@sharonkhoo great advice and much appreciated! Hope it won’t recur again in my household.

Hi all! Four years ago, my helper of 17yrs had a stroke and subsequently, she returned to the Philippines. Was left with a bill of over $20-25k, but her insurance only covered $15k. I submitted the claims but haven’t heard back from the hospital or insurance company all these years later since 2022. The insurance company essentially ghosted me so I really don’t know if my claim was successful as well. Can I assume the case has been “written off”? (for lack of a better term) I hope this won’t come back to haunt me. My son said it’s pretty common practice in the US for this to happen and they won’t claw back the outstanding fees, but I’m not taking chances. Since then, I’ve opted for the highest insurance coverage for my current helper, instead of the very basic plan. Yet I find myself living in uncertainty with this at the back of my mind. For anyone who’s had domestic helpers who’ve had accidents or fallen critically sick, have you any experiences to share when making claims?

@lakshmiSG563 I spent $500 on bedbugs treatments for my 4rm flat. Every treatment was 45mins, thereafter the house had to be vacated for 2-3hrs after treatment. The warranty was for 4mths after all sessions. Session (ie., every visit down means there is no live bug activity or bites thereafter). I did mine with Jet Solutions. Yup, not endorsing them either but they were a godsend!

@JazN I had a somewhat similar concern before, so when I engaged PEM Confinement I specifically asked about their health-screening protocol. They told me their nannies must declare symptoms before deployment, and if anything pops up last-minute they arrange a replacement instead of sending someone unwell. Not sure if every agency follows something like that, but it really helped avoid situations like yours.

The holiday season is approaching, prompting me to deep clean and refresh my home before hosting guests. I’m seeking holiday cleaning tips and hacks to make tidying up easier and more enjoyable. Additionally, considering my busy schedule, I may hire professional cleaners in Singapore for a pre-holiday deep clean. Any recommendations for reliable cleaning services?

@car118 said in House cleaning cleaning: Dear all Wondering whether anyone can recommend reliable experience cleaning company? Those that provide weekly house cleaning. I m quite irritated with my current domestic part time maid now. Ever since I had moved in together with my parents, she expects my mum to help her 2 n she also had starts to gossip abt other households non stop during her wk hrs. Even though mum dun entertain her but she jus rants n rants…Worse is that she questions my mum when she has to go out to do marketing or picking up my ds. Already given her my piece of mind but simply dun get into her. Had enough but i need replacement b4 I ask her to go as it is not easy for my mum to do housewks n taking care of ds at the same time. Please advise. Many thanks in advance. I totally understand how frustrating that can be! For a reliable and professional service, I highly recommend Avalon Services. I’ve had a great experience with them—always punctual, thorough, and respectful. They offer regular weekly cleaning and really go above and beyond. It might be just the solution you’re looking for!

Hi! Try an extendable window cleaning pole with a squeegee or scrubber attachment. They’re easy to use and can reach those hard-to-get spots. Another option is magnetic window cleaners, which clean both sides at once. Both work great for tough-to-reach windows! Hope that helps!

@JT16 Hi there! You’re right, I also feel that with some of the bigger agencies, the focus can lean more towards sales targets rather than really understanding what families need, and that can sometimes affect the quality of the match. After going through a few options myself, I ended up hiring my current helper through EELIT Agency, and the experience was very different. They took the time to understand my household’s needs, were attentive throughout the process, and the helper they matched me with has been a great fit so far. It really makes a difference when an agency prioritises service quality and long term fit over just numbers

She sounds like a really good and experienced helper, especially for elderly care. I’m sure someone will reach out soon since profiles like hers are always in demand.