maid vs cleaner

Question

0To me, a maid and a cleaner do the same job - cleaning. A maid may also do some ironing and maybe cooking as well. Is that the main difference between the two jobs?02br02br00Thanks!0-

Delmobile · Accepted Answer

0 I don't know about other English-speaking countries, but in my part of the US, the term "maid" is almost never used; they are called "housekeepers." In a hotel or hospital, the department is called "housekeeping." This is different from the older definition of housekeepers in GB, who (from what I have read in novels) were respected professionals who tended to all the details of a domestic establishment but didn't scrub the floors themselves. 02br
00 Anyway, so yes, to me a housekeeper (or maid) works at least a half-day a week on a regular basis for the same employers. She knows the family's ways and in long-term relationships may have a lot of regard and affection for them, and they for her. Some people are lucky enough to have a "live-in housekeeper." A housekeeper not only cleans but also as you say may iron, care for children, cook, whatever arrangements she (or I suppose he) has come to with her/his employer. ("I don't do windows," is a sort of catchphrase in the US.)02br
02br
00 A cleaning service (which oddly enough might call itself "Merry Maids" or "Maid Brigade," to name just a couple) cleans your house, but you don't have the same person or persons every week, and they 01i00certainly02i00don't do anything that's not on the bulleted list of your contract with them. I have no idea what they call their employees; probably "Team Members." 050010id1

Feebs11 · Answer

0 Here a housemaid cleaned; a laundry maid did the washing and ironing; a scullery maid did the washing up and drying for the kitchen; a kitchen maid worked int he kitchen on food preparation; a parlourmaid served at meals and to assist in general duties; a lady's maid only carried out duties of care for her mistress; a dairy maid worked in a dairy making butter and cheese. 02br
00You will not hear "maid" used much these days. It has become unacceptable apart from the fact that most people can no longer afford this kind of resident servant. Domestic assistant is a new term.02br
00 Cleaners only clean and do not have any other duties. 0-

Clive · Answer

0Hi,02br
02br
00You might like to note that offices have 'cleaners', but never 'maids'.02br
02br
00Best wishes, Clive0-

New2grammar · Answer

0Thank you all for the detailed descriptions.0-

Avangi · Answer

0I think Delmobile's point about the personal relationship is the key to the difference between "maid" and "cleaner" as I understand the terms. You might have a favorite person you call to help with the spring cleaning, as you might have a favorite plumber; but the maid is someone who knows your habits. Actually, my friends who can afford to have someone come in once or twice a week usually call them "the cleaning lady," but a "cleaner" is someone you look up in the yellow pages to do a specific job, IMHO. (You still see ads in the paper for "live-in maids.")02br
02br
00Here I go again with the song lyrics: the verse from an American song, 01i00Lulu's Back In Town02i00 by Harry Warren and Al Dubin circa 1935 - Oh, where's that careless chambermaid?/ Where'd she put my razor blade?/ She mislaid it, I'm afraid,/ It's gotta be found./ Ask her when she cleaned my room,/ what she did with my perfume./ I just can't lose it,/ I've gotta use it,/ 'cause Lulu's back in town.0-

Nona the brit · Answer

0They are probably used in different ways in different countries.02br
02br
00Here, people don't really have maids at all. A cleaner just cleans, nothing else. My brother's cleaner has been working for him for nearly 15 years. A cleaner also works in non-domestic situations such as offices, whereas maids definitely don't.02br
02br
00Here, if people have domestic staff who do more than clean then they are usually called a housekeeper. 0-

Avangi · Answer

0I should have said that ads for live-in maids have generally been switched over to ads for live-in housekeepers, in accordance with the move to make job descriptions sexless, as the mailman becomes the letter carrier and the stewardess becomes the flight attendant.  (A male nurse is still a male nurse.)0-

Anonymous · Answer

I grew up in an older household with different service people 24/7:

Major Domo - House manager dealt with house employees and bills
His Butler - Just deals with the head of household
Her Maid - Just deals with lady of the house
Maids - Just cleaned
Kitchen Chef - Same as Major Domo but for Kitchen and food service
Housekeeper - Usually a Woman who worked weekends cleaning and cooking, also travels with family to vacation homes.
Property Manager - Major Domo for Outdoor and driving staff

There are many more, but that is the basics

Bill eBear

Anonymous · Answer

I have been cleaning houses for 13 years, I do not concider myself a Maid. I work for several differant people on a weekly and bi-weekly basis, I am very friendly with the families and we talk alot about our families and our lives. I dust, vaccum, clean bathrooms, kitchen, wash floors and in some homes I change their linens. I am not expected to do exterior windows, laundry, clean out cabinets, drawers or closets. A cleaning service would be someone who does those extra things. Not to say that if any of my clients asked me to do those extra's I wouldn't do them, but It would be mean more time and more money. I love the families I clean for and love my job.

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