I don't like surface cleaning, if it isn't "all" the way cleaned, what is the point?

They would send out different people to clean the house. Merry Maid had a sheet of paper in a notebook that told them what was important to me when they cleaned.

Unfortunately, the Merry Maids that cleaned my house would not check the notebook and things did not get done that were in the notebook. One time they used a polish that left brown stains on metal tub fixtures. I was unhappy about that. They could not figure how to get rid of the stain. They came back a day later after calling the home office for ideas. Finally we got the brown stain removed from the metal fixtures by using a cleaner for stove tops. They put a notation in the Merry Maid notebook about the brown stain, so it would not happen again.

During the next visit, I have a different Merry Maid lady. Guess what? She repeated the same mistake. Again I had brown stains on my metal bathroom fixtures. She did not look at the notebook. After that experience, I told them not to come back again.

My second problem with them is that they would work so fast that there was not enough time for the kitchen and bathroom floor to dry. They would return things back in the rooms while the floor was still damp.

Finally, every time they came they were suppose to give one room extra special treatment. That would involve cleaning the window treatments. The Merry Maids would skip that part of the contract. When I asked why they didn't do the window treatment, they said they were afraid that their vacuum cleaner might ruin the curtains. Yet when I set up the contract with the manager/owner of Merry Maids, she assured me that curtains would not be a problem.

After my bad experiences, I now do my own house cleaning.

I thought I would keep the service but just have them come every two weeks instead of weekly. I don't have any real issues with their cleaning, but what Linda said is true. It's just a surface cleaning. I once asked that our bathroom exhaust fan vent be vacuumed. Because of bathroom deodorant spray, the vent was sticky and needed to be wiped clean, not just vacuumed. The workers wrote a note, promising to do it the next week. Similar to dmickey's story, the next week's workers were a different crew and never took care of the vents. I ended up having to do it.

My husband had more problems, though. Also similar to dmickey's story, a couple of times they used some sort of cleaning fluid to wipe the computer screens in his home office that left really bad streaks. And then once they pushed the vacuum so hard against some cables under his desk that the connectors got jammed into the plug and caused problem with his satellite internet service.

But the bottom line for me now is cost. We've had to tell them not to clean in my husband's office and we've got two guest rooms that are never used. I always keep our kitchen clean and the same goes for the bathroom. So I can't justify paying $150 weekly or even every other week (the minimum service requirement in our area is 1-1/2 hours) just to have someone vacuum, sweep, mop, & dust.

Plus we both got tired of not being able to do anything for the time they were in our house cleaning. I couldn't do anything in the kitchen and was afraid of ever needing to use the bathrooms while they were working. I usually just hid out in my husband's office since it was off limits to them.

but hire them to actually CLEAN? you're better off asking the guy who cuts your lawn if he knows someone.

For a more thorough cleaning, like baseboards or cupboards or moving furniture to vacuum, you'd need to contact the office in advance. Then the next time the cleaning crew came, they'd tackle the special job(s) rather than the usual surface cleaning. If you wanted the surface cleaning too, you'd have to pay for extra hours.

Justin

We used all of the national chains who have offices here and MM was far and away the best. YMMV, I just wanted to share a positive experience. :)

I work alone, and bill by the hour rather than by the job. When a housekeeper bills by the job, the temptation is to get done as quickly as possible, and the details tend to suffer. It's easy enough to make a room LOOK clean, but the nooks and crannies need attention too!

I bid a house for the number of hours I think it will take me to do the basics...bathrooms, dust, vacuum, mop, kitchen...plus, an extra half hour or so (depending on the size of the house, the number of people living in it, and what I can tell about their habits) to rotate details. Furniture doesn't need to be oiled every visit, baseboards don't need to be cleaned every visit, the refrigerator shelves don't need to be washed every visit. But, all those things (and much more!) do need to be done.

Once I catch up on all the details, I often cut the hours down on a house, because it always takes longer at first than it does once you know the house, the owner's preferences and get your routine down. My clients are always a bit surprised when I tell them that I don't need as much time anymore as that means I don't earn as much from them, but I've got a waiting list, so it doesn't really cost me to be honest, as I can always start another house.

Judging by the way my clients treat me like gold, I am amazed, really, at how many truly horrible housekeepers there must be out there.

So, here is a bit of advice from the "other side". :D

Insist on paying by the hour, and if at all possible, make it clear that you will either be home while the housekeeper is working, or that you are likely to come home at any given time while she is there.

Do NOT be reluctant to (nicely) point out things that are not done to your satisfaction, or things you would like done differently. If the housekeeper takes offense, fire her. It is your home, after all, and you have the right to have things done the way you want them done.

Be specific about your expectations. What clients desire from their housekeepers can vary, and most people aren't adept at reading minds. I have had clients be tickled pink that I ran a load of laundry or two while I worked, but also had a client be annoyed that I did so without consulting him (it only took once...now I always ask). Some clients just want me to do whatever I think needs doing...some don't want to pay me my (on the high end, I admit) hourly to do things they don't mind doing themselves.

Hire someone who does the work herself. Being that I have a waiting list, I am tempted to hire someone to help...but the problem is that nobody is going to care as much for my client's homes as I do, for what would amount to half my regular rate, which is all I could afford to pay an employee by the time I paid all the other expenses that come with having employees!

Don't balk at paying someone at the high end of what is usual for your area. If they are charging that much, they probably are able to do so because they provide quality service. You will get more for your money if you hire someone who is worth it (and knows it) than if you go with someone willing to take less because she knows she's worth less.

Don't be afraid to ask for a work history, or resume. And don't be awkward about checking references. I have decided that there are two types of people who become housekeepers. People who have good work histories doing other things, and could easily gain employment doing those things again, but have decided for various reasons to work for themselves. And, then there are those who become housekeepers because they aren't able to hold down a job working for others.

You want the first, not the second.

Hope this all was helpful!

They should come in and do a great job cleaning your bathrooms, provide basic dusting and vacuuming and wipe down all glass with a cleaner. If your house needs more than that you should clean it yourself because you will never be satisfied with any of these service companies.