To get a cleaner?

[CynicalSunni]

I am a stay at home mum and find the cleaning impossible to stay on top of.

I only seem able to get the downstairs done. Living room, kitchen and WC.
But seeing as those are the main rooms used they are a state again by the evening 😓.

i never seem to get upstairs, and if I do its a quick once over. There is so much sorting to do. We moved in while I was pregnant so we were unpacking, buying baby stuff and getting that sorted all at the same time. Which we didnt so we have a couple of boxes of things just sitting. And now the baby has grown out of things it needs more sorting!

Baby is just over a year now. We could get a cleaner but is that just lazy? It means we wouldnt be spending our weekends cleaning and actually spend time together.

Can you afford a cleaner? Do you want one? Those are the only things to consider. What anyone else thinks is not important

If you can afford it, do it. We got one who comes in once a week for a couple of hours and it’s transformed our weekends.

I think we could once a week of at least fortnightly.
Youre right doesnt matter what other people think and it would be nice to know the bathroom was having a proper clean

We have a cleaner every 4 weeks. Images me tidy up which is great.
Get a cleaner.

How much do they get done in 2 hours?
We want to get out of the house at the weekends but atm we so spend so much time just sorting things out .

The child is a whirlwind through the house 🤣

There is nothing wrong with getting a cleaner and there's no need to feel guilty about it.

That said, if you're saying that your downstairs is messy after 1 day I'm thinking possibly you either have quite high standards, or far too much clutter (although no judgement from me...I am guilty of the latter). And I'm not sure a weekly cleaner really helps with that?

You could trial a cleaner...I've had one in the past and it was great. The other thing you could try if you dont want to spend money is The Organised Mum Method. I can't remember exact details but the woman behind it has a website, I believe. You focus on one room per day rather than all the hoovering at once (for example). So you do half an hour only per weekday as follows...

Monday - living room
Tuesday - bedrooms
Wednesday- hall, stairs and landing
Thursday - Kitchen
Friday - one thing in depth (e.g. oven but you could do some box sorting).

You also do one wash load and one item in your bathroom per weekday rather than doing the whole thing at once.

Then nothing at weekends. Although while you need to declutter you could do that. You don't need to follow religiously but the general principles work quite well for me.

Op. Is the issue cleaning or tidying. As cleaners clean, not tidy and you will need to tidy up for them to clean, and it sounds like it’s tidyness which is the issue if it’s a state in the course of a day

Youre right about the clutter!
But we have cut down on that and its getting better. Its more the playpen is in the sitting room and the toys are flung everywhere.
I would say the kitchen needs done everyday. The baby loves throwing food from the highchair and she has quite a range 🫣. She basically likes throwing things.
So breakfast, lunch and dinner i need to sweep and mop. Otherwise it is tracked into the living room cause its open plan.

I advertised for a home help instead so that I had someone who helped with laundry and tidying as well as cleaning

Op, it depends what a financial stretch it will be. The alternative is to just lower your standards for a while, they are only tiny for a little bit and then it gets much easier.

But no, you aren't being unreasonable, at that age you are at home to look after the child

Well its mainly cleaning the bathrooms.
I never seem able to get them done.
I need to declutter and they are always left to last. Be a load off mind if they were done and I could get the rest of the decluttering done.

I am hoping once the baby is a little older i wont have to change her stuff so often.

Why do you have to justify getting a cleaner? I don't see the problem.

What's lazy about it, you're prioritising your precious time. Why would you waste your time cleaning when it could be spent doing better things with your family.

If you have the money and the cash go for it.

I like to guilt myself haha
I used to work full time and paid for myself etc. So i still find it weird to not pay with my own money if you know what i mean. I think i do stress myself out over it at times.

Best thing I ever did.

She comes once a week for two hours.

Best thing about a playpen is chucking all the toys in it at the end of the day.
Out of the way but ready for next time.
We also used to put a towel under the highchair and shook it outside then you just sweep and mop at the end of the day.
If you think a cleaner will help then get one. You could do a trial as a pp suggested.

Don't even think it over, get a cleaner, can you ask on local groups for some recommendations? Would you benefit for a one off deep clean of your bathrooms and kitchen? and then get a general clean either once a week or fortnight whatever suits you. Don't underestimate cleaners being in for 2 hours, experienced cleaners will whirlwind round your home as if with a magic wand. It's amazing, I love it. Mine leave little touches such as wee flowers with my tea towels and loo rolls too. It's bliss. I love a Tuesday haha.

Omg why didnt i think of the towel idea?😅
You may have just saved me some time.
I love you