We all get behind on our chores occasionally, when life catches up to us. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day, or possibly not enough hands on deck. Imagine how nice it would feel to know that your house is taken care of when you’re at work or running errands?
This can be made possible with the help of either a maid service or a housekeeper. These two jobs make up 1.14 million people in the workforce.
These two are not interchangeable terms—they are two different jobs depending on the needs of a homeowner. If you’re considering hiring for some extra help, it is best to research exactly what you need.
Read on to understand the difference between a maid and a housekeeper, and how one might be better suited for your needs.
What Is a Maid?
If you’re someone who struggles to keep up with weekly cleanings around the house, a maid service sounds right for you. Or maybe you simply don’t enjoy cleaning and would like the burden to be relieved from your shoulders.
Either way, a maid is someone who comes around however often you’d like to clean your spaces.
If renting from a maid service company, such as kingofmaids.com, you may have a different maid each time, unless otherwise requested. A maid’s schedule differs each week, so you will have the opportunity to meet someone new each cleaning.
A maid’s typical duties include:
- Vacuuming and mopping
- Dusting furniture, ceiling fans, light fixtures, etc.
- Wiping and scrubbing bathroom surfaces
- Cleaning the kitchen and its appliances
- Wiping clean windows and doors
- Changing bed linens and tidying rooms
Anything to do with the cleaning and tidying of a house, a maid is up to the task.
What Is a Housekeeper?
A housekeeper is generally a more permanent role within a household. While this person can still clean all the same things as a maid, a housekeeper bears more responsibility.
Housekeepers generally have a hospitality background with experience in the home-keeping industry. They interact with you and your family more, possibly even taking children to school or walking a dog.
They can cook meals and do the dishes. They stay on top of laundry and can even iron your garments. Maybe you even need someone to pick up groceries—a housekeeper can do all of this.
The difference between a maid and a housekeeper is quite significant. A maid provides a quick service to maintain the cleanliness of a house, while a housekeeper might be considered an extension of your family.
A Maid Service or Housekeeper?
Now you know how maids and housekeepers differ, so you can go about booking the correct service for your needs. A maid service is quick, and might even be just a one-time deal. A housekeeper is someone that sticks around to help with all household chores.
If you liked this article, check out our lifestyle section for more reading!