All About Full-Time Maids

[kiasimom]

For a start,

I will always tell my maid to handwash clothes that can’t be machine-wash.
I wll also tell her the specific cleaner for the floor.

In short, as employer myself, I do have to take up some time to explain the household chores to her.

I even write down the instructions and will show her the correct cleaners in case she mixed them up.

[blurqueen]

mathsparks:

:yikes: $200 shirt washed in machine?

blurqueen, why you keep strong acid at home? :?

well, the shirts cost $100 each, she tore 2 of it. actually handwashing the shirts will cause tear and wear even faster because of the scrubbing by hand which is less than gentle as compared to machine. i only make her handwash my silk or wool blend pieces.

the acid spray was for stubborn stains in the kitchen and backyard.

she asked me, \"mam, can I use the spray for the 'tub'?\" thinking it's ok, I said yes. But what she meant was 'tap' which was mounted on the marble wall! that's why i said, this maid's language is a great barrier.

i didn't force her to pay me other than the hp bill but she took the initiative to write down the damages to return to me. the marble obviously can't be counted unless i get professional ppl in to polish it. anyway i told hub, will let her 'return' us the $ which we will put in as her angpao when she goes back for good.

[2ppaamm]

blurqueen:

.. actually handwashing the shirts will cause tear and wear even faster because of the scrubbing by hand which is less than gentle as compared to machine.


...but she took the initiative to write down the damages to return to me. the marble obviously can't be counted unless i get professional ppl in to polish it. anyway i told hub, will let her 'return' us the $ which we will put in as her angpao when she goes back for good.

The handwashing shirt part is very true. The tailor told me this. I thought your maid is pretty conscientious, none of my maids ever tried to pay me back, even after they spoil something and I told them they have to pay. They just nodded and go on with doing the same.

I did one trick, the oven spoil so quickly I decided to give this one maid this alternative. If the oven is still working after 2 years of her service, I'll give it to her. She took the oven home after the contract. Cheaper than having to buy oven every few months. :evil:

[Andaiz]

2ppaamm:

I did one trick, the oven spoil so quickly I decided to give this one maid this alternative. If the oven is still working after 2 years of her service, I'll give it to her. She took the oven home after the contract. Cheaper than having to buy oven every few months. :evil:

Clever, 2ppaamm! But these ovens are the portable ones, yeah? Mine's wall mounted and if I were to give her this after her two years.... :faint:

I did the same thing with the rice cooker coz the maids usually wash the rice grains in the non-stick pot and that scratches the base; or forgets to clean the steam vent (which if you cook porridge in the cooker, may be caked with rice bits) so my cookers dun last.

HRH actually followed instructions to the T coz I used it as a bait for her to return home with it. However, when she was sent home recently, she couldn't bring it along coz she didn't want to pay extra for the excess weight. :roll:

[blurqueen]

Andaiz:

I did the same thing with the rice cooker coz the maids usually wash the rice grains in the non-stick pot and that scratches the base; or forgets to clean the steam vent (which if you cook porridge in the cooker, may be caked with rice bits) so my cookers dun last.

My maid seldom uses the cooker as it's really troublesome to clean up, takes longer to cook and costs more electricity (plus she's scared she'll spoil it and it'll cost her another $300 haha).

I taught her to steam the rice in a bowl placed in a pot, once water in pot boils, simmer about 5mins, then turn off fire and leave it to sit for 20mins (do not open lid once fire is off). This works well with AMC or thick base pots. This method works with the microwave too and you only need to spend a few dollars buying the plastic pot for rice.

Rice cookers once they start to age ... rice will be browned, harden and crust at the bottom, but when steamed, it'll never have this problem. According to my aunt, rice will also be \"less heaty\" and to me, more yummy.

[carebear]

Clothes that are delicate and precious to me, i hand wash it myself. In fact i hand wash my undergarments myself as the previous maid wrung it so efficiently dry that the underwire became distorted.

[kiasimom]

carebear:

Clothes that are delicate and precious to me, i hand wash it myself. In fact i hand wash my undergarments myself as the previous maid wrung it so efficiently dry that the underwire became distorted.

Oh yes, for really precious and expensive item, it is best we wash ourselves.

[Andaiz]

kiasimom:

carebear:

Clothes that are delicate and precious to me, i hand wash it myself. In fact i hand wash my undergarments myself as the previous maid wrung it so efficiently dry that the underwire became distorted.

Oh yes, for really precious and expensive item, it is best we wash ourselves.

getting a little \"personnal\" here but if and when your helper washes the undergarments, you've got to teach her how to lay them flat instead of folding them and twisting them in the centre...like carebear, I've had underwire come distorted, and worse, inverted bra-cups!

[kiasimom]

Hahaha inverted bra cups :rotflmao:


Not just washing. Has to teach her how to put them in the proper way after being cleaned.

My old maid doesn't know how to and bend here bend there until the wire poked out :stupid: :stupid:

[Andaiz]

kiasimom:

Hahaha inverted bra cups :rotflmao:


Not just washing. Has to teach her how to put them in the proper way after being cleaned.

My old maid doesn't know how to and bend here bend there until the wire poked out :stupid: :stupid:

:!:
Must be so terribly painful to wear, kiasimom. :love: Hope you discovered it BEFORE you put them on!