I've lived here my whole life and always say maid. I didn't realize it was offensive, anyone I know who has a cleaning lady calls her a maid.

I would not say make or housekeeper. Housekeeper seems like a close to full time job. Maid seems wrong.

Our once a month house cleaners are at our house today.

A friend of mine does this as well. Her family is Korean but she was raised in the states. Her "maids" come once a week or every other week as well. Not daily.

A friend of mine does this, and it really bothers me but I have never said anything. FWIW, the family is Indian and they invite their "maid' to family weddings and such. But she still only comes once a week and I assume is employed by other people.

Maids come everyday (a rare thing here), house cleaners come once/week, twice/week or less often.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, servant is very rude but maid... It's not a big deal.

-a maid/housekeeper/ cleaner/ domestic engineer

The only people I've ever heard that say domestic engineer are my SAHM friends. And I eye roll when I hear it.

They must be saying it in jest. It was coined by a comedienne, Rosanne Barr.

Anonymous wrote:For me, servant is very rude but maid... It's not a big deal.

-a maid/housekeeper/ cleaner/ domestic engineer

The only people I've ever heard that say domestic engineer are my SAHM friends. And I eye roll when I hear it.

For me, servant is very rude but maid... It's not a big deal.

-a maid/housekeeper/ cleaner/ domestic engineer

Anonymous wrote:Some services calls themselves maids: Maid to Clean, Maid Brigade, etc.

+1. I think some posters are getting hung up unnecessarily by this term.

Anonymous wrote:British sometimes do. In England they'd say "cleaner", there are no airs and graces about cleaning as a "housekeeper" would live-in and cook, answer the door, and organize cleaners who would work for her.

I encountered a British family in Los Angeles who had a nanny / housekeeper and called her their "maid" openly and in front of her.

I am British and have never heard anyone refer to a "maid", other than in Downton Abbey etc. "cleaner" would be the usual term.

British sometimes do. In England they'd say "cleaner", there are no airs and graces about cleaning as a "housekeeper" would live-in and cook, answer the door, and organize cleaners who would work for her.

I encountered a British family in Los Angeles who had a nanny / housekeeper and called her their "maid" openly and in front of her.

FOB Indians do this.

Oops, I always referred to them as maids. I am from the South and didn't realize that is not what they are called.

Fwiw our house keepers did stay all day.

Some services calls themselves maids: Maid to Clean, Maid Brigade, etc.

I think of maid as someone who wears a uniform and comes in the morning and keeps your house all day. They accept packages and take the dog out. I don't think they cook meals, that would be a separate person. I work in Georgetown and see them occasionally in the residential area. They have a distint look and I never mistake them for a pedestrian, resident or tourist.