^Wow, I won’t complain again about paying $140 for two dogs!
@ignatius that’s good for your cleaning lady. Mine said she has no work and most do not pay while they don’t want her to come. She is willing to work.
It surprises me that your cleaning person finds new clients during this time. Doesn’t seem like the right time to engage new people coming to your home but i guess anything is possible.
Doesn’t feel right to me unless she is being completely honest with all her long-term clients. I’ve been paying my housekeeper and just sent her money for what I’d owe her in May although I turned down her willingness to come clean. I really miss her service but don’t feel comfortable with it right now. I’m doing it to help her out in tough times, not to double dip.
I’m trying to figure out what to do going forward. She has one client that is a doctor and has kept up working for that family. Additionally, her husband has been an uber driver. I asked her in our email exchange about his activity level along with some other questions but she didn’t answer the question about her husband. We’re being SUPER careful because I have health conditions which would put me at higher risk, for sure. I’m just not sure when I’d feel comfortable having her in our home until the pandemic risk changes.
I can’t believe how many people on CC have cleaning staff, lawn people, and regular hiar dressers. I guess we’re lucky not to have to worry about whether or not we’re reducing the income of someone who depends on us. I’m sorry this situation is so stressful for all of you. It’s really nice to have given them anything extra, even if it could only be a one time bonus, so if you can’t give more I wouldn’t worry about it. Some places are opening up so maybe they’ll be able to go back to work soon.
I have found my husband and I are not great cleaners! We have plenty of time to clean, and do the typical amount we do in between when the cleaning lady use to come, but there is no deep cleaning going on. If it weren’t for the dog, the house would be fine, but the amount of dirt and grass he brings in never stops! Every speck of dirt shows up in the dark wood floors. In the 40 years we have been married, my husband has been in charge of bathroom, and I do the rest.
Looking forward to the day she comes back!
^Same here! Our two Australian shepherds are mud balls. They manage to find mud even when it hasn’t rained in days. We put them in the basement for a “drying period” when we bring them in, but they’re still dirty.
And DH and I aren’t great at cleaning, either. I’m not a perfectionist when it comes to cleaning (understatement of the year) and he is too busy to deal with it.
My cleaning person keeps all her clients informed on her plans via group texts.
She is following the guidelines of our state. She is hoping maybe by June 1st in my area, but I am doubtful about that.
She has told me it’s not necessary to pay her but I insist.
I have two dogs and both shed a lot. I’m lucky that their hair blends into the floors. But every time I turn on the vacuum and the light shines on the floor, it’s unbelievable how much hair is on the floor.
I’ve been vacuuming once a week and use my swiffer more often.
I’m only spot Bono-ing my hardwoods. I’m waiting for my cleaning person to wash all the floors.
We had our cleaning crew come back for a visit. These were the conditions:
We left before they arrived.
We didn’t return to our house until 48 hours after they finished.
When we did return I put on a mask and proceeded to open all the windows and turn on all the ceiling fans. There is no evidence - that I’ve found- that this bad boy stays aerosolized for anywhere near 48 hours. The fresh air is wonderful
I ran the two HEPA portable filters on high all night
I ran the air blower function of the home heating system (with HEPA filters) on high for a few hours before going to bed.
I wiped down the faucets, counters, shower door handles etc of the main bathrooms we use.
I closed off the rooms no one is using and kept them closed for another few days
DS returns to our home this weekend (he’s been SIP with his SO for 15 days) AND he can work remotely from where we hide out for the post cleaning 48 hours THEN I’ll have the crew come back in two weeks.
The mental health boost from having a clean home is SO worth it. Not having to constantly be cleaning something on a daily basis is bliss. We are neat and tidy folks but with most meals prepared and eaten at home and being home 24/7 - things just get a bit funky.
If, with all these precautions that bad boy still gets us - well then frankly it’s beyond our ongoing ability to avoid.
@emilybee You figured out what I don’t do, it’s the mopping! The Bono has not budges since she was last here. I am vacuuming and sweeping, but the spot is going to have to be really big for me to clean it.
Since we downsized almost 3 years ago, we haven’t had the need to mop. My husband wanted to do our bathroom floor and asked where the mop was. I informed him we did not have a mop, that the cleaning lady uses rags and does them by hand. He was confused and decided not to do the floors! The bathroom is not that big, and in the toilet area, it is easier to clean with a bucket and rags.
I’m not mopping. I just take the Bono and squirt it on the spots dogs make with their wet feet when the come in the house. I just rub out the spots. It’s only the area near my sliding glass doors I do this. I try to wipe their paws after the come in but they are good about letting me do that.
My bathroom floors are easy to do. I have Bono for tile. I squirt and run the bono “mop” over the floor.
So at DH’s strong request, we had the cleaning lady come today. Gloves, mask etc. I had her use rags that I will wash (she likes to use paper towel but right now I don’t want to waste it). We are changing her day now that we are working from home, and she will come back in 3 weeks. Ours was the first house for her today , so… well there’s that. Maybe slightly less risky.
DH and I ventured to the supermarket b/c the last 2 times I did the pickup they made mistakes. So, compared to the supermarket, teh clleaning lady felt less risky.
My cleaning person really wants to go back too, she feels guilty cashing our checks without working. Normally she and her crew come when we are not home. Now, I just hate to hear all the noises and we have to go to the basement until it’s done. So I told her not to come.
But also DD and I have been doing a great job keeping up - we don’t feel the need to have the house cleaned by someone else.