Desperate Facts

• These days, most Canadians get their homes professionally cleaned every other week on average.

With both partners in a typical couple working full time, workplace demands growing and commutes getting longer, families are keen to outsource household chores.

An aging population, well-heeled but less able to scour the sink, has also contributed to soaring demand.

• Even singles with busy careers are seeking household help.

Catherine MacDonald, a Toronto television reporter, shares a cleaning lady with a friend, paying $70 every other week for a four-hour session that includes laundry, ironing and such extras as cleaning out the fridge and pressing the sheets.

"I admit it: I'm busy and I've gotten to the point where I just don't want to look after all that stuff myself," she says. "It's totally worth it to me."

• Spending on help in keeping house is making an increasing contribution to the domestic economy as well.

The most recent estimates from Statistics Canada point to the household cleaning business being worth about $1.5-billion about three years ago.

Although industry participants say the real figure is much higher because of many individual and black-market players.


Don't Get Cleaned Out: Get Desperate!

To get the best value and the smoothest service from a hired cleaner, mind these tips.

Follow the word: Personal references and word of mouth are crucial in finding a cleaner with whom you'll have a good comfort level. Don't ignore your instincts: this person may spend a good amount of time around your home and family.

Mutual legal obligations: Whether you use an individual or a service, check out their status with respect to social insurance, Worker's Compensation, bonding and liability insurance. Private, independent cleaners tend to cost about half as much ($15 to $18 per hour) as a service ($25 to $35 an hour), but you usually have no protection or recourse in case of theft or damage. Also, technically, you become an employer, which means you can be on the hook for injury claims and even Canada Pension Plan contributions. Review your own liability insurance to make sure it covers service people in case of injury, and notify your insurer of the relationship.

Prioritize: Write out a prioritized list of the jobs you want done every time the cleaner comes. If you're worried about fragile items or damage during silver polishing, say they're off limits or explain how you want the tasks done. Make a secondary list of "rotational" jobs, and prioritize those, too. These might include cleaning spare rooms or dusting picture frames. Discuss the prices for those extra services in advance. Devise a tertiary list of "special projects," such as cleaning out a closet.

Payment plan debate: Those who charge by the hour insist that arrangement allows clients to retain maximum control over establishing priorities and tasks. Those who charge a flat rate insist it's the best value: small unexpected extras are covered at no incremental cost.

Door policy: If you're not at home on cleaning days, what you're going to do with children and pets? The maid must know whether, for example, Fifi is allowed outside.

Mind the boundaries: Residential cleaners will typically not lift anything over 20 kilograms, climb higher than a step ladder reaches, walk pets or undertake outside chores. Under Worker's Comp rules, they are classified as "indoor workers" and have to comply with the rules.

Quality check: Key areas on which to keep an eye include behind toilets, the edge of the floor under kitchen cupboard overhangs and under mats in entrance ways.

House cleaning services have gone from discretionary luxury to essential service.

Financial Post
Saturday, January 10, 2004 Deirdre McMurdy