To feel weird about getting a cleaner?

[PollyCazaletWannabe]

I'm a secondary teacher and live alone in a one bedroom flat. Since January things have been completely crazy at work, as they always are at this time of year, and I've been working 12-13 hours a day in the week and approximately 6-10 hours in total at the weekend. I'm exhausted and my flat is messy and dirty because I haven't got time to clean, and when I do have time, I just don't have the energy.

Eventually this week I decided enough was enough and booked a cleaner who is coming in once a fortnight for 3 hours. Her first visit is tomorrow.

AIBU to feel really odd and uncomfortable about it? I have always been left-wing and feel that having a cleaner doesn't fit in with my principles. On one hand I am looking forward to having a clean flat again, but on the other hand I feel really guilty. Am I being ridiculous?

You are giving someone work who needs it and wants it. That's all really!

I'm quite sure busy 'left-wing' people have cleaners too...

A cleaner should be like anyone else you pay to do something for you, like cooking (in a restaurant, or take away).
It may feel odd, but you shouldn't feel guilty.

I suppose it's something to do with the idea of 'employing' someone- in my head it is a bit of a throwback to the bad old days of 'rich' people having servants. Am I coming across really badly here? I can't explain it but it makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. Does anyone get where I'm coming from?

Hmm, you are being a small bit U in my opinion. As long as you are paying a fair price for the job, then why can't having a cleaner fit with left-wing principles?

Kick-back and enjoy a guilt-free glass of in a lovely clean flat tomorrow evening, safe in the knowledge you are providing employment and have managed to decimate the dust bunny population!

You're not coming across 'badly' at all.

Perhaps a little 'over thinking'?

You're busy and you want you home cleaned.

A cleaner offers their cleaning services for money.

You pay for their service and everyone's happy.

Not a servant in sight!

The dust bunnies are certainly at it like rabbits, multiplying away merrily, in my flat

You're providing employment whilst benefiting from a nice clean home - enjoy

On a separate note, I'm also a bit worried about having a stranger in my home. Should I always be in when she comes? Should I trust her with a key? What do others do?

Perhaps you'll need a vet too then

I have always been left-wing and feel that having a cleaner doesn't fit in with my principles

Maybe readjust your principles to 'I'm fucked if I'll live in squalor when I don't have to.'

Also, you are creating employment.

Also, Polly Cazalet had a governess, cook, Gardner and several kitchen maids serving her family

I don't think it is the cleaner that is the problem. The real issue is what sort of quality of life and health you can expect if your work load is too much for you.

Haha buried sardine you're quite right there!

Charis thank you, but it's ok. The end is in sight. After the summer half term, things calm down quite considerably. It's the rhythm of the year as a teacher, which you get used to as the years go on.

Gardener, rather .

There, all sorted! Enjoy the cleanliness. It will bring you peace which in turn adds far more to society in general than agonising over buying a service.

Worra I like the idea of a dust bunny vet

Is it your left-winginess making you feel weird? Or your femaleness and the vague idea that you should be able to handle it yourself? Either way, ignore it. You dont always cook for yourself, i am sure you dont sew your own clothes, if you own a car, you dont service it yourself. If your life is smoothed by having this task done for you as well, no ptoblem.

Interesting question momagain. I hadn't thought about the femaleness, but that may well be part of it.

I'm quite left wing and have a cleaner. (My mum IS a cleaner FWIW.) I think I'm kind, reasonable, pay well above market rate including holiday and sickness. Isn't it better that nice left wing people are employers too?

Also there is a strong feminist principle that housework is an important job and should be valued financially.

You are all reassuring me, thank you now what about the key issue? I have found the cleaner through an agency, if that makes s difference. Should I give her a key? Or always be in when she comes?

I have a pair of cleaners who come every other week to clean my place. Got them through an agency. I wrote a schedule, sort of tick list, of what I want done, and left them to it. I pay the agency not them so don't have to be here when they leave. I'm here when they arrive tho. Works for me

Does the agency supply their staff & vet them? What does their insurance cover.

You are buying a service, which is not the same as employing a servant. It is no different to any other service and I am desperate for the day our last renovations are done and I can employ a cleaner!

Word of mouth usually works well. Ask your colleagues who live nearby who they use