Do any of you have someone who comes and cleans your house? If so, have you found that it is better to have just an individual or a company such as "Merry Maids"? I am getting ready to start having someone come twice a month and I need to decide which way to go. I would love to have an individual but I wonder how much one person can truly do in a few hours and what would be left undone and if I am paying by the hour and it takes several hours then is it worth it to me? On the flip side I wonder if a team will blow through and leave stuff undone too. I would love any input from you ladies.

By Bea on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 03:14 pm:

I have a live-in-maid. She sleeps in my bed. ;o)

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 03:26 pm:

ROFL Bea!

By Reds9298 on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 04:19 pm:

ROFL also Bea!! Too funny.

Most people around here use an individual for housecleaning, but we don't have many cleaning services either.

By Marg on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 04:25 pm:

I was going to do a poll one time on how many moms use a service.

We don't have much $$$. But with my knees the way they are (I get down on my knees and scrub the floor, it's a mental thing. Mops, brooms, etc just seem to push the dirt around. We have 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 kids that doesn't include dh;)

I thought about having a service come in about 1 or 2 times a month to do my floors.

By Conni on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 04:40 pm:

I hired an individual last summer. Doesnt charge by the hour just a set price to do everything. I provide cleaning supplies, which is how I like it. Have certain cleaners I like. She comes every other week. The night before she comes we have to go thru and pick up everything in every room so she can clean. Found her via word of mouth. (she has cleaned for my neighbor for 3 yrs) She does fly thru my house. Have never seen anyone move so fast. lol

The services here charge more and from what I have heard dont do quite as nice a job. However, I have never used one myself, thats just what I have heard about the ones in my area.

I wish I could say I dont have to clean. BUT just because you have a cleaning lady doesnt mean you dont have to clean. lol I still have to keep up with *everyday* cleaning. The weeks she doesnt come I have to do the weekly cleaning... It is worth it to have some help tho!

By Tink on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 04:50 pm:

My mom uses a housekeeper and has tried services and individuals. She's always much happier with the individuals. The services she used have specific things that they "don't do". She gets her's through word of mouth. She has her housekeeper come once every two weeks and she works for four hours. My mom's house is about 2,000 sq ft and the housekeeper cleans all but one bedroom (my sister's).

By My2girlygirls on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 04:55 pm:

I expect that I will still have to clean but I have some projects that I would love to do and I feel like by the time I get all the house stuff done there isn't time for the projects. We are going to finish off our attic for a playroom and I need to finish going through one corner of stuff up there and I really just do not have time. I have some fun projects too and I want to feel like I can take the time to do them. I think having someone come every two weeks and do the heavier cleaning will be a real burden off of me. My DH has been encouraging it for a while now so I might as well do it now while he is all for it! I think I would prefer to have my own cleaning supplies too. I have certain things I like and certain ones I don't. Thanks for the input! Keep it coming.

By Conni on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 05:59 pm:

Sarah, I didnt make that comment towards you. Sorry! I have some friends that think it must mean I dont have to do *anything*. They make little comments about it and I have to just blow them off. So, I am always paranoid about telling people I have help. lol

By Amyk on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 06:01 pm:

We used a service for a few months over the summer - my first time. Ended up firing them not for their ability to clean - but for their ability to come when they were scheduled. Me and my dh would spend an hour + picking up the house so they could clean easily - then they'd be a no show - also, we'd get diff. people coming and some worked super fast- 1.5 hours for the whole house and other teams would take 2.5 hours - also they would be scheduled to show up at 8:45a-9:00a - then be 30m late - then take way too long - and all this time I'm out and about w/ my 2yo trying to kill time - and his lunch and nap time are approaching....! Anyway, I had a bad exp. with a cleaning service - and decided it would be better to go back to doing it myself. If I ever try again, I'll hire an individual.

;-)

By Marcia on Saturday, January 7, 2006 - 10:46 pm:

I used a service once. I think that 2 girls came, they went through quickly, charged tons, and left obvious things undone. I then hired a woman who came every other week. She charged $12/hr, I paid her $50, and she cleaned better than the service did. She was amazing! She even stayed a few minutes late each time, because of the extra $2 I paid her. I didn't expect her to, but she wouldn't leave!! I wish I still had her!

By Feona on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 06:56 am:

Better to hire someone who is recommended by someone. I am afraid I have heard of things disappearing.

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 10:17 am:

Ditto Feona!

By Crystal915 on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 11:55 am:

Make sure you hire someone who is licensed/bonded unless it is someone you trust. That way if anything comes up missing or broken, you're covered.

By Mrsheidi on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 12:59 pm:

We had a service and they were totally lazy. One lady came in and said "Well, they didn't tell us we'd have to clean an oven!"
Hhhmmm...so, spraying "oven off" is too hard? Geez.

I've been known to be a clean freak and the service was just not up to my standards.

I would hire an individual.

By Kym on Sunday, January 8, 2006 - 03:57 pm:

I have one woman come every week, I used to have a bi monthly but found it was taking about 1 1/2 hours more because of the "build up" so weekly only cost $15.00 per month, each week she does an extra like cieling fans, bedroom windows, moving heavy furniture, oven & fridge, etc.

I do have to be pretty specific sometimes, but she is very agreeable, and is not offended if I say please make sure that this is done better she is fine with it.

I have never used a service, so no experience there, but I whatever you choose, give them 3-4 times before you pass judgement and double check work before they leave, and agree upon $$ and hours and make sure both are met.