By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
ToddBaker/Flickr
Last week I wrote about my decision to hire a professional cleaning person. Many of you commented on that post and I appreciate all the feedback as I went into the adventure ready and willing to learn. I said I would share my revelations. Here they are:
- I felt safe having this person in my home because I had several recommendations from people I trust who have used her for several years. That was important. Getting personal recommendations is essential.
- I spent a couple of hours prior to the cleaner arriving picking up everything that I could and putting it away. My kitchen counters (which I usually can’t even see) were almost empty by the time the pro showed up. This was super smart and I highly recommend it, but I should pre-clean the night before instead of getting up at 6:00 a.m.
- I continued to straighten up and put things away the entire day. I was exhausted by the time the cleaner left. I don’t know if I want to do this exactly the same again. I was just too tired and it defeated the purpose a bit. I’m going to limit pre-cleaning.
- Because my kitchen was decluttered and cleaned, I finally could see that the grout on my tiled kitchen counters was not going to come clean with normal cleaning. I was so inspired that I went to Home Depot and bought a product that allowed me to repaint my grout. My counters look magnificent. Tandem cleaning is good.
- I wasn’t sure what to do about giving her a break. She worked straight through the entire time she was at my house. I asked her several times if she needed/wanted to take a break, but she kept saying no. In the long run, I don’t think this is a good idea. A break is necessary.
- I also felt awkward at the end about whether I was supposed to give her a tip above what she had quoted me. I’d like some feedback from readers on this one.
- Although the cleaning lady worked very hard, I wasn’t overly impressed with her. She used a swifter, not a scrub brush. She took her a long time, pacing herself and not putting out tons of effort. After she left there were dirt stains on the bathroom floor, dirt behind the door, and stains around the toilet. She washed floors by bending over, but that trashes your back and makes it difficult to deep clean. I hired someone to do the hard cleaning I can’t/won’t do. Therefore, I think I need to look for someone with a higher energy level and deep cleaning tools.
- My house is much cleaner now, but I am going to try out other cleaners before I settle on “my” cleaning person. Several of the commenters on the earlier post mentioned they bring in a crew instead of just one person. I’d like to try that.
- For the 24 hours after the cleaning, I noticed that the kitchen and bathrooms stayed super clean. No one left even a crumb on the counter. A messy room leads to more mess and a clean room leads to more cleanliness. One can be hopeful.
For those who feel paying someone to clean is not in your budget, check if a cleaner is open to an exchange. If there something you can do that they need? For instance, I taught someone to cook who helped me clean my house. Look in the barter section of Craigslist for a possible match. You can also check if any of your friends like to clean (there ARE people out there) as part of an exchange.
Bottom line: hiring a professional cleaning person WAS worth it. I loved having someone come and clean my house! I want to do it again and again.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:12 am
our housekeeper I’ve had for 14 years, and she’s more than a housekeeper. she started out as a MARRIAGE SAVER and then became family. she’s still “Worth it”.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:26 am
BB,
I have never tipped a cleaning woman. And I feel the same about having a team as opposed to one person doing the whole job. It just takes them too long. If they need a break, they’ll take one. You don’t need to ask them. I got rid of my cleaning company @ 2 years ago due to finances. I really miss it as I can’t possible keep my whole house clean. My friend has a woman come to clean just the floors and bathrooms and I’m toying with that idea.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Currently, I live with my boyfriend and even though I am a frugal law student, there’s one thing we agreed on splurging. A housekeeper comes once a month and that $80 is worth all the arguments we DON’T have because the place is clean. Best $80 we spend every month.
August 26th, 2010 at 9:46 am
I absolutely love having a cleaning person. I work all day and feel I’m entitled to have some time off to myself. I do not tip her as she is getting the entire amount she quoted. I won’t say she’s wonderful but she sure is better than I am
August 26th, 2010 at 10:58 am
I did not tip my housekeeper (in the days when we were a two income houeshold), but I did give her a monetary gift at the holiday season. I absolutely loved it. I had so much more free time to spend with family by hiring a professional.
August 26th, 2010 at 11:28 am
I don’t tip on a weekly basis. We have a cleaning service, not just one person. However, around the holidays, I give a bonus to the owner of the company to split between the girls that come to my home. It is usually the same three girls and I know that they get the tip/bonus cause they have all thanked me in the past.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
You don’t need to tip each visit.
I have a cleaning lady that works on her own & I give her a bonus (1 cleaning pay) in December.
I don’t tip the guys that cut my grass either – I just pay the bill.
August 26th, 2010 at 1:53 pm
Does anyone have a crew they trust and are satisfied with that would clean in Sylmar, CA?
August 26th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
The woman who cleans for me once a month for $80 does a great job with the bathrooms and kitchen, as well as the hardwood floors (not much of that). I do have to tell her what NOT to do, and be specific about needs for the day. Vilma does take a break for lunch, which she brings with her, although I’ve treated her a couple of times. When school’s out she brings her very well-behaved 10 year-old daughter, Angie, with her. I really like her, so Angie and I usually “go out” for lunch together. We both enjoy the special treat. Otherwise, I don’t tip or provide extras. I have Vilma use the supplies I have on hand, and have been weaning her over to natural cleaners (white vinegar, lemon juice or oil mixed with salt for grout, etc.). She worked miracles with the tub in the master bath (stained with lime, etc.), which had suffered from male abuse over time. It’s now totally white!!! Even though I’m on a very limited income as a retiree, I budget for what I consider an essential of pleasant living.
August 26th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
If your cleaning lady is coming from a maid service agency you can leave her a tip. But if she is independent, then I think there is no need for tipping every visit. I do give her extra cash at Christmas.
August 26th, 2010 at 7:49 pm
We have a cleaning lady that comes every 2 weeks. She works for a local company and we pay $80.00. I do not tip, but I do give her a tip at Christmas time.
One BIG tip I have for people that hire cleaning ladies, do not let them use their own mops. It is yucky when you think about them mopping other peoples hosue then mopping your house with the same mop. Ewwww! Also try to find a cleaning person that gets on their hands and knees to mop. The compnay I use only uses rags to clean the floor and I love it!
August 26th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I don’t tip, but I have paid extra when I had an extra project. I give my cleaning lady a nice Christmas monetary gift.
I also do a lot of decluttering before she gets here, I tell hubby she is there to clean, not tidy. I make a point not to be there for more than a few minutes after she first arrives. So I don’t know if she takes a break or not.
This is something I do not want to have to give up. When I come home to a sparkling clean house smelling wonderful, I know we are worth it!
August 27th, 2010 at 6:51 am
I tip occasionally. If the cleaning lady does a particularly good job, spends extra time cleaning, or helps me with something (like partially emptying the last vacuum bag because it was so full the thing barely worked – yuck!) I give her an extra $5 or $10. I appreciate her extra effort.
August 27th, 2010 at 6:52 am
@Janiece Ha! “Marriage saver” – that is SO true!
August 27th, 2010 at 9:31 am
It sounds like the initial cleaning you wanted should have required a larger team to get the deep grime and stains out first. i think after that is when you would bring in the single cleaning person for upkeep. but i could be wrong
I hired a team once a few years ago and there were 2 people doing the hard cleaning and one person managing. i think if you work hard, lack time or energy to clean weekly, and have some spare money each month, then go for it!
August 27th, 2010 at 9:51 am
I have a cleaning lady every 2 weeks, and it’s fabulous. i pay $80 for t people, and it’s fine. They take a break when they want to and use my products, and their own vaccuum, but my mops and rags. My cleaning lady gives me ideas of things to buy that will help her clean better, like my stainless steel frige (a bit of a pain). I don’t tip, but do give a Christmas gift. I de-clutter too, because that’s not her job, and I know where I want to put things.
August 27th, 2010 at 11:27 am
I don’t have a cleaning person or team, we don’t budget for it. By the way you describe things, it sounds as if your home was really dirty. I use swifters between deep cleanings in my house…Maybe you could negotiate things with the cleaning person…You may need to pay extra for the deep cleaning and use the lighter cleanings between.
August 29th, 2010 at 8:50 am
We have a cleaning duo every two weeks. We tip them each visit. My feeling is, “How would you like to do that for a living?” And I am grateful I don’t do it for a living! At Christmas they get a tip equal to their cleaning fee. I am by no means wealthy but work full time. I feel they get 85% of the dirt, and I do the little they missed. I bought a Shark steam mop, and after the tile floors have been cleaned by them, I go over them within a day. (Very little effort required) You would be amazed how much more dirt comes off a “clean” floor. I don’t know of anyone who is 100% satisfied with their cleaning people each visit.
August 31st, 2010 at 8:20 am
Please please please read this. There are several cleaning agencies that have been busted for labor maltreatement. On top of that, some testing showed crappy cleaning (literally–feces testing…cross over of tools, gloves, etc from bath to kitchen to elsewhere.)
I’m not trashing all agencies. But really check it out. In my area (WDC) there are a few independently-owned cleaning crews w/non-toxic, deep cleaning claims. I intend to use one (after checking references about how they treat their workers) after work done on my apt. I’m too ill to do myself.
My grandmother & mother “tandem” cleaned with people & I liked seeing that as a kid. My mom liked to iron, for instance, but my grandmother did not. So they had the same person who cleaned do different things. (My gram did something else while her nice lady ironed.)
We were working & then middle class…barely. It’s not like we were wealthy. But there were a lot of children, cousins, etc. around. And help was worth paying for, said my mom, rather than a bunch of stuff from a store.
I cleaned one summer before high school. (Sorry this is so long…I guess I’ll post about it as it’s bringing up memories.) This was in the mid-70s but I hear it applies today. I have never seen such pigs in my life. I couldn’t believe people lived like that, much less thought that I would clean up for the $ they paid. Seriously, I don’t have cable but I understand there are shows about hoarders, big slobs, etc. I “fired” these people after the first cleaning.
You must be specific when ordering up cleaning services. Deep cleaning is different than steam cleaning your rugs (I send mine out–get coupons off internet) & de-molding your dang bathroom, people.
Good post. Thanks.
September 7th, 2010 at 9:24 am
[...] service – I agree with a lot of the readers that left a comment on Bobbi’s post on hiring a cleaning lady and her dilemma on whether to tip her or not. I wouldn’t give them a tip after each time they [...]