By
eHow Home & Garden Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Cleaning supplies
- House keys
- Cleaning equipment
Step1
Provide clear, detailed instructions from the very beginning of your contract with your maid. Establishing an open discussion from day one will be a tremendous help in creating an understanding between yourself and your maid.
Step2
Inform the maid of any allergies you or your family may have, specific requests you have for the cleaning and any rules she should be aware of.
Step3
Supply the maid with any necessary equipment or information she may need in order to do an effective job in your home. Beyond cleaning supplies (if they are even needed, as she may supply her own), necessary information such as passwords to security systems, a set of keys and a cleaning schedule are essential for your maid to do the best job possible.
Step4
Treat your maid with all the courtesy and respect you would an employee in your office. When you talk to her, address her clearly and politely, and do not use a condescending tone or language--remember that she is there to help you and to perform a service you do not care to do yourself.
Step5
Trust the maid to do her job well and give her the space to do it properly. If you are not satisfied after she has finished, bring up any concerns the next time you see her.
Step6
Be sure that your maid understands your concerns and show her your appreciation when she follows through on your requests. Simply thanking her or saying "That's just how I wanted it," will provide all the confirmation needed to show that you both understand what your cleaning needs are.
Step7
If there is tension in your working relationship with your maid, address it sooner rather than later. A breakdown in communication may be all that's to blame. If problems continue to persist, bring them up with the maid or the service company if possible. You do not deserve to continue service you are not pleased with, but it is a waste to hire a new maid or service entirely if a simple conversation could have resolved the problem.
Step8
Do not ever raise your voice, use foul language or become overly personal when talking to your maid. Also refrain from inappropriate or distracting behavior when your maid is working, such as changing your clothes around her, having a heated fight with a family member or any other act that you would not do in front of an employee in an office setting.
Step9
Give your maid a holiday bonus if it is within your means. Often such bonuses are given in December, and a general rule of thumb is to tip your service employees 10 to 15 percent, as you would a waiter at a restaurant. Even a small token of your appreciation will go a long way in showing your maid just how much her services mean to you.
