As you may remember, we hired a cleaning service last summer. I think she started in June or July, so she's been cleaning for a bit more than six months. We pay her $45 per visit, and she typically comes by twice in a month. Her name is Robin.
On the whole, we've been very satisfied with Robin. She is polite, does a good job, and is flexible with us if we need to reschedule. Maybe a little too flexible...
I say that, because I don't think she has very many, if any other home cleaning jobs. She moved to our area a few weeks or just a couple months before we hired her. I'm pretty sure we were her first job. She has picked up daily work at a local restaurant, so she is unavailable from about 9:00 in the morning, until about 11:00. Other than that, if we've needed to reschedule, Robin has had absolutely no problem fitting us in.
That works to our advantage, of course, but I feel for anyone who isn't working to their desired potential. I've told her in the past that she should feel free to use us as a reference, and I haven't gotten any calls.
Of course a great part of having a cleaning service is that it motivates us to pick up the house, do some de-cluttering, and light sweeping prior to her coming over to clean.
One thing I've noticed is that after her first couple of visits, everything (sinks, tub, shower) was *so* much cleaner than before. Now that we're on more of a maintenance schedule, things don't look *that* much cleaner than before she cleaned. Because, they're not, because we're starting at a cleaner level now. So I need to resist the urge to ask - Just what did she do besides mop and vacuum?
There is one very minor issue. One of the reasons we picked Robin over another choice is that she said she'd use her own cleaning supplies, including her Kirby vacuum. Her Kirby broke on her fourth or fifth visit, and she hasn't had the money to fix or replace it, so she uses our vacuum now. Which is fine, especially if we, and the restaurant are her only gigs. Robin does continue to use all of her other supplies.
So, all in all I think it's $90 per month well spent!
Review of our cleaning service
January 28th, 2014 at 06:13 pm
January 28th, 2014 at 06:41 pm 1390934517
Perhaps you could ask for a load of laundry added if time permits washer/dryer/fold/hang and put away. Many vacuum and clear window rails/tracks on room rotation and even dust window glass.
January 28th, 2014 at 06:53 pm 1390935205
I love having a cleaner! It motivates us to tidy up before he comes, and steam-clean the freshly vacuumed floor after he leaves. It's nice having a once-a-month reset.
January 28th, 2014 at 07:37 pm 1390937823
January 29th, 2014 at 02:29 am 1390962596