Paying house cleaners when we are away…

[Anonymous]

We are traveling for a couple of months this spring and will turn the water off and lock up the house. We have a bi- weekly house cleaner that we pay $200 per visit. (4 hours of cleaning). I’ve paid her when we have been on vacation in the past but this will be 4x in a row and feels a bit excessive. Any thoughts on how to best handle?

[Anonymous]

I would give her a check for $300 and say, we are skipping 2 months so I wanted to give you this to help out.

I know other people will claim they would pay either way but I wouldn’t. And I do pay for normal vacation absences.

[Anonymous]

I would pay her to come in and clean and check on the house. If you are paying her, have her clean.

[Anonymous]

If you are worried about her finding other clients, I would pay her. Most good housekeepers can find other clients really easily. Also, you are not paying her very much. I think that if you are ok with losing her, then don’t worry about it but otherwise, I would pay. You might end up out more money in the long run if you have to hire someone else. You might find it difficult to get someone to clean for 4 hours for only $200.

[Anonymous]

Would you be okay if she fills your slot while you’re gone and can no longer fit you into her schedule when you return?

[Anonymous]

Is $50/hour not a good rate? It’s just DH and myself and we are clean- not a tough house to clean.

[Anonymous]

PP is being ridiculous. $50/hour is an excellent rate in this area and she probably won’t fill your slot. My house cleaner told me that house cleaning has been much slower since COVID
And in this area, even worse since the inauguration.

[Anonymous]

Yes you pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is $50/hour not a good rate? It’s just DH and myself and we are clean- not a tough house to clean.

It is an excellent rate. Don’t listen to the nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling for a couple of months this spring and will turn the water off and lock up the house. We have a bi- weekly house cleaner that we pay $200 per visit. (4 hours of cleaning). I’ve paid her when we have been on vacation in the past but this will be 4x in a row and feels a bit excessive. Any thoughts on how to best handle?

If you want to keep them them you pay.

[Anonymous]

Under similar circumstances, I've simply asked the cleaners what they wanted to do: skip the cleanings and not be paid or take advantage of our absence and clean things that they typically don't -- like the refrigerators, etc. There's always something that needs to be cleaned, and they're doing you a favor by checking on the house anyway.

The one thing you cannot do is just tell them not to come and that you're not paying them. That's obnoxious. And, besides, there's no guarantee that they won't replace you with another house anyway.

[Anonymous]

That’s a good idea. I don’t have her clean the finished basement and will ask her to do that- the fridge etc. thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a good idea. I don’t have her clean the finished basement and will ask her to do that- the fridge etc. thanks.

Exactly. And she may not even want to, in which case the decision would be hers. But she probably will. Ours did, and it was very helpful actually.

[Anonymous]

And before you come home you could ask her to do the sheets so you come to fresh bed, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s a good idea. I don’t have her clean the finished basement and will ask her to do that- the fridge etc. thanks.

Except remember that you're turning off the water. Kind of hard to clean without water, so make sure she is aware.