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    • What’s our theater saturation point?

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  • Home & Living
    Time Out Chicago / Issue 165 : Apr 24–30, 2008

    Maid day

    Leave your spring cleaning to the pros—it’s not as expensive as you might think.

    By Kevin Aeh and Jessica Herman
    Photograph by Matthew Taplinger

    Easy Solutions A two-person team covering the city and suburbs (312-912-3727).

    Price
    $60 flat rate

    Basics
    The flat rate includes a deep cleaning of your kitchen and bathroom (like scrubbing the faucets and tiles, for example), dusting, mopping your floors and two loads of laundry.

    Extra perks
    They’ll also pick up your dry cleaning and walk your dog for $25 per errand.

    Cleaning products
    They bring their own, but will use other products (such as eco-friendly supplies) if provided.

    Raquel’s Cleaning Specialists A one-woman (Raquel) company that has been cleaning downtown homes exclusively since 1995 (312-376-7513).

    Price
    $55 for studios, $65 for one bedroom, $75 for two bedrooms, $85 for three bedrooms

    Basics
    Raquel performs a general cleaning of your apartment in addition to doing three loads of laundry.

    Extra perks
    Bonus work includes window washing and balcony cleaning for $10 each.

    Cleaning products
    She brings her own, but will use provided products if requested.

    Merry Maids An international cleaning franchise founded in 1979 in Nebraska (merrymaids.com).

    Price
    The company won’t offer estimates until someone comes out to assess your needs during a free consultation.

    Basics
    The maids cover all the basics and then some, including window washing, oven cleaning, furniture treatment plus packing and unpacking.

    Extra perks
    With the signature green Merry Maid car parked outside of your place, your neighbors will know you keep a tidy home.

    Cleaning products
    They come with everything.

    Dust Bunnies (pictured above) A new company that sends scantily clad young ladies—they clean in lingerie, in French maid attire or topless—to your (presumably bachelor) pad (773-627-6623, sexymaidschicago.com).

    Price
    $100—$125 per hour ($125 for topless cleaning)

    Basics
    The “light cleaning service” includes sweeping and vacuuming the floors, making the beds. The 18-to-25 year old women cap their visits at two hours and don’t do windows; working in heels ain’t easy.

    Extra perks
    The chance to entertain your sexy-maid fantasies while actually having your place cleaned...need we say more?

    Cleaning products
    Cleaning supplies, including eco-friendly versions using peroxide and Dr. Bronner’s, are provided, but a broom and vacuum are not.

    Sparkle Queen A green cleaning company that travels north to Lakeview and south to the South Loop with only nontoxic, biodegradable, natural supplies (773-829-4645, sparklequeen.com).

    Price
    First-visit deep cleaning is based on an hourly fee, depending on size of the home, and follow-up visits cost a flat $68 fee.

    Basics
    After priming your place with an initial deep cleaning (nitty-gritty details like fridge, oven interior and exterior and hand washing the baseboards), teams of two or more cover all the basics with the General Sparkle Cleaning.

    Extra perks
    Step it up to the Super Sparkle Cleaning for extras like cleaning out the inside of your fridge and washing out trash cans for $10 more.

    Cleaning products
    Provided.


    • Comments
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    • 49853 MAIDS N HEELS Chicago's Nude & Topless Maid/Waitress Service Sun, Nov 09, at 02:17pm
      It's all in good fun! "Instead of complaining about or avoiding these tasks, you can experience a friendly, caring, and sexy maid, taking care of all your unwanted household chores. Maids N Heels work in a bikini, lingerie, sexy maid's uniform, topless, or nude. You decide what you want your maid to wear or not wear. Our sexy maids are waiting to make your fantasy a reality. www.maidsnheels.com

      Flag as inappropriate


    • 7674 Reality Mon, Jun 09, at 01:19am
      it's me again. Mariah - A. dont be jealous. B. chill out, no one is hurting you. C. Does anything indicate these women are forced into doing this? No. It's a job, and I bet it pays well. D. get a life, stop being angry about things that have no effect on you.

      Flag as inappropriate


    • 6397 Shaan Fri, May 09, at 11:48am
      DO NOT go with EASY SOLUTIONS!!! They were horrible. Did not thoroughly clean anything. Did not mop or sweep bathrooms, half-a**ed the floors in the kitchen, dining and living areas. Had to ask them to dust and wipe down tables in the living area and they didn't even wipe down living room table. As far the other stuff, they cleaned around items that were on the counters and in the bathroom, instead of actually clearing them first and then cleaning.

      Flag as inappropriate



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