cleaning help

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2003
cleaning help
10
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 12:26pm

I have a question that i am exploring and need some other opinions.....


Avatar for ang2gals
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 12:40pm

I have two girls, ages 8.75 & 11.5

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2007
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 1:05pm

If you can afford to do it -- get a cleaning lady!! But find a good one, by recommendation from other people, and when you trust them enough, you won't have to be there when they are. We have had one since I was pregnant with my oldest -- the same person, plus she has a crew of about 4 people who help her, for 12 years. We found her because her crew cleans my husband's office. They come here twice a month, and if we were in poor financial shape, that is probably the last luxury I would give up! Especially if you work full-time and don't want to devote the precious weekend time to cleaning for hours on end -- a good cleaning crew can knock it all out in 2 hours.

It was absolutely necessary while I was working full-time. I am now stay-at-home for the past 7 years, so I am sure it seems completely ridiculous to some people that I still have this cleaning lady, but I am not embarrassed. It sure doesn't mean I don't have to clean anymore! I vaccuum and clean and do laundry every day, but it sure is nice not to have to scrub my floors and bathrooms all the time. If I had to do it all on my own, I know the state of my house would be disastrous and I would always be stressed out about it. I know we could do it if we had to, but my husband agrees, we are all much happier having it done professionally twice a month. Plus, I just love our woman, she is like part of the family. So as long as it is not a financial hardship, we'll keep her!

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2004
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 1:53pm
I have the same problem...... I want to go out but i have all these things to do. I dont have the money to hire anyone. So here are some suggestions......... one ivillage offers a board called flybabies.....it helps....... you might want to try that. and second, during the week wash a load or two......dont hassle of all of it...just what is needed then pick up around the house every night....... spend one night maybe cleaning the bathrooms and vacuume. Dont go over board.... once you plan for a weekend trip go...... forget about the house..... its not the end of the world is it? Some things you need to get done do others find another day........ it will be there tomorrow. Good luck. or go ahead and hire someone.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-27-1998
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 6:37pm

I think this whole thing depends on your standard of cleanliness. Some people are comfortable living with a certain amount of grime or clutter until they get around to dealing with it, but you don't sound like one of them.


The questions I used to decide whether to hire a cleaning lady were: Am I comfortable doing things like reading or paying bills if the house is a bit dirty or do I feel like I have to get up and do something about it? Do I feel like a slave to the house (e.g., can't go out until it's clean)? Does everyone have to do too much housework to meet the standards I am comfortable with?


These questions led me to hire a cleaning lady when we bought our first house, before we even had kids. Now I'm not even working FT anymore, but I still have

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2004
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 6:56pm
Hire the cleaning lady and consider it money well spent!
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married in august
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: montana78
Wed, 02-06-2008 - 9:15pm

I am a SAHM/Homeschool mom, so I have absolutely NO excuse like you full time work-outside-the-house moms do.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-09-2003
In reply to: montana78
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 7:17am

Thanks for all the replies....


Yes... i grew up thinking it was only for the rich.


I think i just to need to jump in and try it!!


I have no problem doing laundry while making dinner..... and i have a dishwasher for doing dishes.... and i have no problem -acutally want to vacuum when i see it needs it... but it is the other stuff -washing floors - bathrooms - i have 2) and the detail stuff.....


So what else do the cleaning ladies do..... and do you clean/organize/put away stuff from counters so they can clean??

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-15-2007
In reply to: montana78
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 7:52am

Yes, we do have to "pick up" the house before the cleaning ladies come. I love that -- it forces all of us to make sure things are all put away at least twice a month. Although I've complained that it is hard to get 12-yo ds to do chores -- his room is ALWAYS neat, and he does that completely on his own, I think because he's gotten into the habit of picking up for the cleaning ladies.

As for what else they do, I'm sure it depends on who you get. Mine always asks me if there is something special we want done. They always clean all the bathrooms, all the floors, vacuum, dust, clean the kitchen counters... They lift up the furniture and clean underneath (which I would never do). They clean windows. They re-make beds.

It generally costs us about $120/month, based on how long it takes and how many people are cleaning. I am sure this varies widely.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: montana78
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 8:01am

Yes, you definitely have to tidy up before them come, put away all dishes on the counter, pick up anything on the floors,

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
In reply to: montana78
Thu, 02-07-2008 - 8:33am

I live in a faily small house.