Feeling rubbish because I am a cleaner

[LAURAMINIMAQ88]

So...I am a young, educated woman and this year was very hard for our family so I had to take on a cleaning position which I didn't mind doing at first but now I feel absolutely rubbish because my friends and family make unpleasant comments about my new job.
I wouldn't mind ever as long as I am bringing a salary and paying my bills.
People where I work also look down on cleaners ( I clean offices) not all of them but I do get unpleasant looks..
The only support that I am getting is from my husband.
My husband works in airline industry and had been able to keep his hours through this horrible year however I have lost my contract 2 months ago so took on this job.

I dont know what I am looking for here, probably just a bit of support and to tell me that my job is also valued.

My parents in law said that I am too young to be a cleaner and it broke into pieces

My cousin is exactly the same as you, she does it because she loves it, all is good

There is nothing wrong with an honest day's work and shame on anyone who suggests there is.

You are very highly valued by me. Both in my home and in the whole world we live in. I presume your inlaws do sometimes visit public spaces, shops, hospitals and the like? In my experience they are very much safer and more pleasant if they are kept clean.

I hope you can find some satisfaction in knowing they are idiots.

Why are you feeling rubbish because you're a cleaner. That sounds quite demeaning to other cleaners, and tbh very snobbish.
A job's a job, op. Theres no shame in earning an honest living.
No company could open without the cleaner.

Your friends and family sound deeply unpleasant.
You are working to help support your family unit, there is nothing to be ashamed of with that.
I think the past year has actually shown us how important cleaners are actually.

Lol, I’m 29 and have had many cleaning jobs. I think it’s great. I know it can be abit gross at times but, you can put your music on, do your cleaning and go home on time and don’t have to take your job home. I think there’s something amazing about cleaners and I have a lot of respect for them. Don’t let people be rude to you, depending on where you work it’s likely that the cleaner is almost the most important person IMO. If an office was dirty would many people want to enter?

And yes as a pp said in most organisations / buildings etc it would be noticed far sooner if their cleaner was off.

Jobs like domestic and commercial cleaners, refuse collectors, street sweepers are the absolute backbone of society. They should be much greater respect for them.

When my son was really young he used to love watching the bin lorry come to the house. I remember telling a colleague about it (it was cute) and he said "oh, I don't suppose you'll be encouraging him to be a bin man when he's older though" and my reply was actually "Why not?" It's hard, physical, honest work, its necessary to the functioning of society and I reckon bin men (and cleaners) can hold their heads much higher than people doing some of the bloody made up jobs people claim to have nowadays.

You’re doing what you need to do to pay your bills and put food in the table. Shame on those who look down on you, they should be admiring you for your grit and determination.

Nothing wrong with being a cleaner. I’ve done it before and I’d do it again. You’re keeping a roof over your head and putting food on your table.

What I do look down on are people who think that certain jobs are beneath them. Like they’re special.

The contract cleaning company used by the company i work for have allowed us to keep open throughout the pandemic. Without them I, and many others, would have lost our jobs.

You are fab.

Being an adult means doing what it takes to get by sometimes. If you were my friend I'd be proud of you.

The people that matter don’t mind- your DH, the people that mind don’t matter.

I love my cleaners and mine is quite the entrepreneur, shes constantly winning new work and taking on more cleaners. Cleaners round my way charge as much as £14/h they work the hours they want on their terms. Fair play to them.

No one on here is going to knock you for getting out and doing what you can to earn money and support yourself.

Good on you.

OP, you are a great person and so is your husband for supporting you.
You are also doing an essential job. As a PP stated, people notice if the cleaner has not been in, so your work is invaluable. I took a job as a cleaner in October and am still doing this, as my regular employer threw me to the wolves in July, saying they were not applying for furlough again. I was about to start a night shift parcel sorting job, 10 hour shifts, and then saw a local cleaning job advertised, and got the job, so I can't tell you how relieved i was to start. The parcel sorting job would have ended the week before Christmas, and this job is until March. I am working with a great, supportive team, and the advantage with cleaning is that you can usually fit it around either other work or family commitments. The downside is it's poorly paid and you are often badly treated by employers, but as long as you are doing honest, paid work, know your worth.

It's a really hard job that transforms other people's homes. I don't have a cleaner at the moment and I can't get my house nearly as clean as a cleaner would be able to.

I would hate to be a cleaner- I'm not efficient at it, I dislike doing it, and avoid it when I can.
However, it's a job, it pays bills, it contributes to your family and to wider society.

Well done for being a contributor- anyone can moan and criticise other people. You are doing something positive. Good for you.

Your friends are horrible. Ignore them.
I have taken great delight in informing such idiots that I’m paid very well as a specialist cleaner (£11 - £25 per hour). Cleaning in ALL it’s various forms is specialised and hard work. Very few people do it quickly and well.
I’ve seen and trained a lot of new cleaners recently, some have said they will never look at a cleaner in the same way again, as they hadn’t realised how difficult, intricate and physically hard work it can be.
A good career can be had for those that are excellent at cleaning.

I work in a hospital and I can tell you right now cleaners are worth their weight in gold. Secondly I remember an episode of Grand Designs with one of the biggest budgets ever (think it was a couple of million) and the guy building it owned a cleaning company that he'd built up from nothing!! My next door neighbour also lost her job at the beginning of the year and has since set up a cleaning company. Within the year (despite the pandemic) shes got 5 girls working for her and has 3 cars, her business is going from strength to strength! Dont look down on yourself, the worlds your oyster and you can make a success of anything!!

Are your In-laws a bit snobby? There’s no age for a cleaner. It’s hard work.

Many of us did lower paid jobs when we were younger I have to say aside from money I had some of the best times I loved the people within my team and we all got on great. If I could go back I would!

You probably feel self conscious OP. Don’t take someone’s look to heart.

The woman who does the cleaning at my sons school is the most important person in the place right now, without her the school would be closed.

If people are making jokes about your job, they are showing you they are. Tell them to shove it in no uncertain terms and keep going. You are a bloody star!

I have been a cleaner. Totally understand and seriously, tell them to fuck off. Weirdos.

Ugh. What awful people.

My cleaner is like the backbone in my life! Don't let sell you short!