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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get a cleaner?

19 replies

Sastra · 11/07/2012 20:14

We're just about to move to our first owned flat. I'm 25 weeks pregnant with our first.

I was thinking of getting a cleaner when I go back to work after a year on mat leave, as I don't want to spend free time cleaning when I want to be with my daughter.

DH has suggested just getting one whilst I'm on mat leave. we'll be in a 2 bed flat and the minimum you can have seems to be 2.5 hours a week at £10per hour. It's not so much the money as we could afford it, but I'm wondering whether it's a bit indulgent? Do you think it would be necessary when I'm at home during mat leave? Is 2.5 hours a lot for a 2 bed, 2 person (and a baby) flat? Should I just get off my arse and do it myself?

OP posts:
pjmama · 11/07/2012 20:16

Ooooo just get one!

I loved mine, she was brilliant but she left when my babies were 3 and I miss her terribly (sniff, sniff). Now the kids are at school, I have to do it myself and I bloody hate it. I'd get another like a shot if I could.

MrsHelsBels74 · 11/07/2012 20:16

If I could afford a cleaner I would have one in a split second. I hate cleaning Angry

McHappyPants2012 · 11/07/2012 20:20

If you can afford it yes, not only will you be providing employment but your home will be cleaned and have more time for other things ( like MN :) )

McHappyPants2012 · 11/07/2012 20:22

Also maternity leaves is not clean the flat leave

TheCraicDealer · 11/07/2012 20:23

You'll be spending £1,200 a year on the luxury....I suppose it depends on how much you hate cleaning! Does your DP do much at the moment? From your OP it just sounds like you do it all, could totally see why it's a v v v attractive proposition.

Glittertwins · 11/07/2012 20:24

If you can afford it, why not? I love ours!

JimbosJetSet · 11/07/2012 20:25

Our cleaner comes once a fortnight, which is fine for us in our small house. Would that be a possibility? It is most worthwhile money we spend I think!

Glittertwins · 11/07/2012 20:25

If you can afford it, why not? I love ours!

Glittertwins · 11/07/2012 20:26

So much I hit the back button and duplicated the post!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/07/2012 20:34

Do it. Maternity leave is not for cleaning.

I had a cleaner for a while when DS1 was a newborn, and then had one again from being about 6 months pregnant with DS2 because I had awful SPD and couldn't do much, and DH was working bonkers hours. I've changed who I use now, but I wouldn't give my cleaner up. It works out about £120-150 a month, and for that she does 4 hours of cleaning once a fortnight, plus a couple of hours of ironing a fortnight.

holyfishnets · 11/07/2012 20:36

Yes agree, get one. I had one after my DS arrived and it was so helpful

Yama · 11/07/2012 20:38

I didn't do housework on either of my maternity leaves. My reasoning was that I didn't want dh getting used to doing less.

Start as you mean to go on.

ps it is very easy to fill your days with a newborn without doing housework.

Original poster
Sastra · 11/07/2012 20:39

DH does a bit, but he's shit at it. It's like he doesn't see the mess! I could nag, or I could just get a cleaner Wink (he does a lot of other stuff, to be fair to him).

OP posts:
Alibabaandthe40nappies · 11/07/2012 20:44

In that case get a cleaner.

There is nothing more bloody infuriating than being stuck to the sofa establishing breastfeeding and looking around at dust and a floor that needs vacuuming! In the first couple of months, DH was run off his feet just trying to keep us fed and up to speed with the laundry, there wan't much time for cleaning!

cantmakecarrotcake · 11/07/2012 20:45

We got a cleaner when (now) DH and first moved in together (we both hate cleaning but like a nice house and didn't want it to be a source of arguments). For most couples/families once a fortnight is plenty, you can do the quick wipe around, whizz around with a hoover if/when things need a top up.

Having a cleaner was invaluable when DD was a newborn, I was BF, she'd only sleep on me, and wouldn't be put down so getting time with free hands to clean would have been tricky (I wrote impossible first time, but other mums seem to manage).

How about getting one for the end of your pregnancy, when you're too uncomfortable to do it, keep them for the newborn stage and then evaluate how you feel?

Chubfuddler · 11/07/2012 20:46

You say it's an indulg

Trazzletoes · 11/07/2012 20:47

Oooh jealous! We used to have a cleaner when we could afford it. Can't anymore and house is a pigsty. Am currently on mat leave and would rather spend every second playing with DS and DD rather than scrubbing the cooker. Get one booked. I can promise you will not regret it.

5Foot5 · 11/07/2012 20:49

Definitely get one when you go back to work. I did that too. I only went back 4 days a week at first but I wanted to spend my day off doing things with DD not cleaning up. Worth it if you can afford it.

Chubfuddler · 11/07/2012 20:49

Stupid fingers

You say it's an indulgence like that's a bad thing. I had my twice a week cleaner throughout maternity leave - having a clean and tidy house is very important to me. It helps keep me calm and I'm sure helped in the post partum period, especially as I had a cs and couldn't do much. I can't see anything wrong with contracting out the bits of life that need to be done that you just don't like. Cleaning is top of the list.

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