Is this crazy? Housekeeping idea...

[gmvh]

So I've been working out of my home for about a year. It started as a part-time job, moved to full-time last fall, and now I've gotten a huge promotion and am running all outdoor programming for a massive non-profit.

I've decided that I am going to hire a cleaning service to come take care of our house. Originally I thought I'd go the standard every two weeks route but the more I think of it, what I/we really struggle with and what creates a lot of unnecessary tension, is the daily stuff. I can and almost enjoy, in a crazy way, jobs like cleaning bathrooms. I loathe emptying the dishwasher and keeping the kitchen clean. Would it be nuts to hire someone for an hour a day to come in, empty the dishwasher, clean the kitchen, and do whatever other tasks there are to fill an hour?

It sounds so luxurious and probably unnecessary but I'm trying to figure out what's best... Time with the children in the afternoon or cleaning up the aftermath from the morning before making dinner. A messy kitchen certainly slows me down and makes me dawdle about getting dinner made and throws everything off - hungry children become crabbier, crabby children make irritable husband, etc. Daily kitchen care is sounding lovely... Any guesses what you'd pay for that? We're about an hour outside a huge city.

Thanks mamas for humoring my wacky idea...

[madskye]

I need to get my downstairs cleaned for a party here next week, and the Maids quoted me $150 for an hour. They would clean more than my just my kitchen though.

Depending on your standards, you might be able to find a nice high school kid to come do it after school each day, for $10 or $20 a pop. That would be $50-$100 per week--nice $ for a student. My neighbors kids bill themselves out as "the chore boys" and do dog walking and yard work that way.

[mamaofprincesses]

I used to do this for a woman when I was in college - it was just her though. I did other stuff too, like vacuuming, laundry, and what not. She offered 2-3 hours of work a day, at $8 an hour. I have to admit I didn't love washing her underwear (the other clothes didn't bother me) and I thought it was weird when she asked me to clean her hairbrushes, but overall it was easy work.

Can't hurt to put an ad on craigslist, you know?

[pranamama]

I think it is a great idea. Maybe you can find a local mom who has kids in school that would appreciate the money, or a college student.

[caenach]

It sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I definitely think you could find a college or high school student willing to do small daily tidying tasks for a reasonable sum.

Craigslist is a great idea...maybe also posting an ad at the local library or a local college library/bulletin board?

[AkRotts]

What a wonderful idea!!!

[Ellien C]

Doesn't sound crazy to me. I'd think a local kid could help you. Would it be out of the question to ask your partner to take on some of this? Mine loads the dishwasher daily when he's making coffee in the morning. Just thought I would check.

[gilamama]

college and high sch kids are going to need to be shown exactly what to do and hae it reviewed for them. as in when you wash the toilet dont use the hand towl to wipe it down and when you use the rag to wipe it down dont rest it on the tooth brushes when you finish. and which soap to use for what. just speaking from personal experience.

[gmvh]

Oh boy! Okay, so I'm glad this doesn't seem like a crazy idea. Yeah, I think I'd be happier finding a SAHM who is looking for a tiny bit of income. On the flip side, a service would be nice for the bonded/insured bit... Things to mull over and get to eventually!