Is this dirty?

[Cbeebiesischeesy]

I have cleaners come every forthright. They basically do a deep clean of the whole house-hoover, mop, kitchen, all bathrooms, all bedrooms, all polishing downstairs etc, plus the upstairs banging and terrace at the front. Plus change beds and clean oven and fridge, clean windows.
In-between this I keep it tidy (toddler, so it’s tricky!) clean and bleach toilets and obviously keep kitchen clean, wash dishes after use.
Am I doing enough or is this unacceptable? I’d ideally love them to do this every week not fortnight, but it’s pricey and they’re busy with other clients.

Don't bother - learn a new language watch television, read a book, play with your child!!!! Life's is short, don't spend your time doing unnecessary cleaning!!!

If your happy, bugger everyone else.

Sounds bliss. We bought new bedding a good few weeks ago and its still not been for a wash...

I used to deep clean my new build house every week and clean the kitchen every night but got sick on not going up to the living room till past 8 every night so I've gotten lazy.

Word of advice. Learn not to give a shit now as keeping a clean house with a toddler is impossible and unheard of the older they get.
Learn to live with marks on the walls, selecting paints that will disguise said marks on the walls, realising stain resistant carpets are the best way to go (until kids have flown the nest) and eventually give up on decorating at all because it'll just get trashed again.

Mum of 4 - counting down til the kids leave home......

🙄

Op, it doesn’t matter what others do, some will be cleaner than you and some will clean less. And that’s ok.

You say you’re very ill to the extent you can’t clean and struggle with one toddler, cleaning should be the last thing on yout mind. Let thr cleaners deal with it.

On a seperate note, that’s awful you have long Covid and in such a debilitating way too, it’s so rare, and even rarer in someone young enough to have a toddler. And to have had it so long too. Since the pandemic started a year ago. What a terrible situation for you

I’d focus on your health and not worry about the cleaning. When you’re as ill as you say, then just getting through the day is a result.

💐

Thank you @Bluntness100 💐

Sadly, it’s not that rare, I have a few friends and thousands on the forums still struggling. I’m not young, young, as struggled with fertility so had my Dd at 40 (43 now) there sadly seems to be a fair few women in particular still struggling after covid. Lots of research into possible hormone links (mine have always been unbalanced) and peri menopause etc. I’m not completely unable to do housework but it definitely takes it’s toll even after hoovering and mopping I feel knackered! I used to do the whole house with headphones in and not be tired..bored but not tired.

I know how you feel I think. I have fibromyalgia and ME amongst other problems.
I feel guilty because I want to do more housework but can’t. I want to clean to a higher standard but can’t always.
I had my ds last year at 40. It’s been harder this time round than with previous children.
My oh does our though. He’s happy if I can get out of bed though most days.

Give yourself a break from the mom/ clean guilt. It must be fantastic to have the cleaners to do it. Enjoy it and rest where you can. It won't always be like this. Pace yourself and the tasks for the day. Don't try and do lots in one day. Do part of a task and rest- then go back to it - rest - go back to it until done.
Take care of yourself first - oh and toddler too.

Good luck.

Thank you @Merryweather80 such a nice reply, so sorry you’ve had such a hard time too, I feel I’ve aged 20 odd years!
I just get paranoid my house will look filthy to others, well not filthy but really do need to do the floors, but nothing is tidy really with Dd now! 🙈
So glad your oh is able yo help you out lots, really hoping things improve for you 💐

Wow, you have your fridge and oven cleaned every fortnight? My oven is lucky if it gets a clean once a year and the fridge gets a clean when it starts to smell.

This is MN though so if you don’t clean your oven after every use and change your bedding at least three times a day you’re a disease ridden biohazard.

@Whatisthisfuckery I don’t think it takes them long to do the oven and fridge tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️Fridge is a spray/wipe down and similar for the oven. If it’s not done, it does build up and takes longer to do 😬

I have a cleaner every two weeks and don’t clean in between. The hoovering needs doing by the tenth or eleventh day but I put up with it because it I don’t want to clean too close to the day when I am paying to have cleaning done!

I think a lot of people would be appalled with how little cleaning and bed changing I do. It’s very sporadic. What you clean in two weeks is probably what I’d get through in two months. Apart from the hygiene aspect I think a lot of cleaning is only worthwhile if it bothers you. I doubt I’m going to look back on life wishing I’d cleaned more. However, for visitors it’s a top to bottom job.

Blimey! Much more than I do!

I used to be really houseproud, spending evenings and weekends toiling. Then a friend looked at me and said in astonishment,

"But, ... I don't clean until it crunches...."

Gave me a whole new outlook on life, clean doesn't mean dustless, or tidy, clean means hygenic, kitchen, bathroom, and clean clothes, not necessarily ironed. I don't clean until it crunches.
Life is so much calmer now. ;)

I'm a lot happier now!

Although don't use bleach, and definitely not with water (with which it reacts). It's dangerous for your lungs.

Unless you love cleaning, don't get a wood burning stove. I could spend every day dusting in the cold weather. When we were thinking of buying one, my brother told me that they didn't create dust as the door is closed. After I found out the grim reality and complained to my lovely sister in law, she explained that my brother never sees dust..

[quote Cbeebiesischeesy]@Whatisthisfuckery I don’t think it takes them long to do the oven and fridge tbh 🤷🏻‍♀️Fridge is a spray/wipe down and similar for the oven. If it’s not done, it does build up and takes longer to do 😬[/quote]
No you’re right, it doesn’t take long. But when it’s on top of me having to look after three young kids, do all their washing, do a full time job and clean the rest of the house then it’s something I just don’t have the time (or inclination) for.

This is my attitude too - and I like to think is that of all sensible women! (I say women because it Ian my female friends who are like this, the men are all clean freaks)

^this was a reply to Notusuallydown but the quote thingumy didn’t work

@Whatisthisfuckery

Wow, you have your fridge and oven cleaned every fortnight? My oven is lucky if it gets a clean once a year and the fridge gets a clean when it starts to smell.

This is MN though so if you don’t clean your oven after every use and change your bedding at least three times a day you’re a disease ridden biohazard.

Ha! Exactly. I would have a cleaner if I cared enough, as it is I have a robo vacuum (eufy) and a house that is a mess but not an actual health hazard. At the moment perimenopause, long Covid, and recovering from a year of home schooling (not to mention working crazy hours and being a sole parent so it’s tough) are kicking my arse, but tbh I embraced my inner slattern when DD was born and have being doing so ever since 😁

I do wipe my oven down if I see actual crumbs etc. I recently cleaned it (with cleaner) for the first time ever after having had it for around 7 YEARS. Vegetarian here and pretty sure if I were cooking meat I’d do it far more often. My fridge only gets full wash down clean when I defrost the freezer maybe twice a year.
Think this puts me in ‘mn slattern’ category. All other areas (sheets towels floors etc) i am in ‘mn clean’ category.

@TheOneWithTheBigNose 🤷🏻‍♀️Ok

Well I’m clearly the biggest slob on MN! how do people spend time with their kids, family, do their day-jobs, cook, shop, exercise, [socialise] etc etc and still fit in all this cleaning?!? Life is too bloody short as it is, fuck that.

@Bluntness100

Op, it doesn’t matter what others do, some will be cleaner than you and some will clean less. And that’s ok.

You say you’re very ill to the extent you can’t clean and struggle with one toddler, cleaning should be the last thing on yout mind. Let thr cleaners deal with it.

On a seperate note, that’s awful you have long Covid and in such a debilitating way too, it’s so rare, and even rarer in someone young enough to have a toddler. And to have had it so long too. Since the pandemic started a year ago. What a terrible situation for you

I’d focus on your health and not worry about the cleaning. When you’re as ill as you say, then just getting through the day is a result.

💐

Not sure long covid is ‘so rare’...? Surely the data is only just emerging? My brother has it and he was a very fit 30-something.