clean house

Had the house professionally cleaned today. Wish I could afford to do it all the time. It’s so nice to have it finished. Anyway, I still need to do the second part of my plan, which is to develop some kind of routine to help keep it up a little better (since I can’t afford twice a month).

Goal almost met!!!

I decided to go with my previous option #2. I have made an appointment for tomorrow to have my home professionally cleaned. So excited!!! I have quite a bit of work to do today, however, to get it ready. I will be making a lengthy visit to RealSimple.com to get some ideas about organizing and maintaining some measure of cleanliness this evening.

I have gone back and forth between doing this myself or paying someone. Though I’m still torn, I thought I would write out my thoughts and see if I come to some conclusion that way.
Obviously, I’m tired of doing the work by myself and it would be really easy to have someone else do it. Yet, when I look at some of the other goals on my list, $150 is a good chunk of change to put in a travel fund, or pay for some kind of lesson. So, what I may do is put at least that much money aside each month and I should be doing well on several of my goals. I may have to spend some time organizing a cleaning schedule and developing a routine to keep on top of all the crap.
I’m also thinking about a one time, get-er-done cleaning completed by a professional. What I’m having such a hard time making myself do is the deeper cleaning like cobwebs, corners, baseboards, toilets, etc. So do I want to invest in having someone come once or twice a month to do just that.
The other part of the delema includes the fact that I will have to continually clean the clutter and the toys, do the dishes and the laundry. I’m still going to have to do all of this so that the cleaning person can get to the surfaces he/she has to clean.

I NEED A FRICKIN’ MAID!!!

Alright summarize my choices:
1. Do the work myself according to a schedule/routine and save the
money to go specifically toward another/other goal(s).
2. Pay for a one time cleaning to get back on track. (After this a
schedule/routine would be necessary.)
3. Just have someone come once/twice a month and enjoy the extra
time and clean house.

I am struggling with the prospect of paying someone to clean my house. Yes, I’m very frustrated with the look of it and always having to do it myself, but do I really want to spend $100-$200 a month for someone else to clean?
Maybe I just need to get back on track. Have one good cleaning done and do my darndest to maintain it. More thinking to do.

to find my recently misplaced watch and rings (including my wedding ring).....YIKES!

So, the last volunteer came to give me an estimate today. Though prompt in her arrival, she is much more expensive than the first. $140 for the first (and once a month), $130 for twice a month, and $120 for weekly.
The half estimate is kind of here-say. My SIL pays $90 for twice a month from a lady who has done my house before. She’s trusted by several people I know and isn’t that much more expensive than the first estimate. I may call my aunt and get her number, maybe she can give me an estimate over the phone.
Also, my SIL mentioned that she may offer to split service. Meaning we pay the twice a month price and only get once a month service. I don’t see how that would really be fair on the cleaning lady. My SIL and her kids are really busy and rarely home, whereas I have a two-year-old and we’re home most of the time.
I’ve got a few more days to gather more information and make a decision.

I still need to (1) Call for one more estimate; and (2) figure out what’s really in my budget.

Ok, so almost an hour after they were supposed to arrive, I got my first estimate. First time $90, twice a month $80, once $90. Nice family.

I requested some folks to come give me a housekeeping estimate. They were supposed to be here at 9:00. Twenty minutes late…guess they don’t want to be hired.

As for what I have done so far, I have a “generally” clean main portion of my house. Meaning I cleaned enough for a dinner guest. I dusted, vacuumed, mopped kitchen floor, and cleaned up the clutter. Front bath got a quick mirror, counter, and toilet cleaning. As always the corners were skipped…

Where is that cleaning guy?

Ok, I’m really SICK of cleaning my house!!! I called to get some estimates on house cleaning today, so we’ll see how that goes. Looking at some of my other goals though, this may not be the best thing to spend my money on. There may be a one time cleaning done by a professional to get me back on track, but seriously!!! I clean almost everyday and an explosion seems to occur overnight!
My reasons for doing this are logical, I think. No one wants to live in a mess, I have a two-year-old that should have a clean environment, I don’t want people to come over and see it (but I want them to come over), etc. I’m just frustrated by this constant mess and the constant cleaning, but love the feeling of a clean house.

Anybody got any suggestions?