Cleaning Service...?

lkharkins · August 2013

I am a full time working mom, with my second child on the way. I am considering hiring a cleaning service to do bi-weekly cleaning of our home, because it's a disaster. I know things will be even more difficult once this baby gets here. I'm just not sure if it is worth the money.

So, my question, do any of you ladies utilize a cleaning service? If so, how often? Has it made your life easier? Is it worth the money?

Thanks!

Karla CS · August 2013

We used a cleaning service right before we had the baby.. Definitely not representative of cleaning services in general, but I wasn't impressed. I do a better job cleaning, and I ended up doing things that I felt they missed.

But at the end of the day, I'm also a cleaning snob, so for me, it wasn't worth the money since I would prioritize and make time to do it. If you're the kind of person that would value the service and be okay with it, then definitely give it a go.

jf198400 · August 2013

We hired a cleaning service after my 2nd ML for the same reason. It is a lifesaver for me. It's pretty much a choice between live in filth or pay someone else to clean. But in my situation, DH works All The Time. I do pretty much everything with the kids during the week, so its impossible to find time to clean. If DH worked more normal hours and I could find a free hour once a week, I probably wouldn't spend the money on it. We have the cleaners come every other week and pay $80.

82Sonia · August 2013

I don't use a service like Merry Maids. I hired an individual who came recommended by some friends in the area and she's awesome. It's been totally worth the $100.

*sparky* · August 2013

We hired a cleaning service once we had DS and I would not go back to cleaning myself. It is completely worth it.

I will tell you though that we do have to "pick up" the night before they come, so I make sure clutter is put away so they can clean. It does help us stay on top of picking the house up, but sometimes it is also a mad rush because we are busy doing a million other things.

Between cleanings I wipe the counters and swiffer, and may vaccuum if I am feeling industrious. Other than that, I leave pretty much everything else to them. I love it.

Mustardseed2007 · August 2013

We use an individual that my friends use, we pay her 90 dollars for a 2300 sq ft. house.

It's SO worth it! Especially b/c we have animals.

LoCarb · August 2013

I have a weekly cleaning lady,$75 4b/3.5 ba and worth every cent!

WBMom · August 2013

I have had a lady come in every other week to do a deep clean of the bathrooms and kitchen. She has been coming for over 4 years. I handle the rest of the rooms: dusting, vacumning, etc. It is so worth the money!

olga1311 · August 2013

Both me and DH work full time and our first should be ariving in 5-6 weeks. We have cleaning ladies come in every other week and they clean everything, even changing the sheets on our bed

Totally worth $80 a visit. They'll clean things that I won't ever even think to clean like my tea kettle etc. I am not a cleaning snob in the least, if it was not for them I would be vacuuming maybe once in 6 months lol. I imagine with a baby it will be even harder to clean so I am not giving them up ever !

itsmevkb · August 2013

Every other week, $85, worth every penny.

SunAndRain · August 2013

I have a cleaning lady come once per week! We pay $120/wk and there is no way I'd give her up.

What I'd say it this:

1) find an independant person through referals over a company that sends different people to your home

2) set clear expecations over what will be cleaned and when. Do you want the ceiling fans dusted monthly? Tell them so. They cannot read minds.

3) have realistic expecations - no one is going to clean your house as well as you would because you focus on the spots that matter most to YOU. They may spend a half hour deep cleaning an area you harldy notice, so while they are working hard their hard work isn't apreciated. so just know that you might need to loosen up on your definition of clean.

I give my house keep a LOT of leeway and as a result she goes above and beyond for our family. I don't make a fuss if she misses the dust on a shelf one week. In return she does things without my asking like cleaning the inside of our fridge, organiziong our pantry... She also helps with our laundry. One week she sliced up a pineapple for us because she knew that after it had been there 1 week that it would be there when she returned the following week if she didn't make it easy for us to eat it. She was so right!

Finding a great housekeeper is the first step. But building a relationship with that person versus just viewing them as an employee is what makes for a successful experience, IMO.

cecilyandgautam · August 2013

We've only hired a service twice for deep cleans and OMG, it was like we had a new home. Amazing! Even if we spent three hours straight cleaning, we could not accomplish the same thing. We'll be doing that more often when liquidity loosens up.

lkharkins · August 2013

Thanks Ladies!

I am not a cleaning snob... hence why my house is a disaster right now! I feel like it is something that we should give a try. I think the money will probably be worth being able to spend more quality time with my kids!

michaelaskedlauren · August 2013

Just echoing what the other ladies said - it is totally worth it! It took me forever to warm up to the idea for some reason (and I am not a cleaning snob either), but now I am so glad that I did.

I have our service come about once a month to a do a deep clean of the bathrooms and kitchen, plus they dust, vac and mop. I still tidy up by wiping down the bathrooms, kitchen and vac 2-3 times a week (we have a dog, so its a must), but I feel better having someone else get down to the nitty gritty. Plus as a working mom Id much rather spend my free time with my kid than my cleaning products, you know?

Enjoy it - youll never go back!

emberlee3 · August 2013

My plan was that I would use the money we are saving since putting DD in daycare (vs. nanny) for a housekeeper. Unfortunately DD has been sick a lot and I have paid for backup care 3 times, so I haven't saved any money yet. For now I try to clean a little bit each day. Longing for the day when a housekeeper makes it into the budget!

thedash · August 2013

DH and I agreed we would have someone come regularly after my ML. I wanted to wait until after because my ML is not paid. Now that I'm 37 weeks pregnant and exhausted I really wish we had them start now!

In the past we've just had somebody come from time to time for spring cleaning or deep cleaning. It's always, always worth it! And I totally agree with PP's suggestion to find an independent person rather than a service that sends a different person or team each time. I've had mixed results from the services.

meganandchase · August 2013

Oh my goodness. We hired one when I was in the extremely fatigued first trimester part of pregnancy with my second child. She comes every other week and does bathrooms, kitchen, floors. She does not do a huge deep clean every time she comes, but she will do the windows upstairs one time, in the kitchen the next time, etc. So they all get cleaned regularly. In the week when she doesn't come, I sweep and vacuum. I always change towels and sheets, but I don't do any bathrooms. Love it!

I told DH that if we have a financial crisis, I'll get rid of the TV and internet before I get rid of the cleaning lady!

Seriously, we used to do all the cleaning on the weekends. To do everything well, it takes several hours. DH and I only get about two hours with the kids on weekdays, and I do not want to waste my weekend time cleaning. I know a lot of people will say you can do a little each night, but that just doesn't work with our schedule. At most, I have 30 minutes of free time a night. I'm not using it to clean! I find it very easy to justify the cost of things if it means I get more quality time with the kids. She charges $85 per cleaning, and I think it's a steal (4bedroom, 2 bath, about 2400 square feet)

jennyelf · August 2013

Once a month, $110. Sooooo worth it! DH is no longer stressed about cleaning the bathroom anymore and I like having a deep clean of the kitchen. We still vacuum and pick up weekly, but that only takes a few minutes.

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