Ok, I've been home sick on TPN for 4 months, and pretty much couch bound. I'm due to go in for surgery in two weeks, and have NO energy anymore to keep up with the house. DH is of no help, he is barely able to run the business and barely comes home anymore (addicted to online gameing), so I have to do what I have to do. (Whole other thread on that one...)
I do have three kids, but DD is so busy with school and finals now, and DS #1 is working full time weird hours, DS#2 is working FT and starting Trade School full time next week. I have three dogs, two cats..and alot of hair and the house is getting to me.

I did have a cleaning woman a few months back for only a few weeks. I had begun feeling poopy but was still working PT at that point, but she came once a week and cleaned, but she proved unreliable as to what day she could come, didn't drive, had to run out the door when her "ride" came to get her, done or not, so I discontinued service with her.

We live in a suburban area, and don't have the time to search out a cleaning woman per se, and the papers have been no help. So I'm going to call a service called "The Maids" tomorrow to get a quote. We are in Orange County NY, and it would only be a few rooms right now. My room will eventually be added to the list, but it is so disorganized right now, that I am going to have to have DD help me organize it before someone could actually go in and clean it.
Therefore it is the Family Room, which is a good size, the entire area above a two car garage if that gives you any idea. There are 20 windows in here, and I'd eventually want all the windows to be done, but not of utmost importance now. There is my kitchen, bathroom, and Living Room. Only one area carpet in the famiy room, the rest is hardwood, or laminate floors. Bathroom is small. Are there any specific things I should ask the service? do they normally use their own products? The cleaning woman used what I wanted her to use, and I would leave it out each week. I do like that these people said they clean the floors manually vs. the mop, which I like done once a week to keep the gunk off the edges. I'm thinking every two weeks would be good to start..depending on the price. I might even ask them to come once this week, and next week and then for sure while I'm in the hospital so that things will be clean when I come out. After that I might change to once every two. Anybody else have a service, or work for one?

I know it's going to be expensive, but with DH's lack of help, I'm doing what I have to do and that's that. I barely want to ask him to drive me to the hospital for surgery. TIA for your help guys..your a great bunch.

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Eileen

**Some people are like Slinky's, not really good for anything, but you can't help laugh when you see one tumble down the stairs**

Hi, we're not too far from you, in Sussex County, NJ and we have a cleaning lady. I saw recently that someone posted a wanted on Freecycle and maybe that would be a good way to get references? My cleaning lady doesn't go far enough for you though, sorry!

When she first started she had a thourough clean for the first time and charged a lot for that first visit. Now she comes every other week and charges $85. We have no pets, but do have a 3500 sq. ft. house, so still a lot for her to do. She doesn't dust the bedrooms (she isn't really supposed to even vaccum upstairs, but she does, I on;y pay her for the 3 bathrooms and the downstairs)or do windows.

I supply the cleaning supplies, but if she has something she really likes, she brings it in. I do give her lots of extras, like some free after coupon stuff, things like that, which is why she does extra for me. I really love a cleaning lady and we have had her for 4 years now. SHe always comes at 8:00AM on Tuesday mornings and is very reliable. In the winter when we couldn't afford her, she would even skip a week and not make me feel bad about it.

Good luck with your search, personal referances are the best bet.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer