House Keepers...or what is the correct term nowadays? I've never had one but I'm figuring since I'm about to have a LO and I really don't enjoy house work...that I would hire one. Maybe to come once a week to wash the floors and do the heavier cleaning. If you have one, what do you do when they're at your house? Would I leave or do you just kind of hang out? I'm leaning towards leaving while the person would be here (wouldn't that make it a more comfortable environment for everyone invloved?)...but am unsure.
I want to get the ball rolling on this but was just curious what other people do?
Re: House Keepers
I can't afford one- but my mom has a woman who comes in to clean. Hired via word of mouth from friends.
She does pretty much everything, and comes when the family isn't at home- she has her own key. She puts the dogs out in the yard. She does EVERYTHING except windows. She'll do left over breakfast dishes and start a dishwash. She'll take clean stuff out of the dryer and put it away. She makes their bed with fresh sheets.
She does all the floors, vaccuuming carpet and hardwood and washing tiles. She does all the bathrooms. She dusts and polishes and takes out trash if there is any.
I think they pay about $75 an hour for her in NYC.
Definitely think it's a good idea, if you can afford it to get one. Trying to clean the entire house while pregnant is challenging, I can't imagine with two babies or even one!
I didn't even think about my dog being here. I guess if I wanted to leave I'd just have to take him and the baby with me:)
Is it strange having someone else do your laundry? I don't know how I would feel about that. What's your take on it?
Ours comes every other week. I leave when she comes but after the baby, I'll have to play it by ear. It is so nice to have someone to do the deep cleaning.
I'm in Manhattan without a washer/dryer in my apartment. We take all of our laundry to a drop off service. I love having the clothes folded. They do a much better job than I do. We're moving to an apartment with a small washer/dryer combination unit so I'll do the baby's clothes myself. I'll still have the laundry do our clothes. I was hesitant at first about someone else doing my underwear so I used to do it myself. That got old after a few trips to a crowded laundromat on the weekends so I now have them do everything.
We have a lady who comes every other week. She charges us $25 an hour and will do anything I leave her on a list (clean out a closet, clean the oven/fridge/etc.) otherwise she does a general cleaning (vacuum, mop, windows, dust, change sheets) and it takes her about 3 hours. Sometimes I have asked her to do our laundry and while I thought it was odd at first, when I came home to a basket of clean folded laundry and I just had to put it away all weirdness went out the window; It was AWESOME! She is also great with our dogs and will let them out or give them a treat. I'm sure you can find someone who also doesn't mind dogs, we have several friends who use different people/services and the dogs aren't an issue. We are usually at work when she comes so we aren't in her way, but I'll probably confine myself to one room or run an errand when she comes during my maternity leave. I hate when people are in my way when I clean so I would expect she'll appreciate the space.
Mine comes every other week. We have her come on a day when I'm working outside the house. (the two days I work at home I need quiet) She has a key and our dog just hangs in our bed, she's used to the cleaning lady.
It's awesome. She does the big cleaning and I just spot clean, sweep, and keep things tidy in between cleanings. It makes life SO much easier for me that I'd cut entertainment from my budget before I cut my cleaning lady!
So far I haven't had her do laundry yet because laundry is easy for me to do on the days I work at home. I'd rather she spent her time doing stuff like scrub the shower than wash my sheets.
I was doing house cleaning for a few years, but quit this past fall. I live ina rural area, and charged $15/hr. I wish I could have charged $50!
I did whatever they wanted me to do. Mostly vacuums and washing floors. I personally prefer when they are not home, mainly because I don't like feeling like I am in the way.
One of my clients had a nasty mean dog, which she took with her out of the house while I was there. Another client had an amazing dog, and I had no problem letting him out to pee, etc when I was there.
I am not a big fan of doing other people's laundry, but would if they asked me to.
Fab Life of K
My lady comes every other week to do the big stuff: sweeping, dusting, moping, windows, kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. She also irons and is also available on an as needed basis. I have a 2 story home with 4 bd/3 bath, about 2200 sq. ft. and I pay her $100 every 2 weeks. If she comes to do a clean up on an off week, then I pay her per hour.
I stay home. She doesn't even notice me honestly, but I like to be around in case she can't find something or in case I need something in particular done that day, etc.
Haha, this. I have no more underwear shame. I figure they must see stuff worse than mine!
DD's Food Allergies: Peanuts and Rice, Outgrown Dairy!
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Never in my arms, but always in my heart.
If you move to NJ... They are also teaching li Portuguese. And, I swear when li says mama she's really trying to say Monica!