does anyone have a cleaning crew?

[Sonoran Silkies]

I know for myself that I get used to the less than stellar condition of my home, and on a day-to-day basis do not really notice. When I've been away for a few days, staying at a hotel or my folks, or just about anywhere else when I come back home I notice the condition. The OP needs to figure out whether they have let house care slide or whether her folks are being extra picky. Then she can decide which route she wants to go. Certainly a few days paying for her parents' hotel room is probably less expensive than a longer term cleaning service. But it also takes away from visiting time and the closeness of sharing early morning coffee or late night discussions. If the relationship is fragile, removing those times may limit arguments or disagreements, but if cleanliness is the only issue, it may not be worth it. A different alternative would be finding a nice resort for everyone to stay at for the duration of the visit; board the dogs and/or hire a petsitter.

 

[hunterjumper999]

my parents are not that horrible. my mom just lives a certain way and doesnt get ( nor do i have hope of her getting) my lifestyle choices.

My dad helped us buy the house and is concerned about it getting run down or destroyed by the animals... which is why i'm trying to get fencing put up to allow them to be out a few hours a day when I am home. I guess it is more that I never learned to clean- I just ordered the fly lady CD.

My DF honestly rarely helps clean. . . and I get mad and refuse to do it all ( mature, i know). So we end up living in a hovel and then I get madder and just DO it. I think someone coming every two weeks to hit the spots I miss will be a godsend honestly.

Someone needs to market cleaning lessons! seriously ! i'd pay someone to teach me!

 

[lockedhearts]

I have finally learned after all these years, that I will never be as good as my mother, of course we have animals, they don't. Totally different lifestyle. We track in dirt, poo etc. dpgs leave hair (white for the Jacks and Black for the Bouvier) and Gordy tracks in lots of dirt, he just does. I sweep as often as I can but right now, getting ready for this Horse Show my house looks like a Hurricane hit it twice. I sweep, mop, dust and maker sure the spare room and bath are clean when my parents come up, but I let my mother clean if she wants to and it does not bother me anymore, in fact I figure it is less that I have to do......

 

[wildeflowers]

We have someone come in for 3 hours once a week.

It took me 3 tries to find a cleaning lady that I like and I think does a thorough job. First one was cheap, but older and very slow. She also ended up asking me for things I had around the house that she thought I wasn't using, and well, it just wasn't a good fit after a while.

Second one wanted to charge me about double the going rate around here and got mad that my house was dirty (she was new to the business). Hello! I did not hire you because my house was clean. I am not talking filthy, just regular clutter, hey, we live in this space messy. So, she had her hissy fit and left. Good riddance.

Had totally given up, decided to not deal with the drama anymore and just give myself some leeway, when I got a call from a lady that found out I was looking. (Hubby had mentioned it to someone.) We set up a time and schedule and 2 days before she was to come, she called me and said sorry, not coming, one of my old clients wanted the spot. Since she didn't have any more openings, she offered to spread the word I was looking or call me when a slot opened. Of course, I'm thinking there is no way after you blew me off.

Well, a few weeks later, just as our universe was imploding, this wonderful woman calls saying she heard through the grapevine we were looking and that she didn't know the other lady, but was a friend of a friend. She came later that week, and has been consistent and wonderful since. She doesn't finish the whole house, our house is pretty big, but she does such a thorough job, I am completely ecstatic. She doesn't seem to mind the dog and cat, and she is just genuinely a wonderful person. Sooooo happy with her.

The money is well worth it. My husband is really sloppy, and I always resented his messy habits. This helps take a lot of the pressure off, because I can keep the house picked up and she does a lot of the deeper cleaning I felt like I was never getting to. She cleaned my microwave last time, and I gasped when I opened it. It looked new.

You know, I do the best I can, but it sure helps to have some extra help.

 

[HeatherLynn]

If it makes life easier between you and your mom I am all for hiring the housekeeper to come a few times a year. If I could do that right now I so would. The drama some moms have over house keeping is gut wrenching. My mom is the same way. We have to have a mat to wipe your feat on before the welcome mat on the outside of the door so it does not get dirty and another welcome mat on the other side of the door as even further protection against dirt coming in, and more mats so you can slip your shoes off. My son saw those dust mop house shoes that walmart sells and asked if we could get some so his Oma would stop screaming about the dirt. We live on a farm. There is no lawn. There is dirt. its a fact of life but a mom will not give in to that point.

I vote get some help in cleaning and maybe even get some help building a kennel for when company is over or when the dogs need to be outside but you don't have the time to be with them. Our indoor dogs also had an outdoor kennel and run specifically for when we had kids over or tons of company so they would not have to stress strangers in their house. It worked out well for us all.

 

[annaraven]

I love Flylady. flylady.net is great because she just tells you what exactly to do to keep your house in order. But it doesn't sound like that would work for OP's mother, because the woman sounds like she objects to allowing dogs on the couch period. The "poop on the couch" is an excuse.

My mother refused to even come in to my upstairs apartment once because (I found out later), my feet were dirty from running downstairs to open the door after my shower. Mind you, the stairs were common area, *not* part of my apartment, so yeah, the stairs were dirty. But my mother decided that meant my apartment must be dirty. In the time between me moving out and her death, she never once entered one of my homes. It's a little sad, I think, that she was so psychotic about cleaning but that was her.

 

[Rozzie]

6 Chihuahuas would be one thing. I can imagine finding a cleaning person who would work around that. They are small dogs. However, I see in your signature line that you have Pit Bulls. Does that mean you have six pit bulls in the house? If that's the case, good luck finding a cleaning lady! I realize that pit bulls have a bed rep, but that rep is going to keep most cleaning companies and even independent house cleaners away from that job. You'll probably have to find someone really desperate AND lock the dogs outside while they are there. The average person just isn't going to come into a house with six pits.

Prices are going to depend on if you're talking deep clean or weekly maintenance. A first visit will probably be a deep clean if you go with a service. A deep clean will cost a LOT more. Weekly maintenance will be more reasonable. Weekly maintenance should include cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, vacuuming, etc. It does not usually include things like laundry. The cost of a deep clean will depend on your specific house. They'll need to visit to give an accurate estimate about cost for this. Make sure to clarify what it includes, exactly. (Does it include shampooing the carpets? Probably not...)

 

[maggiemooscluckers]

Just a word from a cleaning lady...... my husband and I run a cleaning service. We work for mostly retirees so we don't deal with the normal "family" cleaning issues. Some pets but usually a small dog or cat. No children and all that comes with them. We work by the hour for the first visit since it usually includes all of the "deep" cleaning: blinds, windows, baseboards, etc.. We charge $40 per hour for both of us and typically work 3-5 hours on the first visit. After that the time gets shorter and shorter until we establish a routine. I have noticed on this post that "cheap" seems to be an important issue with some here. My opinion is that you get what you pay for. We may charge more than some here would be willing to pay but we pride ourselves in being very thorough and trust worthy. We come when we say we will and unlike with a cleaning "company", my husband and I will always be the people who are in your home. We establish a professional yet friendly relationship with our clients. After all it is your home and castle that you are asking someone to come into and care for. Being confident and secure in your cleaning people should be worth something. With all that said, choose your cleaning lady by reference only and be willing to give that extra for your piece of mind. And remember, cleaning is our living just like your profession is yours and you expect to be paid fairly for your hard work. If cleaning wasn't hard work then you wouldn't need a cleaning lady.

 

[hunterjumper999]

Quote:
MaggieMoo

I agree- Cheap is not as important as reasonable- and I think that the mentioned 200.00 for a deep clean is reasonable- considering we have no carpet and animals indoors.

YES i have4 full time indoor dogs- 1 of those is a pittie. The others are labs ( x2) and a boston terrier. The pit bull with puppies is visiting in our room and I already crate everyone so they would be crated in my bedroom - a no clean zone due to the puppies. Would this turn you off from a job? Dogs in a non- clean zone?

I have not had much luck in finding someone as of yet ( not dog related). I'm picky about who I have come over and don't like wasting peoples time so I dont have people who I am unsure of come over. I've called 4 people- 1 cleans with vinegar and water ( which is FINE but not IMO for a person with a million pets like me- BRING ON THE BLEACH!) , one did not sound like she had a very together schedule and two were under 20 yrs old- which I just don't want to deal with teenagers in my house unattended. I am supposed to call someone who came reccomended by the people at the feedstore and I am waiting till I get a chance to clean my house up incase she wants to come over. I don't belive it's a cleaning persons job to deal with clutter.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

honey, if I lived within a reasonable distance, I'd haul my kids over, and you could let them pat the puppies, and I'd scrub your floor, and your counter, and do the bathroom, and wash the walls, and clean the windows and help you get your house ready. I really hope you can find someone. the Flylady has really helped me. not that my house isn't a chaotic mess, it is, but when i clean it, i can do it right. I clean it well, company clean every tuesday... its just the upkeep that seems to be beyond me and the kids and the dog and cat.