KiasuParents - Parenting in Singapore

I am a working mum with 2 kids, 18mths and 3-1/2yrs. I am thinking of releasing my maid early due to her attitudes, though she had worked with me for 3yr. But I am worried about how to cope without her.

My 2kids are now in full-day care. But my hubby always work late so he is hardly at home to help.

it's very possible, wonder why so many singaporean families die die must have maid. I think maids are only necessary if there are 2 infants together.

U just need a few toys to help u.

Get a vaccum robot



high-powered steam mopper



dishwasher, if u cook often



these toys take care of most of the household chores. If u don't even have time to mop the floor, get the robot mopper as well, called "Scooba".

Most people in the world live without maids. Our ancestors raised dozens of kids without maids.

I grew up with a maid and it was real bad, made me very lazy. Took me years to stand on my own feet.

Take the first step to independence today

you may want to think about engaging a part-time maid to come in once or twice a week to clean up. That would allow you to concentrate on having more quality time with your children and hubby.

Sorry to hijack this topic.

Skunk, can share more about the vacuum robot ? Is it powerful enough to vacuum the whole house ? Really clean ? We have long hairs scattering around, can it vacuum these long hairs ? Where did you get it and whats the price ? Tks

danecalymom,

agree with tankee, get a part-time maid to help you. Mine comes in as an ironing saviour cos I can't iron for nuts. THen you can slowly invest in all these other mechanical equipment to help out. And train your kids to help in housework. I've trained my 20 mth old to throw rubbish in the peddle bin, put her dirty clothes in her little laundry bin, throw her milk bottle into the sink by herself, pack after her own mess etc. No sense in letting extra pair of hands go to waste

skunk wrote:
dishwasher, if u cook often

Hi skunk,do these things actually clean thoroughly?

danecalymom,

I am also thinking of release my maid. I have a teens and a younger 3 years old. I think the other things like laundry, cleaning,etc are easier to settle. If you can bear the mess, just mop once or twice a week. The only reason why I am still keeping my maid is that I need her cook dinner for my younger one, because I do not want her take the food from hawker centre. If I cook after I come back from work, it would be too late( I prefer she has dinner before 7), I am still trying to find the solution...

I am think of getting a part-time helper to help me with my 2kids from 6pm till 9pm. Calculating 20working days multiply by 3hrs at $10 per hr, it work out to be $600. Which is only slightly lesser than having a maid.

But getting a new maid and letting her stay at home, doing house work in the morning and doing nothing in the afternoon, except preparing dinner, I wonder if she will be too free and start to think "too much".

Em wrote:

skunk wrote:
dishwasher, if u cook often

Hi skunk,do these things actually clean thoroughly?

for super soiled stuff that u do not soak in water first, like caked days-old curry stains, cannot clean out.

But normal soiled dishes, OMG, it's the freaking cleanest i've ever seen. If hotels and big restaurants use them, what do u think? hehe

Especially glassware...it literally shines

I have a dishwasher. Yes, it cleans well. Love it. Contemplating to get a dryer, but did not really like the texture of clothes after drying.

Now, I am thinking of the robot vacuum.... skunk, can share your verdict of its usefulness? Does it vacuum corners well? Is it noisy during operation? Do you have to change the filter bags frequently? How costly does each replacement bag cost?

TIA!

IJJ wrote:I have a dishwasher. Yes, it cleans well. Love it. Contemplating to get a dryer, but did not really like the texture of clothes after drying.

Now, I am thinking of the robot vacuum.... skunk, can share your verdict of its usefulness? Does it vacuum corners well? Is it noisy during operation? Do you have to change the filter bags frequently? How costly does each replacement bag cost?

TIA!

i didn't get a dryer because it makes ironing harder hehe

The vacuum robot a.k.a Roomba, is super useful. It's not as good as a real vacuum, but worth more than it's $299 price tag by a thousandfold. Saved me many hours and effort. Its effectiveness is halfway between a real vaccum cleaner and a really good sweep...best of all, it's automated, so by running it daily, the house is super clean.

It's noisy, but i made myself tolerate it for sheer laziness lol. No filter bags, it's bagless. It does corners reasonably well, but have to keep rugs and wires off the ground or else it'll get stuck.