Reply to What is normal when it comes to having a cleaning lady?

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[quote=Anonymous]So...I joke that my husband and kids have a cleaning lady :lol: .  She comes in and does chores that they would have needed to do otherwise. My family is crunched for time and so I don't mind this arrangement.

I really don't know what is normal about having a cleaning lady. I am an immigrant who grew up privileged with domestic staff at home.  My cleaning lady is also an immigrant who grew up in the countryside in her home country. Both of us have zero idea of what is normal for cleaners in the US.  Our cultural viewpoints are also very different but it is a respectful, good and trusting relationship.    I have never got my home cleaned by a cleaning company and I have always had cleaners who are independent.  I am always home (SAHM) when this lady comes so that I can supervise and help.  It will not work for me if I cannot supervise.  I don't need a hotel's room service. I need someone to do the cleaning while I organize etc.  I need a deep clean every two weeks for my peace of mind.

I still end up working alongside her  -
a) To ensure that things are done the way I want.  I can prioritize stuff and instruct her. Not everything needs to be done every time. For example - she can skip the basement most times - though the negotiated price has been for the whole house including the basement. 
b) She is not burdened in doing everything. And areas that can be skipped are skipped. 
c) I make her lunch to her preference and both of us sit and have lunch together.  Same for tea.  Both of us are working and we both need to eat. 
d) Her wellbeing and health is critical to my own wellbeing and health.

This is what all I do before she comes. 
a) All the runners and rugs - I pick them and shake out and get them out of her way. She puts it back after she finishes cleaning. 
b) Do all the dishes. 
c) Declutter and put away all the stuff around the house.
d) Make sure she has all the supplies that she needs.  I provide all the supplies. Have a list of what can be skipped, since I am cleaning daily anyways.

What does she do?
a) Bathrooms - Scrub and sanitize all 4 of my bathrooms from top to bottom and takes her time doing it. Puts the bathmats in place, hangs fresh towels, tops up the hand soap, checks to see that there is adequate TP and tissue paper, removes trash from the bin and puts new liner. Also cleans out the sinkshroom and tubshoom and periodically change it if they become too funky.
b) Foyer - Vacuum, mop, dusts and cleans the doors - wooden and the glass storm door. 
c) Entire house - dusts the blinds and windows, dusts surfaces, vacuums and mop, remove trash from all the waste paper baskets everywhere, clean baseboards and air vents, make sure that we have kleenex in all rooms etc.
d) Kitchen - cleans inside of toaster and microwave. Cleans the outside of all appliances.  Cleans the stove top, scrubs the sink, cleans the outside of all the cabinets, cleans all counters and most important of all removes the filters on my exhaust and cleans it in the dishwasher. Tops up the dish washing liquid, hand soap, multipurpose cleaner, bounty, scrubbing pad etc, plinks the sink.  Washes the filter of the dishwasher.  
e) Puts away all the garbage bags in the bin, wheels it outside to the curb, ditto for the recycling bin.  She comes a day before recycling and trash pick up day.

I launder and change the sheets of all my beds on my own.  She comes once in 2 weeks and I need the sheets changed weekly. Also, I do the daily dishes, vacuum some areas, clorox wipe the bathrooms, use the toilet cleaners,  clean counters, do dishes, do laundry, make beds, take out trash, cook  - daily. So, I don't let the house become too dirty just because she is coming to clean.

Other things that she does separately from her bi-weekly cleaning 
1) She also comes to help me with specific tasks on days off @ hourly rates.  So, helps me to sort out the kitchen, pantry, fridge, freezer, stove.  Organizing.  Clean the garage.  Do the closets. Basement.  Cleaning the deck and patio.  She helps with parties etc.  Food prep. 
2) And she texts me if I am running low on any cleaning supplies etc.

All in all, I have created my own support system of people who work part-time for me at my home as needed - cleaners, sous chefs, cooks, party helpers, handyman, landscapers, seamstresses, hairdressers/barbers, jack-of-all-trades - and I treat them very well. Why would they stick around if I am not their support system too?  
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