It helps to understand what exactly a housekeeper is before deciding upon a task list for your new housekeeper. The standard tasks of any housekeeper include dusting, vacuuming, cleaning floors and surfaces and keeping the bathroom, kitchen and all other designated areas of the house spick and span.
The second is to clearly state your expectations during the hiring process. When you finally hire a housekeeper, there are certain tasks they should never be expected to do. We’ve identified 5 chores you should never ask a housekeeper to do:
1. Personal Errands
Have you ever asked your housekeeper to help with shopping for groceries, house/pet/baby sitting or picking up the kids from school? These types of responsibilities are not in the job description of a typical cleaning person. If you need jack-of-all trades, make sure you’re clear in the job description and look for people with a wider skill set. You can also post a job for someone to help with errands and odd jobs.
2. Heavy Lifting & Climbing
Moving boxes and heavy furniture is definitely in the no category. You don’t want a housekeeper getting hurt. Different housekeepers and cleaning companies have different policies on what they will and won’t do.
Whether it’s hopping on the countertop or a chair, your housekeeper should never have to climb to clean. She could get injured, which is a major liability for you. If you need such surfaces to be cleaned, say high windows, hire a service that is better equipped to tackle such a job. They’ll also be insured in the case an accident does happen.
3. Clearing Up Before Cleaning
If you hire a housekeeper for a specific time frame, use the time wisely by picking up clothes or dishes beforehand. This way, she can focus on actually cleaning your home. If you want to pay her to fold your laundry, that’s up to you — but you may not be making the most of her skills.
4. Add-Ons
Things like cleaning out your refrigerator, scrubbing the oven and doing laundry are often above-and-beyond for most housekeepers. If these tasks are part of your requirements, be prepared to pay extra. Also, cleaning up cat boxes, pet accidents and spoiled food items left on counters or sinks are not usually tasks left by the homeowner for housekeepers to complete.
5. Cooking
In no way should your housekeeper be expected to cook your family meals. If this is something you’re looking for, think about employing a full-time domestic worker to care for your entire home. Part-time housekeepers work for multiple households throughout the course of the week, leaving little time to whip up some grub for your clan.
While these are merely suggestions on what to exclude from your list of tasks for your housekeeper, they are not set in stone. You can always offer your housekeeper more responsibility in exchange for a bonus or raise. Just be sure to keep the lines of communication open so that you’re both on the same page.