Do you have a full-time house cleaner / do you know many people who do?

[Anonymous]

I am currently reading a book, written by a French sociologist, about the "rarified" world of the "super-wealthy" who can afford not merely part-time house cleaning, but a full-time employee (albeit in France).

I don't know what the author is fussing so much about, because in my not "rarified" circle of not "super-wealthy" people I know several who employ a full-time house cleaner (in addition to a nanny). They are normal, down-to-earth people, far from pretentious.

As for me, we employ "merely" a part-time house cleaner.

So I am wondering how common it is among the people on DCUM, because I personally am certainly not part of the 1%, and my acquaintances with full-time help are not either.

[Anonymous]

The difference is that the person does things other than cleaning. People who have a full-time cleaner also have a full-time landscaper and a "housekeeper" to manage the staff.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know anyone in my peer circle in Fairfax country (but I don’t live in an uber ritzy area).

I think a guy I dated in college had one. I think it was a nanny who stayed on when kids got older. And his parents were both well respected doctors with kids.

My BIL and SIL has one for a number of years when they had young kids. He has a large dental practice and she is the office manager.

These people are all well off but working hard with kids. I consider super wealthy as nothing to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The difference is that the person does things other than cleaning. People who have a full-time cleaner also have a full-time landscaper and a "housekeeper" to manage the staff.

OP here. Not really. This is not Downton Abbey. With a full-time housecleaner and a nanny, there is no need for a staff person in charge of managing "staff". The landscaping company comes once a week.

[Anonymous]

Well maybe the difference is that the author is French. They have fewer very wealthy people, right?

[Anonymous]

I'm French. Some of my relatives, when I was a child, had a full-time housekeeper, who oversaw maids coming on certain days, laundry, food, and managed deliveries, repairmen, etc. My mother grew up with a full staff, not quite Downton Abbey (missing the butler and footmen), but with several housemaids, a cook, her kitchen helpers, someone to wait at table, and outdoor people for the gardens, farm and hunting pack/stable.

Which French sociologist? The French intellectual "elite" is a quirky bunch of people. France in general doesn't like wealthy people. In France, you use your wealth discreetly and tastefully. Otherwise it's heads on pikes all over again

[Anonymous]

Our nanny has stayed past the toddler years and is a full time household manager type. Like today she washed and organized everyones ski clothes, packed them away, re ordered replacements as needed, and also took one kid to a mid day orthodontist appointment. Everyday is different and i trust her to organize her duties as she sees fit, she works 4/5 shorter days or 3 long ones, whatever works for her and us. She cooks maybe 2 nights, does 90 percent of the laundry and cleaning, and also helps maintain our cars (like she took my car one day last week and got oil and filters done). Runs kids around, helps walk dogs, can run stuff to my elderly parents mid day on a whim, etc. It seems excessive but when i say there’s ALWAYS something to do, it rings true. I have 4 kids in 3 schools and 2 districts and DH and I work about 45/50 hours a week. Its a large expense for us (about 78k on a 490 combined salary) but our mortgage is very low (paid down significantly before i went in house) and i dont desire to level up or have nice vacations…not more than i desire the third adult!!! Shes a treasure and i respect and love her immensely.

[Anonymous]

I know one person who has a full time nanny (even though the kid is in school part time) and that nanny is also their house cleaner. Everyone else I know has once or twice a week cleaners. Mayyyyyybe some have every other week or not anyone at all.

[Anonymous]

If you can employ a full-time house cleaner as well as a full-time nanny, you have an income that a lot of people would consider super wealthy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can employ a full-time house cleaner as well as a full-time nanny, you have an income that a lot of people would consider super wealthy.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny has stayed past the toddler years and is a full time household manager type. Like today she washed and organized everyones ski clothes, packed them away, re ordered replacements as needed, and also took one kid to a mid day orthodontist appointment. Everyday is different and i trust her to organize her duties as she sees fit, she works 4/5 shorter days or 3 long ones, whatever works for her and us. She cooks maybe 2 nights, does 90 percent of the laundry and cleaning, and also helps maintain our cars (like she took my car one day last week and got oil and filters done). Runs kids around, helps walk dogs, can run stuff to my elderly parents mid day on a whim, etc. It seems excessive but when i say there’s ALWAYS something to do, it rings true. I have 4 kids in 3 schools and 2 districts and DH and I work about 45/50 hours a week. Its a large expense for us (about 78k on a 490 combined salary) but our mortgage is very low (paid down significantly before i went in house) and i dont desire to level up or have nice vacations…not more than i desire the third adult!!! Shes a treasure and i respect and love her immensely.

Congratulations, pp. Sounds like a gem!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm French. Some of my relatives, when I was a child, had a full-time housekeeper, who oversaw maids coming on certain days, laundry, food, and managed deliveries, repairmen, etc. My mother grew up with a full staff, not quite Downton Abbey (missing the butler and footmen), but with several housemaids, a cook, her kitchen helpers, someone to wait at table, and outdoor people for the gardens, farm and hunting pack/stable.

Which French sociologist? The French intellectual "elite" is a quirky bunch of people. France in general doesn't like wealthy people. In France, you use your wealth discreetly and tastefully. Otherwise it's heads on pikes all over again

OP here. "Servir les riches" d'Alizée Delpierre
https://www.amazon.fr/Servir-riches-Aliz%C3%A9e-Delpierre/dp/2348069024/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=servir+les+riches&qid=1707181111&rnid=1703605031&s=books&sr=1-1

Virtually all French sociologists who write on the upper class are left wing outsiders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny has stayed past the toddler years and is a full time household manager type. Like today she washed and organized everyones ski clothes, packed them away, re ordered replacements as needed, and also took one kid to a mid day orthodontist appointment. Everyday is different and i trust her to organize her duties as she sees fit, she works 4/5 shorter days or 3 long ones, whatever works for her and us. She cooks maybe 2 nights, does 90 percent of the laundry and cleaning, and also helps maintain our cars (like she took my car one day last week and got oil and filters done). Runs kids around, helps walk dogs, can run stuff to my elderly parents mid day on a whim, etc. It seems excessive but when i say there’s ALWAYS something to do, it rings true. I have 4 kids in 3 schools and 2 districts and DH and I work about 45/50 hours a week. Its a large expense for us (about 78k on a 490 combined salary) but our mortgage is very low (paid down significantly before i went in house) and i dont desire to level up or have nice vacations…not more than i desire the third adult!!! Shes a treasure and i respect and love her immensely.

This sounds AMAZING!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you can employ a full-time house cleaner as well as a full-time nanny, you have an income that a lot of people would consider super wealthy.

Indeed. I for one would consider your world rarified and you to be super-wealthy.

- someone who can’t afford any kind of full time employee but is still rich when you look at US incomes and net worth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our nanny has stayed past the toddler years and is a full time household manager type. Like today she washed and organized everyones ski clothes, packed them away, re ordered replacements as needed, and also took one kid to a mid day orthodontist appointment. Everyday is different and i trust her to organize her duties as she sees fit, she works 4/5 shorter days or 3 long ones, whatever works for her and us. She cooks maybe 2 nights, does 90 percent of the laundry and cleaning, and also helps maintain our cars (like she took my car one day last week and got oil and filters done). Runs kids around, helps walk dogs, can run stuff to my elderly parents mid day on a whim, etc. It seems excessive but when i say there’s ALWAYS something to do, it rings true. I have 4 kids in 3 schools and 2 districts and DH and I work about 45/50 hours a week. Its a large expense for us (about 78k on a 490 combined salary) but our mortgage is very low (paid down significantly before i went in house) and i dont desire to level up or have nice vacations…not more than i desire the third adult!!! Shes a treasure and i respect and love her immensely.

OP here. Your employee sounds wonderful!