https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:20:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811980 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 15:24:53 +0000 SweetiePie 2811980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in a 3 bed 3 bath 1600 sq ft apt and pay $120 every 2 weeks. But I’m in NYC and everything is more expensive here! We also had a vacation home in NJ for a short while that was about twice the size and it was the same price. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811975 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 15:08:36 +0000 808love 2811975@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our cleaning services our expensive so I took the advice of a pp and looked at a FB. Oh goodness, so glad I checked her FB profile first. Horrors! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811926 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:43:13 +0000 jape14 2811926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in a city in the Southeast and we pay $120 for every other week cleaning. We have one dog (who doesn't shed much), a preschooler, and a baby. Our house was ~2400 sq ft when we started with our cleaning lady, and we added on ~600 sq ft (finished our attic) but she is a gem and didn't raise our rate. She usually takes about 3 hours. She changes the sheets which is my most hated chore and that basically makes it worth it to me! We found her through a recommendation on our neighborhood listserv - if you have something like that or nextdoor, that's a good way to find someone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811919 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 12:04:05 +0000 wrkbrk 2811919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emilye519: Basically just same as you. She comes twice a month for four hours at a time for our 2300 square foot house with one toddler and four dogs. $150 each visit. I live in th Midwest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811764 Sun, 25 Mar 2018 13:13:45 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2811764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our cleaner comes once a week for 2 hours and it's $50 total for the 2 hours. </p> <p>She does the bathrooms and kitchen really well. Vacuums and does a quick mop - I tell her not to spend too much time on the mopping because with two dogs, two kids, and dark hardwood it's messed up so quickly anyways. I like having her weekly because I never need to do anything too deep myself. Just sweeping and wiping down counters. And I steam mop before company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811741 Sun, 25 Mar 2018 09:12:30 +0000 Hypatia 2811741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just hired someone after getting several quotes on Facebook buy/sell groups. I like using FB more than Craig's List because you can get some idea of who you're hiring through their profile. </p> <p>I'll include what we're paying, so others can compare. Note that we live in a rural area. </p> <p>$90 total ($15/hour)<br /> 3 hours twice per month<br /> 3 bed, 3 bath with a large playroom/den (3650 sf)</p> <p>Vacuum All Floors &amp; Stairs<br /> Mop Hardwoods and Tile<br /> Clean Toilets, Tubs &amp; Showers<br /> Wipe Down Blinds<br /> Clean Counters &amp; Stovetop </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811717 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 22:44:52 +0000 LCTBQE 2811717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we pay $100 every two weeks for our apartment, but it's NYC and everything is expensive. I think about stuff like this in terms of annual cost, so that's $2500 a year--it's a lot of money. BUT, to not have it would cost me almost all of the tiny precious amount of free time I have. our lady is lovely and does a great job and as pp's have mentioned, the bickering now absent from our marriage is so, so worth it. </p> <p>things I'd easily sooner sacrifice than this: our yearly vacation, traveling home for the holidays, needed wardrobe updates, or our entire restaurant budget. that's how nice it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811704 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 19:02:21 +0000 lamariniere 2811704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We’ve had a house cleaner for the past few years. Before we moved, I had someone come once a week and paid by the hour. Now that we live in Asia where household help is extremely affordable, I have someone come twice a week. It has been worth every penny. I’m a neat freak, but between 2 kids and 2 working parents, I would get so stressed when I had to also add cleaning into the mix. I love not having to devote precious weekend time to chores. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811703 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 18:59:17 +0000 LemonJack 2811703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just hired a cleaner last month and it’s amazing. I’m a pile person, and being forced to pick those up really helps. Plus, when the house is super clean we do a better job keeping it that way. It’s been amazing not having to do all the deep cleaning on the weekends.</p> <p>Edited to add that right now we’re monthly, but we’ll up it to bi-weekly soon. That seems like the perfect length of time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811622 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 08:31:12 +0000 Hypatia 2811622@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I kept thinking we should wait to find a house cleaner until we made a bit more money, but after reading this, I'm just going to find other ways to cut our budget to make it possible. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811614 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:45:31 +0000 Amorini 2811614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It’s a life changer for sure! We both work FT and, like others have said, the cleaning chores on weekends were such a source of tension. I’m also very detailed oriented and would end up re-doing what DH would clean. Now with help to clean the house, we still have outside chores (garden, lawn, tidying) but we both enjoy them a lot more! </p> <p>We have an 1,100 sf 2/1 house and pay $55 each cleaning. We mostly do weekly cleans because we have 2 hairy dogs and there is just too much fur to just go biweekly. We usually vacuum mid-week, too. I constantly pick up/declutter and especially before the cleaning. (Have to in a small house!)</p> <p>I have found cleaning services to be expensive and they also usually send a different person each time. I lucked out finding someone on CL (few years ago) that I checked references on. It’s worked great and I like having a relationship with the same person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811613 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:44:33 +0000 travellingbee 2811613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our house is 2500 sqft. We pay $100 every 2 weeks. I know services and more but we use a small privately owned company rather than a large company. I could never go back to not having a cleaning person. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811612 Sat, 24 Mar 2018 06:41:26 +0000 buttermilk 2811612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m in Philadelphia and pay $120 every other week for a 3bed/1bath, 1400 sq feet. I got quotes from 3 other cleaners before I chose them and it ranged from $90 to $180! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811588 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 18:52:40 +0000 Littlebit7 2811588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emilye519: it made a world of difference for us. Obviously it bothered me more than my husband since the brunt of the burden and load fell on me. Once we got the cleaner...it’s like all of the tension and resentment really disappeared. Cleaning isn’t a chore anymore...it’s quick and easy tidying. Every two weeks means my toilets juuuuist start to get scuzzy but not bad enough for me to clean them (unless we have company)</p> <p>I’d pay it again and again. I’m actually going to give her a raise soon because she is awesome and makes my life easier. I want her to stay around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811584 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 17:56:58 +0000 Iced Tea 2811584@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did have a cleaner for awhile. It was an individual recommended to us, not a service. The service here is super expensive and they weren’t really open to me customizing what I wanted done and when. I found that our main need was floors. So I bought two roombas (upstairs and downstairs), and now we only get help for special stuff here and there (like fridge or windows). The robot vacuums are the best thing ever. It even gets under the furniture, every time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811558 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:56:47 +0000 BadgerMom 2811558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOOOOOVE it. If we had to tighten our budget there would be quite a few other things I'd give up before biweekly cleaning. I think the price sounds reasonable, we pay the same for a similar sized house. And I know this drives some people nuts, but one of the things I like most about having a cleaning person is that it forces me to pickup before they come. I'm the type of person that can let things pile up on surfaces and this keeps me honest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811552 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:18:55 +0000 Mrs D 2811552@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ditto on finding someone in your sub, rather than a service! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811550 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:14:12 +0000 Becky 2811550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HappyBaker: This is exactly my situation, including the husband’s opinion! Our house is much tidier than before as well. </p> <p>We have 3 beds, 2.5 baths, kitchen, dining room, living room, slate entry way, hallway, and stairs done (about 1900 sq. ft.). We pay $75 every 3 weeks which is the best rate we could get. We also do a few deep cleanings every year. Not having to ever dust, vacuum, clean a tile shower surround, or change sheets (I know, we should do that every 2 weeks but whatever) is a life changer. I do vacuum upstairs once or twice in between and do the living room weekly, wipe down bathroom surfaces, mop the kitchen, but honestly just having someone change the sheets and clean the tile tub surrounds are worth $75 to me! </p> <p>My husband and I work full time and he has zero time to help with housework (although he is super good at it), and having a house cleaner has been a life changer for sure.</p> <p>Also, we found our cleaners on Craigslist (same thing when we had one a few years ago). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811547 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:04:53 +0000 JLC53 2811547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do biweekly... It is worth every penny to never have to clean! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811544 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:50:30 +0000 misolee 2811544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also adding that’s how we found this company. We saw them so much in the neighborhood, I just walked over and asked for a business card. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811543 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:49:45 +0000 misolee 2811543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We pay $85 per month. I would like more but hubby doesn’t even like the once a month thing. He thinks we can keep it clean. We do keep our house tidy and vacuum but I’ve never seen him clean out toilets, sinks, bathtub, etc and that’s what our cleaner does. They come in a team of 3 and are usually done within 2 hours (5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house). The first time was significantly more bc of the initial deep clean. My husband saw all the dust from blinds and fans and he relented to the once a month thing. </p> <p>We get a good deal bc this cleaning company is used by everyone in the neighborhood. I think they clean like 50 houses in our subdivision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811538 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:31:15 +0000 Mrs D 2811538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started using a house cleaner last summer, when DD2 was 1. I was just not able to keep up with it all and it was something we found ourselves bickering about.</p> <p>We pay $90/bi weekly. She is at our house for 3-5 hours depending on the week.</p> <p>For me, I spoke with cleaners about just doing it monthly, and its not much savings in my area because each clean is more of a deep clean...so they take longer. 6 hours once a month or 4 hours every two weeks. Cost is nearly the same and for me if I am paying for it I just want it all done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811536 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:29:08 +0000 HappyBaker 2811536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@emilye519: That number makes more sense! </p> <p>Getting a house cleaner to come every other week has definitely been life changing for me. Doing it that frequently means I never have to vacuum, clean a toilet, wash a floor, etc. Yes the house is a little gross by the end of the two weeks and I'll do a quick spot clean of stuff if we are having company around that time, but in general I just don't clean anymore and it is GLORIOUS. </p> <p>Like others have said it also forces me to put away all the clutter at least that frequently, so my junk piles never get as out of control as they used to. DH is a person that sees no clutter as being "clean" so if you asked him he would say it is a waste of money because my putting things away before she comes seems "clean", but for me knowing that our hardwood floors have all been washed is worth it alone!</p> <p> @Littlebit7: your birthday description is exactly how I feel when I come home to a freshly cleaned house! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811535 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:24:21 +0000 emilye519 2811535@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebit7 that’s the problem! I am getting resentful because I feel like I do everything and we both work granted he gets to work earlier than I do but I have to get the kids up and ready and to daycare by myself and I pick them up so really I just want to not feel like that anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811534 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:22:22 +0000 emilye519 2811534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Doh! My post was confusing -they quoted us $120 for a biweekly rate which would make it $240 per month and he said it would take probably 2 hours. And then $180 for once a month because he said it would take longer to catch up on what has accumulated.</p> <p>We live in the Nashville area which can be expensive. I am thinking of trying it out monthly, but I like the idea of the every 4-6 month deep clean. I just REALLY don’t want to scrub our showers and clean our wood blinds. First world problems I know but I just don’t wanna! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811532 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:21:35 +0000 Littlebit7 2811532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Liiiiiiiiife changing for sure. I would get super resentful of DH not pulling his weight with cleaning and I’d feel like every weekend was consumed with house chores. And it was partly my fault I’d get pissed; I’m super particular about cleaning so I’d he’d help, I’d inevitably have to redo it because he tends to half-ass stuff like that. There was just a lot of tension regarding division of household chores and labor. That tension is gone.<br /> We pay $90 for every two weeks, 1400 sq ft 3/2. We live near nyc. I do find I have to “preclean” but it’s just cleaning clutter I should have put away before. She also runs laundry and strips and cleans all beds. She takes about 3 hours. Coming home to a house that someone else has cleaned is like getting exactly what you want for your birthday, over and over. Or at least for me it is.<br /> Eta: our cleaner is an individual not a service. She cake recommended by my friend and has cleaned for several of her friends for many many years. I think that is important...she more or less has total access to my house when I step out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811529 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:16:25 +0000 Ajsmommy 2811529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Depends where you are.</p> <p>We have a 4 b 2.5 bath and we pay $130 every three weeks, $150 if we want our basement done. It takes about 3 hours for her to do our house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811528 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 13:13:25 +0000 skinnycow 2811528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We pay $85/visit for 2,400 square feet but our house is 3 bedroom/2 bath. Four hours seems like a lot to me... ours is usually at the house for 2 hours max. Dallas area.</p> <p>ETA - our cleaner is significantly cheaper that others in our area. We got quotes from other providers around 120-150. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811519 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:51:08 +0000 Foodnerd81 2811519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I pay $150 once a month for a 5 bedroom, 2.5 bath house, 3500 square feet. If she comes alone she is here for 4-5 hours, though sometimes she brings a friend and it’s half that. Also some of our rooms are barely used (like the guest room and dining room). It would have been slightly cheaper per visit if she came twice a month but we are trying to save money. </p> <p>Twice a month would definitely be better but monthly is still super helpful! I wipe down the bathrooms and sweep and quick mop in between, but she is way better at really cleaning the bathrooms and kitchen than me. And I hate vacuuming and almost never do it in between, but it shows :meh: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/house-cleaner#post-2811516 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 12:44:05 +0000 raspberries 2811516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm... that seems high to me - where do you live? We're right outside of Boston, and although our house is a little bit smaller (3 bedroom, 1.5 bath, ~1500 square ft), we pay $120 for every other week. Do you know what's included in your estimate? For example, ours includes dusting living and dining room, wiping down surfaces in the kitchen (including cleaning the microwave and stove) and bathroom, cleaning the tub and toilets, and vacuuming/mopping floors. If we wanted them to change sheets or clean the fridge or anything like that, we'd have to pay extra. </p>