To get a cleaner behind DH's back??

[Writerwannabe83]

Long standing issue of me wanting to get a cleaner and him not. He reckons he doesn't want a stranger in the house and that we can just do the cleaning ourselves. Needless to say he hardly ever does housework and his 'we can do the housework' will mean that I end up doing it all.

We've been having this discussion for months and I've had enough and am thinking of just going ahead without his knowledge.

He's going away for a week soon so I was thinking that in his absence I could have a cleaner come in to do one of those major, full house deep cleans and then make a regular arrangement with them to come weekly or fortnightly to keep on top of everything. I would obviously arrange this for a time when DH is at work The reason for keeping it all a secret is so he can't moan about a stranger having been in the house

Personally I see no harm in this as I am so sick of his 'stranger' excuse and his indecision and I'm also tired of living in a house where housework never seems to get done

[HazleNutt]

He's been promising to change for 4 years?

[Writerwannabe83]

No Hazel, things were fine at first it's only since I stopped being at work 18 months ago that things spiralled downwards. I was at home so I took over in terms of domestic stuff and after it being that way for so long it seems to be a pattern we got stuck in.

The redeeming factor is that he does all the cooking

[Trills]

If you really feel like you want to get a cleaner "behind his back" then there are bigger problems than the cleaning, no matter how much you might like to tell yourself that everything else is fine.

[Nolim]

Chunderella i will take your word that op has posted in other threads. Maybe i am the only one in this thread who suffers from lack of info.

[daisychain01]

Could you compromise (re the stranger in the house excuse) and go through an agency who do all the pre-interview work and CRB checks.

Also an agency normally allows a first visit to include some familiarisation for your cleaner, so you and DH can get to know the person and build up a rapport.

[AnyFucker]

OP, instead of posting the same scenario multiple times why don't you try actually taking the advice you get ?

A novelty, but it might just get you somewhere instead of round in circles.

And take yourself seriously, huh ? All these all over the shop just make you look a bit light on the gravitas. Your H doesn't take you seriously, so perhaps it might be an idea to start doing it for yourself ?

[pinkyredrose]

Hey he cooks it's not all bad he's tired after his long days work I don't blame him for not wanting to clean maybe the baby will grow up to be just like him, that'll be fun in the future

[Bellerina2]

Why not use an agency or Hassle.com as all the cleaners on there are security checked and vetted? It's a little insulting if he thinks all cleaners are automatically thiefs or will snoop around.

[Writerwannabe83]

I've been in touch with one company who quoted £12.50 an hour. I have no idea if that's reasonable. I'm going to contact a few more I think to get a broader view....

[Nolim]

A little bit pricey i think. But it depends on the area.

[CinnabarRed]

I pay £11 per hour to a non-agency cleaner. Buckinghamshire.

If the £12.50 fee includes e.g. a cover cleaner when your usual is off sick/replacement if she or he leaves/insurance for breakages/cleaning materials then it's not bad.

[Bellerina2]

Hassle.com is £10 an hour and there is usually some sort of first timer discount code floating around. They might not be UK-wide though.

[Jackiebrambles]

We pay £10 an hour in London.

[sparechange]

That's about right for an agency, but the cleaner will only be seeing £7 of that.
I pay £10 direct to my cleaner (in London) and she leaves me with written invoices so I'm fairly confident she pays tax etc on it