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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to NOT want a cleaner?

529 replies

OrkaLiely · 01/03/2012 19:30

it seems to be very common on MN; paying another person to clean your house. Why can't the adults in the house do it between them? And once the kids are old enough to hold a duste,r teach them to help out as well.

I'd hate someone else in our house cleaning up our mess. It sends a bad message to children too. And no-one in this age of dishwashers, washing machines, vacuum cleaners is too busy to do it themselves.

OP posts:

CremeEggThief · 02/03/2012 21:24

I don't have a cleaner or particularly want one, but YABU to get so upset and annoyef about other peoples' choices, OP. What on earth has it got to do with you?

LittleHalfwit · 02/03/2012 21:34

I have a cleaner. I have a gardener. I am providing employment for others. I work and am therefore supporting my family and the wider economy. I have cleaning, and don't want to have to make the time to do it. I would rather spend my spare time doing other stuff, like being a cub leader

I think the message I am sending to my 2 children is that you work hard to make your own way in life, you give something back if you can, and if you don't want to do something and can afford to outsource, then you blardy well do that!

OP, YABU, and judgey. Get over yourself!

wigglesrock · 02/03/2012 22:09

I am a cleaner, and do you know what? I'm going to employ a cleaner later this year for my own house (the money I currently pay for dds nursery school dinners has been earmarked for that particular treat when she starts school in Sep).

Original poster

OrkaLiely · 02/03/2012 22:38

You're going to go out and clean other people's homes whilst paying someone to clean yours?

OP posts:

runningwilde · 02/03/2012 22:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet.

Original poster

OrkaLiely · 02/03/2012 22:47

Think you're the one who needs to unclench, runningwilde. Don't know why you're getting so worked up about my opinions - maybe you need a "nic shag"

OP posts:

wigglesrock · 02/03/2012 22:50

Yup, if I worked in a clothes store, I wouldn't come home and fold my own clothes and display them, if I was a worked in a cafe, I wouldn't supply my children with menus and ask them what they would like for dinner. No big difference, I clean for a living why would I do it in my spare time?

runningwilde · 02/03/2012 22:53

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Message deleted by Mumsnet.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 02/03/2012 22:56

I think cleaning is quite relaxing.

I think I have it easy in that I don't have to waste any time tidying shit up - the house is very uncluttered, we are all out for most of the day so it doesn't get messy, and the jobs are shared out between us all so there aren't monster tasks which need to be completed when the house is a tip on Saturday, because it generally doesn't get that bad. Plus I quite like pottering about sorting stuff our for about 30 mins after work because it allows me to think things through and plan.

There are some jobs I would like to outsource - cleaning the skirting boards, mopping the floor, cleaning the bastard windows.

I think though I would feel uncomfortable with someone else in my house scrubbing my dirt. I think I am far too working class for staff.

I certtainly don't judge anyone else who had a cleaner though. I probably would do so if I had more than one kid, and if I had young children.

BrandyAlexander · 02/03/2012 22:58

My cleaner comes in for 10 hours a week. It means I don't spend a day of my weekend cleaning and ironing. She gets £100 pw. Happy all round. Except the judgy OP.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 02/03/2012 23:00

Actually the poster upthread who says she has a cleaner come on Friday to do the house - the thought of coming home t a pristine house on a Friday night sounds very tempting!

ViviPru · 02/03/2012 23:08

Friday cleaner day makes lots of sense

trixymalixy · 02/03/2012 23:09

I want to spend some quality time with my kids at the weekend rather than cleaning toilets, floors etc so I have a cleaner.

There is still the day to day cleaning up and tidying to do though so the kids help with that to try and get them into good habits.

OrkaLiely · 02/03/2012 23:10

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Message deleted by Mumsnet.

GetOrfMoiiLand · 02/03/2012 23:13

That comment re scrubbing my dirt was not meant as a dig at anyone - can see that it could be misconstrued.

If I had a cleaner I would follow her around beady eyed like Monica Geller.

I would also be very worried that she would not understand my System of cloths and j cloths and sponges and use the same cloth to wash the toilet pan as to clean the kitchen doors.

highlandcoo · 02/03/2012 23:17

Me too tbh although all my friends have cleaners and think I'm daft to feel like this.

I understand all the arguments about giving someone employment, cleaning being a reasonable way to earn a living (I worked as a cleaner myself as a student and was fine with it) Not judging anyone else who has a cleaner but just don't feel comfortable about it myself although I can't quite explain why.

BrandyAlexander · 02/03/2012 23:20

GOML - clean house on a Friday night is ace! My cleaner is fab and understands my neurotic colour coded cloths system.

breatheslowly · 02/03/2012 23:32

One of the reasons that I have a cleaner is that I spend some of my time doing voluntary work using my professional skills. Would you rather that I gave that up and instead used the time to clean? So my cleaner would be out of a job, the tax my cleaner pays (all done above board) wouldn't be paid and the good cause that I volunteer for would not have the free advice of a qualified professional and would have to pay high consultancy fees to replace me.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 02/03/2012 23:41

GOML - the trick is to find a cleaner who brings her own stuff and who is even more anal about her system than you are

Works brilliantly here, and all my things and cloths etc are just as I like them for keeping on top of things in between her visits.

ImperialBlether · 02/03/2012 23:48

OP, you are being completely unreasonable. In these dire economic times, it's our DUTY to pay other people whenever we can.

Do you really want all these cleaners to be unemployed?

If someone drank that £20 (or whatever), presumably you wouldn't say a thing about it. They're giving their wine money to other people - I think they should be canonised!

GetOrfMoiiLand · 02/03/2012 23:52

but..but..ali...those cloths would have cleaned OTHER PEOPLE'S EFFLUENTS

FootprintsInTheSnow · 02/03/2012 23:54

If cleaning was so demeaning - I'd be more demeaned than my cleane.

She pushes a Hoover around, tidies some toys and launders bed linen one morning a week. Rest of the time I'm the one on my hands and knees wiping the floor twice a day, washing up, cleaning up toiletting accidents and so on and so on.

PorridgeBrain · 03/03/2012 00:13

YANBU to 'NOT want a cleaner'

YABU to imply that 'no-one is too busy'and that having a cleaner is tantamount to bad parenting ('sending out a bad message to children')

I have a DH that pulls his weight with the dishwasher, the washing, packed lunches, changing sheets, ironing, cooking, washing dishes etc etc. We both work (me part-time). It's not that we physically can't do it, it's that we felt we spend enough time away from the children at work or doing all the jobs described above that to add cleaning to that in the precious time we do have at home with them was not fair on them.

When they are both at school and if I am still part-time, I will clean myself when they are at school so it doesn't impact the time we spend with them

Everyone's lifestyle is different as are their priorities, mine is making sure my children get enough quality time with me (what a bad message I am sending to my children ) I do hate such blanket generalisations!

Original poster

OrkaLiely · 03/03/2012 00:20

Honestly, it doesn't take that long to clean your home if you all get stuck in. Certainly won't prevent you from spending time with your kids, partners, pets or volunteering your professional skills.

OP posts:

suburbophobe · 03/03/2012 00:23

I do my own cleaning, and sometimes a slattern....

Kid comes first!

The money I save on doing my own cleaning I go and book a week away!

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