bathrooms, complete with cleaning of toilets, sinks, tubs etc. Load the washing machine with what ever is needed to be washed, empty ALL waste baskets and the kitchen trash, clean those as well, clean the kitchen cabinets inside once a month or so, clean the inside of the fridge, the oven, wash windows...

that is all I can think of right now, that I would want done if I could would afford a house cleaner.

Moni

See - totally didn't think about putting cleaning inside of ovens on the list. I knew this would be the right group for hints!!

sweeping outside front entrance, clean the top of doors and door frames, clean blinds/shutters, clean floor mouldings, dust chandeliers (I always dust/wash my lamps but am lax on my chandeliers.

I would put Window Washing on my list...monthly perhaps. Also the patio furniture on a regular schedule, as well as the family room furniture and window blinds. Maybe I would have two lists....one for weekly keep-up and a second list for those things that just never get done; like the ones I mentioned. On the 2nd list, maybe the laundry room, and linen closet (for me it would be with my help), shampoo traffic area carpets, overhead fans and lighting.

I assume most modern homes have self cleaning ovens these days. How I hated cleaning ovens years ago. I would have the person spot clean any spots on carpets or walls. Windows. If you are going to have them as often as 3 times a week because the work cannot be done in one or two days, you want that basic work done for sure. I bet the floors will need it twice a week with 3 dogs. If you don't need a person for 3 days a week, just do it for 2 days rather than make up more work for that 3rd day.

BTW, thanks for starting this....my soon (I hope) to be happening in my home. DS has been living and housekeeping for me for 3 years; I NEED a female eye to get my house clean again.

Sheila - I think the "usual stuff" will take up most of the time, and I may have miscommunicated about "finding things for her to do." I think a more appropriate question is what are some things that need be done on an occasional, but not daily or weekly basis that she can do after she's finished the usual stuff? I mentioned organize linen closet. Cleaning inside of cabinets was another good idea, but one that I had not thought of. I'm looking for suggestions in that vein.

Nanny - LOL! Yes, a woman's eye is invaluable. Thus, I'm having to ask this question, because I really have no idea! haha.

I don't have a cleaning service but know many that do, having someone come over one time per week. It's my understanding the service will create a schedule where one room is deep cleaned each week while the other rooms are tended to (dust, vacuum etc). There are usually a team of cleaners to start so the house is "clean" and then maintenance mode kicks in and it takes less time.

Interview the service you're hiring and ask for their plan. If you're hiring an individual, talk out a plan for cleaning and maintenance.

Yes, I am hiring a single individual as opposed to a service that sends multiple folks.

Having someone clean out your closets doesn't really fall under a typical "cleaning lady's" tasks. 3 days a week seems excessive, unless she'll only be there 3-4 hours each day. Even with all the dogs & vacuuming, I wouldn't think there would be that much to do...

imstillchloecat -

Maybe our definitions of "cleaning out" are different. I'm not talking about her tossing things out, deciding what goes and what stays, etc. I'm talking about making sure sheets and towels are nicely folded, shelves are wiped. Same for bedroom. Organize. Maybe this is or is not typical cleaning lady work, but it's what she will be doing.

Cleaning out the fridge and freezer, making sure no spills inside. Doing the laundry and putting it away. Cleaning the kitchen drawers and putting in new paper or mats in the drawers. Organizing the Tupperware cabinet, that a biggie for me. I hate having to search for a lid I want them stored together. 3 days a week becomes more of a house keeper than just a cleaning person. Vacuum the drapes if you have them or whatever you have for window coverage. For a house that size 2 days would be needed to do all the routine normal cleaning, floors, kitchen, bathrooms, all living areas and bedrooms including changing the beds.

My house is 4000 sq ft and my cleaning lady is there the whole day, busily cleaning. If I want out of the routine stuff done she comes an extra day for just that work.

These might help you out.

Master cleaning lists

DO NOT use oven cleaner on a self-cleaning oven. Users guides always emphasize this. Our seller (know-it-all man) did, prior to our moving in. Each time I used the oven there was a strong chemical smell, to the point that I had to replace the stove.

Woodwork, i.e. baseboards, doors, etc. If you have bathroom vanities, cleaning inside them.

We always had her do the stuff that we didn't to makeup the time we hired her for the day if it was fairly clean and all she had to do was wipe down. Like clean the stove vents, the top of the fridge... of course she already kept the bathroom spotless and we aren't overly crazy dirty in there. So I imagine that could be a place they spend "extra" time for a lot of people.

Raven, thanks to pointing me to those master lists. They are great jumping off points. Really appreciate everyone's feedback, it has given me a lot to consider that I'd not previously thought of.

You are welcome! I have used similar lists to create mine.

I'm assuming that you wouldn't let your house-cleaner clean your oven manually. Unless your home is a very old farmhouse style house, and you don't have a self-cleaning oven? You could just turn on the oven yourself to clean it when it needs it.

Jas - So one of the ovens is an electric (I think) convection oven. I say I think because it doesn't have a heating element, which I thought most electric ovens do. Anyway, it has a self cleaning feature that seems to burn everything to a crisp and then you just wipe it out. I've heard this is very bad on the electronics in the oven, however, and it sure does make the kitchen hot! The other oven is a Wolf brand that does not have a self clean function.

Jay, the electric element is most likely hidden in the oven floor. Makes it so much easier to clean without the visible element. That's also why if you use the tin foil oven liner (as I do) they say not to put it on the oven floor. It will burn to the floor because of the heat of the element. I lay mine under the element on the floor. The Wolf might be an older model, since it doesn't have a self-clean feature. That one would be a bear to clean I'm sure, as it won't be a small oven.

If you have a library, another "unusual" task would be to have her take the books off the shelves, dust, and re-shelve.

Unfortunately, I do not have a library, but that is a great idea for my office. Thanks!

Defrost your chest freezer. It's always worse thinking about it, as it is actually doing it. We just did ours last weekend, but it's handy to do it in the winter as we can put the food out on the balcony to keep frozen.

Dusting wine bottles? Do you have a wine cellar?

Do your kitchen cupboards go to the ceiling? If not, cleaning the top of the cupboards every 6 months.

Go around the ceiling edges getting the spider webs every month or so? Also, if you have ceiling fans, they need to be wiped off occasionally.

Brush off lampshades, outside. Soft paintbrush works well.

Baseboards, chandeliers or light fixtures.

Sorry if I've duplicated.

Wiping down the outside of the front door is on my list.

You don't want this to turn into "slave labour" but if some extra things can be added to fill in the time that she's paid for e.g. 3 hours of pay, and 1/2 hour of time to fill, she can do some of these. But for sure, the labour-intensive ones should be a separate cleaning.

tibb - point well taken! It is quite easy to have scope creep come into these kinds of arrangements. I pay by the hour rather than a flat fee, but will never pay less than the guaranteed 3 days. I will be paying her the full-time equivalent of just over $50k/yr. I think that is a very fair wage, especially where I live. The individual I've hired is definitely not afraid to speak her mind, but I will be mindful.

Jas - ah, Jas. Yes, I do have a wine cellar. But, alas, it is not stocked with bottles of wine to be dusted. We seem to drink wine as fast as we buy it. ;-) If you or anyone else knows of some good wine clubs, please speak up!! ;-) Cleaning the tops of cabinets was on one of the lists that Raven linked to. The tip there was to put a sheet of wax paper on the top of the cabinets to catch any grease, dust, etc. that can be easily tossed a few times a year to save from having to do a lot of heavy scrubbing.

There's not enough housework at my home (2900 sq ft) to occupy help for 24 hours a week, and I don't want someone 'underfoot' any longer than necessary.

Unless it's a long commute to your home, could you hire someone to come in *for a few hours* on alternate days to tidy the house, change the beds, etc. (perhaps prepare dinner)? Then you'd only need a crew to do the heavy lifting periodically. (Different skill sets.)

Yes, having someone in/around the house can be disruptive. I primarily work from home, so it'll be easy for me to shut the door to my office and let her go about her business. I know to many of you three days probably sounds excessive, and truthfully, might end up being so. However, I am one of those people who cannot rest when things are cluttered or dirty. If there is a pair of socks on the bedroom floor, I will literally lie in bed thinking about why they aren't in the hamper. So, I get up and put them in the hamper. When you live with someone who is not that OCD, you tend to resent having to clean up after them - even when by others' standards it's not that bad. So, rather than have me irritated and to keep peace in the house, we are going to give this a try.

Jay, you and my brother are separated at birth. He has his clothes closet organized where the hangers are the same distance apart. Shoes lined up perfectly, on the floor. Soon as we finish eating, and moved into the livingroom, he's cleaning the glass diningroom table, and putting the chairs in 'just so'. Nothing, ever is out of place at his home.

I was wondering if you were paying her by the hour (preferable) or on contract, so to speak.

I've heard of putting waxed paper/newspaper on top of the cupboards. I mentioned that to the ladies at the legion when I was helping them clean their kitchen. They vetoed that idea, so a grease-cutting spray made quick work of the cupboards. The home-made solution that I posted on the Hints thread works wonders on general cleaning, cat-yak (dog barf?) mirrors, counters etc.

Oh I totally agree with your brother. Hangers need to be spaced proportionally, they and the clothes hanging on them all need to face in the same direction, and the hangers all have to be the same style. Wood, not wire. I'll check out your cleaning spray!