Keep it Clean

[Tom Hendricks]

Well we use a cleaning service called Merry Maids http://merrymaids.com They set the price and we pay it. We have a fairly large house, 3400 square feet and thats not including the basement. We don't always get the basement cleaned, usually only when guest are going to stay over. The cleaners are here somewhere between 2 to 3 hours but usually closer to the 2 hour mark.

 

[Kor]

I agree with Melakon.

Kor

 

[1001001]

A question to the people who hire cleaners (genuinely no side intended, just curious): do you pay them minimum wage (depending on your region)? More? Less? (I doubt anyone will admit to less ).

We pay our housekeeper $15 an hour.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

A question to the people who hire cleaners (genuinely no side intended, just curious): do you pay them minimum wage (depending on your region)? More? Less? (I doubt anyone will admit to less ).

We pay our housekeeper $15 an hour.

How long are they usually there for?

 

[1001001]

A question to the people who hire cleaners (genuinely no side intended, just curious): do you pay them minimum wage (depending on your region)? More? Less? (I doubt anyone will admit to less ).

We pay our housekeeper $15 an hour.

How long are they usually there for?

She's here 3-4 hours a week.

 

[Jedi_Master]

When it comes to paying house cleaners, it is good to keep in mind that services generally charge x price but keep a significant percentage for supplies, paperwork, etc. Most maids that work for services are paid a fairly low hourly wage.

My wife bids out the whole job at a flat rate, and bases her costs on the size of the property, complexity, etc. However, she never submits a bid that ends up costing less than $30 an hour.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I'm looking at a Dyson DC41 or DC50 on ebay. I can get a DC41 for around $250 new.

My current, 5 year old Hoover, sounds like it's in it's death throes.

Anybody here got a Dyson? Are they worth more than a regular upright? A direct replacement for my Hoover is about $150.

 

[RandyS]

To answer the question in order:

1. My girlfriend.
2. No.
3. Whatever my girlfriend buys
4. Again, my girlfriend

 

[Tom Hendricks]

To me, a vacuum cleaner is one of a few things you still get repaired as opposed to replacing. Especially if it's a decent Hoover.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I guess if you pay enough for a vacuum. My previous Hoover stopped working, but the motor ran OK when hotwired. Any 2 of the 5 printed circuit boards could have been the culprit.

Either board was $50 & a new vacuum was $150. I got the new vacuum. Cost of repair would have made it more than the $50 for the part obviously.

But, how does a vacuum even need printed circuit boards? Outside of making them harder/more expensive to repair. An upright has 1 or 2 motors.

 

[1001001]

When it comes to paying house cleaners, it is good to keep in mind that services generally charge x price but keep a significant percentage for supplies, paperwork, etc. Most maids that work for services are paid a fairly low hourly wage.

My wife bids out the whole job at a flat rate, and bases her costs on the size of the property, complexity, etc. However, she never submits a bid that ends up costing less than $30 an hour.

Fair enough.

Just for the record, we provide all the supplies.

 

[mari]

My husband does a lot of the cleaning (dishes, floors, bathroom) and I do laundry, but mostly we don't clean much. I try to keep the baby toys corralled so nobody slips and breaks their neck, and lately the baby's been doing the dusting and sweeping - he's into everything so it just works out that way. We're building germ resistance.

 

[scotpens]

What cleaning products do you use?

A fellow named Pablo who I pay to come in and clean once a month. (It's a small apartment, I don't do much cooking and I never have guests, so once a month is sufficient.)

I try to use vinegar for a lot of our cleaning, I do reserve bleach for really tough stuff, though.

Your place must smell like a combination of a salad and a swimming pool.

Is there a room that you enjoy cleaning more than others?

The living room, because then I can watch TV while I clean! I also really enjoy vacuuming and do a light version almost every other day because of my cat.

You vacuum your cat?

 

[Kestra]

Yes.

 

[JoeZhang]

A question to the people who hire cleaners (genuinely no side intended, just curious): do you pay them minimum wage (depending on your region)? More? Less? (I doubt anyone will admit to less ).

It's one of those areas of 'trickle-down' I've always found fascinating. I could happily/easily afford to pay someone to clean up after me, but somehow feels wrong as it's not that big a deal (the expression, 'lazy f****r springs to mind)

However, for those with two working parents, and kids, hell yeah I can understand why they might and do. And if you can help someone who might be doing doing two or three jobs on side, why not?

I have no children but it makes no sense for me to do my own cleaning - it takes about three hours to clean my main house - Even after paying someone else (above minimum wage), I simply earn more spending those three hours working.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

When we lived on Long Island, we would send out our clothes to be cleaned. They would pick it up in the AM, have it washed, folded perfectly or hung on a hanger and returned by the end of the day. While cleaning your house takes away a lot of your time, doing laundry is far more nefarious. Its a soul and time sucker, however up here in the Syracuse area there is no service like that.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I clean tables/worktops has I use them but tend to have a big clean at the weekend.
I use bleach/polish and I hate cleaning the bathroom no sooner do I clean it then its dusty again.

 

[Herkimer Jitty]

What is your housekeeping routine?

For my bedroom/office, put it off until it's a catastrophe. For the kitchen and bathroom, clean-up once a week, usually on the weekends.

Is there a room that you enjoy cleaning more than others?

The kitchen! I find it oddly soothing.

Do you have a favorite cleaning gadget (steam mop, Roomba) or tool?

Vacuum cleaner. It's a helluva time saver.

 

[Captain Ice]

I try to clean something every couple of days so it doesn't get to bad. I hate cleaning, but find that if I break it up into little chunks it isn't to bad. I do deeper cleaning once a month, and do intensive deep cleaning one to two times per year.

For products:
Simple Green for a general cleaner
Dow and Clorox products for the bathroom.
Pine Sol on floors
Swiffer for dusting
Endust or Pledge on shelving.
Non-amoniated cleaner for glass.

Favorite tool is a swiffer duster. Those things get into amazingly tiny spaces.

 

[KimMH]

My husband does a lot of the cleaning (dishes, floors, bathroom) and I do laundry, but mostly we don't clean much. I try to keep the baby toys corralled so nobody slips and breaks their neck, and lately the baby's been doing the dusting and sweeping - he's into everything so it just works out that way. We're building germ resistance.

Son's girlfriend is quite tidy; living with her has been an adjustment, even after living on his own for a while. I just tell him we cleaned the house minimally for exactly the reason you stated!

I try to use vinegar for a lot of our cleaning, I do reserve bleach for really tough stuff, though.

Your place must smell like a combination of a salad and a swimming pool.



Hubs is a borderline veg so we didn't notice!

Is there a room that you enjoy cleaning more than others?

The living room, because then I can watch TV while I clean! I also really enjoy vacuuming and do a light version almost every other day because of my cat.

You vacuum your cat?

Yes.