Thinking of getting a cleaner...

[PandaMa]

So the mess of my house is really starting to get on my nerves. I have an 8 month old and about to finish maternity leave. It's like a clean one room and it's a mess half an hour later. I have piles of un ironed clothes sat on the dining table waiting to go upstairs.

I'm so tired all the time as the LO is very clingy and not sleeping well. So basically thinking about when I go back to work hiring a cleaner. But I'm embarrassed. How much should I expect a cleaner to do? Should I clean before they get here? Is it worth it?

Or do you have any tips to get me out of my rut and become a supermum who is super organised?

Seriously if you can afford it get a cleaner!!! Time is the most precious commodity you have and it is so liberating to be able to spend the majority of spare time on enjoying yourself with your family rather than cleaning.

Our cleaner does dusting, vacuuming and mopping as well as cleaning bathrooms, kitchen surfaces, the kitchen sink etc. She also changes the beds and the towels.

Don't be embarrassed, I would suggest having a good tidy before they start however as you want them to actually be able to clean and not spend half their time moving items around.

Getting a cleaner was one of the best things we've done. She does two hours a week for our 2-bed house. It means I can spend the little bit of time I have doing things for me.

Do it.

As PP has said , time is the most precious commodity. You can't get more of it but you can definitely outsource any job. Would you think twice about having someone else service your car? Why not have someone clean your house?

Oh and they will do what ever you ask them to do. The ironing is perfect this maybe find a service who pick up one day and return the next.

Enjoy.

Do it!

15 years ago I got a Polish cleaner, I’m now in a Polish cleaning clan, when one leaves, I get passed on to a cousin, mother or friend, 4 great cleaners, all utterly trustworthy and lovely people.

It makes my life so much easier.

Mine will empty dishwasher, wash up odd bits, clean and iron. £35 for three hours.

A couple of weeks ago she cleaned out all of my kitchen cupboards and fridge. So less time spent ironing.

I wouldn't personally, I prefer to do it myself.

Do it - frees up so much time and a cleaner (who is not looking after kids or doing random life admin) can get through so much more in two hours than I ever could. There has even been research done that 30 pounds spent on a cleaner will make you happier than 30 spent on other things.

Cleaners will do what you ask them to do, within reason. If you find something you really want doing then just ask them to prioritize. IMO make a list of the chores that really annoy you or you put off. Ie. cleaning the cooker top or changing the bed? Ours changes the bed and does laundry and ironing as well as the usual hoovering. Seconding PP to have a big tidy up before they start, though. Don't clean, just make sure things are put away where you want them to be and maybe have a dedicated bag for ironing and clean laundry that wants folding.

It's such a lovely feeling to come home to a clean house. Do it!

If you can afford it then absolutely do it.
There are different types of cleaners- I used to have one that seemed unsure of what to do with all my stuff.
Then I found one who just shows loads of initiative and she would just fold clothes if they needed it, make piles of stuff etc and tidy as she goes. She actually is brilliant at cleaning and does in 4 hrs what would take me 10hrs.

I would rather have a cleaner than a weekly takeaway or another luxury. Try it. You won’t regret it

Would love a cleaner, but am really unsure how to get someone who cleans to a good standard, is reliable, honest, and hardworking.

Any ideas on this, or recommendations based on the areas you live?

We found our cleaner by word of mouth...ask your neighbours!

A cleaner is great. I love mine. But they're not really there to tidy (they tidy a bit obviously) so before getting a cleaner I'd suggest doing a major tidy / clear out.

Send the ironing out too.

Mine tidies and cleans! She’s fab. She puts things in piles and does big cleaning jobs like hoovering and mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms etc. Absolutely love her.

As your 8 month gets more mobile, cleaning with them around gets harder - they get into everything! You don't have to get everything done, just the bits you find hardest to do. We have someone come for 2 hours every other week to clean bathrooms (chemicals make this a right pain to do with a toddler assistant), do a proper clean on the kitchen, and dust. Hoovering is fine to do with toddler assistance so we manage that ourselves. I found it odd initially - but it's less embarrassing than having a dirty loo when guests come over!

OP having a cleaner is fab, but you'll need to tidy to get the best out of it.
Get some big tubs for toys so they can be cleared away, and get on top of the laundry somehow.
My cleaner can absolutely whizz through a tidy house, but if inadvertently leave a mess she seems to spends loads of time organising and very little cleaning.

I got one just after Xmas. Before it felt like a real luxury however I am now a full time working single parent and I couldn't cope. I had no idea where to start, how much I should expect them to do etc!

I ended up getting a recommendation from a friend. She does 3 hours every other week and does a clean of the whole 3 bed house. No ironing or bed changing. I make sure it's tidy before she starts.

I now find it so much easier to maintain between visits as well.

She just does a general clean however I am thinking g about maybe doing 4 hours every few visits and getting her to focus on a deep clean of a specific area.

It's been a life changer!

Thanks everyone you've been a big help in decision making. I don't know why I'm embarrassed I think its just I feel like I should be able to do all these things and just can't. But as pp said £30 spent on a clean house rather than a takeaway and wine would probably make me happier

Good thread OP. I've been thinking about getting a cleaner. We've got one coming at the weekend to see how it goes and if it's worth it. Like you i feel like I should tidy and clean before they come!

I could have written this thread myself! My DC are older, approaching teens but I'm feeling that as a full time working parent, I want to spend my weekends with them, not cleaning. We are all so busy in the week.

I felt guilty and thought about it for months, and some people don't approve. BUT I'm meeting someone this week to discuss what I need etc. I'm so excited.

Why on earth feel guilty??

It's a perfectly normal thing to pay someone to clean your house if you are time-poor, or exhausted. They're being paid a reasonable wage so I can't see the problem!

One other benefit is that you will find that the night before the cleaner comes you'll suddenly feel motivated to tidy up toys, piles of clothes etc, because you don't want to pay the cleaner for tidying, you want her to focus on actual cleaning.

I haven't scrubbed a toilet or hoovered for years and it is liberating!

Another vote for word of mouth recommendations.

And then once you have found someone who suits you, if they have to move on, you will be passed on to someone suitable. One of the best luxuries ever.