[Wera]

I moved here last year with my husband and have been unable to find a suitable cleaner for our apartment. We don't need a full time maid because there's only two of us. So far I have sacked two cleaners from two separate agencies because they were not cleaning the place properly and were charging for more hours than they worked. Communication was problematic as well.

I would be interested to know what everyone else out there does, am I the only one experiencing this problem?

[ingenue]

I use someone else's full-time maid (yes I know it's illegal) and it's worked out very well. Besides her full-time employer, for whom she works only in the mornings and evenings, she works for 3 others besides myself, and I know them all. Previous to this, I had a part-time helper recommended by another friend but sacked her after a month, mainly because I didn't trust her.

Perhaps ask around and see if anybody's helper is looking for extra hours? Or they're usually happy to recommend a sister/friend/cousin...

[MovingIn07]

I think you are missing some options. In particular, the option "me, I clean our place" or "my partner cleans our place".!!! Why do so many people here think that housework is beneath them? I never knew anyone back home (in any of my UK, Aus and NZ homes) who had a cleaning lady, let alone a full time maid!

And that included families with 2 full time working parents with kids and pets and other stuff that makes a mess!

[gilleshk]

Excellent point, I don't mind doing the cleaning, cooking and the laundry and frankly, I don't like to have someone going through my stuff. I could never, ever envision a live in maid.

[Wera]

I guess I thought that would fall under the "I don't need a cleaner" option (i.e. hired help).

I had a cleaner back in the UK so am used to having one. It's not that I think cleaning is beneath me it is more related to the fact that I have a limited amount of free time and I would rather spend that time on activities other than cleaning. It's all a matter of cost-benefit. If I am prepared to give someone else my money to do it in order to free myself and my husband to do other things I thinks that's fair enough.

[MovingIn07]

I HATE the idea of a live in maid. We were offered one free from our company when we lived in KL some years ago, and refused then too. We used the "maids room" in our flat as a storeroom (I could never in a million years have condoned putting a person in it, it was tiny, with no windows and no aircon).

Besides, flats here are a fraction the size of most "normal family homes" overseas. It only takes about 10 mins a week to run over the floor with a vaccum and wipe down a couple of surfaces.

[gilleshk]

Originally Posted by Wera

It's all a matter of cost-benefit. If I am prepared to give someone else my money to do it in order to free myself and my husband to do other things I thinks that's fair enough.

Of course to each his/her own

[KnowItAll]

>> In particular, the option "me, I clean our place" or "my partner cleans our place"

I'd think that would fall under "I don't need a cleaner".

[MovingIn07]

Hmm - I don't need a cleaner sort of implies I don't clean, which is slightly different !!!

[ingenue]

Originally Posted by gilleshk

Of course to each his/her own

Agreed. Personally, I like doing my own laundry and cooking as I know I'm picky and would rather do things the way I like. For everything else, I'm happy to have some help with mainly because I work stupid hours, have a very active social life, and don't particularly want to spend the little free time I do have to myself mopping and cleaning windows!