Do you have a "maid"?

[underpants]

My wife and I just had an interesting conversation, seems that pretty all our friends have a maid of some sort. It could just be some "help" once a month wiping down baseboards, moving and sweeping under furniture, maybe windows :shrug:

In fact my wife claims that she is the ONLY woman she knows who has a child and works 40 hours a week and DOESN'T have "some help"

BTW- she can give that pipedream up. We ain't getting no maid.

So is this as prevalent as she makes it seem? and yes we do qualify for the full "stimulus package" if you were wondering what "neighborhood" we are in.

So do you and/or a lot of people you know have "domestic help"?

[lost-in-nj]

1. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:


I AM THE FUCKING MAID


lost

PPPFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[jlake]

33. Yeah, me too.

[NightWatcher]

2. I AM a made

my g/f MADE me take out the trash, MADE me clean up the garage...

[WritingIsMyReligion]

3. We have a cleaning lady.

My mom despises cleaning. I don't blame her an inch. :)

[zabet]

4. Tried it when I worked

all of the time. I just
don't like people messing
with my shit when I am not
around. It lasted less than
a month, not that they didn't
do an excellent job but, for
the aforementioned reason.

[DS1]

5. I read Nickel and Dimed, so I'm better than you.

Don't hire a chain, buy local.

[Bucky]

15. Amen!!

It's housecleaning for crying out loud! There's no advantage to paying a little extra for administrative costs.

[OnionPatch]

42. Aint that the truth!

I asked a "chain" for a quote for two hours of help just vacuuming and dusting that I needed before having house guests for Christmas. They wanted like $160! I was thinking, is the woman who does the work going to get the bulk of that? No Freaking way! Some middle-man is going to take probably about 75% of that money! I could have hired someone directly, paid them 40+ bucks an hour or more and we'd have both have made out a lot better without the middle man. I never did find someone to hire directly, though. I never see any ads for anyone anywhere. I guess those middle men at least know how to advertise. :shrug:

BTW, I have never had a maid before and I've actually been one myself when I was younger. But I'm at a point where I could afford a little help once in a great while if I budget for it. That's not a bad thing, is it?

[knitter4democracy]

84. Do you have a local weekly?

I've found good ones in our local Shopper.

[querelle]

6. Yeah........

And I'm a single guy. I'm just too damn lazy to bother with housework but I still want a clean house. Hence, the help twice a week.

Q

[GCP]

7. So do you help out in the house?

Your wife works hard, how do you help?

[underpants]

12. Upper level management and supervision

actually we split it. I do the vacuuming (Tues and Friday), trash, recycling, firewood/fireplace, dishes probably once a week maybe twice, help with the laundry, oh and the kitchen floors.

She does the rest..... damn I think I am getting .... SHE ALREADY HAS A DAMNED MAID!!! ME!!!

[zanne]

76. She doesn't have a maid, underpants.

Sorry, but if you're both working outside the home, the housework and child rearing has to be 50-50 or one of you will build up alot of resentment, which is really unhealthy in a marriage.

[knitter4democracy]

85. That's not even close to half the work.

Just because you can't see it or think of it doesn't mean it's not important or not getting done.

Laundry--that means sorting, washing (gentle and regular), drying (dryer and hung), ironing, folding, and putting away.

Dishes--putting away clean dishes, washing dirty dishes, washing down stovetop and counters, wiping down the sink (scouring if there are stains)

Floors--vacuuming (kudos for doing it twice a week! I'm lucky to get to it once a week), sweeping, mopping, and polishing (for some floor types, you have to apply a sealer once a year or so for polish and easy cleaning).

Food--meal planning, grocery shopping, food prep, cooking, maintenance of pantry (throw out bad food, clean out fridge, etc.)

Dusting--walls, ceilings, light fixtures, all flat surfaces, cupboards, shelving

Bathrooms--scrub inside of toilet, treat and scrub tank (depending on your water--ours is lousy with iron and so needs monthly treatment), scrub outside of toilet, mop floor, scrub down counter, disinfect toothbrushes, clean hairbrushes, wipe down mirrors, scrub out faucet and aerator, scrub tub/shower

Then there's the usual picking up, the trash and recycling, and the outdoor jobs. This is what I have to do on a weekly or bi-weekly basis--that's to keep the house clean. My husband has tried to say he does half the work, but when I show him this list, it quickly becomes clear that he doesn't.

[SeattleGirl]

8. I used to have someone come in twice a month and clean.

I loved it, and when/if I start making the money I used to make, I'll bring her back.

For me, if you have the choice, the question is: Do you want to spend the time? Or do you want to spend the money? I'd rather spend the money, but for now, I have to spend the time.

[supernova]

9. Lot's of upper middle class folks do

I have a maid too. Her name is "Supernova."

;-)

[evlbstrd]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!

no

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. My Roomba keeps the floor spotless n/t

[underpants]

14. My in-laws have one of those

but they don't keep it on, you know it might catch fire or something :eyes:

Boy would our cats LOVE one of those things

[Fredda Weinberg]

29. I can't wait to introduce the beasties ... they hate vacuums but

this spring, we should be reunited. Their normal behavior is to climb to the top of their wall unit and glower, but I dunno if Charles Atlas (see avatar) will be able to make it anymore. He's almost 20 though they tell me he's still in good health.

I'll let you know.

[Bucky]

11. How much is your time worth?

Most cleaning services run about $30-70 a day (which usually runs only 2-4 hours), depending on who you get & where you live. So ask yourself, would it improve the quality of your life if you got your house a spiffy once-over every couple of weeks? What would you do with the extra time that it's not you and missus doing that clean up?

Would it give you some sense of order, or a little more time to catch some serenity in your hectic life?

It's a cleaning lady if you get her in once a week. She's only a maid if she's putting in 20 hours a week & serves cocktails.

[LeftyMom]

13. If I ever need somebody else to clean up my junk, I'll get rid of some.

I'm a single parent, I work full time, I go to school full time, and somehow I manage to keep the place tidy on my own. :shrug:

Stop letting Mrs Underpants hang out with Midlo and the Bunko Mafia, they'll give her all kinds of crazy pie-in-the-sky ideas.

[underpants]

16. LOL

I was known, in my single days, of having by far the cleanest bachelor pad of anyone I know.

This is where this started from-I have a cousin who is stay at home (straight out of W supporter central casting) and her place is a mess while my mother's house, you could actually eat off the floor. We didn't get in a fight I just was pointing out that we are in the middle and that I have learned not to expect what I grew up with. Well at least that's what I wanted it to sound like.

[madinmaryland]

17. LynneSin cleans my house!

:hide:

[Parche]

31. Damn you beat me to it

:rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[movie_girl99]

18. yeah, myself and my husband

we clean every Saturday or Sunday depending. A lot of women I know have cleaning ladies but I'd rather do the house and have someone else do the yard. we have a yard guy that comes twice a month.

[CreekDog]

19. No, but my cat does

----> ME! <----

[Kutjara]

20. Maid schmaid.

As the great Quentin Crisp said, "after two years, it doesn't get any dirtier."

[CaliforniaPeggy]

21. My dear underpants!

Yup, I have "help"...

I've got a cleaning lady who comes every other week to clean my house...

But that's all she does!

No dishes

No bedmaking

No laundry of any sort

No cooking

All I want her to do is clean! And she does.

I suspect that your wife would find it really helpful to have someone come in to clean...

:shrug:

[underpants]

32. Ooookay

:hi:

[mainegreen]

22. Honestly, I would never want a stranger in my house.

Call me paranoid.
We can manage just fine on our own!

[NMDemDist2]

23. I did when I worked full time

it was great to get the heavy cleaning done a couple times a month

I did the day to day stuff, cooking, laundry etc with hubby's help.

I'm a full time house wife now, so the answer right this very minute is 'no, I don't have a maid'

[Infomaniac]

24. I have a housekeeper

Three hours a week for $65 bucks. My work and commute hours are about the same number. The service is worth every penny.

[Redstone]

25. A "cleaning lady" is not the same as a maid.

Redstone

[Polly Hennessey]

26. You bet I do

They come in twice a month and do all the good stuff like vacuuming, dusting, cleaning bathrooms,etc.
It is heaven when I walk in the house and it is spic and span. Worth every damn cent I pay them. Hooray for other people cleaning my house. In fact, I am thinking of having them come three times a month.

[seemunkee]

27. One day every other week

On the off week she goes go my in-laws house.

[montanto]

28. We've got a housekeeper who

comes every couple of weeks and really works the place over. In fact, she's there now. Its nice to come home to a clean house after a 13 hour day!!

[KitchenWitch]

30. We do not

Everyone else around us does.

[kwassa]

34. we need one, many around us have one

we both work full time, we can afford one, we haven't got around to getting one.

Your wife is right, by the way.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. A what?

What is this "maid" of which you speak?

[Robeson]

36. A maid. A man needs a maid....

...Neil Young.

[PassingFair]

37. I am "blessed" with the ability to be unaffected by the state of my surroundings.

A low key mess is OK with me.

Filth is NOT.

I don't want someone picking up after me,
I'm too cheap, too responsible and too
PRIVATE.

Note: I don't mind if my husband cleans.
Which he DOES. We both do.

When the kids were little, and we both worked out
of the house, the summer babysitters we hired used
to do the dishes and pick up the living room....
I considered that part of childcare, though, not
"maid" service.

[Stuart G]

38. Yea..I got me a cleaning person...

..It is a long story. I am not the best of cleaners/dusters. etc. I pile too much stuff...
About 3 years ago, I hired a person to come and clean and dust. I haven't done that much..I had allergies, headaches, and more.
After a year and a half or so of cleaning, more cleaning, re cleaning, dusting.. etc. I noticed the place felt better.

..He (yes, he.).cleans twice a month)..........back to the story...

After a year and half of this, I felt better. much better. I stopped taking asthma meds, and other such stuff.......The house is now cleaner than ever. I am even doing much of it now...No asthma meds. Lots of other improvements due to the cleaning man....:applause:

[RoadRage]

39. Yes.. twice a month

It's $100 per session.. so $200 per month. They do everything.. dust, mop, vaccum, make beds, clean and wipe everything down, etc.

My husband is a clean freak - I am not. We both work 40 - 60 hour weeks, and have a 2 year old with another one on the way. We decided that time spent with our daughter as opposed to cleaning was time better spent, since we're fortunate enough to be able to afford it.

I DISPISE cleaning... i'd rather eat out 3 or 4 times less per month, go to one or two less movies or concerts - and spend the money on a housekeeper so we can take our daughter to the park, on walks, and out and about on the weekends. So, we do.. and I don't have to clean as much. Works for us!

[Lorien]

40. I used to have maids. When my business was doing quite well

it made more sense for me to hire people to clean the house and do yard work than to do it myself. I was making $50-100 an hour back then and I enjoyed what I did for a living, so spending $12-20 per hour for a maid freed me up to make more money myself (I always pay people more than what they ask for-especially back then because I could afford to).

Question is, is your wife the only person doing the housework, or do you do 50% of it? What's her time really worth? If she's working a 40 hour work week and she's the primary caregiver to your child, then she deserves the help if you can afford it. Besides, you'll be employing another person who probably needs the work. Seems to me that if your wife is working full time than she bloody well has some say in whether or not you are getting a maid.

[Der Blaue Engel]

41. My neighbor, who lives alone and never dirties a thing

has some women who come in once a week, so I, who was working 10- to 15-hour days for a while and have a disabled SO (and an able, but lazy/stubborn 16-yr-old), thought, "What the heck. I'll try this cleaning ladies thing."

They came every other week for a couple of months, and I just couldn't take it. Not only did they move everything I owned off of every surface and then just drop it back in a pile, they just weren't that thorough or careful. But worse, every time they came, they ruined something. The first time, they used my worn but much-loved fleece slippers as rags, burning holes in them with scouring powder. They weren't worth much, but they had sentimental value and I was really upset. They almost always left a rag with cleaning solution on top of one of my wood surfaces or valuables, and they watered one of my plants to death, even after I "hid" it out on the deck to keep them from messing with it.

Maybe I just had bad luck or I'm too picky; I don't know. My neighbor uses the same women, and she thinks they're great, but then, like I said, she lives alone and never dirties a thing. I always felt like I had to clean before they came to make sure there was nothing they could fuck up, and it just wasn't worth going through that kind of stress twice a month for a vacuumed rug and a clean bathroom.

The downside to getting rid of them is that the house got really out of control, but now I'm working from home most days, so I can finally keep up.

(Guess you didn't ask for an essay, but there you go. lol)

[JCMach1]

43. Cleaning lady 3 days a week... Maids are live-in here and we didn't want

to give up the privacy.

[Connonym]

44. If she works full time and you're not doing 50% of the housework I'd say

leave her the fuck alone or chip in with more of the cleaning. I don't know any married women who don't do twice the amount of housework as their husbands. Grossly unfair. You want a clean house then help her keep it clean. If you're not willing to do 50% then stfu or let her hire some help. Sorry if that seems harsh but this is a subject that really fucking pisses me off. I know too many women who haul ass all day at work and then put in a second full time job at home while the husband sits on his ass in front of the computer or the TV. We're in the 3rd millennium we should be over that sexist shit by now.

[zanne]

74. My thoughts exactly, Connonym!

An unequal burden of work can cause alot of resentment in a relationship. If you both work outside of the home, you both have to work inside the home.

[Midlodemocrat]

45. Cleaning lady once a week. Today's the day in fact.

[sasquatch]

79. Do you beat her if she does a bad job?

:D

[greymattermom]

46. yep

I have a highly paid housekeeper once a month. I think you should take over the housework. Do you do your own laundry? Just wondering.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

47. no but i had several maids growing up. my mom is the only person in her peer group

who doesnt use a cleaning service/maid

[mulsh]

48. I had congestive heart failure back in August and couldn't clean

the house as I normally do. My mother-in-law hired a maid service for the wife & I. We really needed it since I had been pretty out of it physically for a couple of months before the incident. The maids initial clean up was extraordinary. They've come once a month for the past three months and kept things bright and shiny. There are two maids. Every visit they've received good tips, lunch, what ever they want to drink and what ever music they want to listen to, mostly a local Mexican Pop station. This month we're going to skip the service since I'm much better.

[Connonym]

80. glad you're feeling better

My dad often suffered from CHF exacerbations. Hope you'll continue to be stay on the mend.

[Richardo]

49. "A maid!" "A maid!" "A maid?" "A maid!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jBb7aDfMPM&feature=related :D

[ronnykmarshall]

64. You rock!

[Richardo]

65. :-)

:hi:

[LynzM]

50. Ummm.... No.

And I'm a woman with a child who works 40 hours/week, with almost 2 hours commuting per day. So hrmph. :) I don't personally know anyone (other than online) who hires help.

[1gobluedem]

51. I don't think I would want a maid

But I am thinking of hiring someone to come in twice a month to do the floors and scour the bathroom. I have hard floors throughout the house (wood, tile, vinyl) and they're tough to keep up with. Plus I hate scrubbing the bathtub and I stink at it. But I am a clean freak and do it anyway.

Dusting, dishes, laundry, vacuuming; I can cope with those. Just do my floors and bathroom!

[spinbaby]

52. I hope to someday

Someday I hope to get the house picked up enough to get a cleaning person in.

[malta blue]

53. Tell her she is not alone....

I work 40 hours a week, have a kid and have NO MAID.

I wish I did have extra help but we just can't afford it. Simple.

[guitar man]

54. No, but my wife does

...when I get home from working all week,I clean up the house. :(

[MrCoffee]

55. And here I thought you were classy.

I'm disappointed in you, underpants.

[underpants]

59. Whoa whoa whoa there Herr Coffee

I didn't say that we did have at least one MAID OUTFIT just that we didn't have a maid

I want the record to be clear.

[xmas74]

56. I don't

but a number of my friends do. (And no, they are not wealthy. Seems like most of my friends are either nurses or teachers.)

Advertise locally and avoid the chains. In my area, the average runs between $12-20 an hour, with a two hour minimum. Talk to them about cleaning supplies and such-some supply their own while others expect you to supply them. Take them through the home and explain what you need done. When they realize it's not for day-to-day cleaning they will probably ask for a detailed list instead.

Of course you already know to check references and bonding might make you feel safer sometimes. Most professional cleaners are also bonded.

And as a compromise you could hire a cleaner for once a season. It's more common than you think. (Maybe hire one before the holidays or even right after, spring cleaning, before summer vacation, etc.)

[redqueen]

57. Fuuuuuck no.

Nobody I've ever even been closely associated with has had a maid.

'Cept the ex's family. His mom still has her come in once a week even now that they live in BFE.

[MissMillie]

58. I used to

Just a couple of hours a week, but it made a HUGE difference in my life.


It's worth every penny.


Think how much more energy your wife would have for YOU if she could spend less on household chores..... :evilgrin:

[BarenakedLady]

60. I had a cleaning service for awhile.

I was in a depression and the house was falling apart.

I started feeling guilty about the money, so I stopped the service.

I wish I had it again though. I'm really not a great housekeeper. Oh well.

[Ariana Celeste]

61. haha my brother

he's on house arrest and has nothing to do BUT clean >.>

[momto3]

62. I would loooooove to!

If finances allowed, I would hire someone to clean my house once a week. It seems like I spend all of my free time picking up after the kids (and my husband!). Then, on the weekends, I have to deep clean everything else.

Ughh - I would love a maid (did I mention that already???)


T

[lightningandsnow]

63. My family does...

and personally, I'm not very comfortable with it.

My mom only works two days a week... plus, honestly, I'd be willing to pitch in on stuff.

Oh yeah, and my parents call her the "Cleaning Lady"... I just find that so condescending. Ugh.

[Tindalos]

66. You wouldn't ask that if you could see my place.

We had one when I was a kid. Except, my mum felt the need to clean the house from top to bottom before she came. Couldn't let her see the place dirty could we? It didn't last long.

[Nikia]

67. If my husband finally gets job paying more than $10/per hour

I'd like to hire a cleaning person to come in for a few hours every week.
I think around here, in this small economically depressed conservative town, having help is less common. For me though, having help would be more valuable to me than a lot of other middle class luxeries.

[Flaxbee]

68. no, but I see nothing wrong at all with hiring a housekeeper

maybe twice a month. If the money isn't a big deal, then it would be an exceptionally nice gift to the both of you --- you both work hard, have a daughter to spend time with, etc. Why not have someone come in a few hours every other Saturday or whenever to do some of the less-fun stuff, like baseboards, maybe windows, whatever. Then you guys go to the park, see a movie, whatever. Read the paper.

Some people like to hire from an agency b/c they tend to be insured, but when I was young, we had a woman from up the street come in twice a month. She liked the extra $$, liked to clean (honest to god - she said it helped her work off her anxieties/stress, etc), would hang out with us and have lunch (that my mom made for her). She was nice, and my mom loved not having to do the stuff she didn't like to do. It started after we were both in a bad car accident and really needed the help around the house, but we just kept on with Jeannie until we eventually moved.

[AwakeAtLast]

69. We have discussed it

Since we both work full time and Mr. WMU works so much that he can't help me out a lot we have thought about taking that step.

We also decided that if he gets deployed again, that is one thing we ARE going to do. Adding constant worry to a full time job and full time parenting made house cleaning almost unbearable for me when he was gone.

I see good reasons to do it. Wishing we were right now!

[buzzard]

70. I am the maid as well as cook slut and butler.n/t

[Debi]

71. No but we need one!

Since none of the Debis like housework (or have time for it) it just doesn't get done. Our home is neat but filthy and it ain't changing any time soon. :shrug:

As for the $$ for a housecleaner? If I had it I'd spend it for two reasons. 1) peace of mind that my home was finally clean 2) I'd be giving somebody a job!

Man oh man...as soon as I win that lottery!

[SarahB]

72. My maid is named Finnfan.

Actually, we both work full-time and contribute very equally to household stuff. Maybe if you can't get hired help, you could find a way to work out tasks in a way that appeals more to both of you?

[skater314159]

73. Huh?

Uhm, I have friends who ARE "domestic help"... but no... uh, can't say that I or people I know have domestic help. I do have a friend who has a home nurse for her Gran and handicapped brother, but that doesn't really count.

I wish more people had that opportunity! I know some people who've been either laid off or who are working less since the gas prices and living costs have gone up, so "domestic help" isn't a luxury people can afford right now... and I know some new moms who'd LOVE to have some extra help!

As for myself, I *do* have some friends who help me out when I am feeling esp. fatigued or having a flare, but we're just friends... no payment except mebbe some food or munchies!

[Dukkha]

75. I'd be content to have a litter box cleaner

worst. chore. ever!

not to mention sometimes my free-thinking cat shits outside the box

[Whoa_Nelly]

77. ummmm....

Are you gettin' down on those baseboards, and whatever else, right alongside her?


...just askin'.... :hide:

[Zoigal]

78. No, but all our kids do...

either a full time maid or a "cleaning lady".
Thinking about getting a roomba though. z

[azmouse]

81. I've always done all my own cleaning and yard work.

I've never even considered hiring a maid.

[Beausoir]

82. A maid? No. A woman who helps me clean the house? Yes.

Every Monday. With 5 kids, 3 cats and 2 dogs, I need all the help I can get.

[knitter4democracy]

83. I used to.

When the kids were babies, a knitting friend of mine who cleaned houses would do ours once a month or so for a decent price. It helped keep me sane. When my health tanked, we kept it up every once in awhile so I could get ahead on the cleaning. Last year, I lost my last good one, so my mom did it, and we paid her for it so she could put it in a vacation fund. I couldn't bend down to clean after the kidney surgery for a long time, so Mom did it.

I felt bad, but when we found out that my ten years of pain were from appendicitis and later that I'd been growing a huge kidney tumor, I didn't feel so bad. That's what cleaning ladies are for, and in our area, they're usually out-of-work older women working for themselves, stay-at-home moms whose kids are grown and gone and who don't have the skills to go back to their original jobs, or women trying to dig themselves out of debt. I've had good luck with them. I never use one of the services--my cleaning lady friends have told me horror stories.