To get a cleaner for my tiny 1 bedroom 3 room flat?

[LudoBear]

I live in a tiny one bedroom flat. Bedroom just fits in double bed pushed up against wall & wardrobe. Kitchen & lounge are open plan. Kitchen is absolutely tiny, 3x3 foot floor space. Bathroom is same size as kitchen. Just to give you an idea of size.

I live alone, no pets, don't work. Yet I struggle so much to keep on top of the housework. I am in the process of being diagnosed with ADHD and I'm 99.9% certain I've got it.

My flat is a complete and utter pig sty. I've got boiler service tomorrow and I'm desperately trying to get my flat clean and tidy as it's so embarrassing. I won't let anyone other than my mum into my flat as it's so disgusting. Dishes overflowing in sink, kitchen sides covered in cooking spillages etc. Couldnt tell you the last time I dusted.

I know I should clean as I go but unless you've got ADHD it's easier said than done.

Would it be odd to get someone to clean one hour a fortnight? I cant afford more often.

I'm sat in tears writing this as I'm so overwhelmed.

I don't think it's weird tog et someone in, no. If you don't like and/or aren't good at cleaning, go ahead and hire someone. No one would question you if you said you wanted to get someone in to do the painting (a job that, theoretically, any one can do) or similar.

Unfortunately, one hour is unlikely to be enough if you don't at least make a go of doing some things in between but perhaps having someone coming in with specific cleaning objectives will help focus your mind to, for example, put away clothes/other items lying around and doing the washing up so that the person can vacuum, mop, wipe down all surfaces etc.

I’m messy too. Yanbu to get a cleaner no matter the size of your home but I’m pretty sure that they expect it to be clear so cleaning is actually possible. It doesn’t sound like your place is, with the piles of washing up to do.

Op I live in what sounds like the exact same. I tidied yesterday, and today it’s a tip. It’s the size and just general living that makes it untidy. It’s harder in a smaller property than a large! If it’ll make you feel better, definitely get a cleaner

Op I am a cleaner. One of my clients has a 1 bed, 4 roomed bungalow... She has adhd and mobility issues... Whatever it takes to make your life easier I say.

I don’t think you’re being unreasonable to hire a cleaner at all.
The problem is that once it all builds up it becomes even harder to tackle and starts to become a mental challenge to even get started.
It might be worth considering whether you could find someone (your Mum or a professional) to help you to clear it then look to enlist a cleaner to help you to keep on top of it ?
It’ll probably benefit your mental health enormously to have your home as you’d like it

A cleaner would clean, but not clear up the clutter before cleaning. well they would probably if you paid them too but this would take up too much time and would take more than an hour. Sounds like you need a housekeeper rather than cleaner.

You need to clear the mess and clutter, either book a professional to do it with you/for you or tackle it with the help of a family member or close friend.

You'd still need to do the dishes and keep it clear, they're to clean what's underneath not the clutter.
YANBU though, if your struggling you're struggling but you would need to do the basics.

God do it, a clean and tiny house will make you feel much better and you'll be able to keep on top of it inbetween more easily

If you want to, then do it. It matters not what anyone else thinks.

When I had a cleaner, I got more 'joy' out of that than a couple of drinks in a pub (same cost)

Spend your disposable income on whatever makes you happy

Fine to want it, you might struggle to get someone to come for an hour.

Although cleaners don’t generally tidy, having to do it each fortnight before they come might help you keep on top of it.

You're absolutely not being unreasonable. it sounds like it would really help improve the quality of your life. I have a disability and my Mum helps me clean my house as I work and I'm too exhausted at weekends and need to rest.

I think it is harder in a smaller space. What have you got cluttering up the place? Is it stuff you need? Have you got good storage? Can you get rid of anything? Having less does make things easier to clean. Can you stick to using less plates and pans in the kitchen? Pack some of that away so you only use what you need?

If you need someone to tidy and declutter too have you got a friend or family number you trust and could pay to do this job regularly for you? I do this for a family member, they trust me to make decisions about chucking stuff and clearing out cupboards and drawers and I can be a lot more ruthless than an employed cleaner would be about old receipts and organising their filing etc.

You'll probably struggle to find someone to do 1 hour a fortnight, it's not really worth their while. The minimum in my area seems to be 2hrs once a week or 3hrs a fortnight.
Also a cleaner is there to clean, not tidy up after you. You may struggle to find someone who would accept having to tidy up and wash your dishes etc

Sounds like you have too much stuff. So plates stacking up, have 2 or 3 maximum but really really nice posh ones that you enjoy eating off. Then at most only 2 plates can stack up in the sink and hopefully as they are so nice you’ll want to look after them.
Same with socks for example or clothes generally. Have fewer items but nice ones. I have 5 pairs of socks and so wash them regularly or I won’t have a clean pair. I have one set of bed sheets for example so wash and dry in a day and no need to store them. Less is more!

I think at least two hours a fortnight would be more reasonable, they will need more than an hour if the oven/hob and kitchen tops are really with baked-on food, same with floors, same with anything where the dirt is a bit embedded.

Don't be embarrassed though, just be honest with the cleaner- say I have difficulty keeping on top of it so I need someone to do a one-off clean to get everything sorted, then a top up clean every fortnight.

They may help you organize stuff/do tidying depending on the local cleaner, I would advertise on Next Door for what you actually want, everyone on here says cleaners don't tidy, clean toilets, do bedding, but if it's a local person with a small clientele, they will often be much more adapting and want to help you out (for a price, obviously).

Absolutely not being unreasonable. You can hate cleaning whether it’s a tiny flat or a mansion. No shame on not keeping on top of things, I think few of us do.

Sorry, I see that you say you can't afford more, but most cleaners won't do one hour cleans as it's just not enough time and also they have to travel to you, so the whole job is just worth too little.

You could have a one-off clean of two hours just to start you in the right direction?

It’s not unreasonable at all. You could use the help to get yourself a bit more organised so that you can keep on top of things. It will make you feel better as it will be something you no longer have to worry about. Go for it.

It's your money and your time. If you would be happier spending it to have someone else do it then fab!

Being messy isn't a disease. It's sheer laziness and a lack of self-discipline on your part. Clean it yourself, you idle mare!

You can say this about anything.
"Not baking your own bread by hand is laziness!"
"Not knitting your own jumpers is laziness!"

If she doesn't want to/finds it hard and is happy/can afford to pay someone to do it, that's her choice.

I think it might be a good idea for you to have less of everything so that it doesn’t all build up. For example, have only a set of crockery and cutlery for one. This means that you would only ever have one plate, knife, fork, glass, cup to wash. Also have a minimalist wardrobe so that washing and ironing cannot possibly build up. The less you own the better!

I hired a cleaner purely because I can afford it and I don’t like cleaning.
Hire a cleaner.
You will need to keep it tidy, it’s impossible to clean around mess.
And if there’s more than an hours work cleaning you will either have to do a lot yourself now, or find the money to pay a cleaner for more than an hour the first time.

Hire someone/use a company that offer household services rather than just cleaning if you need help with tidying/decluttering ect. I would think you will struggle getting someone for just an hour a fortnight though. It would be well worth it to pay for a deep clean before regular appointments.