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 would think that getting a cleaner when you don't work, as in moneywise etc is not the best idea. Do you have a really trusty friend, who can come round, and help with a bit of a start up, to clear away some things, so you can begin to see the light a bit. Collect any unneeded rubbish up, into bin bags, to sort through later, then you can start on cleaning and wiping down,bit by bit.. The get go, is always difficult, but you will feel much better after seeing some improvements.

If you want a cleaner then get one. You are spending your own money and don't need to justify to anyone! If I was there if help you clear out, blitz and organise your place. Good luck 👍

You don't need anyone's permission to hire a cleaner.
You might find it difficult to get someone to come just for an hour, though.

I am chronically ill and disabled.

I have a 1 bed house and use to get a cleaner in for one hour every 2 weeks, so it is possible.

I now have some in 2 hours a week, due to my illness getting worse and the extra hours keep on top of things for me.

Yes and no. Not many will only clean for an hour unless they're very local. Cash in hand is always helpful in getting a cleaner. As for being a pigsty, it wouldn't bother me. I'm a professional housekeeper and understand that some people are not domestic and some are bonkers which is also ok with me! My favourite customer can't put anything in the same place twice, except for cups on every windowsill. He's a nice man and most importantly pays me a fair going rate and on time.
Don't worry about what a cleaner thinks of you. If you feel they're judging you get rid, they're going to be a crap cleaner anyway!

YANBU to get a cleaner in but may struggle to get one for one hour a fortnight. If you can't find one for that, maybe a big three hour clean once a month might be worth doing. If you could keep things relatively tidy in between the cleaner could then do the big jobs and get everything spotless once a month.

I had a cleaner both in a house share when I was young and when I first had a flat of my own. I used to work really long hours and I could not face doing it at weekends and evenings. It is really not a problem just make sure you are happy with whoever you get to do the work.

OP i think it's harder to have order in a small place

My mother has lots of space to put things. It makes a difference.

I don't think you will get 1 hour a week but if you think having a cleaner will help your life, by all means do it.

Definitely not unreasonable but I think you would benefit from de cluttering also. Have you been on the housekeeping board?

@FluffyHippo

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!

Fucking hell 😂

Do it. It'll make your life so much better. It's so hard once it's built up so much that you can't get started yourself.

@FluffyHippo I don't know whether to be slightly in awe of that or shocked

Give it a try and see if it help.
I think in theory it’s a good idea. I had a cleaner for a little while who did 1 - 2 hrs a week. Usually just hoovering and wiping down kitchen and bathroom. I found having her come meant that I had motivation to clear any clutter and tidy up so she had space to do the actual clean. If it is going to add value to your life it would certainly be worth the money.

Only issue you might have is finding a cleaner who is willing to do only one hour every fortnight as it might not be worth their while unless they work for a neighbour or something and can todo it straight before/after their clean.

Have you tried managing your house work any other ways. Like doing a fine table for cleaning?

And ignore little miss judgmental who keeps getting quoted.

Of course you're not unreasonable. It's your life/flat/money and no one else's business.

Maybe try to speak to some cleaners and explain that you'd like a tidy-up done as part of it, and see what they say. Try to get some recommendations from friends/family/local social media as to nice, helpful and flexible people who will be happy to take on the work.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone. I should have said, I wouldn't expect somebody to tidy up or do the dishes, it's just the cleaning and dusting.

We have a cleaner once a fortnight for 2 hours for our small 2 bed flat.
She won’t do less hours and charges a little extra as it’s fortnightly, not weekly, so hard to fit another client into our slot when it’s the week she doesn’t come.

I always make sure it’s tidy so she can clean.

I actually think it would be far more useful and rewarding if you could find ways to complete housework yourself with your AS HE and keep some independence. It is possible. It's just finding a way that suits you.

I imagine you are single on benefits so hiring a cleaner is going to be difficult for you to budget for and you would have to be out of the flat (ideally) when they come. You'll also have difficulty finding a regular cleaner for one hour a fortnight. Most have a minimum charge/ time slot.

Look at tips for completing chores with ADHD online. It does make housework a challenge but you can use some strategies to help:

1. Plan a routine, stick it to the wall.
2. Set a timer on your phone to remind you and to time you completing one task e.g. clean shower
3. Link chores with other activities, for example always Hoover round in the advert breaks of your favourite program, always put dishes in the sink and wipe surfaces after eating,
4. Always empty bins on X day, set a reminder on your phone
5. Pick a favourite song and set yourself a challenge to sweep and mop the kitchen floor before it finishes. Often people with ADHD work better when there's a sense of "urgency" motivating you
6. Reward yourself for completing a task
7. Remember you can aim for "good enough" so don't set unachievable standards.

I don't know if you'll be offered any medication or counselling when you receive your diagnosis (?) but hopefully it'll help you understand your condition better and find alternative strategies that work for you.

Sorry I meant to type "ADHD"

You may be best getting someone in first for a deep clean for a good few hours then a few hours a week so it would be easier for you too keep on top of the lighter cleaning jobs without getting overwhelmed

FluffyHippo you are so rude! Unbelievable. How dare you be so judgemental?

OP- ADHD can make a task like cleaning requiring planning, precision, calm and order a LOT more momentous and stressful. You just don’t even know where to start.
Don’t feel bad at all to get a professional in to clean and order to a higher standard. The joy you’d get in return from being in a tidy flat would probably be huge. Do it.

But echoing people that say - approach it calmly. Set a specific time for it, stick a playlist/ radio station on you love and just calmly get through it. Bit by bit. But I’d definitely go for an initial big cleaning session with cleaner then see if you could manage week by week. Or go fortnightly maybe?

It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. If you need the help and support and it has gotten on top of you and you can afford it then please do it!

I'm not sure one hour a fortnight is worth someone's while, particularly if they have to travel to get to you. That's time they have to keep free, at potentially the expense of a more lucrative job.
A cleaner would keep things ticking over, once sorted, but couldn't be expected to put right your situation in the first place.

YANBU in theory to want a cleaner.

The trouble is, as others have said, is that you’d still have to clean and declutter the flat to the point that you can let the cleaner in to clean in the first place.

Would your Mum be able to help you with this?