Anyone pay for house cleaning?

[sigurros81]

I could probably find someone a bit cheaper, but the lady I use is super sweet. For my 800 square feet apt, I pay her about $80 for each cleaning visit, which lasts about 1.5-2 hours.

 

[SpunkyJones]

We pay about $100 per visit and they come twice a month. Me and the wife both work full time, and have 2 kids, so its well worth it to help free up time to spend with the kids and each other, rather than cleaning.

 

[Sho'Nuff]

If so, how much do you pay? Is it by foot or room or hour?
How did you find them? Legal?
How often do you have them come?


Let me preempt the 1% comments.

My wife works 10 hour days. We have two very small children and both work well past 40 hours a week.

Cleaning has become a point of contention and with the stress of the holidays coming up, I thought I would get someone to come once a week and do stuff neither of us have time to do. At least until the holidays are over. I'm going to give up going out each day for lunch to defer the cost. Hoping this relieves some stress for my wife and we can spend more time together as a family instead of spending hours each weekend just to keep the house in livable condition.

We've paid a few times to have our house cleaned. Sometimes it has been worth it. Others, not.

Some tips:

If you have a fairly large house (2000+ square feet), you want to hire a team of 2-3 people. That is, unless you want a single cleaning person in your house for 8+ hours (annoying). The teams seem to do a better job, in my experience.

Cost is usually based on the size of the house (if whole house cleaning), the number/types of rooms, and whether this is a one time (whole house) cleaning or a maintenance cleaning of only certain rooms. For a 2000+ square foot home, expect to pay $200-300 for a first time cleaning, and ~$100-120 for maintenance cleanings (bathrooms and kitchen). Windows are not usually included. If you are in a rural area, cost is usually a bit less.

Get references and call them. Ask those references for references (i.e., how they learned of the house cleaner) and call those additional references. Most cleaners are honest, but there are some that will rob you blind. Best do your due diligence.

If you can, be at home the first couple times the cleaner comes to your place. That way you can inspect their work and keep an eye on your stuff.

For a 2000+ square foot house, you can expect a 2-3 person teem to complete a whole house cleaning in about 3-3.5 hours. A single person would take 8+ hours to do the same job.

FWIW, my wife and I have contemplated hiring a cleaning service on many occasions. To date, we have opted for 1 time cleanings or small cleaning packages. Now that we have two kids and are very busy, hiring a long term cleaning service is getting more likely. Will definitely happen once my kids are out of daycare ($2100/month savings)

 

[Sho'Nuff]

I'm in Maine as well. Which part of the state, and would you recommend your cleaning company? We're looking for one now.

Also, you're heating 3100 sq ft? Man. We almost did that, but since there's no natural gas in our part of Saco, we decided on the 2000 sq ft place one street over. Are you doing all of that on oil/propane?

SJ - let me know if you get a recommendation. I might be interested too. Thought it might not be worth it for a cleaning person in your area to drive down my way.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Yes. Do it. We have them come for a few hours per week. I'm not sure how much it costs, maybe $100 or so. Anyhow, they do the bathrooms, floors, counters...basically whatever needs to be done.

It doesn't mean we don't have to pickup and clean, but it opens up our weekend significantly because we don't have to do the time consuming stuff.

 

[MotionMan]

If so, how much do you pay? Is it by foot or room or hour?

$85 a week/once a week. My wife worked out the details. It was less when we had a smaller house and no dogs.

How did you find them? Legal?

The lead lady started cleaning my wife's home when my wife was a kid. She now has her own little company. She knows the gate code and has a key to the house.

How often do you have them come?

Once a week.

Let me preempt the 1% comments.

My wife works 10 hour days. We have two very small children and both work well past 40 hours a week.

Cleaning has become a point of contention and with the stress of the holidays coming up, I thought I would get someone to come once a week and do stuff neither of us have time to do. At least until the holidays are over. I'm going to give up going out each day for lunch to defer the cost. Hoping this relieves some stress for my wife and we can spend more time together as a family instead of spending hours each weekend just to keep the house in livable condition.

I put the cost of housecleaning under "mental health" in Quicken.

MotionMan

 

[spidey07]

Yes. Do it. We have them come for a few hours per week. I'm not sure how much it costs, maybe $100 or so. Anyhow, they do the bathrooms, floors, counters...basically whatever needs to be done.

It doesn't mean we don't have to pickup and clean, but it opens up our weekend significantly because we don't have to do the time consuming stuff.

It comes down to a time vs money value decision. I'll take the time aspect, better quality of life and the home is spotless.

 

[Slew Foot]

I pay my mexican lady ad er aunt of dubious legality about $20/e once a month to clean my house. Takes them about 4 hours and they do a decent job. I'd rather fork over the $200 and have someone else clean my house.

 

[sjwaste]

SJ - let me know if you get a recommendation. I might be interested too. Thought it might not be worth it for a cleaning person in your area to drive down my way.

Dude, I found this awesome company in Portland, and they don't want to do my house because I live all the way the hell down in Saco. That 15 minute drive would really get to them.

We're still looking. Although, my wife does continue to hint at, uh, withdrawing from the workforce.

 

[Rage187]

I'm going to start paying her to clean my inlaw's house.

My MIL watches our kids each day including chauffeuring them to school. She also sends home dinner each night. This is the least I can do because she refuses payment. I love my MIL.

 

[TrueBlueLS]

I had thought about finding a cleaning company to clean my kitchen and bathroom while I'm trying to sell it. Nowhere else in my house needs too extreme of attention.Between work, college, homework, and sleep... it would make matters so much nicer.

 

[spidey07]

I had thought about finding a cleaning company to clean my kitchen and bathroom while I'm trying to sell it. Nowhere else in my house needs too extreme of attention.Between work, college, homework, and sleep... it would make matters so much nicer.

In this market, make your product sparkle and shine.

 

[Eli]

We've been thinking about doing this.. interesting thread, will check out Angie's List.

 

[sjwaste]

In this market, make your product sparkle and shine.

Nah, in this market, make your realtor make your product sparkle and shine. If there's a 6% commission on the place, expect a little better than an MLS listing and an open house (which is just the realtor's own networking opportunity).

Seriously, though, in this market - clean and staged. And I'm only half-joking about making your realtor chip in on the work.

 

[RagingBITCH]

$75 every two weeks including linens and remaking the bed. ~1500sq ft house.

Fiancee has used her at her old house and her loft...now brought over once she moved in.

Legal? Who knows...she does a good job.

 

[Pantoot]

$115 every 2 weeks for ~3k square feet. Wife's friend runs a business and hires stay at home moms with to do a couple houses a day while their kids are at school. Usually 6 women show up to do the house so they are usually done in an hour or so.