olderburgher
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Post by olderburgher on Apr 22, 2011 14:21:18 GMT -5
OP thanks for the laugh. I loved how it is your wife who has two small children to run after. Did she have them by herself without any help from you too?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 14:22:13 GMT -5
Except for one, all my clients are people who came to me via somebody else I work for, so I guess they had already determined that I can be trusted. The one exception is a friend of DD's whom I'd been acquainted with for about 10 years before moving here. A couple of clients work from home, but there usually isn't anybody around when I'm working. They either give me a key, the combo to their electronic front door locks, or the code for the garage door opener.
I would no more practice a five-finger discount on a client than I would in a store.
Come to think of it, way back in the way back when my kids were small and DH and I both worked, we always had a live-in. None of them ever helped themselves to anything that wasn't theirs.
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olderburgher
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Post by olderburgher on Apr 22, 2011 14:25:25 GMT -5
OP thanks for the laugh. I loved how it is your wife who has two small children to run after. Did she have them by herself without any help from you too? As to the baseboards not being as clean as your standards require, have you considered taking lessons from your wife on how to clean them so that you can help her out (since she has two kids to run after and you don't.)
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 22, 2011 14:32:51 GMT -5
MissRigby, I'd hire you in a heartbeat if you were nearby and available. A cleaning person who's also conscious about their money, who wouldn't want someone like that to work for them?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 14:50:26 GMT -5
azphx, you'd have to get in line because I have more on my plate than I can say grace over ;D
Those three clients I fired? They'd cancel if they couldn't be there when I was scheduled to clean for them. One of 'em was so suspicious that she'd leave "test dirt" just to see if I cleaned where I was supposed to. Arg! I sincerely hope they either like paying a whole lot more for help or that they enjoy doing it themselves!
I wouldn't have anybody in my home if I didn't trust them, whether I was going to be home or not.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on Apr 22, 2011 15:02:10 GMT -5
We used to have a cleaning lady. When I first interviewed her, she said that it would take her (4) hours to clean the house and she charged $60. $15/hr. didn't seem too bad.
She vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the floors, the bathrooms, and the kitchen. She'd do the baseboards or other projects when I asked.
It was great in the beginning. She worked for (4) hours and I'd pay her. I was home the entire time she would clean, but tried to stay out of her way. She did a wonderful job.
After a couple of months, before the (4) hours were up, she'd come to me and say, "I'm done." I'd pay her and then afterward I would notice that something had not been done very well.
I kept her for another couple of months and then decided to let her go. I now do it myself.
Before we relocated, I had a gal for years that did a superb job. I guess she set the bar a little bit high for anyone else I might hire to clean house.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 22, 2011 15:09:09 GMT -5
I just really need help with cleaning the floors. I hate scrubbing the floors, but I can handle cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, and the rest of the house. I do everything I can to avoid having to clean, and do stuff like not wearing shoes in the house, only keeping food in the eating areas, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 15:22:45 GMT -5
If you have hardwoods, do yourself a favor and buy a steam mop. There are a zillion different brands on the market. I haven't checked Consumer Reports and have only ever used the Shark, but trust me on this one: a steam mop will make you a very happy camper when it's time to clean the floors. You still won't love doing them, but you won't mind so much ;D
Three of my clients have Sharks (saves me doing them on my hands and knees). They really clean and are easy to use. The price for the least expensive one is about $50, and the only difference that I can see between that one and the Shark ProSteamer is that the Pro has a bigger tank and a longer cord. They work equally well.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 22, 2011 15:26:57 GMT -5
Unfortunately I have tile in all the common areas. And my house is 3500sf. I usually vacuum, and then use a push mop with a pH neutral tile cleaner. But I only do that once every few months since I hate doing it.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2011 15:32:09 GMT -5
Steam mop works on tile, too. You gotta be careful, though, and not "oversteam".
Also...steam mops aren't recommended for laminate floors.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 22, 2011 15:42:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the info MissRigby.
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raeoflyte
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Post by raeoflyte on Apr 22, 2011 16:31:46 GMT -5
Steam mop works on tile, too. You gotta be careful, though, and not "oversteam". Also...steam mops aren't recommended for laminate floors. Oooh--I'm going to have to get one. I hate the upkeep on my tile floors. Thanks!
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formerexpat
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Post by formerexpat on Apr 22, 2011 19:46:20 GMT -5
She's a SAHM; she's kind of the one with them most of the day and therefore running after them much more than I do. And technically speaking, she did "have" them without help from me. It's not like I could push for her. We have a Shark - absolutely a wonderful investment (yes, investment)!
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Apr 22, 2011 19:56:19 GMT -5
I have used services at times and they were bonded, insured, etc. The last person I had in CO, I checked her references. She had retired from IBM and said she was making more cleaning two houses a day than her pension and she needed the money.
If they aren't bonded, etc., I make sure I am home with a cleaning person. I do not follow them around. They know when to ask questions.
When I was renting, I got all of my deposits back by using my cleaning ladies after all the furniture was gone.
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txbo
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Post by txbo on Apr 23, 2011 3:28:55 GMT -5
We pay $60 every other week for three women that clean one-half of a 3200 sq ft house. Only two adults here so the house remains mostly clean anyway. It takes them about 1.5 hours but they also eat lunch here. This is in Texas.
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spartan7886
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Post by spartan7886 on Apr 26, 2011 11:44:38 GMT -5
We just started with Molly Maid. We felt more comfortable with a bonded and insured company, since we don't know anyone else in town with a cleaning lady to ask for recommendations. It cost $162 for the initial cleaning, but after that, biweekly service will be $84 for a 2200 sqft house in Houston - two women for approximately two hours. With both of us working and me frequently pulling 50 hours a week, cleaning the house was simply not a priority task during our downtime. It was well worth the money to come home to a clean house, and we can use the freed up time to attend to the garden, which was also being tended less frequently than they should.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Apr 26, 2011 14:07:17 GMT -5
I use a bonded local place. 3 ladies usually come, it takes them a few hours. My house is around 3000 sq ft and they charge $90. It's a total steal if you ask me. They don't do a GREAT job, but they do well enough. I have 3 dogs and the floor is covered with hair when they come and it's gone when they go, so it's good enough for me.
It cost 2x the first time the came for the "initial cleaning."
I only give extra at Xmas time, usually $50.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2011 17:10:30 GMT -5
Sorry, honeybbq, but near enough is not good enough. There's a standard for clean: it is or it isn't. I'd be darned if I'd pay for "good enough". And I'd be embarrassed and ashamed to do a "good enough" job for any of my clients.
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azphx1972
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Post by azphx1972 on Apr 26, 2011 18:36:51 GMT -5
Will any of these companies negotiate on the "initial" cleaning fee? It seems pretty hefty in most cases, and if your house is already pretty clean and you just want a company/service to take over the periodic maintenance, would they be willing consider that?
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formerexpat
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Post by formerexpat on Apr 26, 2011 19:32:19 GMT -5
My wife just had the consultation today.
Initial cleaning - approx 6 hours for $115 Bi monthly cleaning - approx 4 hours for $85 each time
They do clean baseboards but do not clean the windows.
Seems like a decent price so we're going to give them a try.
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jitterbug
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Post by jitterbug on Apr 26, 2011 21:26:54 GMT -5
I've had a cleaning lady for probably 20 years. Household chores was the only thing my husband and I ever fought about, so this was our solution - and worth every single penny! I would rather go out and work an office job just to pay for someone to come clean my house!
I currently pay $36 for 3 hours of time every other week - a 1600 square foot house with a full basement (that I believe gets swept and dusted every other time). This is the 3rd cleaning lady I've had in those 20 years - and the cheapest! And I'm as pleased with her services as I was with the more expensive cleaners.
I used to say "I'll pay you x number of dollars and I expect this to be done - and if you get it done sooner than the 4 hours I'm actually paying you for, fine." But then I never got anything extra done. So when I had to recently change cleaners (economy forced my previous one to find a full time job), I got more specific about what I wanted done each time and that I wanted extra things done when she had extra time (like whenever she's NOT doing the basement).
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 27, 2011 13:08:11 GMT -5
How do you guys know if your cleaning person is trustworthy, especially if they're unattended? Do you lock away your valuables before they come, or do a background check before hiring them? That has always been my biggest concern. We keep the valuables and personal papers in a safe which is not obvious, either. But the primary way is to select someone who is licensed and bonded- mainly bonded.
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AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP
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Post by AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP on Apr 27, 2011 13:09:15 GMT -5
My wife just had the consultation today. Initial cleaning - approx 6 hours for $115 Bi monthly cleaning - approx 4 hours for $85 each time They do clean baseboards but do not clean the windows. Seems like a decent price so we're going to give them a try. That's right at the market rates right now from what I can tell-- actually, that initial cleaning price is a little low.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Apr 27, 2011 14:00:24 GMT -5
DF and I looked into this, but decided that it will not work for us for several reasons.
1) I hate the idea of having to "clean for the cleaners". There are so many things that they either will not do, or you have to prep for them (ex. they will not dust a shelf unless you remove everything from said shelf).
2) I do not want people in my home when I am not there.
3) I do not want to have to lock my pets up all day.
The rate I was quoted was something like $85/week. It just wasn't worth it considering what I'd still have to do.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Apr 27, 2011 14:03:31 GMT -5
Sorry, honeybbq, but near enough is not good enough. There's a standard for clean: it is or it isn't. I'd be darned if I'd pay for "good enough". And I'd be embarrassed and ashamed to do a "good enough" job for any of my clients. Honestly, I'd probably not even notice. Really, the only person who complains is my mother who visits once a year and sterile conditions are not clean enough for her. :/ I'm fine with it, and the ladies put up with my barking dogs. It's worth it to me, that's really what matters.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Apr 27, 2011 14:54:21 GMT -5
DF and I looked into this, but decided that it will not work for us for several reasons. 1) I hate the idea of having to "clean for the cleaners". There are so many things that they either will not do, or you have to prep for them (ex. they will not dust a shelf unless you remove everything from said shelf). 2) I do not want people in my home when I am not there. 3) I do not want to have to lock my pets up all day. The rate I was quoted was something like $85/week. It just wasn't worth it considering what I'd still have to do. The pet reason is the reason we do every other week. As far as them not cleaning a shelf... uh, mine do! We have stuff all over the place and they just work around it best they can. We "straighten" up for the maids (ie put all the magazines on the table in one giant pile) and it generally takes about an hour.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Apr 27, 2011 15:59:10 GMT -5
...:::"As far as them not cleaning a shelf... uh, mine do!":::...
Uhhhhh (I love how people begin a post this way when they want to be condescending). How wonderful that your cleaners do shelves, and how maddeningly unhelpful to me. The cleaners I interviewed EXPLICITLY will not do shelves.
I completely understand why. They do not want to risk breaking your extremely expensive knick-knack, or your irreplaceable heirloom. But if I have to take everything off the shelf and put it back on again, I might as well spend the extra 20 seconds to run a cloth over it.
Then there was vacuuming. They will only vacuum a completely uncluttered floor. FFS, I already "man-clean" for free.
I wanted someone to come in just to clean certain areas, but the service "wouldn't do that" because apparently previous clients got upset when everything wasn't done. Fine, if that is your experience, so be it.
It just came down to the fact that I was going to pay too much money for how little my chores would have been reduced. I'd be a lot happier getting to blow the $85/week on myself and having to clean, than parting with that money only to eliminate maybe 40% of my work at BEST. Doubly so as the things they do are the jobs I don't mind as much. The stuff I really wanted done, they do not do.
...:::"We have stuff all over the place and they just work around it best they can. We "straighten" up for the maids (ie put all the magazines on the table in one giant pile) and it generally takes about an hour.":::...
Yeah, see -- they man clean. If I was going to pay someone to do it, I would want to go all the way and have the house spotless and requiring no work. The most I would pay for the scope of work I was quoted was about $20/week.
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formerexpat
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Post by formerexpat on Apr 27, 2011 20:05:44 GMT -5
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing for both the market rate and initial cleaning fee. He's licensed and bonded so we're all good.
Might not be helpful but is certainly relevant to the conversation, considering you said "they will not dust a shelf unless you remove everything from said shelf".
Clearly, some cleaners do clean shelves that have items on them, including the ones we are trying.
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kgb18
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Post by kgb18 on Apr 27, 2011 20:40:58 GMT -5
My cleaning lady comes twice a month. It's $55 each time she cleans. Our house is not very big, and I don't have her clean our spare bedroom (aka the junk room). She does do the hardwood floors on her hands and knees, and she cleans things like the toothbrush holders in the bathrooms and the inside of the microwave.
I still do a lot of cleaning, but being a working mom, it's nice to have a really throughout house cleaning a couple of times a month. I don't have the time, energy, or quite frankly, the inclination to scrub floors on my hands and knees.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Apr 27, 2011 21:57:27 GMT -5
I am glad this thread came up. I was thinking of asking DBro's gf to come help me clean. We have a 980 sqft house, and I was thinking of paying her $40 to sweep (no carpets), clean the one bathroom & kitchen, mop, and dust. Should take 2 hours or less. I was wondering if that would be enough, but we are in a pretty LCOLA, so based on the other prices I see it looks ok.
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