To want a cleaner when I work 20 hrs per week?

[zozzle]

These hours include one evening a week. Sometimes I work another evening a week on top of these hours. 2 kids at primary school aged 4 and 8. In my head I feel that I should get all the cleaning done in my 2 days off so that the house is all lovely ready for the weekend, but that doesn't seem to happen - sometimes I might do a bit for work, do washing, catch up with family on the phone, do admin, prepare dinner, meet a friend for coffee sort out doctor/hosp appts etc and before I know it its 3pm and time to collect kids. I must admit by Thurs I'm tired so maybe not as efficient as I could be!

So whats the verdict? - "of course you need one" or "sort out your time management woman!"

I think tbh that all of you are scary. I work full time 50+ hours a week and I don't have a cleaner because I think everyone should do their own dirty work. So we have a rota... and rules. if you get it out put it back etc, mop out bath/shower after use, loo cleaner and brush after a poo, dog mess cleared by the one who sees it in the garden etc...Very occasionally people don't get it done, and then there's a mild imperfection factor, but only a mild one, nothing for Aggie and Kim to notice, and I really prefer that and privacy/upright conscience .

i am thinking about it and i am a cleaner myself.

in pervious thread like this i have always loved cleaing, but its getting too much for me and i do 21 hours a week

i could use my fag money seeing as i have gave up

If you can afford it, then do it. I don't think you need to justify it in terms of hours worked per week. You are providing employment to someone else, which is a Good Thing, and if you don't like cleaning, don't do any more of it than you have to!

I have a cleaner who comes once a week and does everything. We all tidy as we go, and do the basic cleaning etc, but I love coming back from work on a wednesday to a spotless flat, clean sheets etc. I can sit down with the dc, read a book, spend a bit of time together and enjoy the freshness!

I'm on maternity leave for the next year - so not working and I have a cleaner who also does some ironing for me.

I think it depends also what kind of person you are - I am routiney at work because I have to be but hate being too routiney on my days off. Obviously I have a list of stuff I want to get done and I don't sit on my arse all day but I guess I have a artistic temperament with all that brings in terms of liking to have a bit of spontaneity built in to the day.

Does anyone relate to this or are most of you heads down get on with it in the most efficient way types?

If its your money and you can afford it do what you want.

I have one child (another on the way), don't work (except for very occasional freelance day) and when we move house this weekend I'm getting a cleaner. I'd rather send the time taking DD out or playing with her than cleaning. Why not?

I know a single, childless, jobless male friend who has a cleaner!

I'd have one too if I could afford it, why not indeed

And just think OP, you're helping the economy by employing someone aren't you.

sorry "an" artistic temperament.

if I spent as much time cleaning as I do Facebooking and Mumsnetting and just generally messing about on the internet, my house would be pristine!

But I'd rather fb and mn.

You're right, curiousgeorgie. Nobody bats an eye at a single, childless male who has a cleaner.

Just think of your contribution to society by using a cleaner - creating employment and increasing tax revenues. Makes me feel all glowy.

My sentiments exactly :o In this current economic climate, you are employing someone who needs a job to do something you hate. Everyone's a winner.

I don't think anyone ever should justify a reason for having a cleaner. Thinking about getting one myself again. My problem is DH does night shift so logistics of having a permanent day when she comes in is difficult. I prefer my cleaner to get on with it without us getting in the road.

Nobody bats an eye at a single, childless male who has a cleaner.

I'd imagine quite a few people bat an eyelid at a single, childless, jobless male who has a cleaner though?

Anyway you shouldn't need one IMO, but as most other posters have said, whether you get one is entirely up to you.

I agree about creating employment, this sort of work is a lifeline for struggling families.

I don't think that anyone should be put off paying someone to do jobs. I have a regular decorater, allof our famiy hire him. I could do it myself, but that is a choice that i have made.

On the other hand i think that it does children good to all pitch into doing the house. It is a joint decision between you and your DH.

I think there's still an attitude in society that women are naturally organised, domesticated, house proud and nurtury. I can do the nutury bit and the other bits sometimes.

So I think if you are not naturally built like this you feel somehow you are failing.

Basically virtually no able bodied adult needs someone else to do their cleaning. But that's true of many tasks we routinely outsource.

Having a cleaner when you "only" work x hours a week presses some people's buttons because deep down they see cleaning as women's work. Ditto childcare (see current shock horror thread about a woman leaving her child with cm for one poxy day whilst not at work).

I work during school hours 4 days a week- one afternoon is spent at home doing paperwork linked to my job. After school I am caught up in school run. after school clubs, doing dinner etc.

Friday is my one day off. I do an exercise class and potter about pleasing myself/ shopping etc. after my exercise class i am left with 4.5 child free hours per week. I choose not to spend that time cleaning, so I have a cleaner during the afternoon when i work from home. Works brilliantly for me. It is a luxury but i am very busy all week and don't want to clean at the weekend.

am i lazy? no. I work very hard and have little time to myself. I just choose not to make cleaning one of the many jobs that i do . Could I spend my evenings cleaning? I often don't sit down to rest til 8.30 in the evening and i choose not to.

If you can afford it, go for it!

But maybe my attitude is coloured by having housy mum and housy MIL!

Flick the Vs and get on with enjoying your life. Never complain, never explain.

Sounds like you're feeling guilty OP. Don't! Think of your contribution to the economy and giving someone a job, as people have said, and don't worry about it any more.

zozzle, am like you! i teach so my whole week is run to a timetable. can't bear being efficient on my day off.

Zozzle it's not about being naturally built for it, it's about whether or not you have to do these things.

You're not 'naturally built' for it, but you can afford to employ someone else to do these things you're not 'naturally built' for.

Some people aren't 'naturally built' for said things, but cannot afford to employ someone else - so they muster on and do it themselves, it's the norm.

I hate cleaning and dusting and ironing, I hate all domestic duties!! I don't think I was made to do these things, but it has to be done so do it I must! I'd rather spend the money I'd spend on a cleaner elsewhere.

Just get the cleaner, you want to so why not.

Yep probably feeling guilty because DH is v organised and he would do everything quicker than me if he had 2 days off. But he wouldn't spend time nurturing his friendships in the same way I do which is important to me.

I'd definitely get the cleaner unless it would put on a financial strain or have you thinking every week well I could have bought this that or the other with that money I'm spending on a cleaner. If it would make your house run smoother then get one. I don't mind actual cleaning but I hate tidying up and putting stuff away. So the cleaning sometimes doesn't get done because I'd have to tidy first. Awful I know.