Conference moira::parenting

    First of all, congratulations on one of the wisest decisions you will
    ever make!
    
    Second, where are you located?  The reason I ask is that, while our
    housecleaner (whom we got by word of mouth, of course) is booked
    solid, she has been able to recommend other cleaners for friends of 
    mine who were looking.  Like any profession, they have their own
    network, I guess.
    
    -Tracy
    

    I've been thinking of having someone in for housekeeping, too.  Those
    of you who already use such a service... do you have the person come
    while you are at home, or while you are not at home?  If you're not at
    home, do they have a key to your house to let themselves in?  
    
    For security's sake, I'd rather they come while I'm at home.  But my
    nights are so hectic, and I'm trying to keep the weekends for "family"
    time, so I think I would be uncomfortable if there was another person
    in the house during these times.
    
    How have you settled this issue?  
    
    Jane

    My cleaning person has been coming to my house for just over six years. 
    She started when we were both pregnant for the first time.  She was
    recommended to me by a neighbor/friend who had known her for some time
    so I was comfortable with letting her have a key.  She usually comes
    when we are not home, though we have frequently "run into" her.  She
    used to come days and bring her daughter, so if we were home, the girls
    would just play together.  For the last year, she has worked a day job,
    so she comes evenings.  We usually go out to eat that night but, even
    if we don't, she gets there about 5:00 and we don't get home until
    6:30.
    
    Overall, I think you really need to find someone you feel you can trust
    and then let them come while you're at work.  The point is to reduce
    stress and confusion and there's nothing like coming home from work 
    (especially on Fridays, IMO) and finding a spotless house that someone
    else cleaned.  It's great!
    
    -Tracy
    

    Just a quick note.  I have been cleaning houses since I was in college. 
    This gave me lots of cash and I still had my evenings and weekends
    free.  I still clean one day (Saturdays) a week.  I prefer if the
    homeowners are not home.  It makes the cleaning go much quicker and you
    don't feel like people are watching you.
    
    If the cleaning person is someone that you don't know, I would check
    and see if they are bonded.  This would insure you in case of theft.  I
    would also ask for references.
    
    Good luck to you.
    
    
    Lillian

We have found our cleaners by posting notices in the local grocery store or
through the cleaning ladies' network.  I have a women who comes three times a 
week, 4 hours each time.  No way am I going to use my precious private time
for house cleaning and laundry!

After a woman has been with us a sufficient time that we trust her, we give
her a key to the house.  I also am able to use mine to sleep over night should
J�rgen and I ever have to travel at the same time.  She also walks the dog :-)

We have gotten rid of women due to poor work or one who had a baby and simply
decreased in effectiveness to the point that I could no longer justify paying
her.  I even had a cleaning lady when I had au pairs because the way that au
pairs cleaned was not up to my standards.

Cheryl

    I used to have a cleaning lady, but we dropped her because her work
    slacked off.  That was probably 5 years ago and we never replaced her. 
    At that time we paid her $20 for 1 1/2 hours.  Would anybody be willing
    to share what the going rate is?
    
    Debby

    I pay $60 for two people, who probably clean my house in 1 1/2-2 hrs. 
    (I'm not home to check).  So I guess that makes the hourly rate about
    $15-20/hr.

    
    My cleaning lady comes twice a month. She changes the sheets, vacuums,
    floors,dust, bathrooms etc. I pay her $50 per visit which I would guess
    lasts between2-2.5 hours, it depends on how messy the house is that
    day. She once told me that I have the cleanest house she cleans so I
    started leaving it a little more messy.
    
    I found her through her sister who is a DEC employee.
    
    Barbara
    

    
    My sister cleans houses top to bottom and charges $45.00 per house.
    She has references, and some of them are DEC people. If you'd like
    her name/number reply to me @ BHAPPY::DROWNS
    
    
    p.s. not only is she my sister, she's my housekeeper too!
    
    bonnie

My cleaning lady comes once a week to do the basics, wash floors, vacuum, dust,
clean bathrooms, kitchen counters, etc.  I pay $40 a week for 1.5 - 2 hours. 
Since we have a large house, I've asked her to rotate rarely used rooms, like 
the guest room, dining room, porch, etc.  She usually does one of these each 
week.  

My cleaning lady cleans, she does not pick up the house, wash dishes, or do 
laundry.  We pick up the morning of the day she comes so that she can do her
job and we can come home to a clean house.  

I found her through a local advertising paper in Southern NH called the 
Broadcaster.  Most communities have these types of papers.  

She comes during the day when we're not home and she's not bonded.  I just
made sure to check references from her customers.  Since a lot of cleaning 
people work under the table you might have a hard time finding one who's bonded.

Barbara

    I live in Westminster and am interested in a housekeeper - is your
    sister located in this vicinity???? thanks Linda Kullmann

    We used to argue about cleaning the house, and it used to take DAYS to
    get everything done (My husband is superb at cleaning, only he takes
    forever for a task since he is a perfectionist and also gets distracted
    very very easily. Me I just HATE cleaning).
    When I became pregnant the second time I gave into the wish I've had to
    have someone come in. My very good friend had an agency do her house
    for years and knew they were reliable and had a number of good
    assurance as to security.
    Hence, for almost a year now, I've had them come in every two weeks.
    They do a marvelous job in a fraction of the time. Two people (usually
    the same people) for $68 CDN.
    I usually make a point to leave the house as they arrive or just before
    so that they can do their job. 
    We have a contract that outlines what I am interested in having done
    (and having NOT done, like the library full of books, some antique, and 
    computers). They also potentally do a designated room from top to
    bottom (windows, walls etc, or clean oven in kitchen) for no extra
    cost.
    
    At first I felt embarrassed telling people this, (thinking that they'd
    think of me as some spoiled elitist) but the response was great! Even
    my mother in law said that that was something she'd ALWAYS wanted to
    have done, but have the budget.
    
    So, some folk treat themselves by buying a lot of clothes, or going
    to get a perm, but me, this is the best thing I could have done to
    pamper myself (well, it is almost a necessity now).
    
    Monica

    I'm looking for a reccomendation for a cleaning service or person who
    will clean my house in Westford every other week.
    
    I called The Maids in Littleton yesterday and they wanted $88/week to
    clean.  They also required a precleaning which would run about $200.
    I was a little shocked by the quote.  I was expecting more like
    $50-$70.  We have a not large 3-bedroom house.
    
    Carol