Aibu to consider getting a cleaner with 2 days off work?

The moral superiority on this thread… wow. I’ve had a cleaner for years, pre kids, on mat leave, and now I’m back at work. Best money I spend, I hate cleaning and you don’t get a prize for scrubbing your own toilet! You don’t have to justify it, fuck all the judgemental women on this thread who exercise 5 times a week, cook from scratch, work full time, have sex nightly and do their own cleaning. Because life is too short! Outsource what you need to.

If you can afford it why not? I work part time, husband long hours and it makes our life so much easier. I hate cleaning so to have bathrooms, dusting, hoovering done adds a lot to my quality of life.

I hate cleaning and would keep mine even if I worked part time. Potentially even if I didn't work! Provided I could afford it

Keeping a family house that size clean would be like a job, and one that I wouldn't particularly want. It's like the size of a small GP/ dentist? Anyway, I would definitely outsource the actual cleaning or it won't get done properly/frequently enough and will look dingy eventually. I would absolutely love a cleaner!

Hell yes.

I prefer to maximise the amount of time and energy I have available for my family. You're on the right track with the thoughts of 'being a better you if less tired'. It's the you that's important.

I literally see it as a trade off between time, money, energy. You can get more of one by using one of the others.

I like a clean tidy house, but I love my family. They're my joy, my enthusiasm, my interest. The more I put in, the more I get out.

Same can't be said for my kitchen floor.

At my funeral I hope they talk about all the energy and enthusiasm I had as a mother, not the energy and enthusiasm I put into having a spotless house.

I work part-time, 2 kids, and have fairly recently had a cleaner start. I regret not starting it sooner.

If he doesn't do any cleaning is it his business?

How does your husband feel about this

Why not? I like using my days off for stuff I actually enjoy doing. And my job isn’t stressful or high-pressured either.

As to your question, OP, I found actually getting a cleaner to come round the most difficult part! I had spoken to three who either didn’t turn up or messaged to say they’d changed their mind and weren’t doing cleaning any more. My current cleaner I found on the local FB group for our town, she’s been doing it for over a decade, and she came round and talked about what we wanted etc. She’s brilliant.

It’s the old time v money thing, isn’t it? I’m time poor but we are fortunate enough to have some disposable income, so we choose to pay to reclaim some time as that’s currently more important. So instead of cleaning today on my day off, I am going for a run, meeting a friend for coffee and watching a few episodes of The Pitt.

I don't like having a cleaner myself, just because they tend to focus on the bits I don't mind doing. I'm rubbish at tidying but good at cleaning. Being forced to tidy for the cleaner each week was just stressful and I was left doing the parts of the job I hated most rather than the bits I don't mind. However if it works for you then do it.

I find it baffling that grown women can be so judgy about what someone else does with a few hours a couple of days a week. It's OK for someone to decide that scrubbing their bathroom is not THE most important thing they can do with those few hours a week.

Why the sarcastic comment? I gave my opinion as did everyone else on this thread. Am I only allowed an opinion if it matches everyone else's?

Ok. And? Do you want a Blue Peter badge for being better then everyone else 😂😂

I'm surprised by these comments. I work compressed hours over 4 days in a very stressful, professional role. I have a child and husband. I use my day off to get all the housework done. I would never consider hiring a cleaner so I could sit around on my day off.

local facebook group or word of mouth

Absolutely this. If you pay the cleaner, the cleaner can pay the rent, put food on the table and all that jazz. Cleaner can then pay for a gardener, maybe and ...... BOOM, we have steps towards a thriving economy. Share the wealth, innit? 😊

When myself and my husband talk about using up our time for such activities we work out basically what our worth is towards it. What is our “hourly rate”, and is it worth our time and effort vs paying someone for it.

if this was to cost you say £40 a week - versus - using up 4 hours of your time a week.. which one is the higher cost to you?

This is a financial question not a moral one.

If your family can afford a cleaner and would benefit from one (and it still counts if it’s just you benefitting) then get one.

I don’t work at all and we have a cleaner 🤷‍♀️ no justification needed.

Go for it! I only work 2 days and have 2 kids, secondary and late primary and have had a cleaner for 15 years!
However I am now doing my own cleaning…. It was becoming a bit of headache managing someone who sometimes didn’t turn up/finding and trialling someone new so I just decided to do it myself and am finding it very freeing and great at the moment! Having a cleaner and not having a cleaner both have different pressure points head space wise so it won’t solve everything but hell yes after all these years DIY then get one!

Do it if you can afford it. I love my cleaner. Just DP and me. We work full time. I like a very clean house and him a moderate clean house. Cleaner saves the arguments about cleaning. Also I love having extra time to myself.

I struggled with guilt for years. I felt I should be able to clean my own house. But went for it and will keep her for as long as I can.

she cleaned at the start for 2 hours once a fortnight. I have a 3 bed house. Asked her to prioritise certain things. She now comes weekly. i still need to clean somethings and hoover. But the main things are done.

I love it.

It's your money, spend it how you like.

Golly. Never had a cleaner, and we’ve managed perfectly well. Just the elderly neighbours whose mobility isn’t what it was seem to have cleaners round us. Kids have always cleaned after themselves in the bathroom and generally don’t make that much mess in the house. Certainly not enough to warrant someone in the house to clean up after us. But we’re not a household of clean freaks. The garden is on the large side, but for me gardening is an activity to be enjoyed. If you want and can afford a cleaner, OP, then have one. You shouldn’t need anyone to justify it.