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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why people have cleaners

285 replies

Gingerninj · 30/06/2018 10:07

I don't mean this in a rude way I'm just curious how much people really benefit from having a cleaner. They seem to do the hovering, cleaning floors, changing beds, dusting, clean windows and so on. Honestly I don't do much of this very often, maybe hover once a week, change beds every other week, clean windows and dust possibly every other week but probably not. The house still looks fairly nice and clean. Fair enough some people don't have time for this, I don't either really but it seems like it would take up more of my time to tidy all the rooms enough that I'd be happy to let someone see them.

OP posts:
Limpopobongo · 01/07/2018 23:13

I hear you Kerala,, and thats probably most peoples' take on it.

I am probably out of step and need to get a cleaner, a gardener and possibly a cook. I will draw the line at a Sommelier due to my scant consumption which is nothing like two glasses a week.

Its just that at chez Limpopo al the adults work but we also fit in our own chores.

I need to get with it.

PinkCrystal · 01/07/2018 23:15

I think it is like much else it will soon become the norm. Seems like many more people have them now. People are busy more mums working etc. Also more jobs and tax etc.

KERALA1 · 01/07/2018 23:35

Some vinegar to go with that massive chip on your shoulder op?

Anyway if I was pathetic enough to want to be "aspirational" I would need to up my game - pretty much all the families I know with kids and both working have cleaners. It's entirely run of the mill average thing to do.

LavendarLove · 01/07/2018 23:39

Loving these comments, aspirational? Haha

KERALA1 · 01/07/2018 23:48

We could fit in chores. But we choose not to to free up time to do more fun things. We are not martyrs. Why is that hard to understand? Your thread is weird.

KERALA1 · 01/07/2018 23:49

Sorry see it's not your thread. Ops thread. Why does anyone buy any service or thing? Because they want to?

Limpopobongo · 01/07/2018 23:51

Yes i agree, im probably out of step,, i

Macey69 · 01/07/2018 23:52

I'm a professional house cleaner myself! It's my bread and butter! I have a range of clients. All are fairly well off financially and can afford to pay for my services! Some are working all day and don't have time to do it. Others are older retired couples (very rich) that can afford to and have health issues. I clean for a few bachelors that just need a female touch around the house as they don't have a clue about cleaning! The thing that gets me is they meet me for 10minutes and hand over their key to me to clean when they are not home! A lot of trust in me but I have a police clearance and completely trustworthy! Wouldn't keep my work if I wasn't! Personally I would not have a cleaner as I can do my own house when I get home!

Missbrick1 · 01/07/2018 23:54

I actually know a family who don’t have a cleaner through choice (could defo afford one) but they are both clean freaks & the cleaners never can match their standards 😂

bbcessex · 02/07/2018 00:05

I think my cleaner is very glad we have a cleaner.

And our garden people are very glad we don’t do our own garden.

And the car wash man is pleased we don’t do our own cars.

And the window cleaner is glad we don’t do our own windows.

And on it goes. Surely people understand that choosing to outsource something you can’t / don’t want to do gives a livelihood to others.. who then spend their money on other things.. and on it goes?

TrainsandDiggers · 02/07/2018 00:08

I have a cleaner 2 hours a week. I only work 2 days a week, so I’m sure people judge me. However, I have two very young children at home with me full time messing up my house and (perhaps owing to my own cleaning inadequacies) I find it really difficult to properly clean our house without (a) having to keep stop-starting around the kids, (b) having one of them want to ‘help me’ (no help at all tbh!) (c) having them mess up one area of the house whilst I’m cleaning another (so I never get everything done), (d) constantly having to work around their meal/bath/nap/bed/play date/group schedule (e) spend proper quality time with them whilst also keeping on top of the house.

Having a cleaner let’s me relax knowing that if nothing else, at least the house is clean! It might not be tidy all the time, but it is clean! Having a cleaner come once a week helps me keep on top of the tidying as well, like you indicated in your post. I also find that the time and energy that I would have spent cleaning I can give to the kids and occasionally to something else (e.g. cleaning out a cupboard) so I feel like I’m actually moving forward! I also find I’m less precious about the house staying pristine as it wasn’t me that cleaned it. And finally, our cleaner is honestly much better at it than I am! I swear we’ve been ill less since she’s been coming!

Before I had children though, I would have definitely judged myself, so I get why you’ve asked. The quality of life and enjoyment of being a mum I’ve got back from having a cleaner though is honestly worth three times the amount to me! Having a cleaner is obviously a luxury, but I guess it’s just what you feel is worth spending your disposable income on (e.g. personally have never got my nails done, but many of my friends feel the relaxation and confidence they get from it is worth the money and time - I don’t judge them!)

GothMummy · 02/07/2018 00:18

I would love a cleaner, I would rather be riding my horses than cleaning after work.

Limpopobongo · 02/07/2018 00:24

Macey,you need to launch a new discussion. Im a professional cleaner AMA.

KERALA1 · 02/07/2018 08:13

My mind is blown frankly by anyone "judging" anyone either way on whether they have a cleaner or not. Its the ultimate dull topic. Around us most people do I think but its not really talked about as whos interested.

Actually thats not true. I did judge my friend's husband -she was a SAHM but since kids at school set up own business going really well now shes busy and frantic. He won't "allow" a cleaner because thats the wife's job Hmm . Him I judge.

Bluntness100 · 02/07/2018 08:20

I really don't understand why people ask this question. Surely the answer is obvious. Because they can't or don't want to do the cleaning themselves.

And if your rooms are so messy that it would take too much time just to get to a stage you'd let someone see them, then they aren't looking remotely nice Confused

thegreylady · 02/07/2018 08:28

I have a cleaner because I don’t like housework and can afford the £20 a week for a cleaner to do the heavy stuff and dh and I do the daily necessities.

LuMarie · 02/07/2018 08:35

I like things very clean but I hate cleaning.

(other than laundry, clean sheets every day in my house baby!)

I couldn't get my head around having a cleaner when I did have time, it seemed a bit wrong to have someone else do something I had time and ability to.

Also I inevitably clean before a cleaner visits.

KERALA1 · 02/07/2018 08:46

I find having a cleaner makes me tidy up the night before they come so they can just clean it. I tidy up myself or I can't find anything. I have paying guests though so I can't let my rooms get too messy

threatmatrix · 02/07/2018 09:07

I love walking into my house and seeing it spotless, a clean house makes me feel better and as I work I have a cleaner. I couldn't imagine only changing the beds once a fortnight, ugh.

BiddyPop · 02/07/2018 09:28

In our case, DH and I both work FT (with travel involved as well) and DD has school and a load of activities as well. DH and I also have various roles with groups/committees outside work (professional, school, hobby etc) so our time is kind of taken up.

At home, I try to focus on keeping laundry done (I don’t worry about ironing but aim to have clean clothes available), and good food (proper dinners, school/work lunches etc) and keepin the kitchen clean.

Stuff like bathrooms, mopping, dusting, they are important but it’s great to get them done once a fortnight without me having to worry. And if I leave out clean sheets, they will change those as well which is another great job I don’t have to do.

LemonysSnicket · 02/07/2018 09:30

My flat in C.London gets filthy if I don't clean it in a week. Black dust that clings to everything.

Original poster
Gingerninj · 02/07/2018 11:44

@RabbitsAreTasty no mention of DH because were not together

OP posts:
Thebluedog · 02/07/2018 11:47

Both me and dh work full time, 2 children (one has behavioural issues so can’t be left alone for any length of time) and two dogs. I think it’s a small price to pay that once a week I get the whole house cleaned . I still have to hoover and dust in between her visits, but at least I know it gets done once properly Grin

SherbrookeFosterer · 02/07/2018 11:56

To CUTHBERTDIBBLE - I am still laughing at your laconic response!

Ohfuckinghellwhatnow · 02/07/2018 13:20

I'd have a gardener & a cleaner if I could afford one. I'd rather spend my free time with my family making happy memories than cleaning & pruning.

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