Holidays: How to survive without my maid?
updated the 28 August 2015 à 07:02Anxious at the mere idea of letting your housekeeper take a break during the holidays? Follow our tips!
At home, the presence of a maid ensures peace in the household. The prospect of ensuring that the rental/family home does not turn into a ‘no-go zone’ in the summer does not really please you. Problem: your helper is out of town to visit family and the contract for the home well states in capital letters: “Please leave home in the condition you found it in when you arrived.” Namely: a space even more pristine than the design of the same name.
The advice of Isaure, co-author with Bertrand Ferrier in Memoirs of a Housekeeper (ed Points/Seuil.): “My first suggestion will perhaps seem obvious, but to avoid being overwhelmed by the household, it should not be dirty. The rule of thumb may be to institute a ban on shoes in the house. Because a dirty floor is difficult to clean: you can have them stowed all around, giving you an impression of disorder. Especially since it causes chain effects: the herb garden strands from outside will find themselves on the couch or in the bedroom and cause additional dirt. To avoid a dirty household, you can also change habits. For example, if the holiday destination allows, enjoy the outdoors: barbecue in the backyard and avoid the kitchen, anything but making things messy. Summer is the opportunity to be more flexible, like deciding to have cold meals, opting for paper plates to limit the dishes, etc. We agree, this is not what is more ecological but an exception during vacation time seems permissible. The microfiber cloth is also a good ally for a fast and efficient clean. Slightly damp, it perfectly cleans the furniture, while a single bottle of white vinegar facilitates cleaning windows, mirrors and other reflective surfaces. Finally, for those who aren’t going on vacation, take advantage of the absence of the housekeeper to make a great sorting business: toys, books, clothing… It can stir memories and it’s a way to cool the house. Organise the cupboards, but also to clean up the mind. In September, the maid will clean up after you again!”
Josephine Lebard and Nur Syazana H.
READ MORE:
Holidays: How to survive without my teenager?
