Housekeeper vs. Cleaning Tech

Housekeeper, Maid, Cleaning Lady, Cleaning Tech...who exactly are you hiring? Aren't all those words interchangeable? Well, we already know how I feel about the name 'Maid,' so let's skip that part.

A housekeeper is actually a completely different species of household helper than a cleaning tech. The main difference is how much time they spend in your home. A tech shows up at scheduled intervals to do her job, while a housekeeper is either there every day, or she actually lives with you. As you can imagine, hiring a housekeeper costs a LOT more than hiring a cleaning tech.

Let's look at some other differences, in list format:

Housekeepers

-Work every day

-Probably only work for you

-Pick up after you and your family

-Do laundry, dishes, and possibly other things like cooking or ironing

-Expect you to pay them enough to live on each year

That's a housekeeper. It's a very specific job, and most housekeepers are like members of the families they work for. They'll tend to stay in that position for years. On the other hand...

Cleaning Techs

-Work at scheduled intervals

-Have multiple clients

-Clean and sanitize surfaces

-Only do laundry, dishes, etc. if specifically asked (and compensated)

-Set their prices based on expenses, frequency of cleaning, state of house, etc.

Your cleaning tech shows up with a specific job to do (wipe down/clean all the surfaces in the house, usually), and leaves after that job is done, check in hand. A housekeeper is more a part of the household's everday operation, and is an integral part of how that house is managed. A housekeeper is also usually paid a salary, as he or she may need to stay late or come in early, depending on what's going on that day.

I explain these terms to my wonderful readers, partly because it's interesting, but also partly so that you can explain to your friends, and they can explain to their friends, what it is both sorts of people actually do. By doing this, the world is more knowledgeable about my work, and therefore more likely to be sensitive to what they call people who do my job. Hell, they might even have a little more respect while they're at it. I don't feel like my job is menial. I'm not a 'servant.' I think of myself as a contractor, someone with a specific skill whose clients need and appreciate said skill and are willing to pay for it. But someone who's never hired a cleaning tech and has their heads all full of preconceived notions about who we are and what we do, is bound to misunderstand and therefore dismiss out of hand the service we provide. Yes, a cleaning tech is a luxury item, a housekeeper moreso. But if you talk to any of my clients, they'll tell you they couldn't get by without me.