Have You Ever Had A Housekeeper?

[SanFranciscan]

A co-worker rather desparate for money is always asking me for housekeeping jobs. I am not going to hire her. It is not in the budget. I don't know anyone to refer her to.

I do remember one man I used to work with who paid for house cleaning. He said that having a housekeeper made him a better housekeeper because he started to see how nice things could be. Do you think that that would be true for you? Do you think that that would be true for most people. I still don't have the money to hire the woman so in need of work, but it does raise an interesting question.

 

[SaraJayne]

Not for me. My house is nice and tidy as it is ~ I don't need anyone coming in and messing it up.

I have never had a housekeeper and I don't ever plan on having one. No one can do a good a job as I can.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I did for one year after my son was born. It was a Christmas gift from DH. We had just moved to a new state and I had a toddler and newborn and no friends and he wanted me to have time to get out with the kids and make friends and not stress about the house. It was a team of two ladies who came very other week. What I really loved was not only did they do the basics while they were there (make beds, vaccum, mop, windows, bathrooms, etc.) they had a rotating schedule for also getting all the "big" itemd which meant for that year I never had to do those items (stuff like pull everything out of the fridge and cabinets and clean the insides and then refill, taking globes off of all the ligh fixtures to clean, etc.). I LOVED it. I think the house did stay neater overall because there was never a busy slew of weeks where you fall dreadfully behind and feel like you can't catch up.

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

In another life, oh my goodness yes! It's the best gift I've ever given myself. In fact, if you find a full time woman executive who isn't frazzled and actually has time for a social life, you can bet she's got a cleaning service.

I've had them at different times. The best was a lady who had been to "maid school" - she was fantastic!

Some might enjoy housework, but I don't. I'd much rather be cooking. Or anything else!

 

[Kay1]

I'm wondering if the house cleaning services will become a little less expensive. My parents always had a housekeeper but I've found their services to be a bit pricey.

 

[Glenna74]

I just had my house cleaned this morning. What a difference!!!

Just tidying up after DS5, visually-impaired DH and myself is a full-time job. The cleaners were able to deep-clean my fridge, wash the windows, dust ... do all the stuff I never seem to have time to do by myself. Not to mention that I *hate* cleaning the shower stall in DH's bathroom ... and now I don't have to!

DH told me that when he comes home, he's tired (after 11 or 12-hour days) and can't help me clean up. He'd much rather pay someone else to do it. The same goes for the lawn.

 

[RachaelA]

I grew up with an Amish cleaning lady coming to our house once a week. It was great as a kid because all we had to do was straighten our rooms and she did the rest. I understand why my mom had a cleaning lady (5 kids and a 3000+ sq ft. house).

Now I'm 23 and married and I have no idea how to clean. I feel bad for my DH. Sometimes I think he leans towards having someone come clean our house.

 

[ILuvTigger]

I had a housecleaner for a couple of years, and omg is it worth it. Of course no one can clean my house as good as me, but she (I went through 4 girls til I found her and a few after) did a great job, and I was able to relax or work on my garden. She quit working for the company, and I have not found anyone to replace her.

 

[mward73]

We have one - she's a friend of my aunt (they used to work together cleaning but the owner sold the business and this lady went out on her own). She comes every other week and makes the house sparkle. I only have to touch up (vacuum some) between visits. DH and I both work. We have a 2 1/2 year old and another coming next week - we don't have time to clean constantly - she gives us the freedom to have fun with the kid(s) and not spend all weekend cleaning.

My parents have someone as well - she's also great. I think if you go directly to someone reliable and recommended, it's cheaper than a service, but we figure the price we pay her saves us from killing each other, thus saving our marriage. lol

 

[mjkacmom]

I have 2 women who come every other week. I spend SO much time picking up after my kids (and DH), I never have time to clean! I spend a couple of hours just putting laundry away today. They don't do a great job, only here for 2 hours, no windows, laundry, woodwork, never move a thing, but they only cost $60, which is all we can afford. Next year, my twins go to school all day, and then I can finally have more than 3 hours to myself in this house!

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

We always had a cleaning lady growing up - it is wonderful not to have to clean your own toilets, scrub floors, etc.

I've had a cleaning person since I graduated college - I work full time and there is NO WAY I am giving up my weekends to clean.

I like my fun way too much.

 

[emh1129]

Towards the end of last semester, we sprung and had someone come once a week for 3 weeks. Even thought we *totally* couldn't afford it, it was $54 for 3 hours of good, hard cleaning. It was worth it to me to get that time to study and not have those chores hanging over my head. She was amazing & totally worth every penny!
Once I can afford it again, I'll give her a call and hope that she can squeeze us in!

 

[katied]

I work full time, so we have someone come in once a week to clean. It is well worth the money (and I'm a much happier person not having to scrub toilets over the weekend). I'm still always picking up, vacuuming, etc., but it still saves so much of my time.

 

[Disneyliscious]

This is what I do for a living. I am one of the housekeeper ladies you all speak of...lol

I was laid off last year and had ZERO income. I applied everywhere and could not find a job (Im a single mother). I took a shot in the dark and within my first month of advertising for free on Craigslist, I had $1400 in house cleanings.

I now LOVE what I do. I can set my own sechedule and if I want a day off I just dont schedule anything for that day. I have one client who has me clean on every Tuesday and Friday and pays me $150 per week. I have several other regular clients as well. I normaly get $75 per cleaning, but some are less and some are more - it depends on what they want done. charge "by the job" and not "by the hour" so the client knows up front what they are paying. My average hourly wage while working is $15-$20 an hour.....and while that sounds great....the downside is that you never know when work is coming in so you can't base yor bills around a 'steady' paycheck.

Some weeks I have to hire a girl to work for me....some weeks Im barely busy myself - but in the end, working for myself and setting my own schedule/hours is far worth it.

I feel very blessed that the Lord has provided me this opportunity which I hope I can keep until I finish school in a year or so. Im not even sure I'll give it up when I've got my degree.

 

[XYSRUS]

I have had a housekeeper for over 2 yrs now and short of extenuating circumstances I'll never be without one. She's a young Amish woman and she does an amazing job. Comes every other week and I don't clean in between-just straighten up. I too thought I could never afford one but I budget it in now and it's a given...plus the 4 boys mess up this place like nobody's business. And yes they have chores-they clean the basement/rec room, do laundry , take care of the animals and I expect straight As from them all.

 

[flakypuff]

I used tothose were the days...
Yes, it made me keep a cleaner house. It never got away from me. Like now.
Sometimes I get so far behind.
I am just not one of those blessed people that keep a sparkling house. I wish I was.
It got to $$. We paid 125.00 and that was one time everyother week. That was about 5 years ago. One time we hired another person..she was awful.
When I got home.. the carpet was rolled up in the front foyer and it wasnt even vacuumed. The bed spreads were pulled up but the sheets were still in a ball under it...
All my kids toys were kicked under the bed She was never invited back...

 

[Princess April]

I have a cleaning lady and I love it!!!!! I work full time and so does DH. So, to keep our sanity we have her come once a month and do a good cleaning.... now, we do pick up and do what cleaning needs to be done in between that time, but it's really a God-send!!!!! Also, only having her some once a month is easy on the budget!!!!

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

No. But sometimes I benefited from my MIL's housekeeper. When DH & I were first married (almost 20 years ago!) we lived in a condo in the same neighborhood as my ILs. My MIL had a housekeeper come to her house, I think, every other week. If there was a week she didn't need her she'd send her to my condo instead. It was nice to come home to a clean home!

DH & I do all the housekeeping now. Well, mostly me. He & I both work outside the home but I have a flex schedule so I have every Friday off - that's my day to clean.

 

[tar heel]

Like millions of other Americans, my DH and I aren't sure what's going to happen with jobs down the road. A few months ago, we decided to systematically get our house for sale. We're packrats, we both work a lot and we've raised three boys -- in other words, it needs a few things done. The plan was that, after the clutter was gone, we would get a housekeeper starting with someone for just downstairs. A 25% paycut, however, has made us put that plan on hold.

My mother-in-law ALWAYS had a housekeeper. When my DH and his brothers were little, they had someone who came almost every day. My father-in-law has two now and he's so meticulous that there really is no dirt. The retirement community he lives in provides twice-a-week housekeeping, which he is taking once a week. The lady who cleaned his house also comes once a week b/c he likes her so much and didn't want to lose touch with her.

 

[ToddyLu]

It is the best $60 I spend every week. I work full time and so does DH. We haven't always had a maid.......I am a worker and not very domesticated....I don't enjoy cooking or shopping either. It has really saved lots of arguments between us. Just let me do a good day's work and come home to a clean home.