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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask you to help me justify getting a cleaner?

32 replies

CamberwellNichols · 14/08/2018 19:59

28 weeks pregnant. Cleaner coming to look around the house on Thursday. I mainly decided to ask a cleaner to do two hours a week as DP works long hours, and I just can't be arsed anymore. We aren't rich but we aren't poor either. For me, it's £20 a week well spent. DP is unsure so we are going to see exactly what they can do in two hours (our house is bloody tiny!) and decide then. If he says no, then it's a no of course as it would come out of joint finances and I respect why he may not want a cleaner.

If he does come round to the idea though, I would be so bloody happy! Anyone else have a cleaner and can convince me it is money spent and will change my life for the better?!

OP posts:

Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 14/08/2018 20:00

Sorry... change 'our lives' for the better

OP posts:

superram · 14/08/2018 20:03

My cleaner has been on holiday for 2 weeks. I have hoovered today and it took ages, was boring and my kids hate the noise (obviously not used to it....). I don’t mind deep cleaning and have done bits and pieces of ‘deep cleaning’ as I’m a teacher but I wouldn’t go back to no cleaner while I work and can afford it.

B1rdinthebush · 14/08/2018 20:07

Does your partner do half of all the cleaning at present? If he does then I guess he has equal day over whether you get a cleaner or not.

If he doesn't then the conversation is easy. Either he chips in completely equally or you get a cleaner.

purplestrawberry2 · 14/08/2018 20:07

Do it! I was so dubious but our cleaner does the kitchen, bathroom and hoovering and its a godsend. well worth the momey for the peace of mind and worth sacrificing a few luxuries like coffees out for us

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 14/08/2018 20:11

I clean for different people. Some for the whole house and some for smaller bits. I wish I could afford to have someone come and clean mine. I would love to have my bathrooms done. Clean the kitchen and hoover.

I can clean a whole small house in two hours. It always looks cleaner to me when I’m done. And smells fab. But I put essential oils in the vac and the whole house smells lovely.

Eliza9917 · 14/08/2018 20:12

If he says no, will he be taking over all the cleaning?

Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 14/08/2018 20:15

@B1rdinthebush he does an equal amount which is why I've said if he says no then I'll respect that

OP posts:

Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 14/08/2018 20:16

@Eliza9917 he's already said he will do all the cleaning when baby is born. The way he cleans however isn't close to the way a professional cleaner would. He's open to the idea, I think he just wants to be sure that we would be getting our monies worth as we can't afford more than two hours a week!

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Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 14/08/2018 20:20

@Dontgiveamonkeys1350 we have two fairly regular sized bedrooms, a tiny box room, a box bathroom, hallway, small kitchen, small lounge and fair sized front room. Downstairs wooden floors and upstairs all carpeted. We would want the focus to be on the bathroom, then the kitchen, then the floors downstairs, then whatever else the cleaner thinks needs cleaning. Bathroom/kitchen/downstairs floors hoovered and mopped are the only important tasks. Any leftover time is a bonus!

Do you think as a cleaner that this sounds reasonable for two hours? I know it's hard to say without seeing the house but it really is small.

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Eliza9917 · 14/08/2018 20:25

Of course you'd be getting your money's worth, you don't have to do it yourselves!

I said to dp on Saturday that I want to get someone in to do our washing up, washing, hang the clothes and tidying as well as clean the kitchen, bathroom and hoovering. And change the bed. I don't think you can ppl to do all that though unfortunately. And we have no real reason to other than laziness so we won't.

Once we move abroad though I will. Or dp can do it. I don't want to do housework in the heat and when we have a pool.

SparklyLeprechaun · 14/08/2018 20:36

Wendsdays are my favourite day of the week. I come back from work in the evening and the house is clean, fresh sheets on the bed and 2 loads of washing done. I love my cleaner.

If it takes your cleaner 2h, it would probably take you 4. Think of it like this, are 4h of your time (not to mention the effort) worth £20?

Downtheroadfirstonleft · 14/08/2018 21:00

Why on earth do people stress so much about needing to "justify" having a cleaner? If you want someone else to clean for you, can afford it and will be a good employer, go for it!

HelpmeobiMN · 14/08/2018 21:01

Ask your partner whether he values time or money more highly - most people say time! In which case there is your answer.

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 15/08/2018 07:46

I would say I could. The first few always take longer. The problem would be ur cleaner. A good one would know what needs doing every week. Rotate stuff around, clean properly and do the allotted hours. You need to get one that u can get references for. Try Facebook and ask for recommendations. Times like this I wish I knew where people lived as I
would come and look for u .

It also depends on how clean u want things. I have two different clients. One that likes things done very throughly. And one that just wants the surface done. Set good guidelines. And let them know what u expect to be done.

Also. Have a test run urself. How long does it take u. For two hours without stopping. One thing that takes time is moving stuff. If I have to pick stuff up I don’t put it back as that takes extra time. So takes time away from cleaning. So maybe make sure all the floors are clear and ready.

Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 15/08/2018 07:46

Partner only wants them to come once every two weeks as he thinks it is too expensive and he is happy to do the clean in between. Lovely, but his version of cleaning is not the same as mine! Hmm, not sure how to approach this or just pay for the extra cleaning myself and tell him everything in between is down to him! Which I'm sure he wouldn't mind....

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Boulshired · 15/08/2018 08:17

A well sought after cleaner would require regular hours weekly as they would have trouble finding a client for the alternative week.

Original poster

CamberwellNichols · 15/08/2018 08:39

@Boulshired they've said they are happy to do fortnightly as long as we are flexible as they have other clients on our street

Looks like I'm just going to have to pay the extra if I want it and DP can do all the cleaning in between!

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Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 15/08/2018 13:06

I don’t agree. I’m a good cleaner. Work hard. Do what I’m supposed to do and do it well. Have lots of Clients. Some I do every two weeks. I also do temporary ones as well. I cover other cleaners. It tends to work itself out between regulars extras and non weekly ones.

Matilda1981 · 15/08/2018 13:12

I have a cleaner two hours a week and my god it looks tidier when she’s been! She doesn’t get around the whole house in two hours (large 8 bed farmhouse) but she always does the kitchen, utility room and downstairs toilets and then deep cleans one/two other rooms on rotation - makes it so much easier for me to keep on top of (doesn’t help that I have two young children, a dog and a messy farmer!). It’s the best £20 I spend each week!

Dontgiveamonkeys1350 · 15/08/2018 13:14

WineAndTiramisu · 15/08/2018 13:17

I tried a few weeks without a cleaner when we moved and I was on maternity leave, however it soon got on top of me (caesarian with wound breakdown), started having a cleaner again and wouldn't be without them. There's a lot I'd give up before the cleaners!

Lethaldrizzle · 15/08/2018 13:20

Does he have to justify to you when he buys a couple of rounds at the pub or buys new trainers?

WineIsMyMainVice · 15/08/2018 13:21

The way that I always look at these things, is by putting a value on your time. So obviously when I was on maternity leave, that cost was quite low. So therefore I’d spend time walking to a different supermarket to get a good deal. But when I’m working full time my free time is worth more so a cleaner is an essential!! If you can afford it then go for it.

serbska · 15/08/2018 13:27

There's a lot I'd give up before the cleaners!

^This

I would cancel gym membership and reduce eating out before I got rid of my amazing cleaner.

In fact, I would reduce down pretty much all discretionary spending before I reduced her hours.

Alldaylong1 · 15/08/2018 13:28

If you can afford it, do it do it do it!
I faffed around unsure for ages but now I have one it is amazing the difference to our quality of life! if it is your first baby (or even if not) I very much doubt your DH will want to do all the cleaning, and if he does that still impacts on you as that is a lot of time he is occupied when he could be helping with the baby or spending time as a family.
Our house sounds the same size as yours and we have one hour a week and she does bathroom, downstairs toilet, kitchen, utility, hoovering and mopping downstairs. I don't mind whizzing round our bedrooms myself but may get her to deep clean these occasionally!
It's so lovely coming home on cleaning day :)

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