Do you have a houskeeper?

[Anonymous]

If yes, what do you pay, what do they do and how big is your house? I am considering hiring one for a once a month deep clean.

[Anonymous]

A housekeeper is typically for 3-6 days a week, not once a month. Sounds like you just need a good cleaning company/woman. A housekeeper literally keeps your house. That means daily chores like cleaning, laundry, ironing, grocery shopping, organizing, errands, cooking, just like a housewife basically... Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

So-
Not to hijack the thread, but what's the going hourly rate for a real housekeeper?

[Anonymous]

To the OP. Yes.

I have a cleaning lady that comes once every 2 weeks. Her initial visit was $120 and then it is $85 every 2 weeks, total finished sq feet 1550. 3 BR 2.5BA and a den. I am also very clean myself, so she only focuses on a deep clean. I have the house completely clean before she comes.

Be aware, if your cleaning person comes only once a month, it will be more expensive. I would suspect that my cleaning lady would charge the $120 for a monthly service.

I would give up Direct TV & many other "frills" before I gave up my cleaning lady. It is a lifesaver. She actually came today and it was so wonderful to walk into a super clean house!!

FWIW, I live in Sterling, VA. Its probably a bit less expensive here than further in.

[Anonymous]

We pay $135 for a monthly cleaning. Our home is 2600 SF - 4 bedrooms, eat-in kitchen, finished basement playroom, LR, DR, office, FR, 3.5 BA. We have 2 young kids and a dog, and are reasonably clean and neat but not obesessively so. I don't clean before she comes, but I do straighten 100% so she doesn't have to clean around clutter. In between, I vacuum, dust, mop floors, and wipedown bathrooms once a week. Her monthly thorough clean is a godsend. Best decision I ever made.

I also periodically pay her extra to polish silver and wash windows.

[Anonymous]

Real housekeepers are pretty expensive. I do not have one, only a once-per-week cleaning lady. The friends/family I have who have housekeepers pay from $15-$20/hour and up or a salary for a full-time housekeeper. My once a week cleaner is $100 for a 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath house (dont know how many sq feet) in NWDC, no laundry or ironing. It is extra if I want windows washed or the fridge cleaned. They do change all the bed sheets. I do no house cleaning in between except wiping counters/vacuum spills, etc.. We are super neat though. I think I have a pretty good deal. I was thinking about moving to twice a week but since we have a very tidy au pair and the kids have gotten older it doesn't seem as necessary. What I do really want is someone to come in 1x week for a few hours to do laundry and iron. Does anyone have any idea how much that would cost?

[Anonymous]

We pay $80 every two weeks for a whole-house cleaning. It is not a deep cleaning -- just dusting, vacuuming, mopping the kitchen floor, dry mopping the wood floors, collecting garbage and diapers, and cleaning tubs, toilets, and sinks. They also change the sheets on our bed but do not do any laundry. Our house is about 2,000 sq. ft (3 beds, 2-1/2 baths, family room, living room, dining room, small kitchen, and basement)

[Anonymous]

No - at those rates I realize we could afford one, but I just can't imagine someone cleaning up after my family. I'm usually in the "whatever works for you" category, but I just don't understand paying someone to clean your house (a chore which most people are physically cable of doing and it doesn't require expensive or many tools). I'm not trying to be condescending, but how do you teach your DC how to clean or to be self-sufficient when they move out.

I outsource things in which I am not capable of doing (cutting DH hair) or that tools would cost too much (major car repairs) but we find the time to do the rest. Some of my fondest memories are turning the radio up loud and dancing, singing and cleaning the house with my mom. It also taught me responsibiliy of taking care of a major investment (MY house) and "how" to clean.

Again, to each his own, but this is just something that I don't get.

[Anonymous]

21:23: I work part-time in an emotionally rewarding job. I earn $120 per hour (albeit pre-tax) when I work. I have 3 children. I hate cleaning my house. Spending time with my kids is my #1 priority. It makes sense financially and emotionally for me to spend my time with the kids or working rather than cleaning the house.

[Anonymous]

21:23 here - I can only hope that your DC earns enough (even if away at college) to afford a housecleaner or that you are willing to pay for one for the rest of their lives. It just seems to me that it's a basic life skills that a lot of kids don't have and it's ashame. It also teaches DC responsibility. There are other ways to teach responsibility, but what do you think is going to happen in college or when they are first out of school.

My DH and I work F/T and share the housework. The funny thing is that everyone justifies having a housecleaner to give them more time with their kids, but in reality it really doesn't take that much time away from the time you spend with your kids. If you just do a little each day it doesn't take that much away from time with your kids and you can incorporate them into the chores really early on. Our 2yo picks up her toys when she's done playing (sometimes she needs to prodding, other times she does it on her own), brings her dishes to the sink, helps me water the plants, etc. Her fav is dusting for some reason.

I just wonder if parents make such a big deal about cleaning after themselves that their DC will think it's a daunting task and never learn this basic life skill. You may be missing out on an opportunity to teach your DC some necessary skils they will need when they leave your nest.

[Anonymous]

21:23 - We had a cleaning lady growing up. No, I didn't learn to clean the house but I did have to pick up after myself and do my part to keep the house neat. Neat and clean are two different things. Cleaning ladies generally don't neaten up, they just clean I've found. Now I am an adult and I have my own cleaning lady. I like it this way and don't have a problem with that.

[Anonymous]

pp here - please forgive all of my typos (i'm in bed with some serious "morning" sickness and my mind's a little gone right now).

[Anonymous]

I just think it's sad. My DH came from a family where his mom was never taught how to clean. He was a mess in college. I had to show him how to properly do laundry, clean a bathroom, etc. Now, he can do all household chores and does split them. It just seems really lazy and so like this area. What a waste of money (good for those making the money) to wipe you toilets down and dust your cabinets (all of which take minimal level of effort and almost no time).

I just get tired of people using their kids as excuses for not cleaning after themselves. It's not because of their kids and time (I don't get that for most people).

[Anonymous]

BTW - I'm 2151 and 2159 (same poster as 2123). I meant to add my times so you know it's the same poster - don't want to try and look like I'm sock pupetting.

[Anonymous]

NW DC. 6 beds / 4 baths, 3500 sq ft (?). We pay $120 a week for basic cleaning with an emphasis on vacuuming and dusting.