Oh thank you, thank you - I'm truly not lazy or too genteel to clean my own house - it's just that I work hard and really appreciate domestic support!
And by the way, when you do get a cleaning person, remember to treat them well. Greet them or leave friendly notes (not just a list of tasks); leave them nourishing treats; invite them to make a cup of tea or relax for a few minutes between tasks; be reasonable in your demands (after all - how well did you clean before they arrived?); and remember, if you can set aside the money to hire a cleaning person, you can also afford to pay them fairly and tip them every once in a while to show your appreciation.
Oh and one last thing - read Jan Wong's expose on living the life of a cleaning lady (Globe and Mail), look yourself in the mirror and promise never, ever to resemble any of the "bosses" she describes - you are not on this earth to exploit others to make your own life better!
Danielle LaPorte
· 1 year ago
Yes! TREAT THEM WELL. Cleaning is such a caring service. I think it's noble work, actually and tips, prezzies, thank you notes...all essential. xo Danielle
stuartswing
· 1 year ago
Thanks for another great Friday Focus. I always enjoy getting your weekly reminders to slow down, play more and invest in my own life as well as the lives of others. I love your advice to hire a cleaning person and I often encourage clients and friends to do just this.
Last fall I finally decided to try to fit in an extra billable hour or two per week so that I could squeeze a cleaning allowance into my budget, and I must admit that it felt good to leave my home with two industrious 'green-cleaners' hard at work making my home spic and span.
But the funny thing is that when I tried to take my own advice, I found that I felt disconnected from my home. I realized in an even more real way how much I enjoy the weekly ritual of 'out with the old and in with the new', how I like relating to my home in a tactile way - seeing and touching every corner of my home on a weekly basis - feeling deeply related to the space that I inhabit.
This reminded me of spending time in Bali where shopkeepers and homeowners practice this ritual on a daily basis. Sweeping out yesterday's old and tired energy, inviting in the new by placing brightly coloured offerings of flowers to the beneficent spirits at their front doors.
In recent weeks I have noticed how when I don't engage in this weekly ritual, I become cranky, out of sorts, or discombobulated in some way, but when I do have this weekly-check in, I feel more organized, more in touch with my feeling and more aware of the feelings and the presence of others in my life.
So while I still wholeheartedly endorse hiring cleaners, I would also invite others to consider the practice of cleaning as meditation, being present to the joy that can come from being fully engaged in any activity, and perhaps connecting with their home in a way that sets the intention for the experiences they would like to have in the coming week.
Thanks again for facilitating this great dialogue!
CeCe
· 1 year ago
Hi Stuart. This is such a beautiful reminder to connect with our homes and the things we love. And I find that doing my own dusting and cleaning encourages me to keep surface clutter down, and to stay organized. It calms me, and in the end, it's very satisfying. (I would, however, like to hire someone to clean my windows.)
Danielle LaPorte
· 1 year ago
Hello Dear Stuart! agree...cleaning can be very Zen. Folding laundry calms my mind... Love Danielle
Mondee
· 1 year ago
Carrie and Danielle you are so right. I clean houses for a living. So many of my clients don't have the time or the energy to clean their homes properly every week or every other week. It makes me feel good to know that I provide a service that allows them to concentrate on their families. I clean their homes as if I were cleaning my own home. No, that's not true, I do a better job at their house because I am proud of my work (and I'm getting paid). You can hire a maid on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or even a every three week basis. I typically charge about $50 ot 60 for a half-days work. The minimum for a small house or condo is $30. So your price estimates are right on. A maid who is good at it and has been doing this for a while can go at a much quicker pace than you could ever dream. I agree with the earlier blogger about treating your help right. Even if I just get a joyful note, it makes my whole day. I typically get paid when services are rendered. But lately, people have been "forgetting to pay" and mailing a check later, this may be due to the economic difficulties some people are facing because of gas prices. However, the best thing to do for your maid is to tell her what a good job she does as often as you can. On the flip side, I am getting ready to hire a maid for my own home. I'm like you girls. I just don't have time to clean my house. How funny, huh? I look forward to the day when I get home from work and don't have to do a thing but pet my dog and watch tv. Not mention, enjoy the clean feeling that I provide for so many others.
Danielle LaPorte
· 1 year ago
don't suppose you're in Vancouver? I'm looking for a cleaner! Which is how the Friday Focus discussion got started in the first place! Love Danielle
canadiancp
· 1 year ago
Oh, Danielle - I can give you the name of a wonderful woman in Vancouver - she doesn't just clean my house, she keeps house. Despite my protests, I often come home to fresh flowers (she observes closely and knows I love white!), a Starbucks card or some other wonderful treat. She is truly a gift that I would love to share with others!
Vantage BizServices Nancy Beth
· 1 year ago
I agree fully with you ladies! I am sooo happy to see you promoting this idea because we women are certainly worth it! Too many women are slaves to their homes - this comes from the traditional mindset that people judge us as 'women' based on the cleanliness of our homes - this is old school thinking. Outsource ladies - free up your time so you can spend it doing something you love or with people you love or on a special project. Invest this time in yourselves, relationships and business - it's worth it - you are worth it!
Equipping Entrepreneurs & Small Business for Success
Cobby
· 1 year ago
My mother told me for years that getting Domestic Support would be the best money I had ever spent. I didn't listen to her for a long time. As a result, I would start cleaning, notice the baseboards were dirty, proceed to clean every baseboard in the house and get nothing else cleaned. It was miserable.
My Domestic Supporter is able to look at my home objectively without getting caught up in my cleaning obsessions or compulsions. I can still contribute by doing additional in-depth cleaning when I am able, but she adds a level of cleanliness to my home that I might otherwise never achieve. It's just important to be clear, concise, communicative and reasonable about one's expectations.
FInding good Domestic Support really is the absolute best money that one can spend. Having that assistance has dramatically improved my life and that of my spouse.
Karryn Ransom
· 1 year ago
Me too! Me too! Oh please! Who is this treasure?
I've tried to give away my money three times this year already. Three different housekeepers made a date and flaked out.
If they had actually arrived and run screaming then I'd clue in, but they never even made it to my house. WHY? Now I'm desperate.
All Comments
And by the way, when you do get a cleaning person, remember to treat them well. Greet them or leave friendly notes (not just a list of tasks); leave them nourishing treats; invite them to make a cup of tea or relax for a few minutes between tasks; be reasonable in your demands (after all - how well did you clean before they arrived?); and remember, if you can set aside the money to hire a cleaning person, you can also afford to pay them fairly and tip them every once in a while to show your appreciation.
Oh and one last thing - read Jan Wong's expose on living the life of a cleaning lady (Globe and Mail), look yourself in the mirror and promise never, ever to resemble any of the "bosses" she describes - you are not on this earth to exploit others to make your own life better!
xo
Danielle
Last fall I finally decided to try to fit in an extra billable hour or two per week so that I could squeeze a cleaning allowance into my budget, and I must admit that it felt good to leave my home with two industrious 'green-cleaners' hard at work making my home spic and span.
But the funny thing is that when I tried to take my own advice, I found that I felt disconnected from my home. I realized in an even more real way how much I enjoy the weekly ritual of 'out with the old and in with the new', how I like relating to my home in a tactile way - seeing and touching every corner of my home on a weekly basis - feeling deeply related to the space that I inhabit.
This reminded me of spending time in Bali where shopkeepers and homeowners practice this ritual on a daily basis. Sweeping out yesterday's old and tired energy, inviting in the new by placing brightly coloured offerings of flowers to the beneficent spirits at their front doors.
In recent weeks I have noticed how when I don't engage in this weekly ritual, I become cranky, out of sorts, or discombobulated in some way, but when I do have this weekly-check in, I feel more organized, more in touch with my feeling and more aware of the feelings and the presence of others in my life.
So while I still wholeheartedly endorse hiring cleaners, I would also invite others to consider the practice of cleaning as meditation, being present to the joy that can come from being fully engaged in any activity, and perhaps connecting with their home in a way that sets the intention for the experiences they would like to have in the coming week.
Thanks again for facilitating this great dialogue!
agree...cleaning can be very Zen. Folding laundry calms my mind...
Love
Danielle
You can hire a maid on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or even a every three week basis. I typically charge about $50 ot 60 for a half-days work. The minimum for a small house or condo is $30. So your price estimates are right on. A maid who is good at it and has been doing this for a while can go at a much quicker pace than you could ever dream.
I agree with the earlier blogger about treating your help right. Even if I just get a joyful note, it makes my whole day. I typically get paid when services are rendered. But lately, people have been "forgetting to pay" and mailing a check later, this may be due to the economic difficulties some people are facing because of gas prices. However, the best thing to do for your maid is to tell her what a good job she does as often as you can.
On the flip side, I am getting ready to hire a maid for my own home. I'm like you girls. I just don't have time to clean my house. How funny, huh? I look forward to the day when I get home from work and don't have to do a thing but pet my dog and watch tv. Not mention, enjoy the clean feeling that I provide for so many others.
Love
Danielle
Nancy Beth Guptill
http://vantagebizservices.blogspot.com/
Equipping Entrepreneurs & Small Business for Success
My Domestic Supporter is able to look at my home objectively without getting caught up in my cleaning obsessions or compulsions. I can still contribute by doing additional in-depth cleaning when I am able, but she adds a level of cleanliness to my home that I might otherwise never achieve. It's just important to be clear, concise, communicative and reasonable about one's expectations.
FInding good Domestic Support really is the absolute best money that one can spend. Having that assistance has dramatically improved my life and that of my spouse.
I've tried to give away my money three times this year already. Three different housekeepers made a date and flaked out.
If they had actually arrived and run screaming then I'd clue in, but they never even made it to my house. WHY? Now I'm desperate.