Heidi Montag's mother Darlene Egelhoff says the recession has forced her to work as a maid.

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Egelhoff told TV's "Inside Edition" she and her husband owned a restaurant for 21 years, but had to close it because of the economy. She said they have been struggling to pay their bills since and the only job she could find in Crested Butte, Colo., was cleaning houses.

The celebrity mom admitted it has been awkward when a client recognizes her.

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"That's been very humbling for me and I very much appreciate that experience because I don't ever want to get full of myself and think I'm too good to do anything," Egelhoff said.

She also tearfully revealed she has not spoken to Montag in nearly nine months and doesn't think her daughter knows what she has been going through.

The mother and daughter became estranged after Egelhoff appeared on an episode of "The Hills" and showed her disappointment in Montag's decision to undergo 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day.

Egelhoff said she is so desperate to communicate with Montag she started a blog called "Metamorphosis of a Mother" hoping Montag will read it, "Inside Edition" said Thursday.