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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wonder why everyone has cleaners these days!

648 replies

Storm4star · 20/04/2018 21:49

Ok, please don’t take offence, I say this somewhat in jest. But my goodness how many of you have cleaners?? I have been utterly ripping the pee out of a male colleague at work because he and his wife have a cleaner but I hadn’t realised how common it’s become until I joined MN!

I personally struggle to justify spending my hard earned cash on things I could do myself (also do most of my own decorating and DIY). But have I missed something? Is a cleaner now the new must have?

OP posts:
user5292769 · 20/04/2018 21:58

I work 50+ hours a week and have 2 small dc. I want my evenings weekends to be quality time with them doing enjoyable things and for me that does not include cleaning. I hate cleaning and I'm really bad at it. I love my cleaner. I also have an ironing lady. Judge away ...........

Strax · 20/04/2018 21:58

We've had a cleaner for years, seems totally normal to me. Can't think why it's worthy of jibes, as a PP said, it's just something some people choose to spend their money on - no more interesting than that.

londonrach · 20/04/2018 21:58

If i won the lottery id get someone to change the bedding every two days!!!!

ferrier · 20/04/2018 21:58

The average mumsnetter is of significantly higher intelligence and significantly higher household income than the average person so it doesn't surprise me at all.

Hermagsjesty · 20/04/2018 22:00

A lot of people value thier time. Personally, I’m happy to spend money on a cleaner to give me more quality time with my husband and kids. It also solves ALOT of quarrels in our marriage.

Loopyloopy · 20/04/2018 22:00

Because I'm comfortable financially but I'm very time-poor.

Cheerymom · 20/04/2018 22:00

My mum's a cleaner after years in a factory and she likes it, her employers buy her wine and treats. I live alone and have a cleaner because I hate cleaning and happy to pay good money for someone else to do it.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 20/04/2018 22:01

I work 50 hours a week in a high stress job
(But i think most jobs are high stress )

I DONT have a cleaner Grin

Twounder1 · 20/04/2018 22:01

I always thought as a kid you had to be mega rich for a cleaner 😂
As much as I'd love one personally, I couldn't justify the money. Not only that.. My mess is my mess and my kids mess.. I'd be worried what the cleaner would think after dp starts trying to cook 😲

kaytee87 · 20/04/2018 22:01

I guarantee your colleague will think you're a twat now

midnightmisssuki · 20/04/2018 22:01

Because we both work long hours, have two young children, two dogs and time is precious. I don’t want to Spend what little time we have cleaning. I don’t know many people without a cleaner. It’s not a Big deal

Loopyloopy · 20/04/2018 22:01

Hermajesty - exactly. A cleaner is cheaper than divorce!

BonnieF · 20/04/2018 22:02

If you work FT and are fortunate enough to have disposable income, it’s a question of how much you value your free time.

What would you rather be doing with your precious hours of free time? Your favourite hobby or cleaning the bathroom? Visiting old friends or cleaning windows?

It’s the same with washing cars. An hour and a half of your weekend spent scrubbing alloys, or £5 and 15 minutes at the illegal immigrants hand car wash?

midnightmisssuki · 20/04/2018 22:02

And I think taking the piss out of your colleague for having a cleaner is very rude. How judgemental of you.

Flockoftreegulls · 20/04/2018 22:03

My cleaner is £20 for two hours once a week. She does the whole house dusting, hoovering, mopping and cleans bathroom and kitchen. It makes me keep the house tidy and it means all done in one day. We can afford it and when you both work why shouldn't you?

PinkCalluna · 20/04/2018 22:03

I have been utterly ripping the pee out of a male colleague at work because he and his wife have a cleaner

Why? Confused

It’s entirely their business what they spend their money on.

I’m sure you spend time and money in things they don’t think are worthwhile either. Isn’t it nice we are all different.

Having a cleaner is a really, really common thing amongst couples who both work long hours. You owe your colleague an apology.

TheZeppo · 20/04/2018 22:03

First thing I did when I bought a house was organise a cleaner!

You sound exceptionally rude to be honest. What do you spend your spare cash on? Pretty sure we could 'rip' that here?

JustMarriedBecca · 20/04/2018 22:03

Yup. I'm out the house 12 hours a day five days a week. When I get home I barely manage to prepare for the following day. The idea of cleaning a toilet would kill me.
I have food deliveries, a cleaner, a gardener and like someone else said, I'm buying time with my family.

BusterTheBulldog · 20/04/2018 22:04

We have one, there are much more important things I could be doing with my time!

It’s £35 every two weeks. We barely miss it and it makes SUCH a difference.

Wishiwasonholiday1 · 20/04/2018 22:04

Like everyone else says, both of us work long hours, we have two young children and it takes away a lot of stress. Coming home on a Friday to a pristine house makes me happy!

Bunbunbunny · 20/04/2018 22:05

Me & my DH are both out of the house 12+ a day, I have a cleaner so we can spend time together when we’re at home. We spend three hours commuting each day, we’re shattered. I’m crap at cleaning too, I can never get the bathroom looking shiny :( she aso irons for us which is brilliant. I see it as spending money to have a nice home & more importantly spending time with DH.

ZaphodBeeblerox · 20/04/2018 22:05

Depends on what you prioritise. I make 90% of our meals from scratch using meal planning so our grocery bill is quite small. But I splurge on a cleaner. That way DH and I can split the top up cleaning jobs without feeling resentful the way scrubbing bathrooms all the time can make you. We very rarely get takeaways. Swings and roundabouts really.

Herculesupatree · 20/04/2018 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lifeaback · 20/04/2018 22:06

we have 3 kids and another on the way, both have full time careers and can afford it. It frees up more time on the weekend to spend as a family and limits any arguments over responsibility not being shared/one partener doing more than the other.

I'd say a good 90% of our friends with kids also have a cleaner. I think it used to be a sign of money but Is now much more common, probably due to more women choosing to have careers rather than be a housewife

Bloodybridget · 20/04/2018 22:06

We started having a cleaner about three years ago, we were due to go away for several months and rent out our house, and someone said we should get a clearer so she could keep an eye on things. No going back after that! We do keep the house fairly clean and very tidy ourselves too, but I'm very glad not to be hoovering etc.