If you're a control freak how do you handle cleaners, etc. in your house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, please don't have kids! We moved into a new house about 6 months ago (and bought lot of new furniture at the time). The walls are pretty much all scratched and marked, the hardwood floors have several scratches, just about every piece of upholstered furniture we have is stained- as is the carpet in the basement, the kitchen counters are chipped, and I could go on and on. 90% of this damage is from our kids. Our house looked new for about 2 days. Yes, if I think about it, it kind of disappoints me that our "perfect" house isn't pefect. But really, if this is my biggest concern, then I'm extremely lucky.

We teach our kids to be careful and respectful of our house and furniture, however, we also realize that kids are kids. We want them to have playdates at our house and don't want anyone walking around on eggshells. What kind of life is that? I really think the fact that you're upset about cleaning people marking up your wall several months ago, you have an issue you need to deal with. Is it really worth that much anguish? Move on, it's just a wall that can be painted!

I'm sorry I have kids too, but to tear apart a house in 6 months or after 2 days is a bit concerning. Chipped kitchen counters? All walls scratched and marked???
I also have playdates and everyone has fun, but seriously. What in the world do you all do in your house? It sounds like a zoo.
I hope to never rent to folks like you.

My house is certainly not crazier than any of my friends with kids houses, okay, maybe messier than my friend who has two full-time nannies for her two kids. I'm sure no one would notice all the dings but me. But seriously, when you have kids- even when you don't- shit happens. The electrician drops the lighting fixture and chips your new marble counters. The kids get play doh in a party favor bag and somehow it ends up permanently imbedded in your new sofa. The new babysitter brings a bucket of arts and craft materials and marker somehow gets stained on the carpet and sofa. I'm cooking dinner while my kids are upstairs racing their cars across the walls. DH is "watching the kids" and lets them eat popsicles in the family room. I'm trying to clean up and my youngest helps by spraying the walls with Windex. What do you do??? Let it bother you for months or move on and get over it? Please shoot me if there's ever a time that my day is ruined because there is a mark left on the wall. That sounds like a horrible way to live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP -- I feel your pain. We are a shoe free house (no pets and 1 child) and I refuse to hire a cleaning person for the reasons you stated above. Disclaimer: in the earlier post about neuroses I was one of the people who wear special "hotel socks" -- essentially I don't like to have those germs transfer (and yes, I know this is flawed logic but it's mine nonetheless). And for those of you wondering, despite having a super neat house, the only time I make my bed is for company or when I change the sheets. Another flaw in my logic.

First thing though: contractor booties can be bought at Home Depot etc -- box of 10 or so. We keep them on hand. Of course I can't tell you how many times a contractor has walked out of the house with them on, but that's another issue all together.

As for cleaning folks, we hired Merry Maids once to clean a condo we rented for a short period and I watched what they brought in. Dirty mops. Mops used on OTHER PEOPLE'S floors. Nothing was disposable. Don't get me started on how the toilet gets cleaned by a rag and the same rag is used on the kitchen cabinet. Thankfully we were moving OUT and not in. Eeew.

I have a friend who has hired a person to "clean exactly the way she wants." But this means she fold the sheets and towels a certain way. I don't think it truly means they do the exact steps you'd expect and prevent germ and dirt transfer. That said, this friend has 2 dogs so there's a limit.

SO my answer has been to not hire someone b/c why pay money and be dissatisfied and potentially even more germ-infested? Do I complain about cleaning. Yes. DH is no slouch in this dept and it's still tough. Is my house as clean as it was pre-kid? Nope. Do I wish I had more free time to read a book? Yes, but then I'd just be freaking out about how dirty the place is.

Crazy? Absolutely! But it's the way I'm wired and I'm 35 and not changing. I will never have a house cleaner b/c I cannot let my control go, and I just have to get over it.

Good luck!

Wait, are you me?

Why are there so many maids and cleaners that ignore the most basic rules of hygiene?
I would love to hire a maid, or maid service, but I cannot have the toilet rag over the kitchen counter thing!
if anyone knows a hygienic maid, please share!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is unreal. At least you recognize your flaw.

Why so unreal? Is it unreasonable to not want people to touch your freshly painted walls? I don't want stains on my walls, and DH and I don't touch the walls. But thanks to this cleaning person, we now have an annoying, permanent stain on the wall, after I asked her specifically to not touch the walls. Very annoying.

And yes, we ask everyone (guests and contractors included) to take off their shoes before coming into the house. I don't want nasty crap tracked in from outside, that means more cleaning for me. Nothing wrong with that. DH and I both grew up in shoes off houses. It's much cleaner and healthier that way.

The stain isnt "permanent" you know. If your walls are freshly painted, don't you have some paint left over? Get a small foam roller at the hardware store, and paint over the stain. I don't stress about people touching my walls (btw, I'm guessing you don't have kids if no one ever touches your walls), but we do touch up with paint about every six months or so.

I agree that no cleaning person couldnlive up to your standards.

[Anonymous]

OP, it seems odd to me that your paint is so easily damaged. Did you choose the paint, or did the contractor? We have found it best to choose our own paint even if it costs more and always to use two coats of paint.

The only time I had similar experiences with paint was when we were living in a large apartment building where the landlord applied a quick coat of cheap paint between tenants. It stained or chipped if you so much as brushed against it.

We like Benjamin Moore, but I'm sure there are other brands that offer equal durability.