How to Manage Part Time Maids?

Most young families rely on maids for domestic help - with cooking, cleaning and looking after the children. However, not everyone can afford live-in maids as the cost of hiring them, especially foreign maids, has continued to rise in recent years.

The next best option therefore for busy families who need help in the house is the use of part-time maids. Here are some tips on how to run your household using their help. Part time maids are available in any residential area. Look for flyers, banners or buntings (typically left on electricity poles on the main streets) advertising these services.

The other way is to ask neighbours already using these services. Part time maid services are very flexible. These services are offered by companies/enterprises that provide households with one or more maids for a few hours a day. Families can choose to use their help everyday or just a few days a week. Most often, families will just require two maids coming in for 2 hours on Saturdays or Sundays to sweep and mop the house, wash the bathrooms, clean the porch, take out the trash, iron some clothes and dust the walls/ceilings.

 How much do part time maids cost? A 2 hour service with 2 maids, which equals to 4 man-hours can cost from RM35 to RM50 in Senawang/Seremban area whereas in Kuala Lumpur, the cost is between RM55 to RM60. Hourly rates go down when more hours per week are booked, but families typically prefer once a week visits so that they do not have to wait at home during their off days.

Managing part time maids is pretty easy. List the things they have to do and get the cleaning utensils ready. After the first time, the maids usually know where to find the trash bags, mops and cleaning cloths. Please lock up your valuables and keep fragile items away, and insist on the cleaners washing their hands thoroughly before starting work. Also, always prepare the cash for payment because most companies collect cash at the end of the cleaning session.