'Clean your own house'

[LovelyTheresa]

This is just something that bugs me about this site. Every time there is a thread about the etiquette of employing a housecleaner, whatever the question is, someone invariably says 'clean your own house'. Why is that? It is so utterly bizarre, nobody would say 'do your own plumbing' 'do your own plastering' or even 'do your own garden' so why is it seen as so odd to have a cleaner!? I have a cleaner, everyone I know has a cleaner. It is only on this site that that is seen as out of the ordinary.

I dream about being able to afford a housekeeper for like half a day every day . Not just a cleaner but someone who will do laundry , dishes and tiddies up daily ! So no criticism from me . If you can afford it and makes your life easier have one .

Does this mean it's a horrendous concept that other people do?

I would never say clean your own home it's none of my business .
but you can't compare hiring a cleaner to hiring a plumber or plasterer and far from everyone having a cleaner most people I know don't have one they couldn't afford it.

No it means I don't know anyone who has a cleaner.

@EmilyPlay

No I don't care what you spend your money on. I'm just saying that in my world having a cleaner is not the norm. It's only on MN that I see having a cleaner is the normal thing to do.
I don't know anyone who only buys their clothes second hand or from supermarkets yet on MN it seems half the people do.

Nor do I know anyone who is on UC

It just goes to show MN is not populated by a single demographic

How can that possibly be benefits fraud?

What the hell do you mean by your remark?

Yup, its not valued is it? Not when we do it for free, not when we make careers out of it.

It does doesn't it. Is there a problem with that? The OP said 'everyone she knows has a cleaner' I said 'I don't know anyone who has a cleaner' Was I not allowed to make that comment without several posters jumping down my throat and reading more into the comment than what I said?

When I told my mum we were getting a cleaner, she was so shocked and appalled she said she would come and clean our house herself.😏

See I buy all my clothes second hand or from supermarket but don’t know a single person who employs a cleaner!

I guess we run in certain circles in our lives; similar financial circumstances and therefore this is how we think life is. When you get a mixing pot on MN then you can’t necessarily understand the otherwise because you don’t experience it for yourself.

Op I don't read the threads you read clearly

All I see is people saying "get a cleaner" as though that was easy and cheap

I also buy second hand clothes and don't have a cleaner (nor do I know anyone who does).

Having just had my mind blown by the amounts some people are paying to watch TV on another thread, I'd agree that there's a much broader range here than people might think.

Ignore, obviously doesn’t understand what PIP is intended to pay for.

Wait until she hears that some people use Motability payments to buy a new car! Shocking stuff 😱

No it’s not benefit fraud it’s absolutely fine to use pip for any services that help a disabled person

I do get why it annoys you but the plumbing / plastering thing really isn't a good comparison- anyone can clean but obviously plumbing etc you need qualifications. I had a cleaner but she was crap so now dh takes the toddler out once every few weeks and I do indeed 'clean my own house'. I much prefer it this way! I understand it's not possible for everyone but I can see why it's sometimes suggested.

You need qualifications to do major plumbing but theres a lot people can do themselves but choose not to.

I know only a couple of people who have a cleaner, most people I know do not have a cleaner. I don't hold any judgement to having a cleaner. If you can afford it, want it and makes your life easier, why not.

However, I think YOU are bizarre and ridiculous to compare a cleaner to a plumber. You don't need a qualification to clean.

This! One can’t make this kind of comment without considering that the vast majority of people cleaning their own houses will be women!

Well of course I wouldn’t do plumbing or plastering as they actually require training etc.

everyone I know has a cleaner

EVERYONE you know has a cleaner? You know your cleaner: do they have a cleaner?

I'm not judging anyone for having a cleaner (we do!) but I think you need to widen your circle of acquaintances!

I have cleaner, as both myself and DH work full time. She comes every other week for 2 hours. It's the best £30 I spend. I do obviously do bits in between, but it's nice to know every 2 weeks, my whole house gets a vacuum, mop, kitchen and bathroom get a full clean. I'd love her to come weekly, to be honest. I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm not giving her up!

Everyone has the skills to clean their own house, but not plumbing or electrics.
Thats why.

I don't get it either. It's just a service like anything else -how is it different to paying someone to do anything of the following:

Paint your house
Mow your lawn
Cut your hair
Cook your pizza/kebab
Wash your windows

Etc etc...

It's just a service!

This. Plus obviously anyone with a cleaner is lazy and likes to waste money 🤷‍♀️

I know how to clean, I have no idea how to plumb or plaster. Not sure why you think these things are the same 🙃there's nothing wrong with getting a cleaner though. Lots of people earn a good living out of it.