How much should my Maid be doing?

My maid (been with us for one month) came up to us to say that she is leaving, because she is allergic to my pets. I'm now back to square one looking fr a new maid, might be for the best anyways since the current one was forgetting rooms.

I wouldnt know what to do with a full time maid. When I get a part-timer to come in, most of the list below is covered in 2 hours (except for cleaning inside cabinets and cleaning window). As they are minimum 4 hours, I then start her on my ironing. Sometimes all that is done too before 4 hrs ends, and I have had to scratch my head to come up with something else to do like cleaning the fridge out, lol.

Trying to be patient, i rarely get upset...

I think that is quite a lot per day although it depends on how quickly they work but all these things should be done throughout the week. I have done a list now of what things I want done each day. I told her this morning that I want her to do some more things and do things differently and she said I already do a 12 hour day!! I had to laugh! I have figured out a 9 hour day for her I don't think that is to much to ask for considering she has 2 days off a week?! Mine has 2 days off too, she wakes up at 8:00 am i leave for work at 8:15 when im back home at 5:30 she is already n her room and i find rooms of the house being forgotten, dust and dirt behind furniture, if i clean the house the way she does it will take me a max of 1 hr. i didnt say anything for the first 2 weeks, as maybe she needed time to settle in, but now its getting a little too much. We dont have children and we go to bed at 10pm, how much mess can we do in 4 hrs of being home? that she needs a whole day to clean it up.

Have same problem with mine, she has just joined us a month ago, and i come home to an entire room being forgotten twice already.... (she does tell me "sorry mam, i forgot) Did a little search online this morning, found this, it seems fair, no? Or maybe a little too much? Living Area, Hallways, Stairs: * All Areas Dusted * Furniture Vacuumed * Hardwood/Tile Floors Mopped/Dried * Carpet Vacuumed/Edged * Baseboards Dusted * Cobwebs Removed * Window Sills Wiped Down * Spot Clean Walls * Wipe Switch Plates * Glass Tables Cleaned * Picture Frames Dusted * Lamp Shases Dusted Bedrooms: * Carpet Vacuumed/Edged * Linen Changed * Beds Made * All Areas Dusted * Picture Frames Dusted * Mirrors Cleaned * Windo Sills Wiped * Spot Clean Walls * Clean Switch Plates, * Empty Trash * Wipe Baseboards * Lampshades Dusted Kitchen: * Countertops/Backsplash Cleaned * Cabinet Fronts Wiped * Sinks Scrubbed/Disinfected * Floor Vacuumed/Mopped/Dried * Outside Of Appliances Wiped * Small Appliances Wiped * Window Sills Cleaned * Baseboards Dusted or Wiped * Spot Wipe Walls * Trash Emptied * Dishes Washed * Shelves/Cabinets (inside & out) * Wash Or Dust Table and Chairs * Clean Switchplates * Dust walls & cobwebs Bathroom: * Sink Cleaned, Disinfected * Tub/Shower Tiles Cleaned * Chrome Fixtures * Toilet Cleaned/Disinfected * Vanity Top * Countertop Items Organized * Towels Changed * Mirrors Cleaned * Window Sills Wiped Down * Wipe Baseboards * Vacuum/Mop/Dry Floor * Clean Switchplates * Dust Walls & Remove Cobwebs

Getting back to original post and away from the slating of mothering styles. We are in nearly the exact same position. Have had helper for 19 months, toddler went to nursery 4 months ago, asked her at the time if she was happy to revert to cleaning, a lot less childcare as I changed to part time work as well. [i'>Yes, yes, yes - you have paid for my house, I don't ever want to work for another family bla bla bla[/i'> The house was never super clean and tidy, but we let that go as we said that childcare was always first priority before nursery was commenced. We are now just being taken for a ride - my husband did a list of day to day tasks - ultra specific, (he is a Virgo German), they got stuck to for a week and then it all just slid again. Got home from a week's holiday - there is congealed food in fridge, off milk, yoghurts etcetec. Dust and toys everywhere under lounges, behind cabinets. Washing still on line. When my husband asked her yesterday to stop skyping and come and work she said he 'was just like an Arab boss'. I wonder how many Arab bosses pay for maids to go home to see kids every 3 months, pay triple legal rate and many many other perks. She is getting notice today. I have always advocated for maids and cringed when I have read some things on here, but now realise we have created a monster out of our misguided kindness, generosity and 'white woman' guilt. Rein it in now or your situation will turn into ours - me coming home from work and spending time washing up and folding clothes while she palys with my baby! Yeah, I know I am stupid. Sit her down, tell her that this is her first formal warning, print out a list of specific tasks, be clear that she is not indispensable and you will have a review in a month. (We did do the above, but it hasn't worked, but at least we know that we have given more than enough awareness that games must be lifted) Good luck with new bub, you are going to have enough on your hands without stress and ******** of bad behaviour.

well, you've got a problem ... isn't there a saying that idleness is the work of the devil or something? The first thing I would do is put her through "maid's bootcamp" - give her an impossibly long list of work to do and check to see how much she gets done. My housekeepers help me - whenever I need it ... Last night, that meant helping me give medicine to a sick baby at 1am and then being up at 5am to look after said baby while I went horse riding. Today will be a bit quieter since we are all tired, but they will still help during the day and won't go to bed until dinner is finished and cleaned up. You are getting taken advantage of - paying fulltime for parttime help and that will have to stop before your new baby comes. You go horse riding whilst your child is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FFS.... and need your maid to administer medicine, how heavy is a spoon of Calpol????? First of all, horse riding is the only thing that I do for me - the rest of the time I spend my life looking after everyone else, so yes, I go riding come rain or shine. The kid survived and had a happier mom as well. Second, when I am holding a sick baby who doesn't want to be put down, who is going to fetch the medicine from the medicine box and measure the medicine? What would you do, leave the kid on the floor? Are you one of those holier-than-thou, must-do-it-all-yourself mothers? 'Cause I don't believe in martyrdom ...

well, you've got a problem ... isn't there a saying that idleness is the work of the devil or something? The first thing I would do is put her through "maid's bootcamp" - give her an impossibly long list of work to do and check to see how much she gets done. My housekeepers help me - whenever I need it ... Last night, that meant helping me give medicine to a sick baby at 1am and then being up at 5am to look after said baby while I went horse riding. Today will be a bit quieter since we are all tired, but they will still help during the day and won't go to bed until dinner is finished and cleaned up. You are getting taken advantage of - paying fulltime for parttime help and that will have to stop before your new baby comes. You go horse riding whilst your child is sick!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FFS.... and need your maid to administer medicine, how heavy is a spoon of Calpol?????

Is her contract due to be renewed any time soon? That would be a good precursor for a "Review" of what is being done and what you feel you need improved (gives her motivation to actually pull her socks up too). Otherwise - even the fact that you're expecting is a great "Excuse" to bring up the topic of the things you would like her to be doing to help you during your tiring pregnancy and once the new baby comes along. Definitely make a list of things you expect to be done, and perhaps even a basic weekly timetable for things you expect to be done each day as a minimum. Don't slave her - but certainly dont feel bad to be expecting her to do the fulltime work that you employ her for. I was surprised by your comment that you spend time tidying up - that is her job. Many women juggle work with cleaning the house and caring for their children. She should at absolute minimum be covering all manner of household cleaning/tidying. Some people require cooking/childminding on top of this - but thats up to you. If she is working fulltime at doing that job and still isnt acheiving it - time to pull her socks up or look for someone else. <em>edited by punchbiffpow on 02/01/2012</em>

well, you've got a problem ... isn't there a saying that idleness is the work of the devil or something? The first thing I would do is put her through "maid's bootcamp" - give her an impossibly long list of work to do and check to see how much she gets done. My housekeepers help me - whenever I need it ... Last night, that meant helping me give medicine to a sick baby at 1am and then being up at 5am to look after said baby while I went horse riding. Today will be a bit quieter since we are all tired, but they will still help during the day and won't go to bed until dinner is finished and cleaned up. You are getting taken advantage of - paying fulltime for parttime help and that will have to stop before your new baby comes.