:30 pm so we shall see.  It certainly is not a way to do business.  You could really make some money in this business if you had reasonable prices.  Most of the bigger companies charge way too much.  Anyone have experience with house cleaning services?

[SandySparkles]

I'm so sorry this happened to you, and can certainly understand your frustration. I hope she comes tomorrow, because it sounds like you really need assistance. It's so hard when we have to depend on others. I've only used house cleaning services for windows, but was quite pleased with the results. Hopefully, she will do an amazing job to make up for the scheduling delay caused by the company. Let us know how it turns out.😊

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

[VegasBusinessWoman]

We have had housekeepers for some years now, partly because we both worked and were unwilling to spend what little free time we had sweeping and scrubbing.  Now that we are retired, we don't have the good health and energy we enjoyed when we were younger.  We have never used a service; actually, the people we have employed have either come from newspaper classifieds (NEVER use Craig's List!) or personal recommendations from friends.  Whenever we hired someone, we had them clean both the house and our offices once a week.  Now that we no longer have our practice, it is just our house once a week. Our lady cleans the place from top to bottom, changes and washes the linens (sheets, towels), sweeps off the front and back porches and takes out all the trash.  She is usually here from 10 am to 4 PM every week.

A few words of advice:  make sure the person you hire has (1) at least two references (be sure to call and check them) and (2) that person has a valid Green card or is a US citizen.  You will avoid a lot of trouble down the road that way.

I can't comment on commercial cleaning services, but I know from many years of experience that this is money well spent when it comes to having a housekeeper.

Having household help is no different than having a yard service.  Both areas can require a lot of heavy labor that you no longer have the time, energy or good health

[sissel]

All we have is gardeners love them, sometimes they come a 1pm or 3 pm since it's outside I don't care but someday I will need a cleaning service, so far I can do it. My neighbor has a cleaning woman and saw her taking out the spaghetti mop & a vacuum 10yrs ago to clean his house, said Oh no she will never clean for me. So glad I am still able to get on my hands & knees to clean bathroom & do high cleaning.  My shark valcuum & microfiber does a great job but understand someday I may not be able. To see old cleaning appliances like she had is just moving dust around, if the neighbor is happy so be it. 

[Mz iMac]

@Katcat1  I would have cancelled/fired the firm & searched for another.  Not showing up, late and/or not calling to advise you is bad business practice.  Not a good sign in my personal opinion as well as experience.

I have used cleaning services for over 25 yrs.  The last 15 w/the same company & the same 2 cleaning women & sometimes 1 other male (all 3 are related). 

Expert cleaners, never late.  If one was out sick, the firm always called me to advise a subsitute will be over w/the usual person.

Loved the way my house smelled after a cleaning.  House so clean, I could eat off the floors.  They cleaned my floors on their hands & knees.

Recently, all 3 started their own cleaning company & quit the firm they worked for.  The male is now the scheduler & payroll accountant & the 2 females are co-bosses.  They have a cleaning staff of 12 for "housecleaning" and a staff of 15 for cleaning "office buildings."

I jumped on the bandwagon when the 2 females told me they will continue to clean my place (as well as 2 other homes) for a lot less $$$ we were paying the cleaning firm because we were long time customers plus the fact we steered a lot of new "housecleaning" customers their way.   Also, every 4 months the cleaning is FREE.  It was their way of saying "thank you."

[Tangocash]

I would love to have someone come in to clean. I'm afraid of having strangers in my house. Do they snoop through your things? Do they steal from you? Do you leave them alone, or do you stay in each room as they clean? How much do you pay them? I'd love to hear from someone. Thanks.

[FranandZoe]

I had three different cleaning people when I was working.  The first two were a team who did "Spring" type cleaning for a number of people I worked with.   I had them once then hired one of them to do regular cleaning every two weeks.  She stole clothes, shoes, and makeup from me.  I then hired the other woman and I really liked her but she quit to work for Walmart.  The third woman I had for years until I moved and it was going to be a lot more expensive.  No desire right now - I'll do my own cleaning while I can.  I do a little each day - or most days.  I'm not crazy about the idea of strangers in my house either.

[millieshops]

Last time I use a service for household cleaning was in the 1960's.  I believe I lasted through 3 or 4 sessions before the asked the last worker to leave in the middle of his efforts when he walked into the kitchen with a bucket of water he'd already used in the bathroom and prepared to use it to clean the kitchen counters!  Never again.

Then I was new to my neighborhood and know few people, but since that experience I've either done my own cleaning or, most often, found far better help using friend and neighbor recommended workers.

[Effie54]

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@Tangocash wrote:

I would love to have someone come in to clean. I'm afraid of having strangers in my house. Do they snoop through your things? Do they steal from you? Do you leave them alone, or do you stay in each room as they clean? How much do you pay them? I'd love to hear from someone. Thanks.

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That's a lot of questions! Reputable house cleaners do not snoop through your personal things. I would not go with a company per se, but an individual who is bonded and had references checked. If they are honest and bonded, you should feel more at ease. You can have them in for a trial cleaning, while keeping an eye on them. Hide your valuables, money and all medications. We have had a couple who cleans for us once in a while, and they are as honest and trustworthy. You give them your list of chores and ask what they charge for the service. 

[Katcat1]

@Mz iMac    I understand what you are saying but I need help with putting up Christmas stuff and tossing things out so I am desperate.  I called other cleaning services and their prices were way too high (I am on a fixed income) and I don't have the luxury of a husband's income.