Go without a cleaner ?

MilkCereal · 2021-10-30T11:41:41+00:00

Our cleaner has put the price up again and we're starting to question the £ we spend. We both work ft (dh 3 days at home) and have 2 prinary age dc. I also work some evenings (teacher) How do not let the house cleaning take over the evening or weekends? Split tasks? Certain days to clean certain things? I'm in a decluttering of kids toys at moment to help!

Kite22 · 30/10/2021 17:50

I LOVE the feeling of walking into the house when my cleaner has been.
In terms of the pleasure it gives me for the amount spent, it is just the best money I spend.
However I suppose it depends what it is costing you, and how big a lump out of your budget that is.

If you feel your cleaner is pricing herself out of your budget, might you be able to get another cleaner ?

redpandaalert · 30/10/2021 18:51

I think you probably need the help but I’ve worked term time and I would do the bare minimum during term time and blitz in the holidays.

Your DH can do quick wipe of bathrooms during the day, empty and fill dishwasher and put out the laundry when WFH. Then both of you do a couple of hours housework on a Saturday or Sunday morning. If money is tight this works unless you have very high standards!

WarriorN · 30/10/2021 19:02

Dh works full time and I'm part time teacher, with a toddler and older child. We can't keep on top of it as well as trying to keep up with everything the kids have going on, especially clubs and weekend stuff has started up again. Could last year when less was going on.

If you were both willing to set up a system (eg organised mum method) and agree to put the effort in I'm sure it would work. It's more about whether you are happy to use the time My Dh isn't easily trusted!

I've had two cheaper cleaners that didn't pan out at all; we've gone with a more expensive one and to be honest for now it's like gold. I actually didn't feel
Comfortable paying the lower prices as I feel this company is more business like and I can discuss what they'll do more easily. With the cheaper ones the cleaner wasn't paid f she was ill etc, and we had no one to fill in.

In my experience the tidying is the harder bit.

I too love to come into a clean tidy house though.

SadSongsAndWaltzes · 30/10/2021 19:04

Your DH can do quick wipe of bathrooms during the day, empty and fill dishwasher and put out the laundry when WFH.

This is a lot to expect when working! I don't do any of this when working from home as I'm working. Also, that would not be something I'd expect my cleaner to be doing (with the exception of the bathrooms) as these are things that need doing daily anyway.

Sorry op that sounds really hard. We're in a very similar situation to you, and we just got our cleaner back after lockdown. Our house has basically not been cleaned properly in 18 months. If it's tight financially, I think lower your standards and don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Just do the basics, and maybe have set times each week for an hour to hoover, wipe down bathrooms and dust any critical areas. Life is hard enough!

Iggly · 30/10/2021 19:10

If you can’t afford, you can’t afford it

When we paused our cleaner, I had to be more organised about tidying and do daily tasks otherwise it was too much at the weekend. Eh daily wipe of the bathroom, kitchen cleaned after every meals, sweep,vacuum the main areas daily and do a weekly change of beds and mop of floors. Just about kept on top that way

Iggly · 30/10/2021 19:11

@SadSongsAndWaltzes

Your DH can do quick wipe of bathrooms during the day, empty and fill dishwasher and put out the laundry when WFH.

This is a lot to expect when working! I don't do any of this when working from home as I'm working. Also, that would not be something I'd expect my cleaner to be doing (with the exception of the bathrooms) as these are things that need doing daily anyway.

Sorry op that sounds really hard. We're in a very similar situation to you, and we just got our cleaner back after lockdown. Our house has basically not been cleaned properly in 18 months. If it's tight financially, I think lower your standards and don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Just do the basics, and maybe have set times each week for an hour to hoover, wipe down bathrooms and dust any critical areas. Life is hard enough!

That’s not a lot?! I’d easily manage that during a work from home day, especially without a commute.

SadSongsAndWaltzes · 30/10/2021 19:21

Iggly, good for you. I couldn't do that, my job wouldn't allow it. My commuting time is now extra working time and I have back to back meetings that I can't just not attend so I can do the washing up. My boss doesn't pay me to clean my house.

Iggly · 30/10/2021 19:28

@SadSongsAndWaltzes

Iggly, good for you. I couldn't do that, my job wouldn't allow it. My commuting time is now extra working time and I have back to back meetings that I can't just not attend so I can do the washing up. My boss doesn't pay me to clean my house.

I had a similar job and then thought screw that. So I pushed back. It was tough but I did it. And then I left. Because it nearly killed me and I had enough (local government).

If your commute time becomes work time then can you go back to the office?

SadSongsAndWaltzes · 30/10/2021 19:47

Haha, I'm local government too, it's really hard at the moment. Makes it worse that the media seems to think we've all been living it up with our feet up on full pay for a year!

Sorry to derail your thread op. I would just say cut yourself some slack. If the cost is prohibitive, ask around and look for another cleaner or lower your standards: you can't do everything and it will be bad for you to try. I am a slob though 😂

redpandaalert · 30/10/2021 21:15

Each time you go to the loo - clean sink/loo, empty dishwasher while kettle boils for tea, laundry on before breakfast and to put in drier takes a few minutes. Fold at lunchtime or after work. All that time you chat to people when you work in an office, when you wfh you can use some of that time to do a little housework.

MrsGatsby99 · 31/10/2021 07:03

It is doable. I have stopped with cleaners now and we are coping ok but it does need a deeper clean by half-term. Trying to save money as tax/NI etc increasing.
During term time, every day do the following:
Put dishwasher on in evening/ do washing up/unload in morning.
Swish and swipe one bathroom
One load of laundry if have, put away in evening if dry.
Wipe down kitchen before bed.
Quick hoover of high traffic areas (5 mins)
5/10 min tidy up of clutter.
Share these tasks between you.

At weekend, bathroom and kitchen clean.
15 minute dust/ clean mirrors all round house.
Empty all bins.
Hoover everywhere
Wash sheets.

In holiday time, i follow TOMM so everywhere gets a deeper clean.

Good luck.