To ask if you are a SAHM living in a house do you have a cleaner and how often?

[Ramonaramona73]

Just that- I had cleaners and am now feeling like it's too much bother trying to have a good relationship with them whilst getting the standard of cleaning you want, tidying before they come not to mention the cost- I think I'd prefer to do it myself and save us the cash but as my dh refuses to clean and has no time to a bit ambivalent. What do you do?

[arethereanyleftatall]

Do it myself whilst the dc are at school.
Did it myself whilst they were preschoolers - just involved them.
Didn't expect dh to clean whilst I'm at home anyway.

[AuntiePenguin]

I'm sahm and have a cleaner once a week to do the proper cleaning - ie mopping floors, cleaning the loo etc. I keep the place nice day to day, but I find it impossible to do proper cleaning with chemicals etc while dealing with toddler plus baby.

[Ramonaramona73]

Involved them how? Currently cleaning up massive bag of cereal son just tipped up all over floor ☺️

[Ramonaramona73]

Yes I think toddler plus baby would make it v difficult but maybe just with toddler...

[arethereanyleftatall]

Depends what age they were for how they were involved. It changed. 9 month old would have her own pile of washing to 'sort'. I would sweep/mop with a ball knocking it round for a toddler to chase. Washing up bowl for them whilst I washed up etc etc

[SEsofty]

Once a week to deep clean kitchen and bathroom and proper Hoover.

But still do cleaning of some sort every day

[MoreThanUs]

I'm sahm and have a cleaner once a week to do the proper cleaning - ie mopping floors, cleaning the loo etc. I keep the place nice day to day,
^this describes my situation perfectly

[buckingfrolicks]

someone once on MN had the genius idea of paying herself to be her own cleaner. She got the marigolds for it and everything. Try that? You put aside eg 2 hours to be eg Mona the Cleaner, pay yourself when you're done - and you get to keep the cash in the family.

[Somehowsomewhere]

SAHM to a 3 and 1 year old and do it myself. Was a struggle when they were 19 months and a newborn (for example), but find it ok now. When 1 year old is napping I set 3 year old with an activity/toys and do it then.

[Ramonaramona73]

Yes I'm always cleaning anyway - I definitely need help with ironing but cleaning is never to my standard anyway and it's so expensive each month. Anyone used a laundry service? I'd worry about hygiene and also that they are are bad conditions to work in?

[Ramonaramona73]

It could pay for the odd bit of childcare?

[Somehowsomewhere]

I used a laundry service when we were both working long hours but not anymore. It was fine. More useful than a cleaner IMO!

[Alaia5]

I'm a SAHM living in a house.
I have a cleaner Mon, Wed and Fri for 4 hrs at a time. I make sure she never has to pick up anything off the floors, make the beds and clean the kitchen before she comes . She doesn't do laundry because I can't stand the thought of anyone dealing with my underwear. She doesn't do ironing, but I just take the shirts and suits to the dry cleaners or steam press machine and idon my things and the DC's (4 of them) myself.
Usually when she's here, I tend to be out as she is lovely but talks a lot. If I'm in, I'll be sorting laundry or the cupboards while she's going around.
She does dusting and floors (mainly wooden in this house). She always complains about the vacuums though, I've now had to buy 3! I don't think she's the fastest cleaner by a long shot, but I feel awkward asking her to do any more.

[Ramonaramona73]

Mona the cleaner - Moaning about how she hates cleaning 😝

[Somehowsomewhere]

Wow. 12 hours a week of cleaning sounds amazing. I imagine I only clean 2-3 hours a week and our house is pretty clean!

[Ramonaramona73]

Wow 12 hours a week! I always tidied before they cleaned, never left anything I wouldn't want to do myself and they still cut corners and it was awkward asking for better standard. I would also go out even when us gave rather been at home- if you're ill or exhausted you don't want to go out.

[caffeinequick]

I'm a sahm mum to a 3year old and a 15month old. When we were both working we had a cleaner as we would argue often about the lack of cleaning my DH would do. We've ended up getting one again for two hours a week because of this! I still clean every day mind you it just means once a week downstairs gets a good going over.

[Alaia5]

Yes it can be awkward if you're in.
Tbh, I only wanted her 2 days a week, but she asked if she could come on a third day because she was in the area anyway, so I just said ok because I felt bad saying no
The house is on 5 floors though and it takes me all my time to do beds, laundry, cart stuff up and down stairs, tidy up, ironing and whatever else. Plus we have Persian cats so need to hoover more.

[acquiescence]

I am a part time working mum. I put my little one in nurswryfor half a day more than needed and use these 3 hours to clean. It also gives me a bit of a break as I don't mind cleaning.

[Pinkheart5915]

I had a cleaner a long time before I had babies, she comes twice a week for 3 hours a time.
I do tidy in between her visits ( put toys away etc) but I'd rather not spend too much time cleaning I want o pay with my babies

[scaryteacher]

Am SAHM with ds at university in a different country. Cleaner used to work for dh when he was working abroad and ds and I were in UK, and we just kept her on when ds and I moved to join dh. 6 hours per week, but she does floors, loos, irons Dh's work shirts and tidies me up.

[rollmeover]

SAHM here with two pres schoolers. Cleaner comes once a week 3 hours. Got her when my second DC was born and I was loosing my mind. We are very lucky to be in a position to afford a cleaner but I do the family budget and we don't have sky, I very rarely go for coffee, get my hair done less so it all works out.

I think my PIL think I'm lazy but DH is either working away or out the house long hours so everything falls to me so I can "justify"it that way.

Though I don't need to justify it to anyone - our cleaner is fab and my DH and I have a much better relationship because of having one.

[DustOffYourHighestHopes]

4 hrs a week - floors, kitchen, bathroom, toilets, dusting, ironing, folding clothes. I make sure the house isn't disgusting (no dirty clothes lyinf around, or old food etc) but certainly don't clean up first.

She is non-judgey (to my face), kind, friendly and forgiving.

That just leaves me on a daily basis with...laundry, dishwasher, cooking and clearing up afterwards, supermarket shopping, tidying, house admin, CHILDCARE, etc.

[shesnotme]

I have a cleaner every other week. 4 dcs, 1 pre-schooler who us at nursery some of the time. I could do with her every week but due to ill health used to find it hard to do an en mass tidy up every week.

[greynunu]

I'm on 12 months mat leave, have a baby and a preschooler. We have a cleaner for 4 hours a week to do the deep clean (floors, showers, dusting etc) plus some ironing. It took me ages to find her, she is brilliant. It is a bit of a nuisance tidying up before she comes then making myself scarce, plus finding the money but it is worth it. I feel stretched enough keeping on top of the day to day stuff without trying to squeeze in mopping etc.