OK, bear with me this is a dumb question, but it's causing me anxiety.

Over the last year I've had 2 surgeries and countless other things that have caused me to backslide on deep cleaning my home. I'm at the point that I can't catch up and the grime has gotten the best of me.

I'm considering hiring a cleaning lady for one or two sessions to help me get my house back into shape. I really only need her for the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room. I think I can take it from there, because those 3 areas are really the ones that are bothering me, and are at the point I can't clean them more.

My anxiety is coming from the concern that if I can get someone to take on my mess, is she gonna be disgusted by what she sees here, and have me down on her list of worst places she's visited. I have an anxiety disorder so, everything is gonna make me anxious.

Mind you my home isn't gross or unhealthy by any means, it's "clean" it's just not "CLEAN".. kwim? Right now I'm at the point I cry thinking about having to clean under the burners of the stove and under the stove and fridge because it hasn't been done in so long, I can't get all the crap out of the corners of the kitchen floor (can't stay on my knees long enough to do it right) and it hurts to get down to clean the bathroom right. We live WAY out in the country, so we have mice and bugs, it's a fact of life out here. They're pretty much under control but they've left their messes and it needs to be cleaned up and I can't do it. I just noticed a big spider web in the corner of the room again, I can clean that up, but I'm sure the cleaning lady will find more here.

I'm pretty good at the mopping, sweeping, wiping down and keeping things safe and acceptable, I just can't do the grunt work and bending and the deep cleaning.

What I'm trying to ask is, what's the worst a cleaning lady will take on?

Will cleaning ladies turn tail and run at the sight of the mouse droppings? (I will warn them) My fridge hasn't been moved since I moved in 2 years ago, I don't wanna know what's under there, will she mind?? I can't reach the window sill in one of the rooms, so it's a mess with dead bugs I'm sure will she clean that?

Thank you for any input you have, and for reading through my embarrassing confession.

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WAHM of 7!

Hey!
You're in luck! I actually own a cleaning business!

If you're looking for a deeper clean, don't look under "maid service" in the phone book, or internet...search "cleaning service".
Don't worry about what your house looks like, this is what we do!
We realize that most no one cleans as deeply as we do in their own homes....
I'd hate to see under my own fridge!
Don't freak out...just call and make the appointment, and tell them precisely what you're needing. Let us know how they do!

I am sure they have seen alot worse!! I agree call, tell them what you need and let them work!!


Good luck to you!

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~Happiness is a large family~

I wouldn't worry! I used to clean houses in high school and college and I saw all kinds of things! Didn't phase me one bit!

Thank you ladies!!! You're the best!

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WAHM of 7!

Do remember that many professional cleaning people are hired by family members of the elderly or invalid to clean-up after people who not only can't clean for themselves but also have other problems that tend to make the house messier than average. I know my MIL and my grandmother each had a hard time making it to the toilet on time. That takes cleaning a bathroom up to a whole new level.

Mouse droppings are nothing. I don't know any house that doesn't have mouse droppings somewhere. Some we can reach - and clean away - and some we can't. For instance, when we were replacing the kitchen floor the contractor found some mouse droppings in my kitchen and made a comment about them. Well duh. I couldn't clean those up until the floor was removed. Turns out that contractor wasn't very experienced. My brother-in-law is a contractor and he said they regularly find dead animals in houses when they are doing remodelling.

Your home is probably lovely (heck, I have cobwebs too!) and your anxiety disorder is making you think it is much worse than it actually is. My experience with housecleaners is they like to come in, usually with a helper, to do one big deep cleaning of the entire house. They charge more for the first deep cleaning. They then charge a standard amount for the weekly, every other week, monthly cleaning. Consider having the housecleaner continue to come at least monthly to help you out. You'll love it. Let them do all the dusting and vacuuming, too.

My last piece of advice ... hire an individual, not a service. If you have a hard time finding an individual, ask a local janitorial supply who they would recommend.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

In my former work life I used to have conversations with our various cleaning crews. They're pretty tough people and can handle just about anything. Only one woman I knew literally ran from a job: She was cleaning somewhere and had to wipe up under a refridgerator. Apparently she disturbed a nest of roaches and they went running everywhere, including up the cleaning lady's arm! She said her feet didn't touch the ground as she was running out of that place.

I'm sure your home isn't as dirty as you think it is. We're always our own worst critics. Heck, my refridgerator hasn't been out of it's spot in over 7 years. No telling what's residing under there!

How about a home that is just cluttered, especially with kid's stuff? My cleaning service I used years ago said they don't pick up and organize stuff, they just clean.

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I do cleaning jobs, and never have had to run from a job either.. I have cleaned cottages in the spring to open up for the summer season, and yes there are dead mice, droppings , spiders, NO ROACHES though( i might have run though if I saw roaches, I would just be scared of bringing them to my house lol) Personally I wouldnt be judging you , I would just do it.. My home is far from perfectly clean.

I also have helped in organizing a home once.. It did take alot longer than I had thought it would.. I felt like I was on Clean house. lol It was really nice to see the room all nice and neat, and organized.. I was pretty proud of myself.. The owner loved it too..

I place in add in the local paper.. I would look there first or sometimes on Craigs list ppl put there listings on there.. Just make sure to check out references.

Just make the call~

You will feel so much better

If you can afford it I would definately keep them on monthly or every other week. MY DH convinced me (I wanted to be supermom and superwife etc etc etc) to get a cleaning lady. They come every other week. It is great because I can focus on the bigger jobs (organizing, purging, cleaning the oven etc) and spend more time with my kiddos.