# Ask the housecleaner who specializes in squalor recovery **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 25, 2009, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518 "2009-12-25T03:21:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/41 "2009-12-26T20:40:31Z")
Okay, the background to the kitten incident. Now, sometimes when I’ve recovered a house, the client will ask me to come back on a regular basis to maintain order. Sometimes they just need the big tasks done, like mopping the floor that used to be hidden. Sometimes the mess does start creeping back. But in this case, the family seemed to do absolutely **nothing** for themselves. Every Saturday evening, I would leave a magazine ad. Every Saturday morning, I would return to an episode of **Cops**. But I was getting paid, and I liked them, so I cheerfully shoveled. After a little over a year, the husband left. I don’t know how much, if at all, the housekeeping situation had to do with it. The wife starts drinking (she’d been a sober alcoholic when this started). The house falls into even further disarray because the kids are being more rambunctious. I can no longer get it all done in eight hours. (Bear in mind, this was long enough ago that $9 was worth more. For one thing, gas was cheaper.) Outstanding features are dry cereal **freaking everywhere** , mats of clothes in the upstairs hallway, and paper plates of food in the living room, often precariously balanced. Mom starts bringing in her women friends to drink and smoke far in to the night. One stray woman starts living in the garage. The older daughter offers to help me clean, and says she wishes she lived somewhere else. I happen to know she’s close with her grandmother, who lives a bus ride away, and ask if living there would require changing schools. She researches the matter, announces her intention to mom, and leaves. The younger girl and even younger boy take over her room as a second playroom (they already had one). One day, mom’s sister is there instead of mom. She also offers to help, and takes over the garbage bag. She puts in handfuls of crud, and I notice that among the cereal puffs and crumpled tissues are toy pieces and playing cards. Me: B-but you can’t do that. Her: It’s just garbage. Me: But there are Lego bits in there. And jigsaw puzzle pieces. Her: So? You think they’ll notice? Me: Well, but I just can’t throw away stuff. It’s not mine. Her: I paid [mom]'s rent this month. I can throw away anything I want. Me: …okay. Her: … …Not mad at you. Me: I know. So it was a few weeks after that that I found the kitten. Like I said in the other thread, I lifted up a section of newspaper and found it lying there. I’ll never know exactly how it died, but the bottom line was, someone must have seen it was dead, and chose to simply drop the classified section over it instead of…I mean, they could have put it in one of the ten thousand grocery bags blanketing the landscape. And then it would have stayed there until I arrived, but even that’s more sanitary, and less disturbing. And would you believe, I kept the job. Because I cared about those kids, clueless as they were. I can’t blame them for following their mother’s example, and I wanted to be a good example for them. But it was only a few weeks later that mom decided to move up north, and I have zero idea what happened to them up there. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/42 "2009-12-26T20:41:32Z")
**Maggie** : Yes to both. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/43 "2009-12-26T20:47:48Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > \*So in all seriousness, what do you think I could get away with, for regular dust-sweep-mop, and for squalor? For what it’s worth, I have an about 2400 sq ft, 2 story house and I have a house keeper come every two weeks. She doesn’t do the (3) bedrooms, but she does everything else (most of which is covered in tile). Oh, she’ll do any dishes in or around the sink, dust everything, do any laundry left by the machine, clean the inside of the microwave/oven, organize shelvs, etc. She’s usually here 2-3 hours and I pay her $60. My understanding is that this is a steal (she’s been doing my dad’s house for 15 years, so she just charges me what she charges him). ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/44 "2009-12-26T20:59:13Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > Okay, okay; I’ll raise my rates! 😛 > > No, I don’t judge, except for the kitten incident, which I’ll get to in a moment. For one thing, it’s what you said last: a challenging job ends up paying more. For another, since my goal is to make the place presentable, I don’t have time to dwell on how it looked at first. > > I’ve had people greet me at the door half in tears, or trying to laugh away their embarrassment, and my response is always “It’s not that bad,” regardless of how bad it is. Followed by “And I’m here to help!” The thing is, as I’ve said in other threads, I was raised by slobs. My father is a hoarder, and my mom is one of those who gets uncomfortable if you do anything to disturb her beautiful chaos. I don’t have to live in these houses, and I’m effecting change, so it’s all good. > > **susan** : We were told at Merry Maids (and I know it wasn’t them who stole from you) never to make any comments about the house or furnishings. Not even complimentary ones. Because if one of us said “Oh, what a beautiful jade paperweight!” and then the beautiful jade paperweight went missing, guess what… > > **lissener** : I WISH we lived near each other. I could have made your home so sparkling (and you’d still have your Stetson…:(). > > **Hilarity** : No, I don’t do post-disaster. I’ve never been asked for a plumbing recommendation, either. Perhaps I should have one… > > **viva** and **hajario** : Well, I’m here when you/they are ready! How much would you pay? 😉 Well…it will never happen while she’s alive–unless one of her appliances catches on fire in the kitchen. In that case, she would be forced to take action. Will let you know. ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/45 "2009-12-26T22:12:53Z")
I pay my cleaning lady $17.50 an hour. So she comes for 4 hours once every two weeks and we give her $70 a pop. And that is for general sweeping, mopping, dusting, etc. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/46 "2009-12-26T23:23:51Z")
We now live in a high-end suburb in low-cost St. Louis. The going rate for good independent cleaners doing light work like dust, vac, mop floors, bathrooms, etc., is $20/person/hour. heavy work goes up from there. I grew up in LA. Cleaners there charged $9/hr when I was a kid in the 60s & early 70s. Raise your rates already. If Merry Maids & the like in your area are geting $50/hr, then that is the price people are willing to pay for cleaning. Charge that. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/47 "2009-12-26T23:34:23Z")
When you set your new rates, PM me with them. I may have a job for you. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/48 "2009-12-27T03:35:52Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > **Hilarity** : No, I don’t do post-disaster. I’ve never been asked for a plumbing recommendation, either. Perhaps I should have one… Just to clarify, Stink Inc. are not plumbers, they’re the ones who come when when the plumbers have finished, with big fans and antiseptic solutions. I hope I never need 'em again ::shudder:: but they were great. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/49 "2009-12-27T17:37:23Z")
I have friends who charge $15 a hour to do basic non-squalor cleaning. She has an independent, non-Merry-Maids type business. Marketing is all word-of-mouth and she’s busier than she’d like to be. I’m in the middle of cheap-living Indiana. LA would have to have a much higher cost of living than here. ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/50 "2009-12-28T00:02:18Z")
I think you could easily charge 2/3 of what Merry Maids, or the equivalent companies, charge. I worked for a maid service and most everyone I cleaned for liked having the same cleaner every time. You have that benefit. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/51 "2009-12-28T00:44:33Z")
Good lord, do you have a website? I pay my housecleaner $80 for my one-bedroom apartment and I am one of those “reasonably clean” peope who only wants the housekeeper to come in for vacuuming-cleaning the bathroom-wiping down counter. Basically I don’t do the “heavy duting” cleaning but I keep up after myself on a daily basis (no clothes on floor, dishes in the dishwasher etc.). It has never taken her longer than 1.5 hours to do my place and that was when I didn’t have her in for 3 or 4 months. I’m in Pasadena ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/52 "2009-12-28T00:46:37Z")
My mom’s two cleaning ladies take about 2-3 hours to clean up the house, no clutter, no carpeting, but quite a bit of dust, and the shutters get some grime. $50.00 once a month. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/53 "2009-12-28T01:30:10Z")
> [@anu-la1979](#): > > Good lord, do you have a website? Yes, it’s fairly new. ---
**Author:** ![gang\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f07891/32.png) [@gang\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gang_green)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/54 "2009-12-28T01:56:16Z")
As others have said, $9/hr is way too cheap. The cleaners I have used (and usually only when I’m moving) charge a sliding scale based on just how dirty the place is. I believe it ranges from about $20-$60/hr. My advice - one rate for regular, a higher rate for squalor. Personally, if I could get someone for $9/hr, I’d have someone in every week. Clinical depression plus a roommate that doesn’t know what clean is equals definite squalor. /sigh ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/55 "2009-12-28T15:17:47Z")
I wish you were in Ohio, and I wish my mom would call you. Great thresd. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/56 "2009-12-28T15:25:46Z")
OK, enough about the money. We have now established that $9/hour is inadequate. So how much of your work is squalor recovery vs. regular housecleaning? Do squalor types generally need constant maintenance from outside, or do they sometimes reform after getting a fresh start? And what would be your advice to the cluttery types who struggle with housekeeping, who live in fear of sliding into squalor? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/57 "2009-12-28T15:26:20Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > So, **Dung** , whatcha wanna know? Jeez, I think people already asked everything! I got here as fast as I could. 🙂 Hmmm…what made you decide to get into this line of work? ---
**Author:** ![tofergregg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@tofergregg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofergregg)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/58 "2009-12-28T15:33:45Z")
I know this seems a little banal for this thread, but what tools / cleaning supplies to you cart around? I assume you bring a vacuum of some sort (maybe not?); what kind do you use? Cool thread, btw. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/59 "2009-12-28T15:49:55Z")
To set your prices, I’d call a few people that are advertising on Craigslist in your area and ask them what they charge prer hour. That should help get you in the right ballpark. StG ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518/60 "2009-12-28T16:49:48Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > To set your prices, I’d call a few people that are advertising on Craigslist in your area and ask them what they charge prer hour. That should help get you in the right ballpark. > > StG This is good advice, you will probably easily find yourself in the $15-$20 range. Just start telling this to new clients, tell your old ones as of Feb 1, you will be increasing to $11. This way you retain most of them at a 20% higher rate, and new clients become more lucrative. Look at it as creating compensation for all of your non productive time like shopping for supplies, answering phone calls, traveling to and from job sites, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-housecleaner-who-specializes-in-squalor-recovery/522518.md?page=4)