https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 05 May 2026 08:01:51 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-200686 Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:24:03 +0000 Theresa 200686@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much everyone. Really appreciate your little tips and suggestions - we bought a couple of little boxes yesterday and another toy storage bin, and I've already seen the use of these!</p> <p>Yesterday I made the girls help me tidy their play room (the worst in the house!), but instead of just tidying, we ended up de-cluttering it - took about 6 bags of rubbish to the dump this morning! It's left me absolutely exhausted, but I do feel better knowing that at least she will be able to get in there and clean now.</p> <p>The rest of the house isn't too bad thank goodness. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-200180 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:50:21 +0000 Anonymous 200180@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I say tidy up first for the simple reason that it will end up costing you less overall. If your cleaner is there for 3 hours and she needs to spend time tidying, then there is less time for the heavy cleaning. Or she will need to be there for 4 hours and that will cost you additional $$$. </p> <p>I have asked my housecleaner about this and she has agreed that it is more efficient for her to just CLEAN and not TIDY-THEN-CLEAN. When she needs to tidy, it puts her behind schedule and she runs late (she said with heavy annoyance in her voice)</p> <p>I have the whole family scurrying around the evening before my cleaner comes...me yelling "Julie is coming tomorrow...we need everything Julie-Ready" which basically means, pick up everything from your floor, put away anything lying around, clear all the horizontal surfaces. Basically, if your room is not Julie-Ready, then Julie is not allowed to go in there and dust/vacuum. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-200073 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 14:19:16 +0000 Queen Mum 200073@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I haven't read the other's responses, but I do say tidy up before she comes.<br /> I had a friend who would leave the house in complete dissaray before her cleaning ladies came and then have the nerve to complain that they never put stuff away in the right place. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-200065 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 13:53:01 +0000 FiestyWife 200065@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I absolutely agree! Cleaning help is much different from organizing help. When we moved into our current house (we're a military family) we had the hardest time getting everything set. The organizer my sisters gave me as a housewarming present said to leave everything so she could see what our problems were. It sounds like you know where things need to be but are just unable to deal with after that because of health (I really hope you feel better soon). I would get as much straightened up before she gets there; prioritize the cleaning list based on what is important to you and then relax b/c you are still taking care of your family the best way you can. When you make your cleaning list I would think about what you're going to be up for after she leaves. If you can handle changing the sheets but the kitchen cabinets are too much I'd have her do those things you know you won't be able to get to. Good luck and feel better! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-200013 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:03:09 +0000 RoseandJoan 200013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I have never employed a domestic but if I where in your situation I would not hesitate to do so. Given that she will be in for a limited period of time I would also prioritise the jobs which are most important. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199997 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 06:55:28 +0000 anne 199997@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I second Isabel! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199974 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:19:31 +0000 AJ 199974@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh, I forgot to mention. I didn't feel right saying, "The maids are coming," and possibly having my kids repeat that. So I started from the get-go saying, "The ladies are coming," to the kids. Hmmm....I don't know what's sounds better "ladies" and all that it might imply or "maids" and how that might sound to others. LOL! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199973 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:15:38 +0000 AJ 199973@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>We tidy up before the cleaners come. That way it is easier to clean the surfaces and the floors. Otherwise I feel they wouldn't clean that well just trying to get around everything.</p> <p>I even clear out the bathroom counters. I put the toothbrushes and their holders in the cabinet, because I fear they may just spray the cleaning solution around not thinking about what it might land on. Plus, even if they move it, what was their hand touching last? ICK! Then after they leave, I change the kitchen and bathroom towels, because again. what were their hands touching?</p> <p>We used to have them come every two weeks, but with the kids getting older and helping out a bit, we still have them come once a month. It forces us to put away the clutter! LOL!</p> <p>Oh that's great that you have dishwashing and laundry service if you need it. This will really help you both physically and mentally. Do not feel guilty about this one bit! Can't wait to read about your reaction on Tuesday. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199971 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:11:09 +0000 Isabel 199971@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi there Theresa, I am so sorry to hear that you are still not feeling well.</p> <p>Yes, I agree with the others, do pick up so she can get to things. HOWEVER, since you are doing this because you are sick....I would consider buying some baskets, leaving them empty and just having her put things in the baskets as she goes. I was on complete bed rest with one of my children when we had to get a cleaner. It would stress me out so much the night before that sometimes I couldn't sleep.....though she was wonderful. So on the nights my husband couldn't pick up before her visit, she knew where there where empty baskets for her to set things aside in.</p> <p>Don't stress yourself out, if you can't pick up, you can't. You will as you get stronger. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199963 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:43:34 +0000 Michelle 199963@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another one in favour of tidying up first. It's just good employer manners! Plus yes, there is the whole issue of finding your stuff again. It took my cleaning lady a bit of time to figure out which drawer I like my wooden spoons in, for instance. :)<br /> I really hope this helps you to feel better, Theresa! And don't feel guilty. You're providing someone with needed income, and you'll find it gives you a huge lift. I have a cleaning lady in every week and I love coming home at the end of the day on Fridays! Gets the weekend started on a great note. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199938 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:15:31 +0000 Sihaya 199938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Theresa, I try to clear up as much of the mess as I can so she can focus on cleaning rather than picking up. Besides if she were to pick up, I'd then spend hours looking for everything when she left. I'm so glad you're doing this to help you out in this tough time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199866 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 02:18:50 +0000 Theresa 199866@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks so much girls! I'm glad I wasn't being silly wanting to at least tidy up.</p> <p>April you actually gave me a really good idea - I can pack into boxes all the toys etc, and then sort through and do the de-cluttering I want to do as we unpack and put things away in my newly clean house! One box at a time... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199389 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:25:21 +0000 Mac 199389@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tidy before my cleaning person comes, if only so I can avoid hunting for things for weeks after she's left! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199380 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:24:05 +0000 Kristen 199380@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I tidy all the surfaces and put away as much as possible before the cleaning ladies come. Also put out new sheets and they will switch them for you.</p> <p>I love having cleaning ladies -- don't feel badly about it. It's their job and they need business as much as anyone else, after all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199375 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 11:10:55 +0000 April 199375@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, Theresa, I think it makes sense for you to do the tidying (sorry) because a new person will more or less have to come to you with each item and ask where it goes, then you'll spend the next two weeks looking for things that were put away by someone else. </p> <p>If you're not up to that, try tossing the stuff that's lying around into a couple of laundry baskets grouped by type of item. "DD#1's Toys", "#DD#2's Toys" etc. Then you could just direct the cleaning person: "Everything in this basket goes on the shelves in DD#1's room," and so on. </p> <p>That only works if you have a fairly well-defined place for similar items in your house. If not, leave the stuff in the baskets for now, just to get it out of the way so your cleaner can do the heavy cleaning. You'll put it away when you're up to it. </p> <p>No feeling guilty, Theresa. It will help you to get back on your feet to look around and see order and peace! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199373 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:39:40 +0000 Louise 199373@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oooo that sounds like heaven! I know how you feel about tidying up before she comes! I'd get the kids to put the toys away, at least if the place is relatively tidy she can get straight down to the nitty gritty of cleaning rather than spending some of her time tidying and then you don't get all the cleaning done x </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/ot-cleaning-contractors#post-199372 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:27:36 +0000 Theresa 199372@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As you know, I've been quite unwell, and am still not up to a whole lot, so I have organised for a cleaner to come for around 3 hrs once a fortnight for a few fortnights to help get the house back to clean and keep it under control until I get back on my feet fully.</p> <p>She starts on Tuesday at 8.30am and I'm rather excited but also very nervous - despite knowing full well its for a really good reason and I need it, I still feel a bit guilty... CRAZY!</p> <p>Anyway, my question is this:</p> <p>Should I at least tidy up, ie put toys etc away, so that she can actually clean, or do I leave it all looking horrendous and let her tidy up as well? Apparently she'll do whatever I ask!</p> <p>I was planning on getting her to:<br /> vacuum<br /> mop<br /> bathroom<br /> toilet<br /> kitchen/washing up if any<br /> washing if any<br /> remake beds (I find that incredibly exhausting at the moment)<br /> dusting</p> <p>and then if time, to start cleaning the kitchen cupboards (they are driving me crazy at the moment)...</p> <p>So, considering that list, I think I should at least tidy so she can get to the floors etc?</p> <p>What do those of you with cleaning contractors do? </p> <p>(I've not had a cleaner for years and even then it was a friends mum who wanted some cash cos she had a mean husband and she'd just come in and take over and do any/everything!)</p> <p>Thanks for any ideas! I really want to get the most out of her time without overdoing it myself beforehand. </p>