There are a lot of variables here. Your finances and the impact of the expense if you do not need it. Their business: is there a waiting list for their services or is the market such so that the one day a month you remove will make a difference to them? I agree that you would not want to lose the services of experienced, hardworking, honest people.

Because we are away so much in the summer, last year I asked our cleaners to come every 4 weeks instead of every 2 weeks from June to October. They were fine with it, just asked that we pay $20 more for the monthly cleaning. We’ve had this arrangement for 2 years now.

Do you have any one check on the house? Are you comfortable with no one coming by save once a month? I ask because maybe you want cleaning 1x a month and a house check 1x a month.

If that is not needed, I would just keep it simple. "Going forward, from x date to y date, we will need cleaning once a month. From y date to z date, we would like to keep to our bimonthly schedule."

My parents always had their weekly cleaner come in bi-weekly when they left for the winter. They asked for different cleaning, sometimes spending more time in an area than normal, taking decorative things off the shelves to clean and polish, maybe emptying cabinets in a certain room and cleaning the shelves, more detail to windows, etc. The cleaner appreciated the income and being able to do something different and more thoroughly, and she had flexibility as to what day and time, although she usually kept to the same schedule.

For their winter home when they weren’t there, the cleaner came monthly to keep up with the dust and windows, and do similar projects although there wasn’t as much to clean.

It meant that before my parents returned to either home, that just-before cleaning was smoother, more effective, never catching up. Their homes were much fresher when they returned than they otherwise would have been.

The winter home also had a monthly ”checker” who made sure systems were working, the landscapers were keeping up, and let the exterminator in, and had the list of people to call when something needed attention. They had a checker for the permanent home, too: me.

Mtn we have a young couple ( long time family friends) that we pay to collect the mail and water plants 3 times a week.

DH needs the mail to be looked at as not everything can be online and done remotely.

We are south for eight months and north for four. I told my northern housecleaner I would understand if she needed to drop us and pick up a full-time client. However I do have her check on the house every two weeks, water the plants and the piano and bring in the mail. I leave her a lump sum of cash that's a little less than half what we paid her for housecleaning - about 15 minutes every two weeks instead of two hours. She has a business, pays taxes, etc. so the cash payment is a plus. She was going to continue cleaning for us but did decide to drop us as she's cutting back. She's 61 and has had several ortho surgeries so it's time. I told her she could adjust her business to only do house checks if she decides to stop doing house cleaning. She cleans for multiple snowbirds.

So far no housecleaner in the south. Didn't care for the first one I tried though I got a recommendation from someone in the neighborhood. It hasn't been too bad doing it myself since this place doesn't have a lot of "extra" stuff. It's amazing how quickly you can run a giant dustmop through the place when you only have two area rugs. And the Dyson stick vacuum makes it easier. Dusting isn't even bad when you have minimal tables and no knick knacky stuff. No need to do much cleaning in the guest rooms and bath except when someone's coming to visit. I keep the doors shut so no cat hair in those rooms. And DH is now responsible for cleaning his man-room and I accept his cleaning standards since it's his room.

3Katz, in my current Florida home, I have begrudgingly been cleaning myself. Our home watch person does cleaning too but is not too reliable for this. She is great for the home watch, but it almost feels like a favor to ask her to clean.

And yes I’m concerned about being dropped.

We just got a recommendation from a neighbor at the new house. They are there full-time. I explained that we might just want once a month and that we go back forth.

She seemed to be agreeable but I’m not sure she understood. We shall see.

While I hate cleaning, both DH and I are neat, We clean as we go, I don’t mind running the vacumn as Florida floors get dusty.

A neighbor in my current neighbor uses Maid Brigade. The owner that services my area sounded nice. They are extremely flexible. But, I don’t like the idea that the workers might not be getting a fair wage. I much prefer knowing the cleaner gets it all.

I have not in 55 years of marriage, EVER had a house cleaner. Also, no cook, no nanny, and no gardener. I really never wanted one.

We did have someone paint the outside of the house this summer. We had always painted it ourselves.

I think bpath’s parents way of having them come the same, but doing different deep cleans when you are not there.

Before marriage, I was my mother’s cleaner. I did rebel about ironing my Dad’s permanent press boxer shorts. I told her if she wanted them ironed, she could do them, lol.

I think it’s unfair to expect someone to accommodate a less frequent schedule, which may eliminate her option for the cleaners to take on a full time client. I would ask - perhaps there are potential clients who also want less frequent cleaning. But then when you want to return to your more frequent schedule, there may not be availabilty for that in their schedule. I guess it depends on whether paying them when not really needed is an actual financial burden for you. And if you do change the schedule and you lose them, will the burden of cleaning your own home until you find a replacement fall on you and your husband equally? If he objects to paying but you don’t, it should fall on him to either clean or find replacements. Are there other projects they could do instead of cleaning some of the time?

If finances are not an issue for you then keep the schedule the same and keep paying them even if it is not needed. If you want to save the money then ask if they can accommodate your schedule request. If they cannot, it is understandable, and they may or may not decide to keep you on as clients.

We are away for an entire year - coming home once a month. I have kept our cleaner on weekly. I love her as a person. And she is the best cleaner I have ever had. Her schedule is full and if I dropped her for a year, I don't think I could get back on her schedule. I don't want to risk it. We can afford it. She is washing our windows and doing anything else to clean that she can think of.

Well, of course talk to them, but I still think it’s a big ask to expect them to reserve your full time slot when they likely could fill it with another full time customer. But maybe great employers are worth it to them!

I asked Chaptgpt.com how to word a reply...this is what I was given:

Hi [Names],

I just wanted to touch base about the schedule. Since we’ll be away for longer periods now, I’d like to switch to once-a-month cleanings while we’re gone. You’ve both done such a great job keeping an eye on things, and I really appreciate it.

Please let me know if that works for you.

Thanks so much,
[Her Name]

You’ve received some great suggestions, and I think any or some combination of all could be applied. It might depend on how it will work for your housekeeper. If your DH is onboard, I like the idea of having yours do some ’deep clean’ work at least once or twice while you’re away (windows, more detailed cleaning to shelves and baseboards perhaps, oven maybe). I also like what Sueb suggested if you don’t agree with that approach. I’m sure the housekeeper probably understands why you wouldn’t need the house cleaned in the same way and frequency since you aren’t using it. Dust, etc still happens and it’s always nice to walk into a freshly cleaned house when you return.

Nicole as well spoken / written as you are, why on earth would you ask Chat GPT what it would say? I’m genuinely curious if this is something people are asking for a lark or if it is developing as a habit.

Don't overthink the issue. It's not an issue. Most cleaners have shifts in their schedules all the time. If they only come once a month, then they can do the work on an open schedule, to suit their other clients. (PS: aside from dusting, just how dirty does your uninhabited house get? You may do just as well to have them come even less often and cover furniture with sheets. Have them come the week or so before you return to the house.)

@Kswl.....I've found Chapgpt to word things simply, with no negative emotion. It's really good at being "nice" without any "but's"...or "if only's". People tend to get side tracked, computers don't.