(no subject)

[fisme_nasu]

Sometimes I feel like I'm the goddamn cookie monster (except I actually eat everything, not throw pieces everywhere). Bren got a couple of Hershey bars yesterday and gave me one. I didn't touch it until 5 minutes ago and once it was opened, it was gone in less than a minute. OM NOM NOM NOM NOM. And now, my brain is going, "Can I have some more? That was good, but it wasn't enough. MOAR, DAMMIT!" I've also had a few diet cokes and I need to get back off of it. I don't like regular cola - I can't finish it when I try to drink it and it always leaves me feeling parched.

I'm going to buy some artichokes and other veggies I like and stuff myself with them. My body feels bloated and uncomfortable in general. I really want to stay away from junk food this weekend. Also, I'm going to clean out the fridge and scrub it down. And clean the sofa. Maybe I'll get to the bathrooms - the floors really need to be mopped and the counters are a disaster.

Does anyone know generally how much it costs to hire someone to come in and clean for a few hours? If I paid someone, I wouldn't get the judgemental talk from my mother in law (or my mom, tbh).

Comments

[3v1lsh33pz.livejournal.com]

I think the cost of something like that really depends on your area. My mom has someone come to clean her house every other week: dust, vacuum, bathrooms, mop the kitchen floor and wipe the counters down. No picking up - any room that isn't already picked up doesn't get vacuumed and dusted. I think she pays her $80-100 every time she comes. I don't know how long it takes though. Why don't you call around to a couple maid services and ask?

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

Jesus, no wonder I have a waiting list! I do all that. Maybe I am just a pushover :P

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

That's the big problem for us - the picking up. My mother in law says we have too much stuff in too little of a space and once we move, we'll spread it out a bit more and things won't look so bad. So if no one out here picks up... well, then I'll have to clean before we even start calling.

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

I charge $30-$40 an hour for eco cleaning and I don't have minimum but a lot of places have a 3-hour minimum. I would check craigslist and see if you can get a local woman to do it (cheaper) especially if you are going to be home at the time.

Molly Maid and their ilk are $$$ upwards of $70 in this area, but you can usually find someone good for $20+. I also find that major companies are stringent about how they clean and what they clean where someone who runs their own business will go the extra mile.

The majority of my clients found me after going through many big business companies whose workers would pick up their kids toys, vacuum underneath and then throw the toy back down (or they will just put them in a pile a as opposed to organizing them).

Be upfront with what you want and what you need! I am diligent about making sure my clients are happy and asking them if there is anything I need to work on. A lot of people won't say anything unless prompted because they don't want to sound bossy but YOU ARE THE BOSS. I want my clients to be happy and I want to be happy knowing I did a good job. We both want to get our money's worth, right?

Ask if they carry insurance and if they can give references. Anyone who balks at this question is not someone you want in your home. I wouldn't even bother CALLING references (because c'mon, who gives someone's contact info if they are going to give a BAD reference?) but they should be able to give you some.

Smart people get their homes cleaned if they both work. Yes, I am in the biz but honestly, at the end of a tough week a lot of people go out and blow $100 on dinner out because they are too tired and stressed but they won't spend that money hiring someone to clean their houses. In the end, which one would you think will give you more stress relief?

/end marketing *grin*

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

Our biggest problem is the amount of stuff we have. And lack of places to put things.

We'll have to talk about it some more and do some research. :)

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

Ahh, that is a problem. I used to live in 510 sq ft with a dog and a husband so I know how that can be. However, if you have any questions about, say, what questions you should ask any potential cleaners just let me know. I have been doing this for 3 years.

I mean, come on, how cute am I? I would totally clean sweep your house with you :P

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

You are adorable.... and many, many miles away, else I'd take you up on that. :D

[swankivy.livejournal.com]

You totally are cute. :D

[asimplelife.livejournal.com]

*BLUSH*

[naminess.livejournal.com]

if your picking up veggies pick up an avocado! they are filling and nom licious. you can also spread it on some bread or just eat it on the spot ( i put some salt and pepper on mine) but they are quite filling for their size.

i would maybe call a merry maids service? or check crags list?

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

I loooooooove avocado. Nom.

I skimmed craigslist a little. And then I talked to Bren and he said we'd try cleaning for a couple hours this weekend and see how far we could get. If we can't get very far or we're overexhausted, we'll start pricing out cleaning people. :)

[3v1lsh33pz.livejournal.com]

sometimes all you need is someone to get it really, really clean once, and then it's easier to stay on top of it.

[naminess.livejournal.com]

sweet! what i try to do in the apartment is only clean for small chunks of time in a designated area. i aim for 30 min. a day and will rotate out like tonight i hope to clean in the kitchen or bathroom (i may just aim for the living room i haven't decided yet). what i get done i am done for that day and it usually holds up until i can do a more detailed cleaning when i have more time later on and it make the cleaning even quicker. (weekends)

i think this situation is different for you because i also don't have a family its me and a roommate. so i would try spot cleaning areas that won't see to much childlike shenanigans ( bathroom, hallways, kitchen and bedroom?), and save the public areas for a good focus cleaning when you have a larger chunk of time to focus on it.

my goal is to eat 3 avocados a week! :3 nom nom nom!

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

Every member of my family is like the Tazmanian devil. They all leave huge messes. I might leave books everywhere and the occasional glass, but I'm not THAT bad. Except for my clothes. Sigh.

[enogitna.livejournal.com]

Getting a cleaning duo to come by our place once a month was the best $100/mo Josh and I ever spent. OMG. They'll even straighten for us.

I think I'm going to have to cancel once the baby comes, at least for a few months, but I'll probably hire them again.

We quit the qym in order to afford it and I'm glad we did. I loved the gym, but I love having a sparkling clean apartment better.

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

You're definitely making me lean in that direction....

[astragali.livejournal.com]

We have someone come once a month for $100. She deep cleans everything, and we maintain in the interim. She also picks up, which is a godsend. Even if she just makes neat piles on the entry way table of all the crap, at least it's not strewn all over, and I can pick up a pile and take it upstairs every time I go.

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

And yet another person making me want to hire someone.... :)

[shellazure.livejournal.com]

Sometimes I feel like I'm the goddamn cookie monster
I'm horrible about this. Holidays that involve candy kill me. I ate my chocolate easter bunny (hollow) then moved onto the 1 lb solid milk chocolate bunny. I had to force myself to spread it out over a few days but I'd still find myself going back every half hour or hour and cutting off another piece. My husband still has his to eat and I keep eyeing them and willing myself not to eat them. He should know better, really.

My fave little homemade pizza ever: pita with eggplant, different colored bell peppers, and tomato topped with a sprinkling of feta toasted in the oven for about ten minutes. YUM.

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

See, my daughter gets sick of sweets really fast, and my son is too young to have more than a couple of m&ms or a bite or two of chocolate. I always end up finishing everything.... She hasn't touched her easter bunny yet, either. It's sitting on the kitchen table, taunting me.

I'm a huge fan of veggies and fruit. The only things I don't like (so far) are raw onions and okra. I'm not really a fan of cooked peppers as they're kind of bitter, but I'll eat raw ones happily. But if there's junk in the house, I always gravitate to that. :(

[swankivy.livejournal.com]

I'm good at organizing but not as good at cleaning. :P So I have a very organized, dusty home. :) (You knew that.)

And I feel your pain about the cookies. It's part of why I don't bake like I used to; I don't have tons of boys around to eat the stuff anymore.

[fisme-nasu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I knew that. :) My worst laziness comes in the kitchen. I don't want to do the dishes as soon as I'm done cooking or eating... I just want to veg out. And then with the 4 of us, everything else just piles up, especially clothes. And dishes.

I know that no food is "bad," but I always feel so guilty after eating candy or other sweets. And I really love the taste, so I don't want to stop after just one bite or one serving. Maybe I need to rethink my attitude.