How much does a housekeeper earn in Romania. “And I, stupid, also completed college and two master's degrees”

As the prices increase from day to day, the demands of the tradesmen and housekeepers also increase, and the sums required for general cleaning, washing and ironing of clothes become higher and higher. This while, salaries remain largely frozen, especially in the private sector.

Housekeepers ended up earning good money in the country. PHOTO: Unsplash

A housekeeper from Bucharest wanted to take the pulse of the market and asked on a special Facebook group what the rates in the field would be in general. She confessed that she is asking for 350 lei, an amount considered very small by most internet users. This is how it turned out that the incomes of housekeepers working in the country would be comparable to those of those who have been working for years in Western countries.

“Good evening, I also have a question for the girls! How much should I take for an apartment with 5 rooms, kitchen and three bathrooms plus a large terrace, ironing, cleaning, laundry, schedule from 9:00 to 18:00 or 19:00! I take 350 lei, do you think it's ok? Thanks in advance”, she asked.

Thus began a full-fledged debate, with arguments for and against, but most netizens advised her to ask for more money.

Other housekeepers ask for much more

Immediately, another lady confessed that she pays her housekeeper better and suggested that she increase her claims.

“I pay my maid better for 3 hours of work (sometimes 2.5 hours) and she doesn't iron or wash clothes. I mean no more than 350 lei, but if I had to keep her on such a long schedule, it would be more expensive”someone said.

“500 lei per day at least”someone else wrote. “It's a little special and ironed”someone added.

By the way“Very little” and “Little” were most of the answers. “Very little time for ironing. In Timiș county it is 40 lei per hour just for ironing! The cleaning depends on how many times you go per month, but you can casually ask for 3,500-3,800 lei monthly 2 times a week”a lady told him. “2,000 lei”,
scored another.

Someone else wondered just reading the responses. “So a person who cleans and works 32 hours a month gets 3,800 lei… And I, stupid, also went to college and two master's degrees…”, she commented but received a sharp reply.

Better a housekeeper than with college and two master's degrees

“If you have college and a master's degree, it doesn't mean that you have money! I personally have been cleaning for about 8 years, I have 8 classes and I earn 2,000 euros a month! Yes, two thousand euros, not lei! You have a head and your mind works! You must know how to value your work. Do you want quality services? You pay! You don't want to, do it yourself! I also pay my own state taxes, insurance, etc! But I don't sign up because I don't want to I make the state with money for taxes! I pay myself, period! In other words, you can have 10 faculties and work for shit money!”

She in turn received a response from an internet user: “For the standard of living in Romania, it's a lot. In Europe, this is about the salary of a housekeeper (if she works full time).”

“They think it's a lot, because many of us work in the field we studied for, and salaries are like they are in Romania. And if cleaning seems a lot to them, you don't know what it means to sit with your hands and your nose in all the solutions, because many think we're just doing a cleaning that they also do at home. And yes, I believe you, what money are you left with, because I, as an employee, had a salary (no extras) 6,500-7,000 lei, but we leave at 3 in the morning and arrive home after 4:00 p.m., including Sunday, we work 4 hours. And I don't even want to say how much school I have, but I chose this job to earn what a salary should be in Romania, so we can afford a “fad”“, came the answer of a housekeeper.

“To work in cleaning, and when I say cleaning I hope it's a light bulb, at least that's my standard, that I can do my own cleaning or leave it dirty, and it happened to me over time to deal with ladies who don't know what clean is. It's very difficult in my opinion, so 450 a day, if it does what it says, is more than reasonable. My opinion is that you don't have time in a day to clean a house with so many rooms, to iron and wash, unless the house is clean.” there was another opinion.

At least 50 lei per hour

“If you know how to appreciate your job in Romania, you can make money. That's what I do, I don't leave my country for nothing,” someone added.

“It's 10 hours, don't you think? I get 50 lei per hour”, was another answer.

“Yes, I know it's 10 hours, but that's all they offer, and I have one day a week! I work in the apartment all day, I load loads of washing machines, dry them, and then iron them“, replied the author of the original post.

“It's a little 350 lei… At least 450 lei”someone else added. “Very little, at least 1,000 lei if it's general“, added another lady. “And ironed and clean on the 350, that's you don't appreciate” someone wrote.

Someone else mocked her for the amount she charges for cleaning.
“Don't ask for anything, put a candle after you do it. May it be for the owner's soul. God forbid“, she wrote.

“If they call you daily, 1,500 euros per month! Success”he was told.
“About 650-700 lei per day for cleaning. Over 1,500 lei for general maintenance”was another opinion.

However, there were also voices that disagreed with this last point of view.
“You are insane….I think you are daydreaming. God forbid.”

“Is that really how much is paid? I mean 1,500 lei per day? Who gives you that much money?”, someone else asked.

“For general cleaners in big houses, it seems fair to me. Well, if you have a jig like I've seen around here, it's work to bring the house to light”, was one reply. “Not per day, maybe per month“, it was an irony. “8-10 euros per hour! If he doesn't have money to clean his house!”, someone else answered.

“600 lei for the house, 70 lei for ironing + washing”, was another piece of advice. “Dear lady, go and keep your client, and prove that you are a serious and hard-working woman, and then say that you should 350-400, but ask for what these 2 lei samples write, believe me, you will lose customers. No one pays that much”, was an opinion.

A lot of work, but I also earn accordingly

“I have a house of 140m2 and the lady who comes irons and cleans for 8 hours and I give her 350 lei. It's a decent cost for me and for her. So, those of you who are talking total nonsense, go and sleep”, someone reinforced.

“You manage to clean five rooms plus ironing and washing in 8 hours!? Well, you're Wonder Woman, and 350 is a pittance. Of course, if we're talking about cleaning, not fluffing”, wondered someone else.

“While one machine is washing and another is drying, you can get clean and then iron… If it doesn't stink, you can… simple!”came a reply.

“I don't know what you consider decent 350 lei for a villa with 5 rooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen and large terrace. Plus ironing, washing clothes, etc.”
someone else commented.

“Over 100 sq m is between 8-12 lei sq m. It depends on the area and the degree of dirt. Stop working by the hour because it's not ok. Work on the surface and stop working for free”, came another piece of advice.

Someone else wanted to know where the author of the original post was from and suggested a collaboration.

“Where are you from? Do you have any days off in the week?””, she asked her. “From Bucharest”the author of the original message replied, and then added: “Yes, I would have a day off on Tuesday.”

Other Internet users insisted that the 350 lei is far too little.
“I take 250 for the maintenance of 2 rooms”someone pointed out. “For everything you do at least 600 hundred and it's a little” was another message.

“For such a space, a general cleaning is at least 1200 lei. I repeat, minimal. It also depends on the dirt, it also depends on whether you use your own or the owner's solutions. There are several aspects. But from 1,200 lei upwards. It is not simple, whoever calls you for a general cleaning does not call you that he is clean. He calls you that it's too much, he can't handle it anymore. I'm talking about general cleanliness. Then the price of maintenance drops, especially since you will continue it yourself. If you do the general cleaning ok, then it is easier for you to maintain. And then 400 lei is ok“, a man intervened.