Take it from LaRue....
"Give her car fare, a ham at Easter...but for God's sakes,
don't hang around with her!"
"Give her car fare, a ham at Easter...but for God's sakes,
don't hang around with her!"
Hiring Domestic Help . . .
- Thread starter westtexman
- Start date
Help Support :
Thanks everyone for all of the great information. It certainly gives me something to think about. Until I find the right person, I have resigned myself to come home every night and clean one room per night until it's all done. Then I guess I will have to go back and start all over again!
Greg - Thanks for the comments. You mentioned that book in a thread several months ago, and I bought it on Amazon.com that same day. I read the whole thing and it was a good read. I like how it gave ideas on becoming more efficient in the cleaning process.
What I have a hard time with, however, is the "red juice" and "blue juice" cleaning products. My mom was an immaculate housekeeper growing up, and I'm used to cleaning with big buckets of Pine Sol and water, or bleach (or even Pine Sol AND Bleach when I'm feeling really adventurous). I guess I've always had this presupposition that it isn't TRULY CLEAN unless you give it a deep wash with a strong product (instead of just using a spray-on product).
What are your favorite products to use while cleaning? I like the following, but I'm open to change at this point if it makes me more efficient (until the housekeeper comes, of course - LOL!):
Kitchen - Pine-Sol, diluted in proper proportions (with a dash of bleach added for good measure on occasion). Sometimes I will use Lysol or Mr. Clean, but Pine-Sol has always been my top product. I would use this product on everything including sink, countertops and floors, and the front of the cabinets as needed. On occasion, I will do a deep cleaning of the cabinets (inside and out) using Murphy's Oil Soap, as my cabinets are oak.
Bathrooms - (Toilets) - Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner for the bowl. For the bath tub and the shower I really like Comet Disinfecting Bathroom cleaner to eliminate the soap scum, and then the whole bathroom gets a thorough cleaning with the good ole Pine-Sol solution (with bleach on occasion).
Dusting - Pledge - I like the Clean & Dust kind in the blue can. My mom always used Lemon Pledge, but I don't use it often.
Windows & Mirrors - Sprayway glass cleaner. I think this stuff is awesome.
Anyone else have any suggestions on quick and easy cleaning products?
Thanks,
Bryan
Greg - Thanks for the comments. You mentioned that book in a thread several months ago, and I bought it on Amazon.com that same day. I read the whole thing and it was a good read. I like how it gave ideas on becoming more efficient in the cleaning process.
What I have a hard time with, however, is the "red juice" and "blue juice" cleaning products. My mom was an immaculate housekeeper growing up, and I'm used to cleaning with big buckets of Pine Sol and water, or bleach (or even Pine Sol AND Bleach when I'm feeling really adventurous). I guess I've always had this presupposition that it isn't TRULY CLEAN unless you give it a deep wash with a strong product (instead of just using a spray-on product).
What are your favorite products to use while cleaning? I like the following, but I'm open to change at this point if it makes me more efficient (until the housekeeper comes, of course - LOL!):
Kitchen - Pine-Sol, diluted in proper proportions (with a dash of bleach added for good measure on occasion). Sometimes I will use Lysol or Mr. Clean, but Pine-Sol has always been my top product. I would use this product on everything including sink, countertops and floors, and the front of the cabinets as needed. On occasion, I will do a deep cleaning of the cabinets (inside and out) using Murphy's Oil Soap, as my cabinets are oak.
Bathrooms - (Toilets) - Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner for the bowl. For the bath tub and the shower I really like Comet Disinfecting Bathroom cleaner to eliminate the soap scum, and then the whole bathroom gets a thorough cleaning with the good ole Pine-Sol solution (with bleach on occasion).
Dusting - Pledge - I like the Clean & Dust kind in the blue can. My mom always used Lemon Pledge, but I don't use it often.
Windows & Mirrors - Sprayway glass cleaner. I think this stuff is awesome.
Anyone else have any suggestions on quick and easy cleaning products?
Thanks,
Bryan
~sudsshane
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,250
Hi Bryan
I use lot of products from "Method" and "Seventh Generation". I really like the new "Green Works" line from Clorox also. You should give it a try.
Right now under my kitchen sink, I am currently using.
Method Almond Wood Floor cleaner (if you have wood floors, awesome product)
Method Granite/Stone cleaner ( excellent product)
Method Stainless Steel cleaner( not too impressed, don't waste your money)
Murphy's oil soap ( excellent for cleaning wood cabinets)
Green Works dilutable household cleaner ( excellent product)
Seventh Generation All purpose cleaner(another excellent product, but a bit pricey)
Green Works Toilet bowl cleaner- very nice scent and does just as good as Lysol. Reasonably priced.
Green Works Glass cleaner- verdict is still out.I do find it to be somewhat sudsy, I think next time I will have to switch back to Windex with Vinegar.
I have Saltillo( Mexican tile) in my Florida room and ceramic in my kitchen. I think the best thing to use on that type of tile is plain old vinegar and water. I find it does an excellent job!
I do have a few non Green products that I can't bring myself to part with just yet.
Soft Scrub with Bleach
Cascade 2 in 1 "action pacs" with Dawn. I think I will give Seventh Generation Automatic Dish Powder a try though.
Dawn Dishwashing liquid (original scent)
Vel Pink "rose scented" dishwashing liquid
Hope this helps.
I use lot of products from "Method" and "Seventh Generation". I really like the new "Green Works" line from Clorox also. You should give it a try.
Right now under my kitchen sink, I am currently using.
Method Almond Wood Floor cleaner (if you have wood floors, awesome product)
Method Granite/Stone cleaner ( excellent product)
Method Stainless Steel cleaner( not too impressed, don't waste your money)
Murphy's oil soap ( excellent for cleaning wood cabinets)
Green Works dilutable household cleaner ( excellent product)
Seventh Generation All purpose cleaner(another excellent product, but a bit pricey)
Green Works Toilet bowl cleaner- very nice scent and does just as good as Lysol. Reasonably priced.
Green Works Glass cleaner- verdict is still out.I do find it to be somewhat sudsy, I think next time I will have to switch back to Windex with Vinegar.
I have Saltillo( Mexican tile) in my Florida room and ceramic in my kitchen. I think the best thing to use on that type of tile is plain old vinegar and water. I find it does an excellent job!
I do have a few non Green products that I can't bring myself to part with just yet.
Soft Scrub with Bleach
Cascade 2 in 1 "action pacs" with Dawn. I think I will give Seventh Generation Automatic Dish Powder a try though.
Dawn Dishwashing liquid (original scent)
Vel Pink "rose scented" dishwashing liquid
Hope this helps.
I agree with you on the "red juice" spray and wipe cleaning methods and personally I use a bucket and microfiber cloth for all "wet" cleaning. I always start in the bathroom, showers & sinks get sprayed and brush-scrub with bathroom cleaner, toilet gets a spray of that around the rim and brushed with Comet cleanser. I towel up most of the runaway water from the scrubbing and rinsing process and then clean the mirrors and finally wipe everything with the cloth. I've used many different "all purpose" cleaners in water but my all-time favorite is Dawn dishwashing liquid. It has a pleasant smell and most importantly, dries clean without streaking on most all surfaces. I use the same thing in the kitchen for most all surfaces as well - it's good enough for items you eat from, why not the refrigerator door, etc. as well? I've found it isn't so much the product you use, but how you use it that really gets things clean. There is no substitute for elbow grease. Dawn seems to be a little easier on the hands than most other cleaners - I personally am sickened by the smell of pine cleaners and anything fruity or flowery so I try to stick with what I know works and won't melt the skin from my hands. For wood floors, a very good non-harmful product is Citri-Scrub from Hillyard - low Ph and won't harm the finish. It also works well on marble and stone. Economy plays a big factor in my purchasing decisions as the job isn't profitable if you're giving the store away in designer products that do little more than come in an attractive package and smell like a candy store. Just the basics for me, and I never, ever get complaints on bathrooms or kitchens.
I started my cleaning career doing vacant apartment cleaning and believe me, you learn how to clean very well and quickly to make that often horrific job profitable.
I started my cleaning career doing vacant apartment cleaning and believe me, you learn how to clean very well and quickly to make that often horrific job profitable.
runematic
Well-known member
vacant apartment cleaning
Greg, you're a braver man than I. Just based on some of the apartments we get into to deliver appliances, I would never want to clean some of that stuff. Roaches, mouse dirt (I always like to deliver another stove to people & see mouse poo right on the stove top that they were obviously to lazy to clean up), grease, etc. We've gotten in some really "nice" pieces from apartments (things like food left in a refrig turned off for a few months). Oh my.
Greg, you're a braver man than I. Just based on some of the apartments we get into to deliver appliances, I would never want to clean some of that stuff. Roaches, mouse dirt (I always like to deliver another stove to people & see mouse poo right on the stove top that they were obviously to lazy to clean up), grease, etc. We've gotten in some really "nice" pieces from apartments (things like food left in a refrig turned off for a few months). Oh my.
58limited
Well-known member
Great thread. As soon as I finish a couple of more remodeling projects and get the clutter organized, I'm going to hire a cleaner to come every two weeks. This thread has given me a lot of pointers, namely the china hutch full of Hofbauer will be off limits. Fortunately most of the collectibles I display in the house are not delicate bone china, so I shouldn't have to worry about things being broken.
My main problem is dusting - I just never find time, and then I end up spending an entire day catching up with it (and sneezing a lot).
My main problem is dusting - I just never find time, and then I end up spending an entire day catching up with it (and sneezing a lot).
I am staying away from having outsiders in my home-unless absolutely necessary!opens real cans of worms-esp Federal and State safety regs-You have even a "cleaner" in your home-your home now becomes a "workplace" that can be subject to State and Fed safety regulations!I just have too many things that would be difficult to secure and would "walk-off".BEWARE!!!
I remember when my first partner and I moved to this area. We bought our first home (a 3 level side split) and he insisted that we get a cleaning lady to come in once a week. I finally agreed and he hired one of his patients. When we arrived home after her day of cleaning there would always be a freshly baked pie or muffins waiting on the counter. We thought we had found a real wonder. Well after a few weeks had gone by we arrived home one day and our inquisitive neighbour (who was a police man) comes rushing over to tell us that there had been another car in the driveway in addition to the cleaning lady's car. After questioning the cleaning lady we discovered that she had been having her boyfriend over and they were having sex in our bed! Needless to say she never came back after that.
Gary
Gary
Rex, if you hire a worker through an agency, they take liability for damage and loss. And you aren't subject to any federal or state workplace regulations in your home. The contractor assumes normal risk - common for all household services.
My mom has two cleaning ladies: The good one from the senior agency, who knows how to clean, and can also do stuff like take her to the doctor. Then there's the regular crazy lady she's had since she broke her hip, who only comes once a month to do the "heavy cleaning" (and rearrange the furniture so that the living room always looks like mom is hosting a lecture series - crazy lady puts all the sofas and chairs facing one direction). She also refuses to mop, and unexpectedly falls to her knees and wants mom to join her in long, incoherent prayers. Mom just turns up the volume on the TV when that happens.
Btw, mom won't let her use the washing machine since she caught her washing her tea towels with some underwear, which is just about the worst thing you can do in mom's book. I don't know why she keeps her, but she does.
My mom has two cleaning ladies: The good one from the senior agency, who knows how to clean, and can also do stuff like take her to the doctor. Then there's the regular crazy lady she's had since she broke her hip, who only comes once a month to do the "heavy cleaning" (and rearrange the furniture so that the living room always looks like mom is hosting a lecture series - crazy lady puts all the sofas and chairs facing one direction). She also refuses to mop, and unexpectedly falls to her knees and wants mom to join her in long, incoherent prayers. Mom just turns up the volume on the TV when that happens.
Btw, mom won't let her use the washing machine since she caught her washing her tea towels with some underwear, which is just about the worst thing you can do in mom's book. I don't know why she keeps her, but she does.
oxydolfan1
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2006
- Messages
- 1,764
"She also refuses to mop, and unexpectedly falls to her knees and wants mom to join her in long, incoherent prayers."
Maybe it was a novena to "Our Lady Of Lysol"?
I'm sorry, it's been a long week...
To make amends, here's a quick and easy homemade floor cleaner recipe.....
1 part water
1 part white vinegar
1 part "Glass-Plus" window cleaner (no substitutions!)
Mix and add solution to spray bottle.
What I like about this formula is that it is universal....you can use the same cleaner on tile, vinyl, wood, etc.
I am anal about constantly rinsing and wringing out the mop or floor rag, but it works pretty well and dries quickly without leaving any residue behind.
Maybe it was a novena to "Our Lady Of Lysol"?
I'm sorry, it's been a long week...
To make amends, here's a quick and easy homemade floor cleaner recipe.....
1 part water
1 part white vinegar
1 part "Glass-Plus" window cleaner (no substitutions!)
Mix and add solution to spray bottle.
What I like about this formula is that it is universal....you can use the same cleaner on tile, vinyl, wood, etc.
I am anal about constantly rinsing and wringing out the mop or floor rag, but it works pretty well and dries quickly without leaving any residue behind.
