Maid Service

[McKenna]

Poll to follow.

Here's my dilemma. I've been working full-time for the past several months, a kick-ass job where I'm actually getting paid pretty damned good. I notice, however, that when it comes to housework I'm being pretty lax. I've been considering hiring a maid service to come in and clean my house once a week, or possibly twice a month. Thing is, I'm feeling guilty about this.

Maybe it was the "do-it-yourself" values I was raised with, but part of me feels like such a loser for hiring someone else to mop my floors. Thing is, after a full week's worth of work, the last thing I want to do on the weekend is clean. I want to play, damnit!

So here's my question: If you could afford maid service, would you take it? Or would it be too big of a slam to your independent personality?

 

[cloudy]

Poll to follow.

Here's my dilemma. I've been working full-time for the past several months, a kick-ass job where I'm actually getting paid pretty damned good. I notice, however, that when it comes to housework I'm being pretty lax. I've been considering hiring a maid service to come in and clean my house once a week, or possibly twice a month. Thing is, I'm feeling guilty about this.

Maybe it was the "do-it-yourself" values I was raised with, but part of me feels like such a loser for hiring someone else to mop my floors. Thing is, after a full week's worth of work, the last thing I want to do on the weekend is clean. I want to play, damnit!

So here's my question: If you could afford maid service, would you take it? Or would it be too big of a slam to your independent personality?

I wouldn't feel guilty...not a damn bit.

When I was a single mom, working retail (read 60+ hours a week), I had someone come in once a week to dust, vacuum, etc.

It wasn't that expensive, and was DEFINITELY worth it.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

If I could afford it, I would absolutely hire someone to come clean my house.

 

[sophia jane]

If I could afford it, I'd definitely get it. I hate cleaning.

And as far as feeling guilty- you shouldn't! You're actually helping someone else's income.

 

[hugo_sam]

If I could afford it, I would absolutely hire someone to come clean my house.

What Crim said. X 2
And I don't work.


In a heartbeat.
Hell yes you are tired after work.
Hire a maid if you can afford it.

Edit to add: Wife works full time and I feel like crap full time.

*GBH*

 

[rgraham666]

Damn, and here I was hoping you'd offer some. (Tripping on the idea of McKenna in one of those sweet maid outfits)

Seriously, if I could afford it I would. I hate housework and am pretty lax about it as a result.

I would make sure the person doing the work is paid well. No under the table deals using illegal immigrant labour or anything like that.

And I'd give them a very good tip at Christmas.

 

[carsonshepherd]

You're actually helping someone else's income.

Oh, I like that reasoning.

 

[McKenna]

Thank you, ladies.

I appreciate and value your input.


Why do I feel like such a wuss for even considering it, though?! It's like admitting a weakness: "Yes, I need help keeping my house clean." Egads.

 

[sophia jane]

Oh, I like that reasoning.

It's nice, isn't it?

 

[sophia jane]

Thank you, ladies.

I appreciate and value your input.


Why do I feel like such a wuss for even considering it, though?! It's like admitting a weakness: "Yes, I need help keeping my house clean." Egads.

You know, I think it's a woman thing. We all think we have to do it all, but why should we? You already work fulltime, and keeping up with the housework is a job in itself. If you hate it, and you can afford to hire help, you absolutely should.
But I understand your struggle. I get that way when I have to ask for help with the kids, like I'm a failure for needing help. You're not a wuss for considering it. You're trying to enjoy your life- which you absolutely should do.

 

[McKenna]

(Wow! Sometimes the posting goes so fast here!)

Thank you all!

SJ- I hadn't thought about contributing to someone else's income. I do like that thought.

 

[The_Fool]

I've known ladies that didn't work and still had a maid service. There are more important things to do in life than have your weekends consumed with chores.

 

[rgraham666]

Why do I feel like such a wuss for even considering it, though?! It's like admitting a weakness: "Yes, I need help keeping my house clean." Egads.

I used to have the same problem with house repairs.

Until I realised one day what the results of me fiddling with a gas furnace that I knew nothing about might be.

Now I call in people who know what they're doing.

 

[david_42]

I had my house professionally cleaned for years. I don't bother any more, as my new place is so far out in the boonies that no one visits. I'd probably have to pay extra because there's almost a mile of mud leading up to the house.

 

[McKenna]

You know, I think it's a woman thing. We all think we have to do it all, but why should we? You already work fulltime, and keeping up with the housework is a job in itself. If you hate it, and you can afford to hire help, you absolutely should.
But I understand your struggle. I get that way when I have to ask for help with the kids, like I'm a failure for needing help. You're not a wuss for considering it. You're trying to enjoy your life- which you absolutely should do.

SJ- I don't know what I'd do if I were in your shoes: kids, school, etc. Your plate always seems so full. I appreciate your empathy, even if my only "kid" is a lab named "Hawkeye".

 

[Rumple Foreskin]

You know, I think it's a woman thing. We all think we have to do it all, but why should we? You already work fulltime, and keeping up with the housework is a job in itself. If you hate it, and you can afford to hire help, you absolutely should.
But I understand your struggle. I get that way when I have to ask for help with the kids, like I'm a failure for needing help. You're not a wuss for considering it. You're trying to enjoy your life- which you absolutely should do.

Yep. The problem is women have this heritage of unknown generations of mothers and morthers-in-law looking over your shoulder. It's a tough guilt-trip to shake. If you're working f/t outside the home, hire some help.

Rumple Foreskin

 

[TxRad]

I've known ladies that didn't work and still had a maid service. There are more important things to do in life than have your weekends consumed with chores.

What he said and where do i pick up an application for the job.....

 

[RogueLurker]

Thank you, ladies.

I appreciate and value your input.


Why do I feel like such a wuss for even considering it, though?! It's like admitting a weakness: "Yes, I need help keeping my house clean." Egads.

I completely understand. I'd be running around "straightening up" before the service got here. Of course, after the first couple of visits, I think I would learn to adapt and reveal my slovenly nature.

This has been a hot debate in our household for a year or so ... and I'm starting to cave in. With the hours that I work, its next to impossible to keep on top of things and my partner and I have very different ideas of what tidy is.

I say go for it ...

RL

 

[McKenna]

I completely understand. I'd be running around "straightening up" before the service got here.

Oh man, I could SO see myself doing this.

 

[BlackShanglan]

Thank you, ladies.

I appreciate and value your input.


Why do I feel like such a wuss for even considering it, though?! It's like admitting a weakness: "Yes, I need help keeping my house clean." Egads.

That comes from the mental set of a time period when someone - the wife - had the part time job of keeping the house (the rest of the day typically being spent on child-rearing). You no longer have that time. Don't feel in the least ashamed for not doing two jobs at once. No one should be at work all of the time if it can possibly be helped.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I completely understand. I'd be running around "straightening up" before the service got here.

That has its value. The SO and I used a service for a while, and it was helpful. It set a clear time frame within which we each had to relocate our various debris back to wherever it belonged. It even had a reward system attached - pick up your toys nicely and put them away, and the fairies will come do the dusting and sweeping and scrubbing. It works very well.

Shanglan

 

[Guest]

I only recently again started paying someone to clean my flat. As I live alone I only have it done twice a month, in between I do basic tidying. Or not.

When I first used this very appreciated service I went through the same woman's guilt crap mentioned above. I was lucky and found a woman who runs her own business and gave me not the least smidgen of judgment over why I was such a lousy housekeeper, or horrors! lazy. When we first spoke on the phone I'd felt embarrassed at the state of things and talked way too long trying to prepare Vicky for my own personal pigsty. She made me feel perfectly fine asking for help and said there was nothing that would shock her. She said it so I believed her. She pays her 'girls' well and it's obvious they like her as a boss. She regularly joins them and does as much dirty work as they do.

Perhaps it's a thing in your area, Mack, but we just call them house cleaners here. I don't at all regard Vicky or her employees as 'maids'. To me a maid is like a personal waitress or dresser.

Go on, make your life easier.

Perdita

 

[elsol]

You mean your mom doesn't come over and clean up?

How do you live?!?

--Just kidding.

I remember watching a show a long time ago about 'couples having marital' trouble.

#1 Lesson learned... don't buy her a truck, pay for a maid service.


Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[sincerely_helene]

I can't say guilt would make me reluctant, however, I would feel uncomfortable about the idea of someone (anyone,) I don't know well in my home not under constant supervision.

Maybe I'm the only one with this paranoia, but I would spend the whole day worrying about whether they were sniffing my underwear, throwing away important items mistaking them for garbage, or pocketing my valuables (of which I don't have many.)

 

[3113]

I wonder how you go about getting one of those guys who clean your house in the nude. Now there's a way to get past any guilt you might feel about having someone else clean your house.....

We have a lady who comes in once a week to clean our place. We tried to do it ourselves for a while, but the plain fact is that neither my husband nor I is a housekeeper. We can haul out trash, wash dishes, even vaccume...but laundry never gets done, floors don't get mopped, dusting doesn't happen...we just are not on top of it.

You wouldn't do your own gardening if you weren't a gardener or hadn't the time to garden--you'd hire someone instead to mow the lawns and such, wouldn't you? Ditto with home repair--if you like doing it, and are good at it, you do it. But if you're not, you hire someone. It seems no great leap to me that we're not all good at keeping house--and/or we don't all have the time. So hire someone to do it.

As for theft--there's always that worry, but it's actually fairly rare. Most of these ladies (and some men) are hard working and honest and they usually come with references from other pleased customers. Remember, one theft can put an end to their livelihood, so it's really unlikely that they're going to take that risk.