All About Life Without Maids

[buds]

janet_lee88:

Go out with 2 maids look very cool...people think the couple must be very capable to have 2 maids. I once saw this couple at botanic garden having picnic with 2 kids and each kid was attended by one maid. Wow.

Or incapable? Because cannot manage?

ahkeong.. we have been maidless forever.. but now seriously might have to consider as we now have four children.. we are still managing great but can be exhausted on certain days (when things just don't seem to turn out right) :frustrated: but most days house is still very clean and can put food on the table (if no time to cook we buy or dine out) :please:...

My aunt had to Filipino maids and on one off day the family saw them touting for customers at lucky plaza! :yikes:

[micollh]

when maidless got to take things easy… sometimes i just bake pizza for dinner, simple dish, and house cleaning just leave it to weekends… weekends one of the day will dine out… kids get to try different food too… and we try to do as much outdoor, good for the kids and no need mess up the house… hee… come back home bath, read story books, drink milk… sleep… been doing ok for the past 2 months… am confident this will last… tired at some days… as DH just cant seem to chip in as much as i wish he can… find it useless to nag at him… waste my energy … so decided to jst take it easy … what if floor is a mess, what if the dishes are piled up… what if there us laudry needs to be done… all these can wait… prioritise… feed/clean the kids first… when they r happy… we are happy and things get easier…

[babycutie71]

micollh:

when maidless got to take things easy.. sometimes i just bake pizza for dinner, simple dish, and house cleaning just leave it to weekends.. weekends one of the day will dine out.. kids get to try different food too.. and we try to do as much outdoor, good for the kids and no need mess up the house.. hee.. come back home bath, read story books, drink milk.. sleep.. been doing ok for the past 2 months.. am confident this will last.. tired at some days.. as DH just cant seem to chip in as much as i wish he can.. find it useless to nag at him.. waste my energy .. so decided to jst take it easy .. what if floor is a mess,, what if the dishes are piled up.. what if there us laudry needs to be done.. all these can wait.. prioritise.. feed/clean the kids first.. when they r happy.. we are happy and things get easier..

Well said. Housework are never ending.....

Just wondering how many kids u have. How old r they?

[pecalis]

babycutie71:

Hi all,


I will be ditching my maid for good. Saw the earlier post on irobot. Am quite interested to get one to vacuum the floor. Which model is good for a 5 room flat? How much is it?

How about mopping the floor? What type of floor detergent can clean best on ceramic flooring?

Anyone can help?

I've been looking at Irobot, Neato and Iclebo. Finally bought the Neato XV-21 for $599 as there are many rooms to clean. Like Neato for it's ease to use (no need virtual wall), very fast as cleaning is systematic and minimum maintenance. I have a part-time helper tt cleans the house once a week for 5 hrs but after 2-3 days, can see dust balls accumulating on the floor. It's really a good investment and I'm so happy tt while I'm attending to baby or busy cooking, my floor is being vacuum at the same time. To help the robot be efficient, clear clutter on floor, sometimes a small rm can be done in just 10-15mins! With the floor vacuumed, I'll use my spin & go mop as and when i'm free, not free, nevermind since floor already quite clean. Btw, Neato is rather loud as it's suction power is also the greatest, so I usually close the door when vacuuming the rooms.

I was considering Irobot 560 selling at $480 on ebay but decided to buy Neato instead.

I like the Tupperware All Purpose Cleaner - just need a few drops, very clean, not sticky to step on and nice fragrance. This was recommended by my previous part-time helper - I asked her what's good, since she cleans so many houses...

[babycutie71]

Pecalis,


Thanks for sharing. Where can I get the Tupperware cleaner? How much? And where did u get the Neato robot vacuum?

[micollh]

babycutie71:

Well said. Housework are never ending.....

Just wondering how many kids u have. How old r they?

lucky thing i have only two.. one coming to 5, another 2.. both in childcare on weekday..

[pecalis]

babycutie71:

Pecalis,


Thanks for sharing. Where can I get the Tupperware cleaner? How much? And where did u get the Neato robot vacuum?

I buy my tupperware cleaner from their agents, price is $12.20, I think. 1 bottle can last 9mths to a yr, as only a few drops are needed each time. I have my 2 favourite agents as they'll help me exchange my old tupperware or buy stuff like this - I also use their vegesafe for broccoli, tomatoes and grapes.

I got my Neato from Robovac, Thomas 81254240. There's also Autovac (pricing about the same). You may check out their website. I called him in the morning to make enquiries, then he delivered that same afternoon as we couldn't find other common time. He even obliged me and brought along Irobot for demo, though I'd more or less decided on Neato already.

[babycutie71]

micollh,


I have 2 kids also. One in P2 and one in K2. I placed the K2 in a full day CC. Will be sending maid away this Friday.
Next year both kids will be in morning class. I will need to juggle between housework, marketing, sending kids to & from school and guiding their school homeworks. So am doing my homework now to get equipments to ease my housework.


Pecalis,

Thank you for the contact.

[straffan23]

Hello all… I’m a newbie here, and this topic is very interesting to be because I intend to go maid-less by 2014. My children are 5 and 2 this year, but will be in P1 and N2 in 2014. Plan is to send P1 to private after school care; while N2 in full day nursery.


I started having a maid since my #2 was born. My consideration is that a maid’s salary is $450 to $500 (think of possible increase by 2014). Add in maid levy, food expenses… not forgetting how high the $50 increase in PUB with their endless boiling of water, washing, and ironing! Works up to costing about $1000/mth to have a maid. Is it worth it? What is the value add? Cleaning cut corners, cooking can fill the tummy but can take 10 dishes and recycle until I "ban" those dishes… Ask to water the plants always drown them or dry them… Summore since having a maid it’s been a $40 to $50 increase per year!

My maid cannot even get my 5 year old to take her nap or go for shower, so I don’t envision her being able to even make sure the P1 will do homework!

But hubby’s opinion is that he works late and is home by 9pm weekdays. Weekends too tired to do housework - lucky if got energy to go out with us. So his contribution is to provide a maid. <pengsan>. Up to me.

So I’m reading up and trying to see how people cope, what are the options and alternatives. Hope to join the bandwagon of being "maidless" soon!

[babycutie71]

coralie:

Just to share. I found 2 ant nests in my house on Sunday. 1 nest in a box in my pantry while the other nest inside the screw holes of a cabinet where I kept my kids' milk powder. Used the citronella spray (from kiddy palace) on the ants and nests. Din wanna use Baygon on them. So far no ants. Will check again this weekend

What if not sure where is the nest? How to use the citronella spray? My food on the dining table are always invaded by ants. Not sure where they come from.