Comments on: Self Indulgence In the Extreme: Hiring A Maid http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/ Where every man is king. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:54:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: A Little Chaos Is A Comfort at Dethroner http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-44051 A Little Chaos Is A Comfort at Dethroner Wed, 21 Mar 2007 16:24:54 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-44051 [...] comfy pigs. I know she’d like it a lot. We don’t live in squalor, and as evidenced by my earlier post on hiring maids, I do like living in a clean place, but I sure as hell don’t ever want to become anal about [...] [...] comfy pigs. I know she’d like it a lot. We don’t live in squalor, and as evidenced by my earlier post on hiring maids, I do like living in a clean place, but I sure as hell don’t ever want to become anal about [...]

]]> By: katybear http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42415 katybear Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:39:07 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42415 I worked as a maid for a professional cleaning service back in college for a bit. You're right on about doing some of the work yourself to at least prep the place for a good cleaning, especially if you're paying for the maid to work for only a set amount of time. That will give you the most bang for your buck. If you're hiring a maid to come in and clean just once or twice a year, you can expect to pay high dollar for a good thorough cleaning (my husband sometimes has this done as a birthday present for me). If you're going the once or twice a year route and you want to save some cash, you might consider just making a list of the out of the ordinary stuff you really don't want to do yourself and have the maid just do that. For example, if your baseboards are really dirty or the trim along the bottom of the walls and doors is scummy, or if you need your cabinets rubbed down with murphys soap or whatever. After all, anybody can vacuum and you're going to do that yourself the other 51 weeks of the year anyway... I worked as a maid for a professional cleaning service back in college for a bit. You’re right on about doing some of the work yourself to at least prep the place for a good cleaning, especially if you’re paying for the maid to work for only a set amount of time. That will give you the most bang for your buck. If you’re hiring a maid to come in and clean just once or twice a year, you can expect to pay high dollar for a good thorough cleaning (my husband sometimes has this done as a birthday present for me). If you’re going the once or twice a year route and you want to save some cash, you might consider just making a list of the out of the ordinary stuff you really don’t want to do yourself and have the maid just do that. For example, if your baseboards are really dirty or the trim along the bottom of the walls and doors is scummy, or if you need your cabinets rubbed down with murphys soap or whatever. After all, anybody can vacuum and you’re going to do that yourself the other 51 weeks of the year anyway…

]]> By: Moe http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42412 Moe Mon, 19 Mar 2007 20:28:26 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42412 I agree with pfil. I went to my local Eastern European deli, talked to some ladies, and got 2 sisters to clean my 2 bedroom apt for $40. The great thing about this is that they've built trust with me over the last couple of months, so I am more comfortable leaving credit card statements, etc. in the open. At first I was very cautious, but now I'm confident that they are safe. Whenever they come, we're always friendly and I talk to them about their kids, lives, etc. and they always do a great job. I also try to help out a bit or at least do work on my laptop so that they don't feel like servants. They also do a lot of the things that Alex complains about: they'll pick up my clothes before vacuuming, and overall, they try to make my place look as clean as if it was their own home. They even offer to cook me dinner or do my laundry (for an extra fee) If you live in an urban area, I would highly recommend getting a local cleaning lady, not a big company. It's much cheaper, you can develop a friendly relationship, and I think that they do a better job than a big company. I agree with pfil. I went to my local Eastern European deli, talked to some ladies, and got 2 sisters to clean my 2 bedroom apt for $40. The great thing about this is that they’ve built trust with me over the last couple of months, so I am more comfortable leaving credit card statements, etc. in the open. At first I was very cautious, but now I’m confident that they are safe. Whenever they come, we’re always friendly and I talk to them about their kids, lives, etc. and they always do a great job. I also try to help out a bit or at least do work on my laptop so that they don’t feel like servants.

They also do a lot of the things that Alex complains about: they’ll pick up my clothes before vacuuming, and overall, they try to make my place look as clean as if it was their own home. They even offer to cook me dinner or do my laundry (for an extra fee)

If you live in an urban area, I would highly recommend getting a local cleaning lady, not a big company. It’s much cheaper, you can develop a friendly relationship, and I think that they do a better job than a big company.

]]> By: pfil http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42356 pfil Mon, 19 Mar 2007 18:54:21 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42356 Chicago is well-stocked with independent maids, ask among your friends and i am sure someone has one or knows of one. Most of these are old school (by old school i mean hand washing wood floors). The lady i use does a 3 bedroom place for $60 a pop (that includes her doing laundry). Moral of the story: ask around, cleaning ladies are like mechanics, someone you know has a great once. Chicago is well-stocked with independent maids, ask among your friends and i am sure someone has one or knows of one. Most of these are old school (by old school i mean hand washing wood floors). The lady i use does a 3 bedroom place for $60 a pop (that includes her doing laundry). Moral of the story: ask around, cleaning ladies are like mechanics, someone you know has a great once.

]]> By: James B http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42279 James B Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:50:12 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42279 I've had "cleaning services" at my last few places. In general they've all been good, but I found I get better results with a smaller, local company. They seem more grateful for the business, are more responsive when there is a problem ( the "maid" put my good kitchen knives and pans in the dishwasher once) and are more flexible if I need to change my schedule. I’ve had “cleaning services” at my last few places. In general they’ve all been good, but I found I get better results with a smaller, local company. They seem more grateful for the business, are more responsive when there is a problem ( the “maid” put my good kitchen knives and pans in the dishwasher once) and are more flexible if I need to change my schedule.

]]> By: maz http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42276 maz Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:47:01 +0000 http://dethroner.com/2007/03/19/self-indulgence-in-the-extreme-hiring-a-maid/#comment-42276 My girl and I got a maid a couple of months ago. Went with Marvel Maid in San Francisco. They sent two girls over and after about four hours and 300 bucks our place was spotless. They did an amazing job. Definitely something I'm gonna do twice a year right after we declutter the place. My girl and I got a maid a couple of months ago. Went with Marvel Maid in San Francisco. They sent two girls over and after about four hours and 300 bucks our place was spotless. They did an amazing job. Definitely something I’m gonna do twice a year right after we declutter the place.

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