Maid service?

March 31, 2006 12:24 PM

Can anyone recommend a good maid service in Brooklyn?

I've finally given up. The thought of cleaning the staircase brings me to tears. So I'm doing something I never thought I'd do - hiring a maid. I just want someone to come in once a week. Any recommendations? Oh - and for those who've used a maid - what's the proper procedure? Do you stay at home while she's cleaning or give her some space?

posted by Evangeline to home & garden (5 comments total)

The author of "Living Invisibly" recommends asking your local JW or Seventh-Day Adventist congregation for members who perform this service. Long time member of these congregations have a reputation for being honest and respectful of your privacy.
posted by unixrat at 12:52 PM on March 31, 2006

I can't speak to Brooklyn specifically, but we found our cleaning lady through the recommendation of a neighbor and she's awesome. Our cleaner is affiliated with a small service, so I talked to her boss first. The boss came over and asessed the work, asked questions (would you like us to do the laundry? change the beds? clean the fridge? etc.) and then gave me a quote. We agreed on a regular day and time, I gave her a set of keys, and we've been enjoying the clean house ever since.

When the cleaning lady showed up the first time I introduced myself, learned her name, showed her where the supplies are and thanked her profusely. Now we just leave the money out on a table for her and she finds it. If we ever need something special, I call the boss-lady on the phone and she passes the word along to the cleaner. I'm not usually home when she comes, but if I am I say hi and then make myself scarce so she can do her job. Enjoy!
posted by bonheur at 12:56 PM on March 31, 2006

your local JW or Seventh-Day Adventist congregation

I used to live in Brooklyn, and while I never had a maid / cleaning person, I heard the same thing about Jehovah's Witnesses. And lord knows there are plenty of them in Brooklyn.
posted by dersins at 1:11 PM on March 31, 2006

Take a look at these two threads on the Daily Heights message boards about house cleaning services in Park Slope and Prospect Heights:

http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2759
http://dailyheights.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2688
posted by skwm at 1:19 PM on March 31, 2006

If you email me at the address in my profile, I'll give you the contact info for the person I use. I'm in Manhattan and I'm not sure she goes to Brooklyn, but it's as easy as emailing her to find out. She comes in while I'm not home and I've had no problem whatsoever - but I don't think she'd mind if you hung around and just stayed out of her way. She even buys cleaning supplies for me (I pay, but she shops).
posted by mullacc at 2:34 PM on March 31, 2006