How do you judge if you need a cleaner?

[MadameDD]

I work full time, have a DH and DD4.5 and a 5 bedroom house. I'm newly pregnant so we'll be 4. Also have a cat but he doesn't shed much hair.

Right now I hoover etc as I go and sometimes DH does it too. Bathroom and kitchen are on weekends. However, I'm getting sick of cleaning all the time and DH doesn't mind if the house is a tip or not, whereas I do.

DD has a childminder who sometimes drops off, always does pick up etc but has said she would do some cleaning for us if we wanted it.

I'm really tempted to say yes, she cleans for others and is £10 per hour which I think is really reasonable. DH will most likely whinge about the cost but there's no way I want to do it all myself, plus we're getting a lodger in the attic bedroom space soon to save money so we could certainly afford a cleaner.

Ideas/opinions? Rules to lay down? If I had a cleaner I'd want them to be as thorough as I am and put on washing loads etc? Do they do this?

Everyday stuff like cleaning up after the cat (he's a really messy eater and his food spills out of his bowls all over the place) unless it was cleaner's day, I would still do.

Thanks all - advice would be appreciated!

How do you judge if you need a cleaner?

If you can afford it, and don't enjoy cleaning; or if you can afford it and don't have time to clean; or if you can manage to afford it by saving somewhere else and it makes your life 'better' than whatever it is you are saving the money from, then it is worth it.

You never need a cleaner (unless you are physically unable to clean), but it is the best £20 a week I spend.

However, even from your post you sound like you might have ahem... 'exacting standards' ? In which case it could be difficult to employ your CMer (even for a trial) as this has high potential not to work out, and could sour the relationship.
What might help you, is to think "Well, she hasn't done X as I would have but as she already done a,b,c,d,e,f, and g, then I have all the time in the world to go over X, to my standard".

Re putting washing on - as others have said, it is a bit unusual for a cleaner, but, when someone is self employed, it is up to them what they will / won't do. So some might. Again, if there is just one bit of what you currently do that she doesn't want to take on, then you will still have gained by having had 90% of what you want doing, done.

You don't need to justify having a cleaner. If you can afford it do it.
DH and I on our own but both working full-time. No stress no arguments. House clean for the weekend.

I have had four cleaners of which three have been long term they were all through recommendation . The fourth was through an advert and she was the only one that wasn’t very good.

I loathe cleaning and have even had one when I wasn’t working with school aged dc. I always paid holiday pay and gave a bonus at Christmas.

My hatred of it stems from having to run a household from age 13 when my Mother was widowed and lost the plot. Cleaning and cooking and shopping and being her carer stole those years. We had always had to help, I think making a six year old clean the oven is not on quite frankly.

IMOGEN

I've had lodgers before - but this is slightly different as she's a very close friend - on the one hand I'm tempted not to have a contract with her but on the other hand I will draw up a contract. We actually have a small kitchenette area upstairs too - it's like a separate area in the living room part with a slimline dishwasher, washing machine, sink etc but all along one wall/work surface if you see what I mean? We decided to do that in case we wanted to rent the attic space out as it's huge... Friend is quite happy to pay and use the attic room area (as it's like a self contained flat) rather than use our own space.

No fire escape but will look into that.

Her rent I think now will cover all bills including cleaner.

There's a smoke alarm etc there already and will declare this income to HMRC and locks etc already there in place inside and out without keys etc.

She has also said she's happy to babysit/be godparent in her duties and interaction with my DD as she is the godparent - however she's out of the country a lot and out at night a lot too - so this will be few and far between. Like I said, this suits her finances far better, she gets a far better rent via letting out her flat (she's cleared this with her mortgage company) and she doesn't have to worry of dealing with that flat too. She's fine to interact with DD as and when she sees her and like I said, it's self contained attic room/flat-let area so she can choose as little or no interaction as she wants. Plus fairly well soundproofed up there too!