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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

124 replies

zozzle · 18/05/2012 10:11

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!"

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 18/05/2012 11:42

zozzle if you want a cleaner and can afford one then get one and sod whatever anyone else thinks.
I work 22 hours a week and would love a cleaner but can't afford it. If I had the money and was a SAHM I would still get a cleaner because who wants to spend their life doing stuff they hate if they don't have to.

noonar · 18/05/2012 11:43

i think zozzle's first post about being not a routiney person with housework is a fair point though.
also if you take ten people who can't afford a cleaner, some will be more efficient and naturally house proud/ organised. not sying anyone is 'built for it' but def some people are more natural home makers,imo

Original poster
zozzle · 18/05/2012 11:46

I guess it all depends on how you want to spend your time and your money. But for me there's a also big dollop of guilt thrown in - unintentionally from DH and unconsciously from housy mum and housy MIL.

Maybe I should just accept that I am no less of a woman for hating housework!! I'm just good at other things and fotunate enough to just about to be able to afford a cleaner!

OP posts:
Sassybeast · 18/05/2012 11:47

I work part time, am a single parent and have a cleaner. If you can afford it, and you want a cleaner, then get one.

ArielThePiraticalMermaid · 18/05/2012 11:49

If you want a cleaner, get one. Christ, if I had the money, I'd get one like a shot, even if I worked 0 hours a week :)

FioFio · 18/05/2012 11:50

if you are in a partnership it's not your responsibly to clean the house, imo

but if you and your dh don't want to do the cleaning and you can afford a cleaner, i don't think you needed to ask really. You are allowed to have a cleaner!

klaxon · 18/05/2012 11:51

Funnily enough I'm about to go back to work part time and I'm thinking the same.

Bashfulblue · 18/05/2012 11:52

Do you know other people who have a cleaner? It helps a lot with the guilt. Doesn't sound like your mum or MIL have ever had one, which doesn't help said guilt... But honestly, it's really fine! I'm sure you're not sitting there every night while the dirty dishes pile up around you. I bet you do loads.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 18/05/2012 12:00

I have a cleaner and I only work 15 hours a week and both children are at school Smile

I love having a cleaner because I hate cleaning and would rather use my time for something better. My cleaner is at home at the monet so when I get home at lunchtime I will have a lovely clean house all ready for the weekend. It's great!

Get a cleaner if you want one and don't feel guilty.

Original poster
zozzle · 18/05/2012 12:02

True thanks Bashfulblue but then MIL and mum didn't work until their kids were alot older so I'm not really comparing like with like. Why am I comparing anyway sod it! But I guess we all do to some extent.

OP posts:
Latara · 18/05/2012 12:50

If you want to (& can afford to) employ a cleaner then go for it.
You only live once & life is too short to spend time doing tasks that you do not enjoy.
Some people actually enjoy housework (eg. my Mum) & often work as cleaners because they like the job & are good at it.

Obviously if a cleaner too expensive really then develop a housework routine that is as fast & labour-saving as possible; being very organised with a 'place for everything' is key. That is what i'm trying to achieve.

I have invested in storage (er, boxes) for most things; any ornaments are in a cabinet to avoid much dusting; cleaning wipes, bleach, cloths & kitchen roll are always to hand in the kitchen & bathroom.

I have a 'pet hair' vacuum cleaner that you can actually see making a difference as it's used - very motivating. I vacuum once or twice a week but with a Persian cat i should do it more often.

I get any visiting relative to help change the bedding once a week. I use minimal cutlery & dishes for each meal then rinse them immediately - they get washed in the sink at the end of each day (saves hot water).
The bins get emptied & rubbish put out daily at least.

With laundry i put items into relevant baskets (eg. whites / woollens / 60 or 40 degree colour wash) when i have worn them - then wash them when convenient. Avoid ironing by either using a tumble dryer or stretching & smoothing clothes into shape before hanging them up to dry.

Having an ultra fussy cat helps... she won't use her litter tray unless it's empty of a previous pee or poo - i recommend 'clumping' litter (easy to scoop) & sprinkling litter freshener. I don't like visitors to notice eau de cat pee - so i the tray gets emptied of clean litter & bleached weekly.
Air freshener sprays that neutralise odours are effective.

That sounds like a lot of work but it isn't at all - just keep your kitchen & bathroom hygienic; & ensure that there are no off-putting smells around!
Train children & husbands to at least rinse their cutlery & dishes; put washing in the correct basket & tidy away anything that they use.

My luxury is to pay a window cleaner £10 each month - for that (& a cup of tea) he cleans 6 windows outside & 3 (ground floor) windows inside.

IvantaOuiOui · 18/05/2012 12:55

if you want a cleaner and can afford a cleaner, employ one. I hate cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, working means I can pay someone to do it for us once a week so I can get on with important stuff like reading and lounging on the bed in my pants.

Taffeta · 18/05/2012 12:59

I hate cleaning. I work 16 hours pw and have a cleaner for 2 hours pw.

Best £18 I ever spend.

missmapp · 18/05/2012 13:00

I work 4 days a week ( a teacher) and dont have a cleaner, I manage to keep up in the evenings and on my day off . BUT it is a chore, and I wish we had a cleaner , I just feel guilty spending money on that.

If you can afford it and want one, then have a cleaner!!

Taffeta · 18/05/2012 13:01

I have a pedicure once a year and feel guilty about that.

I would never, ever, in a million years, feel guilty about having a cleaner. She has made my life sooooo much better.

Catsu · 18/05/2012 13:09

I'm a sahm and I have a cleaner! Id rather pay £20 a week and have that extra time for my kids/dh/friends etc
Why be a martyr if you can afford it!

RichManPoorManBeggarmanThief · 18/05/2012 13:37

The UK economy is up shit creek so providing employment should be applauded (as it is in much of Asia where if you don't have a cleaner and can afford one you are viewed as failing to uphold your social responsibilities).

MN just has a thing about cleaners (despite being resolutely atheist it has a very protestant work ethic). You could just as easily argue that if you have a garden, you don't need to buy carrots, as you can easily grow them yourself, but if you had a go at someone for buying them from Tesco or felt guilty for buying carrots instead of growing your own, everyone would say you were a fruitloop.

Patrickjane · 18/05/2012 14:29

Bollocks
Don't let anybody make you feel guilty
I have one and I dont work

whackamole · 18/05/2012 14:30

I want a cleaner because I am bone idle and hate doing it. I am not at work right now, I am on maternity leave, so should, no doubt, have an absolutely spotless house.

YANBU.

OTheHugeManatee · 18/05/2012 14:31

You don't need one but if you can afford it and dislike cleaning then get a cleaner. I don't get the whole hair shirt attitude to cleaners.

slipperandpjsmum · 18/05/2012 14:36

I work 40+ a week with a 10 hr commute and have 4 dc. I don't have a cleaner at the moment, we have in the past.

I agree with OTheHuge post you dont need one but if you want one and can afford it get one

LoveHandles88 · 18/05/2012 18:37

I hate mornings! However, I just know that if I don't get things done straight away, I just put them off another day, and another, and another :)
I am totally disorganised (at home, but completely the opposite at work), but mess eventually drives me insane. I tend to try and do 1 blitz a week.
Like others say, if you can afford it, why not? Someone will be grateful for the job.
My day that I have that my dc at childminders and I am not working is so that I am available for overtime, and so that I don't struggle getting my dc back into that day with the cm when my hours increase (my cm is extremely popular!).

cheesymonster · 18/05/2012 19:51

I work 37 hours a week and am 20 wks pregnant. DH does no housework and I am fed up with cleaning! So we are getting a cleaner and I think it will be worth the money. Some people may judge and think I should keep up with the housework myself, but OP it's your hard earned money to spend as you wish.

Trestle · 18/05/2012 19:58

YANBU. If you'd like a cleaner, get one :)

hairytale · 18/05/2012 20:00

Your husband does not "do a fair bit to help".

He either does his fair share or he doesn't.
It's not "helping" if you clean your own home and look after your own DC.

Do your DC do any housework? If they are older primary kids they can -

Pit their own dirty clothes ready to wash
Load the dishwasher
Take a turn cleaning the bathroom

For example

If your children are in primary you have a full 10 hours per week to do stuff - how much "admin" do you do? I''m on maternity leave and i probably do about 5 hours of housework a week and my house is fine.