To hire a cleaner

[IAmAllAstonishment]

DP (31M) and I (25F) share a middle sized Victorian terrace with our pet. DP is a doctor and the NHS have stuck him at a hospital a 2.5 hour round trip working 50-60 hours pw. Often on long shifts/nights and is pretty messy in general with little time to help out.

(Moving isn’t an option as DP changes hospital each year and our lives are here.)

I have a much easier, closer and flexible job but because of this I do 85% of housework.
Im fed up of coming home each night and cleaning for hours. It’s still never organised or fully clean and it drives me crazy. Plus it’s an old house so it’s just a hard to keep up on.

I go back for my last year of uni in September so will have even less spare time than DP. If I can’t keep up on it now I won’t be able to then. I feel like a domestic failure for not being able to keep up on it, we have no kids and a medium sized home. Feels like I should be able to manage. We don’t have a dishwasher or a tumble dryer though, both of which would help but no room.

Also, would an agency cleaner even pick up after us/ wash dishes/ generally tidy the house? All I see online is that they’ll vacuum and wipe down the sides...etc, that’s not really our biggest problem.

If anyone has had a cleaner can you offer advice/ an idea of price (we live in an affluent area of the North).

I’m West Yorkshire and do tidying and cleaning for £10 ph to supplement my pt job

I also do laundry whilst I’m there and often take it home to dry and iron. I let dogs out whilst there too.

We’re North Yorkshire but thanks for the info helpful xx

In NE, though not hugely affluent area. Our cleaner is 12.50 an hour and worth their weight in gold. they come every 2 weeks and its lovely to come home to a clean house. nothing is too much trouble. For us it was worth saving £ elsewhere to pay for it

Ah yes, was just letting you know for info!

Ask for recommendations

Look at reviews and interview, you’ll get a good vibe from someone

I’ve seen a few agencies online and wonder is this generally safer than employing an individual directly?
Agencies like maid 2 clean, merry maids...etc.

Definitely get a cleaner OP you won't regret it.
Takes a load of stress off IMO.
I wish I had had a cleaner years ago but now have a lovely lady who does other things for me as well(health problems cut my career short).
Just make a list of what you want doing and any good cleaner would be happy to oblige.
I found it better to get someone recommended by a friend.
I found it easier to deal with one person all the time.
I pay £10 per hour. I am in East Lancashire.
Prices can vary though throughout the country.

I had a cleaner in the past when I went back from maternity leave. I loved her and was sad when she got a different job.

I'm thinking of looking for a new one as I'm about to increase my hours at work again.

I'm in a similar situation to you with a DH who works a lot of the time abroad and two small children. I find it hard enough to fit shopping, washing, cooking etc it around work and childcare so it was great to know hoovering and bathrooms were taken care of.