Do you have a housekeeper?

pdxjenn

I am starting to think I need to hire someone to help out. It feels weird, I never thought I would be "that" mom who couldn't keep up. But... I can't. My floors and bathrooms need some more frequent attention, let's just put it that way.

If you do have a housekeeper...

1. What do they do (floors, laundry, etc)?

2. How frequent do they come?

3. How much do you pay? Per hour or a flat fee?

vmm0016

No, but I wish I did.  DH keeps saying he might get me a house cleaning for Mother's Day.  I wish we could afford a monthly cleaning person!

jdavis0719

We have someone come once a month to do the floors, bathrooms, dust, and any others that need attention...I dont think its a problem, between working and raising a child and trying to have a life, its hard to do it all... she charges us $100 and the house is about 2300 sq ft

pdxjenn

Ambsies:

THIS is the chore list I made that I try to stick to.

I schedule my parents' housekeeper to come do a deep clean on our house every 6 months.  For a deep clean I usually pay around $200 and she's there for most of the day.

I like your list... or the idea of it. Are you a SAHM? My issue is working all damn day and then getting sh*t done at night.

emiliemadison

Yes, we just started this recently. I'm a SAHM and I also work p/t from home and I'm just feeling crappy about what I do (er...dont do) around the house and sort of feel out of control about keeping up with housework. For my sanity and well being, I found someone to clean for me

1- She does a pretty standard cleaning, which includes all parts of the house. She doesnt do dishes or laundry.

2- She comes once a week. It's much more efficient to just maintain the house for a week and then someone else does the big stuff.

3- I pay her $15/hour which is a STEAL! She can do the whole house top to bottom in about 4 hours. 

PiRSquared330

1) everything but the laundry. They change the sheets but put the dirty ones in the washer (they just don't start it). They do everything else though.

2) Once a month

3) 75 flat rate. There are 4 of them and it takes them about an hour.

Jocelyn0415

Ambsies:

pdxjenn:

I like your list... or the idea of it. Are you a SAHM? My issue is working all damn day and then getting sh*t done at night.

Yep, I SAH.  I can't imagine wanting to do any of the stuff on that list once I was home from work.  I know you ladies do it and I'm in awe of you.  If I was working I would probably have a regular cleaning lady or a messy house

Thanks for the list! After this week, I'm going to be working p/t from home, so I'm going to start going by a list too. 

MarMat

Yes, she used to come 1x a week, now it's 2x. She does everything besides laundry. She works ~ 7hours.

I know the price is cheap here cause I'm in mexico, for me it's worth every peny.

pdxjenn

Thanks for the help ladies! I hope it's as affordable here. I was budgeting for much higher!

bim38106

Yep. They only do cleaning (no laundry). All the basics: mop floors, vacuum, dust everything, wipe down windowsills, clean bathrooms, kitchen, inside microwave and toaster oven, etc..

They come every other week.

We pay a flat rate, much more honest this way. I've always been told to avoid anyone who charges hourly. We pay $120 for 4500 sq ft. If they do the (finished) basement, it's $150 for 6000sq ft. They gave my friend an estimate of $70 for around 1850 sq ft.

FWIW, we went with individuals who are bonded and insured...from a flyer in our mailbox We got an estimate from Molly Maids (or one of those) and they wanted $400 per visit. They came once and did a HORRIBLE job. I was so annoyed!

ETA: There are 2 of them who come each time (same 2 ladies) and they're here for 4 hours.

Novem06

Floors and normal cleaning. She doesn't do dishes or laundry but that's just because I didn't ask/want her to do those things. Once a month. I heavy duty clean the other time...so house gets a good scrubbing every other week and just cleaned as needed in between. $10 per hour. She is here 4 hours

JCM

I have one & she comes bi-weekly; however, she is starting weekly this week.  She doesn't to laundry or dishes.  She cleans floors, bathrooms, kitchen, dusts & changes our sheets.  She pretty much does it all.  Our house is 5,000 sf & she charges us $95 which is pretty cheap.  We've had her way before DD was born.  I don't know what I'd do with out her & I'm a SAHM.

Doylesa

Yes! I love having someone come in and do the deep cleaning! I work full time, run a small business on the side, and have an Air Force husband who is gone about half the time. It's a lifesaver!

She comes every 4 weeks and does everything but laundry and dishes. We pay her $85 and she's usually there for 3-4 hours.

grapeape73

1.  All the basics. 

2.  Every other week, although I'm looking for weekly now. 

3.  $123.50 flat fee.  There are 2 women and it usually takes them about 2.5 hours. 

aniceucchik

yea...shes really fat and slow right now and desperately needs to scrub the baseboards...oh wait, thats me

JDWNYC

We have cleaning ladies - two come at a time. And my LOs sitter, who his here now 4 days/wk helps out with daily stuff like unloading the dishwasher and taking care of all of DS's bottles and dishes from the day. I am 32wks pg so the sitter will be here 4-5 days/wk probably for the next 3-4 mo, after that I'll have to do the daily stuff again! The cleaning ladies come for about 3 hours every Wednesday afternoon and do a full house cleaning, but no laundry. They strip and remake beds, etc. but I wash the sheets between their visits. They fully clean all rooms from top to bottom. We pay $140/wk.

Tabby2727

Ambsies:

THIS is the chore list I made that I try to stick to.

I schedule my parents' housekeeper to come do a deep clean on our house every 6 months.  For a deep clean I usually pay around $200 and she's there for most of the day.

I wish! I'm going to try to stick to a routine similar to this. Thanks!

SusieQ1982

Lord no. I'd rather pay myself that money to do it. But then again, I don't work so I have more time to get things done.

g8trkim

We have someone come every other week and do bathrooms, floors, kitchen, and furniture. Not laundry or dishes. My husband works different shifts than me so we each have DS alone a lot, and I just wanted some extra help. DH's mom owns a small cleaning service so we get a good price... $85 each visit (we have a 2,000 sq. ft. house). I'm a neat freak so I obviously still have to clean in between (we have 2 large dogs so I clean the floor all the time) and I am constantly tidying up, trust me our house is usually pretty spotless, but having them come every 14 days is a major help.

water-fairy

We have a maids service coming in every other week. They make beds (but I don't leave the beds for them to make), bathrooms, carpet and floors, kitchen, dusting. We pay a flat fee.