To hire a cleaner as a single woman?

[Silentfriend]

I’ve been thinking about hiring a cleaner to come in once a week, but I’m single and live alone in a small space, so part of me feels like I should be able to handle it all myself. However, between work and other commitments, I just don’t have the energy to keep everything spotless.

AIBU to hire a cleaner even though it’s just me, or is that a bit much for someone who doesn’t have a big family or house to manage?

Voted YABU as I think you're being a bit ridiculous.

Can anyone imagine a single man tying himself in knots about hiring a cleaner? No.

You don't have the time to do a full clean yourself. Presumably, you can afford to outsource this job. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Making things easy and manageable isn’t solely for parents and couples. Get a cleaner!!

The only barrier to getting a cleaner is cost, not any notion of deservedness.

If you want a cleaner, hire one

My brother has had a cleaner for many years, he lives alone with 2 doggies and she comes each week to clean - never seen any reason why he shouldn't too, works long hours and has a busy social life..... and hates cleaning! Go for it

if you can afford it and it will improve your quality of life, do it. Also, you are giving someone a job, which can only be a good thing.

I'm a single woman with a cleaner. I think being single almost gives you more reason, although there's no one else to make mess, there's also no one else to help clean up! I sometimes think the cleaner must judge me for not cleaning my own house, but at the end of the day if I cleaned the house she wouldn't have a job

Why on earth not. I have done in the past and will do again.
To give you an example, some years ago I was working in Dublin. Flew out on a Sunday afternoon/early evening, returned a week the following Friday. My priorities were washing, ironing and cutting the grass, which could only be done on the Saturday. At least knowing the house was clean took a load off my mind.

Why wouldn’t you if you want to and can afford it? It’s not like you gain any virtue points by doing it yourself, or lose them by hiring a cleaner.

I’ve always had a cleaner - my hiring one has never had anything to do with my marital status (and everything to do with the fact I don’t want to do it myself).

Find someone good and you will never regret it.

As a single person household, with no pets, anytime I asked was it ok to have a cleaner in those circumstances,, my lovely cleaner would tell me what a good gig it was to get a job in a house which was always pretty tidy and just needed to be cleaned.

She even said it was a joy to transform the space and leave it gleaming.

Honestly, it's always a joy to come home when the lovely cleaner has been and all is gleaming. Enjoy.

I live on my own and have a cleaner. It's no one else's business.

Oh. and DH is fully aware that if it came down to a choice between him and the cleaner, he would be out in a trice. He hated the idea of someone in his space and now would not be without her

Do whatever you want and don't worry about the opinions of other people. If you can afford it, go for it.
I am a sahm and I have a PT nanny. Do you think I care about what other people think?

Get a cleaner! Why wouldn't you? My mum used to go on at me when DH lived in a 1 bed flat and had a cleaner. I have no interest in cleaning so I'll pay someone to do it for me thanks mum.

We have a cleaner for the 2 of us, honestly the hardest part is finding someone good who sticks around. Mostly they get bored and go into something else after a year, or if you hire through the agency they tell you they turned up when they didn't after the point they get bored.

Quotes vary a lot so get a few - we've had them quote from £15/hr to £100/hr (obviously disguised so it didn't look like that).

Also some cleaners are just generally rubbish.

But yes definitely get one, just be prepared that they will likely quit after a while.

I have always had a cleaner since meeting DH - it’s something I would prioritise over other expenses. Ie I’d rather have a cleaner than a meal out or few bottles of wine etc.

Basically if you can afford it you don’t need to justify it.

Absolutely - I find the hardest part finding a cleaner who… cleans! I have had so many that sort of move stuff around. One left crumbs on the hob and paw prints by the back door. No idea what she did do. I find they get new jobs with more hours (like care work or hotel cleaning) after 6m-1 year, become less reliable and once one even ghosted me and around 7 other clients I’d referred her to!

There’s loads of crap cleaners. V few good ones. I have an excellent cleaner now. She cleans, changes beds, irons. She has never left me down and sends a helper if she’s away.

I'm an old time MNetter and this sort of thread is a blast from the past! 🤣

Oddly, they were like buses when I first joined MN.

As always, it's a case of your money, your choice.

If everyone here said 'No, don't get one', you'd do what you want anyway, surely? 🤷‍♂️

I get an annual deep clean. 3 people for two hours. Everything is left spotless making it easy to keep on top of.

Dooo iiiiit. You'll never regret it. I bloody love my cleaner - who cares how many people live in the house!

Of course there's no reason a single person shouldn't spend their money on whatever they want including domestic help. And obviously it's completely irrelevant that you're a woman.

I agree with this.

Also, this all comes under the idea of seeing cleaning as “women’s work”. A man living alone wouldn’t think twice about getting a cleaner.

You should feel able to pay for any services you can afford!

if you want one and can afford why on earth not

Your money, your time, you’re free to spend both as you best decide! Doesn’t matter what others think so long as nobodies getting hurt!

Haha! Before I met my fiancé I was a single mum of 2 living in a 4 bedroom house and I hated the idea of hiring a cleaner because I thought hang on I should be able to do this myself even around my 2 children alone, even around my job and no support system!

Guess what? I was being ridiculous 😂

Do whatever you can to make your life easier and make you happy.