Cleaning your own home is not very difficult. Then the work is done to your satisfaction.

Anonymous wrote:Our cleaning lady is great at cleaning but not at communication. She does not let us know if she's unable to come on the usual day. She does not always respond to text messages. It's frustrating.

Same. Our cleaning person is the world’s best but just doesn’t show up about 25% of the time.

Anonymous wrote:I was actually going to post about cleaning services. Are the bigger companies better to use or the small business owners?

19:47 here. For us, the small companies or individuals have been better. We have had the same woman for 15 years and she brings different people sometimes to help her. At this point we have a good relationship. She was recommended by a friend in the neighborhood. Before that with companies we never knew who was coming week to week and I’m sure they only were paid a small fraction of what I paid the company.

Our cleaning lady is great at cleaning but not at communication. She does not let us know if she's unable to come on the usual day. She does not always respond to text messages. It's frustrating.

For the right price you can get anything. Up your offer, OP. And try to be nice to the help.

I was actually going to post about cleaning services. Are the bigger companies better to use or the small business owners?

It’s really hard.

I interviewed several based on recommendations but I finally found one from a neighbor. She is fantastic and worth her weight in gold. I pay her $175 per session. I always treat her with respect and if she misses a spot I take care of it myself, no big deal. Look around your neighborhood for someone who is shoving a vacuum cleaner in her car and ask if she’s available to help you clean

Guess you'll have to do your own cleaning, OP. If you want something done right, do it yourself.

19:47 thank you. It really does help to look at it that way!

-OP

Switch your mindset. I had to do that ten years ago. I’m not looking for someone to clean everything perfectly, I’m looking for someone to lessen the amount I need to clean on a weekly basis. I’ve been happy with our cleaning crew for almost 15 years since I’ve changed my attitude. It’s less I have to do week to week.

Anonymous wrote:“I would have her clean for me.”
How nasty is that?
Good luck, lady. It’s YOU.

What is so "nasty" about taking someone up on (and paying for) a service they offer and run online ads to attract new customers? No one is forcing this lady to clean. She always leaves business cards for my mom to give to friends/coworkers, etc.

-OP

“I would have her clean for me.”
How nasty is that?
Good luck, lady. It’s YOU.

Ask neighbors

I pay very well at about $32/hr or by the job if they prefer. I want someone to clean the whole house weekly. So far, I have found people that are good in one area but not another. For example, one lady had my kitchen shining beautifully but somehow missed the bathrooms. I had one woman to damage a number of items. My house is relatively small but we are about to buy a vacation home and I'd like to figure out how best to source this so I don't have an issue in another city with finding someone.

Not sure why this is so hard to find. My mom has had the same cleaning lady for 20 years and she is wonderful. I would have her clean for me but I don't live in my hometown anymore. What am I doing wrong and how have you gone about finding a good cleaner?