Save money on housecleaning! (Part 3)

By mudlark • October 5th, 2008

We’ve told you how to save money by making your own cleaning products and how to save on commercially-available cleaning products. But if you pay someone to clean your home, here are some tips to keep the price down there too.

First, the less clutter there is the faster they’ll be able to clean. In other words, go through and declutter your house, then renegotiate your price. Here’s the kicker though – anything out that isn’t furniture is considered clutter in our book. Picture frames, the vase Aunt Edna gave you on your wedding, and the eclectic decorative accents you picked up in Cabo. Basically if they have to pick it up, dust it, clean under it, and replace it – it’s what a maid calls clutter. You may not want to rethink your whole decorative style at home, but if you’re looking to save some green put away anything you’re not really attached to.

Along the same lines, avoid giving them extra tasks. Sure, they’ll probably be willing to handle a few dishes in the sink or fold a load of laundry, but that will require their time and that means money for you. The fewer tasks you assign to them the lower your bill will be.

Second, if you’re thinking you can’t afford a maid you may be mistaken. Most companies and individual maids have a minimum fee they charge to clean. In other words, they don’t take a job below a certain number – it isn’t worth their while. But you may be able to get your bill down to that minimum by negotiating what they’ll do in your home. Maybe you don’t need them to change your linens or clean the dining room you use twice a year. Have them concentrate on areas you really need help with and you can do the rest yourself between cleanings. Be aware that bathrooms and kitchens take the most time, and therefore represent the lion’s share of your cleaning cost. Hardwood and tiles floors take time too, so if you don’t mind vacuuming or sweeping yours and mopping them on your own, that’ll save you a bunch.

Third, traffic on your floors increases the time your maids spend at your home. If you take your shoes off when you enter the house it’ll serve a dual purpose – it’ll keep your floors cleaners and it’ll help with allergies since we bring in allergens on our shoes and track them through the house. When your floors are cleaner your housekeepers can do their job more quickly and saved time for them means saved money for you.

Lastly, dust is big. Do what you can to reduce dust and debris – change your air filters every 3 months, and every time you change them clean or change your doormats too. When you remove anything from storage unpack it outside and dust it off before brining it into your home. Keep your pets groomed and combed well so that you trap as much of their shedding as possible. Better for it to be in your brush than your air! These tips will help you reduce the allergens in your house too.

Remember, your housekeeping service charges you based on the amount of time necessary to clean your home. The more streamlined it is for them the less you’ll pay. And while we’re on the topic, the cheapest service isn’t always the best option. If you’re going to foot the bill you should be satisfied with the service. If you’re not, look elsewhere. The great thing about this – for consumers – is that there’s plenty of competition out there. You should be able to find someone who will do the job right no matter where you are.

Comments(2) Cleaning tips, Hiring help

Comments

By Rika Susan At Home on October 6th, 2008 at 7:09 am

This is a very useful post! The tips are easy to follow and are sure to save us money on cleaning. Thanks! We do most of our work ourselves, but there are times when it is just necessary to get some help. With a bit of planning and common sense, the day can be less expensive and the work done in no time.

By Roger Hamilton on October 6th, 2008 at 11:23 am

This is a great post. The information is very useful. Thanks for the tips.