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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that asking a Cleaner to do the dusting and hoovering would be pretty lazy on my part?

134 replies

Writerwannabe83 · 18/12/2014 12:20

I do not have a cleaner yet so I have no idea about Housework Ettiquette but when I return to work after maternity (in 6 weeks) the plan is for me to use one.

I'm putting together a list in my head of what jobs will need doing and I'm just wondering to what extent people go? Fair enough it makes sense to delegate cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms because they are time consuming jobs, but what about the little jobs? Surely doing the quick and easy things like polishing should still be something DH and I should be prepared to do?

So can I ask those with Cleaners how often you have them come round and what jobs they do for you?? And what general upkeep do you do yourselves inbetween their visits??

OP posts:
TheListingAttic · 18/12/2014 15:58

Hmmm, you know I'm not sure I can remember what it cost now... It might have been £150, and that was the whole house, top to bottom. Our house did need a good scrub over before we could really ask someone to come in and do weekly up-keep Blush But I'm sure it's negotiable if you're starting out with a fairly clean house or there are bits you specifically don't want them to do. The person who runs the company is very chatty and friendly, so I'd suggest giving her a ring to say you're looking at options and want to know a bit more about things.

ouryve · 18/12/2014 16:01

When I had a cleaner, he always did the dusting. He was far better at it than me and couldn't do it without coughing and sneezing. (have since changed my brand of polish and can do it without too many ill effects, now)

BallsforEarings · 19/12/2014 07:39

We own a cleaning business our basic rate service includes kitchens, bathrooms, dusting/polishing, vacuuming carpets, hard floors vacuumed and washed, bins emptied and lined, windows on rota system and skirting boards/woodwork washed on rota system.

This is a little more detailed than a lot of services as that is our selling point and we are not the cheapest but all the services do include dusting and vacuuming as basic.

We price based on size of house and number of residents plus general tidyiess of home, we do expect the house to be ready for our service when we arrive otherwise the price must be increased if we have to pick up the house before we clean it or wait for anyone still using the house. All regular cleaning is included as standard though and not charged as extra. Deep cleans can be ordered in advance for around double the standard service charge but I know most services charge more than us for that - we just have a few loyalty incentive bargains like that for regulars only where, we might make a loss that one time, but keeps our customers very happy and our reputation as a premium service, other companies have their own pricing structures.

Personally I wouldn't take a client who wanted 'part service' only as it would confuse the staff not to perform all of the basic service in each home, as trained, but you could ask an individual 'cleaning lady' person to do less I would imagine. It depends on the business model. Just make sure the person is in business legitimately and insured to clean in your property, never risk hiring an uninsured unprofessional type, we have picked up the pieces after such types so many times, they are never trained and cause untold damage to the materials of your home, and they don't really know how to clean properly and it is illegal, we see it over and over it gets on my nerves because they get to pocket all of the payment as they work 'under the table' and then create havoc in someone's home.

BallsforEarings · 19/12/2014 07:57

Writerwannerbe83, I just saw your post on male cleaners - tell your hubby that 3 of my cleaning staff are male, they are superb I've never regretted hiring male cleaners, they are at least as good as the ladies!

Also in my opinion a flat rate (per house) price is better as they will be more professional and detailed in most cases without you being 'nickel and dimed'on 'time paid for' hourly rate companies just stop after the time paid or they charge you extra, the flat rate is more flexible and can include more by the nature of the service, that is why I chose it as my business model and the clients don't half appreciate it, after their experiences elsewhere! Flat rate companies will only raise a price if work is continuously more than originally agreed upon, whereas hourly charge for any time over the agreed time charged.

Btw cleaners should not be dealing with 'cat vomit or excrement' we will not do bio-hazard cleaning and have never been expected to in truth, but there are specialised companies for that if that is what you would require, I think they are quite expensive though, I say this as I saw someone had posted that the cleaner should be asked to do this, I know many, many cleaning business owners and it is not the norm to offer this type of cleaning in general.

UsedtobeFeckless · 19/12/2014 09:35

Our fabulous cleaner does the bathroom and the kitchen ( Scrubs and mops ) and hoovers the stairs, living room and study. She comes for an hour ( she also does my Mum who lives next door for an hour )

I shoot round and de-clutter before she comes, which is great because as someone up-thread pointed out, otherwise you never get round to it! I dust before she comes as I'd rather break my own stuff! Grin

She's part of a small local agency who charge by the hour and we were put in touch by a neighbour when I was trying to find someone to help my Mum after a hip operation.

It's been a revelation - DP whinged to start with for all the same reasons as PPs DPs did but he's well on board now - he even defended the idea to his Mum! Shock

Go for it OP, you'll be glad you did!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 19/12/2014 09:37

I mentioned it to DH last night and he said absolutely no way Sad

OP posts:
NewJumper · 19/12/2014 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HumphreyCobbler · 19/12/2014 09:56

What exactly is his problem?

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 19/12/2014 10:04

New jumper - yes it is.

His problem is the cost of it Hmm

OP posts:
OriginalGreenGiant · 19/12/2014 10:06

My cleaner was astonished that I didn't want her to clean the bathroom or kitchen. For me, they're easy jobs though. Ten minutes a couple of times a week and my bathroom is always spotless. The kitchen always gets wiped over when we're loading the dishwasher after dinner - again, 10 minutes (a day) and it's always clean. Occasionally she'll do all the fronts of the units and the front of the fridge/washing machine/ dishwasher.

I'd much rather she spent time doing the things I hate - hoovering and mopping everywhere, cleaning the skirts, sills and windows, hoovering the ceilings if needed (for cobwebs) and dusting the bedrooms and lounge.

NewJumper · 19/12/2014 10:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HumphreyCobbler · 19/12/2014 10:08

What are you going to do? I take it that your dh is not going to do much of the work Sad

can you just go ahead anyway - you are earning money and can pay the cleaner after aal

TheListingAttic · 19/12/2014 10:09

I mentioned it to DH last night and he said absolutely no way

Does he pull his weight?

NewJumper · 19/12/2014 10:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sparechange · 19/12/2014 10:51

What are his reasons for saying no?
Are you currently doing the lions share of the cleaning?

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 19/12/2014 11:18

Why does he get to say no way Writer? If it's affordable, surely it's not even a joint decision?

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 19/12/2014 11:30

I feel like telling him it's going ahead regardless.

He did agree to it earlier this year and we had a preliminary visit booked by one company to do an estimate but we cancelled it because his mom died Sad

It hadn't been mentioned since. With my new job we are going to have an extra £500 coming in every month so I don't see what the problem is personally. He said that he would rather spend the money paying off the mortgage Hmm

OP posts:
LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 19/12/2014 11:37

I think you said in a pp that this is completely 'new' disposable income? So split it. Put £200 in the mortgage, £200 in more easily accessible savings and £100 pm for a cleaner.

Or very sweetly ask him to draw up a rota for the housework...

Jackiebrambles · 19/12/2014 11:38

Sorry your DH is against it, I can't think why!
Our cleaner comes weekly. I love her so much.

She hoovers, does the bathroom/kitchen including mopping floors. Empties all the bins and recycling, makes up our bed and generally tidies. She dusts too. It costs £40 and it is the best money spent, ever!

Once you've found a reputable company they are insured and everything so there's no worries there. And you'll get a regular cleaner so you'll trust them and they'll know where everything is so they'll be super efficient!

Miggsie · 19/12/2014 11:44

Your husband has no right to stop you hiring a cleaner unless he does 50% of the housework.

All the surveys show married women with kids do 70-80% of the household chores. This contributes to women's feeling of unfairness and also depression rates.

Men are more likely than women to say the distribution of household tasks is "fair". I wonder why!

Tell your DH that you either get a cleaner or he does the 4 hours a week you would have paid her to do - and that includes cleaning the toilet and the ironing.

My view is that time spent with DH and DD is more important than time spent cleaning. And far more enjoyable too.

NewJumper · 19/12/2014 11:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jackiebrambles · 19/12/2014 11:49

Yeah I say go ahead without him. Mutiny!

Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 19/12/2014 11:57

My worry is that my new job involves me being out the house for 15 hours on two days and 9 hours the other day. So for three days I'm at work and the other four days that I'm not at work I'm looking after DS at home. So no doubt because I'm at home four days a week I will be expected to do the 'Lion's Share' even though I still work 32.5 hours a week over 3 days in order to earn this extra income.

There will only be one day a week where DH and I are off work together and can do something with DS as a family, I don't want to spend that one precious day a week doing the cleaning Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Writerwannabe83 · 19/12/2014 11:58

I feel like just doing it anyway to be honest, I can't be arsed with his stubborness and pettiness.

OP posts:
Jackiebrambles · 19/12/2014 12:04

Writer, that’s exactly why we got a cleaner. We had a new baby, and limited time together as a family. The last thing we want to do on weekends is ruddy clean!

So that £40 a week we spent means all we have to do is the washing and tidying of the kitchen as we go. We also get Ocado deliveries and my DH spends £10 a week on getting his shirts done (cleaned and ironed by the dry cleaners) and it has freed up so much time for us.

Plus there’s no animosity about whose turn it is to clean the bathroom etc.