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?

With agency cleaners, I gave them key. They are insured if any resulting problems.
With non agency cleaners, I never gave key, I arranged to be in house to let them in, but usually left shortly after they arrived. But requested key to be posted through letter box once they locked up.
I couldn't be without cleaners now. So long you pay fairly and treat cleaning staff with respect, then there's nothing to feel guilty about.

Ha ha -Ikwym me and my sister used to take the piss out of step mother for employing a "servant" but now I agree with other posts. It's no different from paying a plumber or window cleaner. If you've got the spare cash do it, it will bring sanity and calm!

I wouldn't worry about being left wing and having a cleaner. Never bothered Diane Abbot to use private education or Ed miliband to exploit an IHT loophole.

Most left wingers are do as I say not as I do so you're in good company.

I'm a leftie teacher and wouldn't be without my cleaner! I felt a bit weird at first but love it now but admit she comes while I'm at work as feel a bit like I'm in the way if I'm at home when she comes.

You need a cleaner. The only compromising situation for a left winger is if you pay that cleaner less than minimum wage or London Living wage or use an agency that does not pass on a full amount or run its business along ethical lines.

You don't feel awkward about having your shopping delivered by Asda/Tesco, etc., where a person in a less well paid job than you I imagine does your supermarket shopping and someone else humps and heaves it from a van to your home? Can't really see the difference.

On practical notes my cleaners have always had a key on the basis that if anything goes wrong, I know their address and the police will be going there first. I've had four cleaners in the last 30 years by the way - all wonderful women of whom I am very fond. My first cleaner is in a care home now and I visit once or twice a year and keep in touch with her daughter.

The essential bit you need to do is to meet with the cleaner and be very very clear about what you want done. For example in a one bedroom flat:

to vacuum all carpets
sweep and mop all hard floors
to dust/polish other surfaces
to clean bathroom: lavatory, basin, bath/showr, wiping down tiles and paintwork/pipework
To clean kitchen - to wipe down all worktops, sink, cupboard doors, fridge, etc.
To wipe over all door plates and lighswitches
To wipe over telephones
Polish all mirrors
Wipe down visible paintwork

This can be done in writing or orally depending on your cleaner. It took me a little while to realise that my first cleaner didn't read well and we handled it over the phone - she worked for me for 12 years.

You aren't employing someone to be a servant - you are providing someone with a job and a means of income. I don't think there's anything wrong with being a cleaner.

Thank you everyone- I am feeling better about it now. I suppose it is a bit like ordering a takeaway or whatever.

Next question: money. I am employing the cleaner through an agency but I pay her directly when she comes. The amount is £33 for three hours. Should I give her a little bit extra, like a 'tip'? Or not? I'm not sure what would be appropriate. I always tip taxi drivers, waiters etc- is this the same?

With the best will in the world, you need to get over yourself and I see you already have . I'm a cleaner, middle handwringing over employing me will really be the death of me. Just make sure as other posters have said you make it very clear what needs done, what you'd like done - I prefer a list split weekly/ monthly/ extra time just to keep everybody right. Be clear about holidays/payment over holidays ie bankies. Also be very clear about expectations ie I don't do dishes, I'll collect them, stack them by the sink but I won't wash them or put them in the dishwasher, I don't iron either.

I'm not sure about agency or private, I've done both. The agency means you've always got cover if the cleaners ill but the rate of pay isn't great and there can be inconsistency in the work. Most of my clients were there to let me in, then went out, to work or just out. Some stayed in a different room - it was grand.

You can do your own cleaning. But you can also cut your own hair, service your car yourself and knit your own clothes. Just because you chose not to, doesn't make you a twat.
Calm yourself.

oh x posted , you can't tip every time they come - that's weird and would make me feel uncomfortable - nice Christmas tip is lovely.

I've been a cleaner in the past and I loved it because I love cleaning. I've also worked as a PA and a manager. I didn't see cleaning as underneath me in any way, I was grateful for the extra income and I got lots of satisfaction from it.
I remember some people were odd, treating me like a slave and lookongn on me but the majority were lovely and always told me how grateful they were.
So what I'm trying to say is please don't feel guilty. The cleaner is just doing a job just like any other! You seem like a nice lady and they'll appreciate that.
It would be good to meet the cleaner first, say hi, and go through what needs doing then pop out as its a lot easier to just be left to get on with it rather than have someone around.

And yes, Christmas tips are good :)

Agree with Wiggles. Mine get an extra week's money at Christmas. All mine have worked with me a long time. When they have been ill or have lost their husband/mum (which has been once a flood) I have paid them because relationships have built up over periods of years - even though I work full time and am never here if you sort of know what I mean.

Right, so no tips. Thank you! I have already emailed a list of jobs to the agency at their request, but will obviously go through these with the cleaner as well. I plan to show her where the tea, coffee, sugar and biscuits are so that she can have a cuppa. Anything else I need to know?!

I give them, directly, money at Christmas and, because I know they both have children, Easter eggs for them. I'm so appreciative of everything they do.

Final tip from me. Show her where the cleaning stuff is, tell her where she should put the used cleaning cloths for washing and, if you have a shopping list thingy anywhere, ask her to add to it anything that's running low or any special recommendations she has, for you to buy.(mine introduced me to an amazing leather cleaner I didn't know of).

Jacana OT, but what is the leather cleaner?

OP

As a lefty I think that all work in society is valuable. Cleaning etc is necessary and is not shameful. If you're not ashamed to buy veg rather than grow your own why worry about paying someone to do another task necessary for life. Pay a fair wage for honest work and there's no problem IMO.

I don't see paying a cleaner as any morally worse/better than paying a decorator, car wash, plumber, gardener, window cleaner, mechanic, builder, handyman/woman etc. Why should all the traditionally male jobs be outsourced without a thought, but the female ones not?

You may well find that her English is quite limited. Ask the agency in advance. They sent her round with a translator the first time to discuss what was needed and also to issue me with a list of what I needed to buy. If you want it done properly then you need to buy decent stuff. The language barrier is such that the agency still acts as go between. We have developed a system whereby she will change the sheets if I leave clean ones on the bed but otherwise not etc.

I was weirded out by it at first now I wouldn't be without her! I do find it weird being there when she is. I'm on maternity leave at the moment but haven't had the baby and try and avoid being sprawled on the sofa when she cleans around me!

Pay- for 3.5 hours the agency asks that I pay her the minimum wage only but I round up and leave her 30 quid. Massive bonus at Christmas.

You will never go back to not having a cleaner!

My sister lived in Sri Lanka for a while.

She felt exactly the same about you hiring a cleaner but 2 days after moving in she came home and found a queue of 4 women at her door. One of them explained in halting English they'd come about the cleaners job. She was a bit surprised but hired one of them. Later she found out the conceirage had assumed she'd need a cleaner and sent some women up for her to choose from. Another English woman told her that it was simply expected that they'd take on staff and that in Sri Lanka and other similar countries it was considered socially responsible to employ people who needed it if you could afford to do so

my siister has never lived in such a clean home before or since

For eight, I've a buttoned hide Chesterfield,I'd always used Lord Sheraton stuff but they introduced me to Connolly hide cleaner. It's a cream in a 284ml tub, it cleans and conditions and I buy it on amazon.just paid £12.99 per tub. A tub lasts really ages and the leather's noticeably benefitted.

One thing I insisted upon was having their phone No. For any emergency.
I had a serious incident and needed to get in touch with the householder.

My boss doesn't feel awkward about me being in the office working when he's off to lunch or a "meeting". I get paid to do my job; it doesn't really bother me what my boss is doing as long as I feel I'm getting a fair whack.

Why does it bother people if their cleaner is cleaning if they are resting/reading/doing something else? Am perfectly happy to do that on the rare occasion my cleaner is here. I might eve say something like, I'm in today xxxx, would you mind doing the sitting room first so I can keep out of your way? And make her a cup of tea and have a quick chat . Perhaps it's a good job for me that my cleaner seems to understand that I work very very hard.

This just proves left wingers are always wrong.
Vote Conservative at the election. It is the only right path.

Why is employing a cleaner any different from allowing the council to remove your dustbins or buying products in a shop which has workers in it who are paid? We all pay people all the time for work we do.