Video games are a great activity for kids out of school for the summer. But is it rude to play video games while the maid is cleaning?
Today on Ask a House Cleaner you’ll find out what to do when the maid is trying to clean around a kid playing video games. Whether it’s expected for the kid to acknowledge the maid while he or she is cleaning your room.
Is your maid interrupting video games at your house? Angela Brown, The House Cleaning Guru says “come clean with me”, or at least let me know what not to unplug or move. It’s all about communication and being a savvy cleaner.
Today’s show sponsor is https://HouseCleaning360.com
HouseCleaning360 is a business referral network for house cleaners and maids and housekeepers.
Listen: Video Games – Rude to Play While Maid Is There?
Watch: Video Games – Rude to Play While Maid Is There?
Hey there, I’m Angela Brown, and this is Ask a House Cleaner. This is a show where you get to ask a house cleaning question, and I get to help you find an answer.
Question: Video Games – Rude to Play While Maid Is There?
Now, today’s question comes from a teenager. He wants to know “Is it rude if I’m sitting on the couch playing a computer game when the house cleaner comes?”
Answer: Video Games – Rude to Play While Maid Is There?
Well, that’s an interesting question. And the fact that you asked suggests that you’re sensitive to the house cleaners feelings. Yay!
Now, I know with video games it’s exciting. And it’s hard when you get caught up in a video game to stop and leave and go in the other room.
But there are a couple of elements that it would be helpful for you to understand. And it seems like you’re receptive since you asked this question.
The House Cleaner Is At Work While You’re Playing Video Games
Cleaning your house is your maid’s job. They have a variety of tasks to do while at your house.
You might be in the middle of a game, but at some point, they will have to come clean the room you’re in.
You Can Have Manners Even While You’re Playing Video Games
When the house cleaner arrives, say hi. Acknowledge their arrival. You don’t have to chat – and you can go right back to playing your video games.
But let them know that you will be right there if they need anything. And ask them to let you know when they are ready to clean your room.
This simple communication will keep you on the good side with your maid or housekeeper.
Don’t Ignore the Housekeeper – That’s Rude
It’s weird when a house cleaner walks in your house and someone is sitting there playing a game and they just ignore you.
That’s weird because the house cleaner wants to go “hey, I’m here.” You know, so they don’t scare you if you didn’t know they were there. But seeing you busy, they don’t want to interrupt you.
It’s your house. You can be the one to say “Hey”.
You don’t even have to take your headphones off. Even a nod of the head, a wave, some form of eye contact and a smile will do just fine. And then you can stay right there the entire time the maid is cleaning. Neither of you will get in the other person’s way.
The Maid is Creeping Up On You
Then when it comes time to clean the room that you’re in, it would be polite if you would get up and leave that room. So that they can go ahead and clean it.
Don’t wait for the house cleaner to ask you to move. As you see them cleaning their way towards you. Find a stopping point in a level or a game.
Let the housekeeper know you’re leaving that room and it’s okay if they clean up.
Give The Maid A Fair Warning About Your Space
Now, one thing that we must ask you to do is this; please tell us if there are any weird things going on. 
For example, if you’re at a certain level of the game and unplugging the cord will disconnect you and bump your avatar into the ether.
Your maid doesn’t want to wreck your video games or make you mad at them.
And this has happened on many occasions where the house cleaner and the gamer failed to communicate.
And for some reason, the maid is wiping food off the cord. The cord got unplugged or whatever, and it booted the person off the game. And then the person goes ballistic because the video game ended and they had to start that level all over.
So, if there are weird things like that find a stopping space when you kind of see that the house cleaner is getting close. If they’re coming down the hall and they’re sweeping and vacuuming nearby, chances are they’re probably coming in that room soon.
Do You Have a Skip Zone? Tell The Maid
If your sofa with your remote controls, game console, and drink are set up just the way you like it, ask the maid to skip it.
“Hey, everything is set up just the way I like it. You can skip the couch. Please don’t clean it. I’m coming right back to it.”
Here’s a secret – memorize the above phrase. It’s clear. It’s kind. And the house cleaner can understand what you are saying and why.
If you say something like “don’t worry about cleaning it.” A well intending house cleaner (who aims to please) will say “No worries at all,” and will clean it anyway. They will wipe the buttons clean on your game console and bug up your settings. They’ll toss your half full Gatorade or worse.
“Please don’t clean it.” Is much easier to understand. And leaves little room for error.
Take Your Food And Drinks With You 
When you leave the room so the maid can clean, take your food and drinks with you.
They don’t know if your food is twenty minutes or two weeks old. They’ll toss it. So if you’re not yet finished with lunch, take your food to the kitchen on your way out.
In fact, you can help the maid by always taking your food, dishes and wrappers and empty drink containers to the kitchen. When you’re done eating and drinking, remove the evidence from your gaming space. This will prevent spills, leaks, sticky controllers, bugs, ants and mice from invading your territory.
Help Your Housekeeper Help You
So, it’s not rude to play video games while the maid is cleaning. As long as you keep them in the loop and pay attention to your manners.
And you might find that they make your life a whole lot easier by cleaning up so you don’t have to.
Alrighty, so that’s it for today, and until we meet again, leave the world a cleaner place than when you found it.
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Resources For This Episode
What Do You Stand For? For Kids: A Guide to Building Character – http://amzn.to/2v6mODw
Teaching Kids Respect – http://amzn.to/2vAxFIX
Raising Respectful Kids in a Rude World: Teaching Your Children the Power of Mutual Respect and Consideration – http://amzn.to/2us0ZMx
ParentSpeak: What’s Wrong with How We Talk to Our Children–and What to Say Instead – http://amzn.to/2fgoMgv
You Can’t Make Me (But I Can Be Persuaded), Revised and Updated Edition: Strategies for Bringing Out the Best in Your Strong-Willed Child – http://amzn.to/2ffE9WM
Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners – http://amzn.to/2vAAr0z
Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top – http://amzn.to/2hw6SXO
Everyday Etiquette: How to Navigate 101 Common and Uncommon Social Situations – http://amzn.to/2hvlxTf
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