Laundry service, Lawn service and any other outside help?

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

Hi, we already have a nanny and maid. Our maid only comes once a month. DH and I do our own laundry and I do our son's laundry. We both work long hours and DH has trouble keeping up with his laundry and outdoor chores.

My question is: do you use laundry service? How does it work? Is there any laundry service that will also put away the clothes?

Any other outsourcing that you recommend.

I'm just trying to see what's out there and whether people think it's worth it! Thanks!

QueSrah · November 2013

Can you ask your cleaning people to add in some laundry the one time they're there?

We use a lawn service and it's a terriffic time saver, esp. since neither of us particularly likes that chore. We only have them mow and edge for the most part, but we've had friends who hire them to do planting and maintenance of flower beds and such.

tarynh75 · November 2013

My maid comes every week and does laundry and puts it away, as well as cleaning. It helps a lot. I would recommend looking into an option where your maid helps with laundry. I would imagine the house would need cleaning more than once a month. I don't think it's unreasonable for the Nanny to help at least with the baby laundry. We also have someone who does the yard- that helps too.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

tarynh75 said:

My maid comes every week and does laundry and puts it away, as well as cleaning. It helps a lot. I would recommend looking into an option where your maid helps with laundry. I would imagine the house would need cleaning more than once a month. I don't think it's unreasonable for the Nanny to help at least with the baby laundry. We also have someone who does the yard- that helps too.

Our current nanny is only temporary. Although she's great with the baby, she has a hard time getting laundry done. But it's really my husband's laundry that needs the help.

We have a 4 bedroom, 3 level house and we are charged $120 each time. So DH wanted them to come only once a month. If she came weekly that would be $480 per month. Maybe I should look into a new maid...

DiveFrog · November 2013

I will say we are completely spoiled, because my Dad is retired and loves doing laundry. Since my parents started watching DD 14months ago for us he has done all of our laundry (Mine, DH, DD's, DD's cloth diapers, and our sheets and towels).

My initial question though is why is the family laundry all separated?? When we do actually have to do our own laundry I always do DH's, DD's and mine together. Seems like double, or triple work if you are both doing laundry. Second thought on the laundry front is what kind of laundry is most of your husbands? If you are talking about mostly dress shirts and the like for work, most dry cleaners have very affordable rates for laundering and pressing shirts and slacks.

If neither of those two options work for your situation then I would think that hiring a lawn service would be easier to free up time then finding someone to do laundry in your home.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

Divefrog, his laundry is one task that dh has to do himself, that's why it's separate. It's not more work. We just put our dirty clothes in our own hampers and I never have to touch his. But since his laundry is his responsibility and he is really bad at keeping up with chores it piles up in our bedroom.

citymama2012 · November 2013

my babysitter does any laundry (mine, H or DS) while DS naps. Sometimes I put in washer before leaving, all she has to do is throw in dryer, then fold. She could even do the folding in the play room with him "helping" or playing beside her. What does your nanny do during naps?

LoCarb · November 2013

PrivacyWanted said:

When our laundry gets out of control we drop it off at a fold n go service inside a laundry mat. We pick it up the same evening neatly folded. It's cheap too like under $1 a pound

Yes, I used this service for yrs. I don't anymore but this thread reminds me how much I miss it.

Nechie122 · November 2013

LoCarb said:

PrivacyWanted said:

When our laundry gets out of control we drop it off at a fold n go service inside a laundry mat. We pick it up the same evening neatly folded. It's cheap too like under $1 a pound

Yes, I used this service for yrs. I don't anymore but this thread reminds me how much I miss it.

-----

Ha! The wash and fold. I remember when we rented our first NYC apartment that finally had an in-unit washer-dryer. That was like the ultimate luxury. I will never, ever take washing my own clothes for granted.

daisy662 · November 2013

I agree with pp who said it sounds like you are making more work by having your DH do his laundry separate. I guess I don't understand that one... You could have your maid come every other week, that is what we do. We also use a lawn service. These two things keep my chores very reasonable. I work a demanding job also but it is manageable for me. I am totally OCD though, and extremely organized so I think that helps.

djm31012 · November 2013

-Agree on having the maid service do the laundry/put it away

-we have pickup/delivery for our dry cleaning as well.

-we have a lawn service that also plows our driveway when it snows at 5am.

-have you looked into food delivery options? we use fresh direct or peapod some times instead of grocery shopping and then i know people who use blue apron or some other food deliveries so they dont have to prep much/cook much. worth looking into that for whats in your area.

thats all i can think of at the moment...

-

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

djm31012 said:
-Agree on having the maid service do the laundry/put it away
-we have pickup/delivery for our dry cleaning as well.
-we have a lawn service that also plows our driveway when it snows at 5am.
-have you looked into food delivery options? we use fresh direct or peapod some times instead of grocery shopping and then i know people who use blue apron or some other food deliveries so they dont have to prep much/cook much. worth looking into that for whats in your area.

thats all i can think of at the moment...
-

Thanks!

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

daisy662 said:

I agree with pp who said it sounds like you are making more work by having your DH do his laundry separate. I guess I don't understand that one... You could have your maid come every other week, that is what we do. We also use a lawn service. These two things keep my chores very reasonable. I work a demanding job also but it is manageable for me. I am totally OCD though, and extremely organized so I think that helps.

If our laundry was all together, I would end up having to do his. Currently, I only have to do my own. I never touch his clothes. He throws his dirties into one basket and I use another. But his clothes pile up and it sometimes annoys me that he can't just finish it. If one basket contained both our laundry, I would have to sort through his clothes to find my own. Or, if I asked him to do all the laundry, weeks would pass and I would run out of clothes. He has enough clothes to last a month, so he doesn't need it as much.

rockychryslerb2010 · November 2013

Our nanny does all our laundry. Maybe we're spoiled, but it is in our agreement that she does E's laundry, and as E started taking longer naps, she would ask for our laundry too. There is no way I could keep up with laundry without her. She also does light cleaning in the areas where she and E are all day - it includes the kitchen so she cleans the kitchen, loads & unloads dishwasher, countertops and cleans up all the toys from the day. She pretty much keeps our house together during the week!

We recently hired a maid service to come 2x a month to do the floors, cabinets, dust and bathrooms. How old is your LO? Our nanny does all these things while E naps, when he is awake, he is her first priority.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

Our nanny is only temporary and is not a professional nanny. She is an unemployed nurse who needs the extra money while job searching. When we hire a permanent nanny, she will do the kids' laundry, but I don't want her doing mine.

DiveFrog · November 2013

TheBorg7of9 said:

daisy662 said:

I agree with pp who said it sounds like you are making more work by having your DH do his laundry separate. I guess I don't understand that one... You could have your maid come every other week, that is what we do. We also use a lawn service. These two things keep my chores very reasonable. I work a demanding job also but it is manageable for me. I am totally OCD though, and extremely organized so I think that helps.

If our laundry was all together, I would end up having to do his. Currently, I only have to do my own. I never touch his clothes. He throws his dirties into one basket and I use another. But his clothes pile up and it sometimes annoys me that he can't just finish it. If one basket contained both our laundry, I would have to sort through his clothes to find my own. Or, if I asked him to do all the laundry, weeks would pass and I would run out of clothes. He has enough clothes to last a month, so he doesn't need it as much.

Except that if you have to do your own laundry how difficult is to throw in his clothes with yours?? I know that my darks, colors and lights for a week are never equal to 3 full loads of laundry...Why would I wash and dry my three small to medium loads, and make him run 3 small to medium loads (so 6 total for the family) instead of just us combining the clothes and running 3-4 large loads of laundry. It seems like this is more a sticking point for you that he agreed to do a chore and you absolutely don't want to do it. At the same time he either doesn't have the time to do it, or is letting it pile up too much for your taste and you wish he would do it more often.

You could easily have two or three baskets and designate them as darks, lights/whites, and colors and they are separated and ready to wash as you put them into the baskets (no extra work). Also, laundry doesn't have to be an all or nothing chore. You could wash and dry, he could fold and put away, or vice versa. There are equitable ways to share the burden, that would be more time and effort efficient then the current system you are using. And it would also probably yield better results and not allow him to let dirty clothes pile up for week after week.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

Well, I don't know why you want me to do his laundry so badly! lol.

First of all, I don't separate my clothes into lights and darks, I just run them all together.

Second, I don't care about running a full load or a half load. I run a load every few days while I'm at work, then put away when I get home. My laundry is not the issue. I'm trying to figure out how to lighten his chores since he seems to get so far behind in his laundry.

Third, if I said I would wash and dry and then he would put away, I would not see my clothes put away for a month or two. they would be under piles of his clothes for weeks on end. If I wash he would wash and put away, then I'd have to ask him five times to put the laundry in the washing machine and then remind him five times to put it in the dryer, and then he'd still forget, so I might as well do it myself.

Fourth, he likes his laundry separated into lights and darks and washed on the different temperatures and I'm not going to do that.

Fifth, if I put in his clothes with mine, then I would have to separate our clothes into mine and his after they were dry instead of just putting my clothes away, which would take longer for me.

Sixth, he folds all his T-shirts and underwear, but for my clothes, I just hang up shirts and pants and stuff underwear and socks unfolded into a drawer.

I don't understand how the current method is wasting any time at all. It's the same amount of clothes and the same number of loads to be done, just kept separate.

I am only annoyed that his dirty and clean clothes are piled up everywhere and then he also complains about having to get his laundry done. But if I tried to combine our laundry, that would create more work for me because he would never get around to helping me and I would end up doing it all. If I ended up doing his laundry, then I would be doing more loads every week. I would be doing 6 loads a week instead of 4, so that is more work for me. In addition, his clothes are much bigger and more plentiful than mine. He wears more layers. Also, I just hang up my shirts, but he likes his shirts to be folded.

KayteeGee · November 2013

I don't think you should do his laundry. I fail to see how that helps either. (sorry, I just don't, but maybe that's because DH and I each do our own laundry I don't do my laundry unless it's a full load, so it wouldn't be "just adding to" mine - it would be additional loads that I have to deal with....).

That said, I think you need to tell him it bothers you and he needs toprioritize it or let it go or hire a new maid.

We have a 1x/wk gardener and a 2x/mo cleaning woman. My cleaning woman has been with me longer than DH has and she used to do my laundry (when I lived alone, pre DH and DS - judge if you want) and it was super. When DH and I married we bought our home and went from 1850 sf to 5000 sf so laundry was cut from the duties list (which was fine by me, she still does the sheets and towels and bath mats - just not clothes).

One thing to think of is that if your maid comes more often the fee/visit is usually less (not as much build up so less time). I would die if my cleaning woman only came 1x/mo. DIE. I'm currently toying with moving to 1x/wk. But, again, I am domestically challenged so there's that.

Maybe you could just ask your maid if she'd run DH's laundry? But would 1 x/mo really be adwquate? I will warn that my maid ran everything on hot... so I used to pull things out of my hamper to ensure it didn't get shrunk. If he's uber-particular about how it's run there may not be a solution other than fluff & fold....

emberlee3 · November 2013

It sounds like YH has two problems: laziness and too many clothes. I suggest a laundry service and liberal Goodwill donations.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

CTGirl30 said:
OP, I suggest you stop making a mountain out of a molehill. You don't have to touch his laundry so it's not your problem.

I do my own laundry & both kids. My H also has his own hamper and does his own. The difference being I do not care if he lets a pile of clothing sit for a few days before he puts it away. And if his basket of dirty clothes gets to overflowing? It's in the closet so nobody sees it and it is not my problem.

Relax.

I am relaxed. I am not stressed about his laundry. I was just looking for people's experiences with outsourcing laundry and other things and how well it worked for them. We never fight about the laundry. The thread just got off track with suggestions on how to do the laundry myself.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

emberlee3 said:
It sounds like YH has two problems: laziness and too many clothes. I suggest a laundry service and liberal Goodwill donations.

Very true. People don't change though, which is why I am trying to work with the husband I have.

daisy662 · November 2013

I know this wasn't the intent of your post but I can't help but tell you that I think it's really odd that you refuse to do your DH's laundry when you are already doing your own and your child's anyway. Oh well to each his own. I do my laundry, my DH's, and my sons, and it really isn't all that much work. I have a cleaner every other week and we have a lawn/landscaping company. I work a lot including overnight frequent travel and I find my chore load very manageable.

groovygrl · November 2013

This fuss over his laundry is quite funny.
OP, don't do his laundry. I don't know about laundry service that will put away but I would look into a wash & fold near you if they have them (I'll be honest, I haven't seen one of those since I lived in NYC and I have lived in a few other states since then, but I haven't really been looking, I'm sure they're around but probably more in urban areas vs suburban....) The only other chore you listed as being something he has to do is outdoor, so hire someone to cut the grass at the least. If you can afford to throw in the landscaping or whatever, that too. If you live in a snowy weather state, I definitely suggest finding a snow clearing service but you need to book that now, usually you set it up for the whole winter to guarantee they'll actually come- if neighbors have snow or lawn services, ask them about it b/c those places love getting a few houses close to each other to save time and will sometimes cut a deal. If he lets go of the outdoor, maybe he will do his laundry more frequently if a service doesnt work. Or maybe you should get him a bigger hamper to keep it contained and then it won't be so annoying.

I am looking into grocery delivery currently b/c i am going crazy trying to run into the grocery store on my way home from work when traffic is light and I have 15 extra minutes and I hate wasting precious weekend time going to the grocery store so I tend to not do it then.

I would up the cleaning service to twice a month. The sheets & towels option sounds nice, I have had a number of cleaning people and no one ever did laundry, I might have to look into that...

GL!

emberlee3 · November 2013

TheBorg7of9 said:

emberlee3 said:
It sounds like YH has two problems: laziness and too many clothes. I suggest a laundry service and liberal Goodwill donations.
Very true. People don't change though, which is why I am trying to work with the husband I have.

People can change if they are motivated to do so.

TheBorg7of9 · November 2013

groovygrl said:
This fuss over his laundry is quite funny.
OP, don't do his laundry. I don't know about laundry service that will put away but I would look into a wash & fold near you if they have them (I'll be honest, I haven't seen one of those since I lived in NYC and I have lived in a few other states since then, but I haven't really been looking, I'm sure they're around but probably more in urban areas vs suburban....) The only other chore you listed as being something he has to do is outdoor, so hire someone to cut the grass at the least. If you can afford to throw in the landscaping or whatever, that too. If you live in a snowy weather state, I definitely suggest finding a snow clearing service but you need to book that now, usually you set it up for the whole winter to guarantee they'll actually come- if neighbors have snow or lawn services, ask them about it b/c those places love getting a few houses close to each other to save time and will sometimes cut a deal. If he lets go of the outdoor, maybe he will do his laundry more frequently if a service doesnt work. Or maybe you should get him a bigger hamper to keep it contained and then it won't be so annoying.

I am looking into grocery delivery currently b/c i am going crazy trying to run into the grocery store on my way home from work when traffic is light and I have 15 extra minutes and I hate wasting precious weekend time going to the grocery store so I tend to not do it then.

I would up the cleaning service to twice a month. The sheets & towels option sounds nice, I have had a number of cleaning people and no one ever did laundry, I might have to look into that...

GL!

Thanks! A bigger hamper is a good idea!
I'm thinking after my next raise I'll propose upping the maid and seeing if she'll do laundry too.
I also looked into blue apron from a poster above and that seems promising too.

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