Talk to me about cleaners

It's time to accept that you're middle class!

Seriously, look at it as contributing to the economy. Boosting spending power. Providing a job.

We are definitely getting a cleaner when we move -we are going from a smallish London 2 bedroom flat probably to a 3 bedroom house.

His standards of cleaning are very low! E.g. I asked his yesterday when he was planning on cleaning the bath (the bathroom is one of his jobs). He said it was done. I thru queried why it was so dirty and grey!

I think if I had a cleaner I would have to do the basic cleaning and tidying myself still and maybe just have them in to do the periodic jobs that build up like oven etc. or deep cleaning, have you considered that?

I loved having one. I resented spending my free time cleaning and with working full time and then having the kids every weekend it never felt like I had any time to myself.

I diddnt feel snobby at all, like googling says you are providing someone with a wage. It's a service much the same as anything else. You are (in theory) perfectly able to cut your Jen hair or make food for yourself but you wouldn't feel guilty paying a hairdresser or a chef to provide you with these services so you shouldn't feel bad about a cleaner.

I think you are completely right Mini, l think there are better ways to spend my time and cleaning eats into my free time too much.

Just read my post again;

Googling = footlong

Jen = own.

Oh dear. The main point got across though I think.

My mom owns (and works in) a cleaning business and my Dad and stepmum own one. Hearing their stories and knowing how much money they make for what they do there is no way i'd employ one.

Dads claimed on his insurance for broken furniture, has his ladies accused of taking cash (he's no proof either way), mom has moved things in the bedroom / made the bed and found a whole manner of VERY Personal things. I just couldn't have someone in my house unattended, i've felt funny enough leaving a family member/friend.

That said I bet it feels awesome coming home to a nice clean house..

Once you have one, you never go back.

We've had once since we moved in together. It's amazing. I come back on Monday and my house is spotless.

I do feel a middle-class guilt at paying a foreign lady, who is the same age as my mother, to clean my toilet, but then my laziness wins over my milddle-class guilt. Now we've moved, we have a much younger girl* which makes me feel a bit better.

We both work stressful jobs, with H doing particularly long hours. We want our weekends free for quality time. That's worth £20 a week to us.

I've lived in SW London, and now in Surbiton (Surrey) and have never paid more than £10 an hour.

I jsut make sure there is nothing embarrassing around the house, eg, no sanitary towel bag in the bin from the night before, or anything like that.

Plus, as others said, you're paying somebody a wage, and without starting some debate, you know the money is all theirs, cash in hand etc.

p.s. my middle-class guilt is so bad that when our new cleaner came around to see the flat and meet us, I had a shower and then hid in the bathroom until she was gone.

*early twenties, not child labour

We've just started with a cleaner and although I feel a little bit guilt, coming home to a clean house wins every time. Best £40 a fortnight we spend.

Hi we spend too many long hours a week working, I have a cleaner once a week for 1.5hrs for £14 mainly for kitchen and bathrooms. They also do lounge, stairs and our bedroom/ensuite not the other bedrooms. Best money we spend and they are lovely. Same as Clare said above, make sure nothing's left about but it's great they come in on a fri and house is lovely.

i also outsource the ironing to a neighbour every week too! Now that is lovely too

Duplicate

When I start my new job next week with a longer working week with a commute its sthing Im going to think about.

OH doesnt work most fridays (unless there is overtime) but I am massively houseproud & fussy so for him to do it all, I know I'd only re-do it on a sat afternoon.

I would want sthing to skim over everything so say 2 hours a week then every 2-3 months maybe a whole day - skirting boards, cupboards, shower deep clean etc.

I havnt turned it with OH yet though, this is all in my head. lol.

Im so fussy though i can imagine I would still end up doing housework of some decription regularly so its whether or not I would actually still not clean after someone has been in!

Technically both these typos are accurate. Asking Footlong is just as good as googling for an answer.

My hair is actually Jen hair.

I think I will just have to get over myself as OH is really pushing for it. I have persuaded him to leave it a bit while the cats are still indoors as I don't want them even more freaked out by having a stranger come in (also what if they love the cleaner more than me...?)

I don't want to be middle class! Everything in me rails against paying £80-100 a month for something we could do ourselves no problem. Conversely I also worry about someone stealing from us (all my chandeliers, caviar, furs and diamonds of course) so was thinking if we have to have one, an agency one would be better than just some random who we don't know from Adam. I don't know anyone who has a cleaner so can't go from word of mouth. My auntie is a cleaner but I would never ask her to do the job and she doesn't work for an agency or know any other cleaners.

Thank you all for your thoughts on this.