non-hoi polloi primitives discuss maids

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11831695

Oh my.

Who wudda thunk it, that primitives would be so elitist as to have.....maids?

CTyankee (44,037 posts)    Sun May 17, 2015, 06:46 AM

Does anyone here use Merry Maids to help with housecleaning?
 
The lady who helps me has to go back to Portugal for several weeks to help her mother who is having surgery. She won't be back until the end of July. None of her other friends who clean can drive.

I'll just need someone to do mopping, vacuuming, and more general cleaning of the bathroom and kitchen.

A temporary agency sounds like what I need but I wonder how reliable Merry Maids is...what I found on Google was NOT encouraging.

Renew Deal (61,183 posts)   Sun May 17, 2015, 08:21 AM

1. Do any of your friends use a cleaning lady?
 
Maybe someone you know can recommend someone. 

CTyankee (44,037 posts)    Sun May 17, 2015, 08:31 AM

2. Yes, a friend across town. However, it may not be the best venue for seeking a
 
temporary service, 4 or 5 times until my helper returns. I am hoping the Area Agency on Aging can make a recommendation. My husband is partially disabled and I have arthritic issues (I cannot get down on my knees to clean the bathtub like I used to) and I cannot maneuver the vacuum cleaner (too heavy). 

^^^this primitive is too old and too crippled to clean house, but yet somehow manages to run around Europe with the speed and agility of a teenager.

northoftheborder (4,600 posts)    Sun May 17, 2015, 10:10 AM

3. I used Merry Maids for a while years ago.
 
I'm sure it varies from person to person, and from place to place. I found them adequate but not thorough. Most of the large company maid services are similar in quality. Depends upon the people you happen to get. Many do not speak English. I also bet the workers are paid very little, but don't know. I haven't had anyone for a long time; the best are individuals who have their own business, and will use YOUR equipment and cleaning products. They charge more, but worth it. In your case, I would try one though, since it will be temporary. Good luck.

mainstreetonce (768 posts)    Sun May 17, 2015, 10:37 AM

4. I had an unsatisfactory experience with Merry Maids.
 
They charged me a huge fee to do a first time clean that was supposed to include a lot more than a regular service. They didn't communicate to the girls who came about what I paid for.

You probably can get them on a temporary basis,but be very specific about what you want done and how much you will pay.

csziggy (18,068 posts)    Sun May 17, 2015, 08:49 PM

5. I used them for a couple of years
 
Stopped a few months ago when my husband retired - he thinks he can do the cleaning, though it's not happening.

Merry Maids insist on a "deep cleaning" the first time around, which is very expensive. After that they will do routine cleanings, but do not move furniture or make an effort to get under furniture. The areas under my dresser and couch were not vacuumed, swept or mopped, for instance.

The women that came were nice and always seemed pretty happy about their work. I never asked what they were paid versus how much I paid the company. It would have been better if my schedule allowed for the same team to come every time - I kept having to change the day and that meant they had to shuffle me among the available teams.

There are several locally owned maid services - I think I will try one of them when I can talk my husband into it. One left a flyer for their services that had a price half of what I was paying Merry Maids. For what I need - floors and bathrooms - that sounds about right.

No Vested Interest (2,389 posts)    Mon May 18, 2015, 01:43 AM

6. The best choice is to get a recommendation frm a friend, neighbor, church group.
 
Recommendations are necessary to insure that it is someone you want having access to your home.

If an independent, you should make sure they are individual contractor, i.e., paying necessary taxes and social security, etc., in order to relieve yourself of responsibility in that area.

My ladies are independent contractors who advertise their services on Craig's List; because English is not their first language, my daughter takes the calls & explains their services to would be clients; in return she gets a free cleaning every 4-6 weeks.

Yes, it is customary that the first cleaning is a "deep" cleaning and more costly, after which they revert to regular service and a lower price.

I've never used Merry Maids. 

trof (46,099 posts)    Mon May 18, 2015, 08:24 AM

7. Read Barbara Erenreich's "Nickled and Dimed"
 
She worked for Merry Maids for a short time researching the book and was appalled by their unsanitary methods for kitchen and bathroom.

Same sponges, etc. 

CTyankee (44,037 posts)    Mon May 18, 2015, 08:50 AM

8. Thanks for reminding me. I'm hoping for a solid referral from my local Agency on Aging.
 
My cleaning lady uses my sponges and cloths and I will insist on it staying that way. I must say I've been somewhat pampered by my very good cleaner. I pay her a good wage and I'm happy to do so. She brings an assistant who unfortunately doesn't drive. 

By the way, in case one's forgotten, the sparkling old dude has a maid, so that his trophy wife doesn't chip her fingernails rolling a vacuum cleaner across the carpeting.

[ChuckJ]

If all of these DUmmies have so much spare money that they can afford housecleaners why are they withholding some of said money from their fellow DUmmies in need?

[franksolich]

If all of these DUmmies have so much spare money that they can afford housecleaners why are they withholding some of said money from their fellow DUmmies in need?

This primitive in particular's a contradictory one.

She constantly whines of poverty, but at the same time lives in a house with its own private backyard swimming pool.  Not to mention all those jaunts to Europe.

[Carl]

Yet the lazy mother****ers demand all of lifes needs be give to them for free. 

[thundley4]

The real reason her maid can't work.

[sharkhawk]

I hope the OP is paying Social Security taxes for her maid, and gives her a 1099.

[freedumb2003b]

I hope the OP is paying Social Security taxes for her maid, and gives her a 1099.

The lady who helps me has to go back to Portugal

Uhhh... think about it. :)

[tanstaafl]

My niece and her husband use a full-time, live in maid. But sometimes, the maid and the nanny get into it with the gardener and the part-time pool boy. Her husband hates to deal with them when they are at each other's throats, so he has his driver load up the sticks and make a bee line to the country club, leaving her there to deal with them. she herds them out the front gate and locks it. After a couple of hours sweating in the hot, tropical sun they usually come around and beg for their jobs back.

I tell you, it's almost impossible to get good help.

[obumazombie]

^Now that was good.
I hope Buzzy sees it.

[Chris_]

Yet the lazy mother****ers demand all of lifes needs be give to them for free. 

That includes maid service.