by Taylor Shay

Created on: September 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 09, 2011

I could write an entire book on what to expect when you hire a maid. I've made every mistake possible, because I was new to the "household help" game and I was much too willing to accept a less-than-wonderful job of cleaning. There are professionals in every career, and cleaning people are no different.

There was the woman who thought it was perfectly OK to have her boyfriend over and drink all of the beer in the refrigerator. I was not at home during the day at that time and dropped in unexpectedly to find them partying in my living room. ASK FOR REFERENCES so you don't have one of these unexpected surprises!

My favorite maid story happened at a time when I had two grade-school children living at home, three cats and two dogs. I needed help - BADLY. So, I hired this nice, timid woman and she arrived the first day and began to work. About noon, I noticed she was missing. A broom and dustpan, complete with a pile of sweepings, was in my entryway - but no cleaning lady anywhere. I thought at first that she had gone to find some lunch. But when three o'clock rolled around, I had the distinct feeling that she had gone running from my house and wasn't going to return that day. In fact, she never returned, called or picked up her pay for the work she did the first part of that day! I know my home was challenging. But that was the one and only time a maid ran screaming from my house, never to be seen again!

After that experience, I went through many mediocre cleaning people. They got to work each week and went through the motions, but they weren't wonderful cleaning people. Finally, I found the perfect cleaning lady. Here's why, and you should accept no less:

1. She cleans thoroughly. She loves to clean! She is a professional and makes it to work every single day unless she is too sick to get out of bed.

2. She actually looks "up" and cleans the high corners and tops of picture frames.

3. I didn't expect her to do windows, but this woman insists that when she has extra time, she has to do them because they "look bad" - and that reflects on her. (I LOVE HER!)

4. I trust her completely with my home and my things. She is the first cleaning person I've ever let iron my clothes and expensive table linens.

5. Our family respects her. She is proud of her work and I complement her often. She knows and understands the boundaries between employer and employee.

6. She wipes down the outdoor patio furniture table tops, but I don't ask her to do anything else outdoors with the exception of polishing the outside of the front door.

7. She does as much laundry as she can do during the hours she is at my home. I prefer to do my own special clothing, however. She irons the pieces that I ask her to do.

8. She cleans the inside of the refrigerator and empties the ashes from the fireplace. But I would not ask her to take care of the outdoor grill.

9. Although she does wash the linens when we have house-guests, I would never ask her to do their laundry.

10. I would never ask my cleaning lady to change the cat's liter box.

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