Housekeeper / maid etiquette ?

[KingGheedora]

I started using the services of a housekeeper / maid recently. She comes by every couple of months. One thing I found myself doing is cleaning the toilet at least before she comes because I don't want someone else to have to clean my own crap so to speak (though I generally clean it right away if there are stains). I mentioned to my friend that she was coming by and he said the same thing to me ("make sure you clean your toilet!", among other things which I will not repeat here) which I thought was funny, even though I came up with that idea on my own I guess it might be a common thing.

SO this got me thinking, are there any commonly accepted maid / housekeeper etiquette that you go by? And how much do you tip?

 

[OCGuy]

My housecleaner scrubs my toilet. It isnt exactly disgustingly dirty anyway, but yea.

I pick up my room, but that is about it. Also there is clear instruction to leave my flat panels alone.

 

[Colt45]

My maid only gets the tip.

 

[Newbian]

If she is hot make sure you have a little fun with her also...it's expected.

 

[Bateluer]

Well, do you have a contract with what they're supposed to clean? If bathroom and toilet are on it, then I'd let them clean it.

Now, having said that, I'd wouldn't let the toilet get bad enough to worry about it.

 

[kalrith]

If she is hot make sure you have a little fun with her also...it's expected.

I came to post this. Hopefully, everyone knows this.

 

[lurk3r]

I usually leave the blow on the coffee table and she's gotta be wearing the french maid outfit when I get home.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

My grandmother cleaned houses up until a few years ago. The rules I was always told were:
* Don't leave messes simply because the maid can clean them (ex: track mud onto the carpet and think the maid can clean it when she comes in tomorrow)
* Don't make the maid move anything. So if for example you have clothes on the floor, the maid does not want to (and probably will not) move them to vacuum under them.

 

[lokiju]

What are some rates people are paying for a maid/housekeeper service?

I'd LOVE to have someone come clean my house every other week or so but always assumed it'd be to cost prohibitive.

 

[FoBoT]

do it Seinfeld style
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Maid_(Seinfeld)

Jerry hires a maid, Cindy, whom he then starts sleeping with.
Jerry begins to realise that because of their relationship, Cindy is no longer doing any work, but he's still paying her, which leads Kramer to comment 'Uh-oh - you're a John!' When Jerry confronts Cindy, she walks out on the job and the relationship. Jerry later meets Cindy's boss - a parody of a pimp - who threateningly tells Jerry if he doesn't get the money from him, he'll get it from Cindy.
Meanwhile Kramer gets lost whilst visiting his girlfriend. When Jerry goes to pick him up, he spots Cindy and slows down to give her her money - unfortunately, a passing policeman mistakes them for a prostitute and a John. Later, a lost Kramer is approached by Cindy's boss and is talked into a maid job, joking about the similarities between the scene and Kramer being approached by a pimp.

 

[Exterous]

I would think as long as your toilets aren't disgusting its fine.

 

[slackerinabox]

I came to post this. Hopefully, everyone knows this.

is that.. true?

 

[AUMM]

that makes no sense, why would you pay someone to clean your house and then do some cleaning before they get there?? The only thing I do is pick up clutter so they can clean thoroughly... i tip 10-20$ usually but I have a small place

 

[vshah]

that makes no sense, why would you pay someone to clean your house and then do some cleaning before they get there?? The only thing I do is pick up clutter so they can clean thoroughly... i tip 10-20$ usually but I have a small place

you tip $20 on top of what?

 

[Krazy4Real]

What are some rates people are paying for a maid/housekeeper service?

I'd LOVE to have someone come clean my house every other week or so but always assumed it'd be to cost prohibitive.

Yeah, I'm curious on this too. If people can post what they pay and for how many rooms, that'd be awesome.

 

[bignateyk]

I remember my parents paying somewhere between $100-150 every week for a 4000 sq foot townhouse (3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2 kitchens, 2 dining rooms, 3 "family rooms", a dance floor, and a living room).

 

[Zombie]

really you guys tip on top of cost of cleaning? That is just nuts. I have ~2300 sq.ft and we pay $80. Going rate is between 65-80 for house that size in our area.

 

[jonks]

is that.. true?

depends on which craigslist forum you found her ad

 

[AUMM]

you tip $20 on top of what?

on top of 60...

 

[kalrith]

is that.. true?

Probably not usually, but it happens. Just like sauna shops aren't always dealing with prostitution, but it happens. We have one sauna place in town that's had two different businesses there, and both were busted for prostitution. One of them was called Smile Sauna, so that place wasn't fooling anyone

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

I remember my parents paying somewhere between $100-150 every week for a 4000 sq foot townhouse (3 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom, 2 kitchens, 2 dining rooms, 3 "family rooms", a dance floor, and a living room).

Services around here charge ~$85/wk for places about 1.5x that size.

 

[oogabooga]

really you guys tip on top of cost of cleaning? That is just nuts. I have ~2300 sq.ft and we pay $80. Going rate is between 65-80 for house that size in our area.

80/?

 

[Leros]

I pick up my stuff and get the big items put away. They are here to clean, not to organize. They can't clean the counters if the counters are covered with stuff.

 

[CrimsonWolf]

I pay $60 a visit every other week for a 3 bedroom townhouse. The first visit was $80.

All I do is make sure stuff is organized and clean the dishes before she visits. Her only "rule" is that she doesn't clean dishes and asked that the kitchen be clear so it's ready for her to clean, but she otherwise cleans up and scrubs everything else. I never clean the toilets ahead of time, but they aren't that dirty anyway (e.g. no shit streaks...).

Tipping per visit isn't needed, especially if the housekeeper is independent. I've heard though that a tip equal to one visit for the holidays is a nice touch, so we might do that.

 

[nageov3t]

My grandmother cleaned houses up until a few years ago. The rules I was always told were:
* Don't leave messes simply because the maid can clean them (ex: track mud onto the carpet and think the maid can clean it when she comes in tomorrow)
* Don't make the maid move anything. So if for example you have clothes on the floor, the maid does not want to (and probably will not) move them to vacuum under them.

that sounds reasonable.

I really want to hire a cleaning lady, but I can't figure out how it would work with not wanting to be there when she is.