AIBU to wonder why everyone has cleaners these days!

[Storm4star]

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?

The friends I have with cleaners are highly ambitious people who work very hard. One in particular literally never stops. When she's not working on her business, she's spending time with her kids.

Her cleaner does the things she doesn't want to and gets paid for it. The cleaner has a cleaner too She is expanding and has begun to employ other cleaners...so got her own.

I work school hours then pick up the work again as soon as the children go to bed. I have little time for myself let alone to clean.
Plus I hated the “housewifey” side of being a SAHM so working and sharing that side between me/DP and a cleaner suits me much better! I get to focus on working and spending time with the children

@cadburyegg

As a society we outsource lots of things, childcare, dog walking, cleaning cars, etc im not sure why there is a stigma around house cleaning. The same principle applies - people don’t want to or can’t do it themselves so they pay someone else to do it

I think what it is that irks some people on MN, is that people who claim to have a cleaner, say they have one because they work 12-14 hour days (with a long commute,) in 'highly-stressful,' professional, demanding, top-of-the-pyramid jobs, and they deserve a cleaner, they NEED a cleaner, and they can afford a cleaner.

It comes across as sanctimonious, and offensive towards women who work long hard hours in 'normal' jobs who cannot afford a cleaner, and they come across as thinking they are better than them, with their 'I work in a very busy, stressful, corporate environment and 'do 15 hour days' and 'I live in a very affluent area, so we ALL have cleaners!' spiel.

Yeah some people outsource childcare because they HAVE to because they need to work, some people pay window cleaners because they can't reach top windows. And sticking a couple of quid in the car wash at morrisons, or paying someone to do your hair once a month isn't really the same as 'having a cleaner...' And I don't know anyone who pays someone to walk their dogs on a regular basis!

But yeah, as I said, the snooty, 'I'm a top-ranking busy professional who can AFFORD a cleaner' kind of comments are what grates, not so much the fact that people have one. I don't give a shit if someone has one, but the way some people are coming across, like they DESERVE one because they are sooooooooo busy in their super dooper stressful, professional corporate jobs, makes me roll my eyes...........🙄

Meh. I work permanent night shift, 50-60 hours a week. I have little down time, and little organisational skills (at home) this way it’s done and useable if people pop over.

I had a cleaner 30 years ago when l first married. In rural lreland. My mil had a cleaner before that...so my dh thought it was normal. I wasn't going to argue with him. Neither l nor my mil were posh or rich just practical. It's no big deal

2old2beamum. I can’t believe you feel guilty having a cleaner when you have five kids/ adult kids with SN and complex health needs and are 70. Goodness knows what you must think of me then 😬. I don’t work, my kids have left home and I’m 20 years younger than you. I’m a lightweight.

BTW, you sound like a truly amazing person. I wish you and your family the very best. 💐💐💐

I think more than half my friends have cleaners, help with garden or nanny/ au pair.
I'm down south and there's lots of money but no time. Roads and trains are chocker, jobs need lots of hours input , everyone is busy because it's a busy bit of the world.
Cleaners are £15 an hour which is 2 bottles of wine at Majestic.
I have been a cleaner ( in demand) and the houses are empty between 6.30am and 6pm. Makes sense.

I'm with u OP I don't know a single person with a cleaner but I'm working class.
I would definitely have the piss ripped out of me and judged if I got one. Infact I know a few OLDER relatives that would look down on me as bring lazy or not capable.

I understand why people do get them. I don't understand the "I'm not good at cleaning" comments though as there's no skill involved.

I'd need one every bloody day it'd cost me a fortune lol I have 3 dogs and my OH thinks he's still a teenager. My floors are washed more than once a day, bedding changed every day, at least 2 washings done a day unless it's my day off then it's more.

We both work 40+ hours and I get up 3 times during my sleep for work (I'm nights) to let the dogs out. I have sciatica and am pregnant.

Love the idea of a cleaner but in reality I'd be scrubbing the day before they came to make sure everything was clean lol.

Think it depends on where u live and how much u earn whether it's bizarre or not.

Why does the thought of other women having good jobs make you so angry mandie?

@mandieleeinatree- I didn’t mean that to be a meh at you- I see your point. I’m not in a highly paid job- but chose to have one due to the hours I work- and whilst it’s a luxury- I figure it’s one I’d rather budget for. I’d rather have someone clean the house and go out less for dinner. Not everyone has one because of hair area, some are genuinely due to a lack of time and a budget!!

I always wondered. Do cleaners have a key to your house? If so then does it affect your home insurance?

Having a cleaner is no different than getting a takeaway ever week/fortnight. It’s outsourcing a job you can do yourself to someone else because you’d prefer not to do it, and are happy to spend the money for the sake of convenience.

I wouldn’t judge or “take the pee” out of someone ordering a pizza, so I can’t see why you’d do it for someone having a cleaner?

I know very few people who don’t have a cleaner.
I know very few people who don’t have a takeaway on occasion.

I work part time and have one we have hard flooring most of the downstairs, two bathrooms and a decent sized kitchen. I tidy away before the cleaner comes and she cleans. I only work part time at the end of the week but it’s lovely to come home to a clean house upstairs and downstairs on Friday after being in work all day and leaves me ready to enjoy the weekend with the family rather than trying to clean around people.

I have a cleaner but I do most of the DIY work at home and try to grow my own vegetables 😊.

I think having someone do the jobs I don't want to do makes me more productive in the jobs I do enjoy.

And I am not in the best paid job- we are just average people who outsource the jobs we don't like much

I am very rich and live in a very big house. The last thing I want to do is spend all day every day cleaning.

I don't like cleaning so we have a cleaner. Husband likes gardening so we don't have a gardener. I like cooking so we don't have a chef.

I don't know many people who don't have a cleaner tbh.

Mandie a quick squirt of Stardrops will get that chip right off your shoulder.

Ahh inverted snobbery

I don't know anyone who doesn't have a cleaner (except Sahps/mat leave)

When I first got one, I realised I got far more pleasure from having one, than buying another round of drinks (same cost).

It's up to everyone how they spend their disposable income.

We can afford one but sad as it is I like cleaning our home and think I would prob clean before the cleaner came lol

@Woshambo why do you need to do all that, genuine question. What's going to happen if you don't do the beds every day? Your sciatica might have a chance to rest for a start.

But yes I getMandielee 's point that that those can afford it wank on about deserving it and the rest that work just as hard, can't afford one.
Although I fiind most don't. And I'm glad someone pays me ( lots) to do something simple.

Lots of people I know have a cleaner - some work long hours and some don't work but hate cleaning. Personally I love cleaning and would hate someone else cleaning my house but I'm a bit weird clearly

Don’t know anyone who does apart from my cousin who runs her own business and literally works non stop. My uncle who is a millionaire and his son who is a jumped up little prick riding on daddy’s coat tails.

Woshambo - sorry; bedding changed every day? Really really genuinely struggling to see why this might be necessary.