Who Has/has Had a Housecleaner?

I have no idea what the going rates are but yes. The funny thing is you have to clean before they come and clean. Usually at that point it is pretty easy to finish the job. Thing is though if they are not coming it is hard to motivate anyone to do the pre clean.

It varies per service, level of service, size of home, and area in which you live. Will she/they do laundry? Will she charge you more at first and then less when you are at her maintenance level? Ask around.

Yes, we do a preclean in that we pick up the toys and such. She doesn't need to deal with that.

When I was growing up (in Garden Grove!) my mom had one come once a week. It was awesome! I have never had it in our budget to have one weekly, but I have paid to have a "team" come in and clean once or twice a year, kind of like spring/winter cleaning. Then we sort of try to keep up with it. But it is my goal to have a cleaner come AT LEAST once a week, if not twice, to do everyything, including the laundry and changing the sheets/towels, etc. I think its well worth the price. (and you have to call in your area, price varies) Good luck!!!

we had a private lady that did this out of her home. She didn't really own a business, but did it as a side job. She came 2 times a week for 3 hours each visit. We paid her 40$... her request. We tried her out, on a trial and that's what she named, after getting done. I thought it very reasonable for all she did. She did the stuff I dont like to do. Like dusting, vacuuming, getting cobwebs, wiping out cupboards, and the like. She was so great at mopping floors I never wanted to give her up. She stopped working cause she was pregnant. Now we are really good friends. I wish she would do it again :( cant find anyone else like her.

I have always had a house cleaner. When I lived in an apartment in NY my mother would pay for the house cleaner every other week. She cleaned, did my laundry, got groceries, took in the mail when we were away, babysat... she was great. I can't remember what we paid her. Currently my house cleaner comes once every other week and I pay her $75 per day to clean my 4 bedroom house. She does the basic dusting, mopping floors, vacuuming, bathrooms, kitchen, changes the sheets on the beds, etc. A couple of times a year she does the windows, cleans out the refrigerators or whatever else we need. I don't have her do laundry because I'm more particular about that now and like to do it myself. She cleans my brother's house too but charges $100 because it is much bigger and she does his laundry. If she came to my house every week, I would probably pay less each week because the house wouldn't be as messy. It all depends on what you need done, how big your house is, and how often you need someone to come. Hope this helps!

I paid $80 each time. She came every two weeks with 1 assistance. They spent around 4-5 hours... and my house is around 2000 sq ft.

Most will ask you what you want them to focus on. If they don't you need to tell them.

We have a lady come 2 times a month, 4-5 hours per time, $80/per time. (3 bedroom house, 2 1/2 baths)
I told her to focus 1st on bathrooms and the kitchen. They would be cleaned top to bottom. The bedrooms would be vaccummed and dusted. The 1st floor (living room, office, dining) would be swept, floors cleaned, and dusted.
Everything was straightened as she went, but she wouldn't actually put stuff away unless she knew where it went.
For an extra $25 we have her do windows, usually 3-4 times per year.
A friend who uses her as well asked her to focus on laundry, then bathrooms.

Before calling a couple different cleaning people or cleaning companies to get estimates make sure you really think about what you want accomplished when they come to clean. Make a list and that way you will be able to compare the quotes from the companies. Everybody likes different tasks accomplished in their homes when they have someone in to clean. The rates will vary around the country so it is hard to say what the fees would be in your area.
We have a team of two ladies that come every two weeks to clean. We have a 5000+ square foot home, 5 bedrooms, 6 baths. They are here for about 4 hours and it costs $160 each time. The going rate in our area is about $20 an hour. Our house is always straightened so they are just doing the actual cleaning when they are here but no windows.
Hope that helps, good luck finding great, reliable cleaning people!

We have a lady come every 2 weeks. We pay her $120, for 3000sq ft.

She dusts, does floors, vaccuums, cleans the bathrooms, changes the bed sheets and straightens up.

I have a cleaning lady that comes every other week. She charges $72 per visit and stays for 4 hours. She is pretty fast and does a decent job. She can almost clean my 3200 sq ft house in that time. I got her through Dana's housekeeping. After a few misses, I found her and so far it has been good. She always does whatever I ask her and sometimes helps me move furniture as well, I usually tip her about $5-$7 per visit.

I agree with the poster who said that the expensive services are not worth it. They do a good job first month or so and after that the quality goes down so much. I have tried so many cleaning services and I have paid upto $150 for my previous house which was only 2000 sq ft and have been so disappointed.

I have a 3200 sq ft house, my lady comes every other week, and I pay $90 per cleaning. She brings a helper and it takes her 3 hours to finish. She is not the best cleaning person in the world, but she's consistent, she gets the things done I want done, and she's cheap. I could get more done with a service, but that would cost me about $150 a visit. I've had services before and in my experience the first month or so they're great, then the quality falls off a bunch but you keep them around because it's such a pita to find a new cleaning person, lol.

She dusts, vacuums, mops, cleans all counters, all bathroom surfaces, bathroom mirrors, blinds, and changes the sheets on the beds. Things I would like but that she doesn't do: wipe down light switches/doorknobs/fridge handles, clean glass french doors inside home, clean insides of windows, rotate 1 bigger task per visit (clean oven, inside fridge, polish wood cabinets, etc etc etc). My last service did all those things, they even put away the kids laundry (kids loved that since it's one of their chores), but got very sporadic over time so I had to let them go.

I pay $75/week. they cost more if they only come once a month

Ten years ago I paid $60 to have my 3 bed/2 bath 1400 sq.ft. house cleaned every other week. It took about 4 hours for dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathrooms, baseboards and a couple of windows. An independent person was cleaning my house and not a service. A service typically costs more because of their insurance costs. Regardless, I'm sure the $20-$25 per hour is more reasonable now and an average single story So.Cal. house takes at least 4 hours. Charges are usually higher the less frequently you having the house cleaned. For example, if you have your house cleaned once a week, you can expect to pay less than if you have your house cleaned twice a month.

i don't...but would love for someone to come do my bathrooms!

i was paying $100 every 2 weeks. she brought either one or two other people with her and did the entire 2000 sq ft house. it was awesome. i was sad to let her go.

We pay $81 every other week. We have a 2 story, 1300 sq ft.condo. I know it depends on the amount of hours it takes to clean your house, so it will vary. We go through a company since I am wary of anyone who is not insured being in our house and having access to everything so it's worth it. She does the bathrooms, floors, kitchen including putting dishes away, dusting, changes the sheets on the beds. Pretty much everything and since my husband and I work full time it is definitely worth it.

Our (independent) housecleaner charges $100 for once a month visit, 4 br 2.5 ba house. She usually brings another person with her and they work 2 hours. They clean the bathrooms, kitchen (stove top, countertops, microwave, toaster oven, sink) dust, vacuum, sweep, mop, take the garbage out. We pick up toys and try to put away things before they come. Before that we hired the services of a housecleaning company and paid more.

I adore my house cleaner Carman. She has been with me many years. I gave her a raise last year when I remodeled my kitchen last year as the new 6 burner 2 oven stove is a professional style and takes a long time to clean and there are twice as many cabinets to dust. 2 of the 4 bedrooms are rarely used, but she cleans three bathrooms - the master being HUGE. The house is 3000 sq ft. with hardwood floors. She comes at 8:30 and stays until she is done - usually 3 hours if she has a partner with her or 4.5 if she is alone. I pay her $85.00 per visit and I think she is so so worth it!

My philosophy is this - if you have a cleaning person that is good, pay her well! She will take more care with your valuables and furniture if she is well compensated. If you want her phone number let me know in a private message. L.

I pay $25 an hour. It takes 6 hours to do my house. So $150 each time she comes. She does 3 bathrooms, vacuums the house (there are 4 bedrooms a hallway and a couple runners in the downstairs hallways) she sweeps and swiffers the woodfloors and mops the kitchen floors, she does the kitchen counters, sinks, appliances etc. she dusts the living / family / dining room and does all mirrors hanging in various rooms. oh she also makes my bed.