Housekeeping support?

[SLG78]

I’m a mum of 2, working 4 days a week in a job that has suddenly become much more demanding following a change of role.

I’m struggling to keep the household running, and would like to find some housekeeping support to lift the load a little. I’m hoping for around 1h per day 5-6 days per week.

does anyone have any tips for where to start my search or any useful questions to ask?

Not many people will travel to do one hours work, so you're looking at someone local only really. Try a local Facebook group and put an advert on there.

You'll probably be paying a premium for just an hour at a time. Would you consider 3x 2h instead?

I have someone daily and she's incredible, but it was a struggle to even find her (advertised locally on FB because couldn't find someone suitable through an agency) and there's no way she'd do 1h a day, nor would the other people who applied.

cant see many people doing an hours work a day. Three hours twice or even two hours three times. Have to be someone local even then I think.

Think of it from the cleaner’s POV — would you feel it was worth your while to travel somewhere to do a single hour’s work every day?

Your best bet would be to contact neighbours and see if anyone has a regular cleaner looking for more hours because she’s generally in your neighbourhood. Even then, my experience is that a cleaner is likely to want a minimum of a two-hour block because moving between houses is unpaid and time-consuming. (Our cleaner lives a good way away, but all her cleaning jobs are in this area, so it works for her.)

Or advertise in a local newsagent or via a neighbourhood WhatsApp, explaining what you want. You might find someone whom it might suit in combination with other PT work.

Do any of your neighbours/local friends have someone they use that you could ask? I have a cleaner for 2 hours once a month which works for her because she visits my neighbours on the same day

3 hours twice a week would make more sense. They could change bedding, wash it and get into the tumbler drier to press start and the same with bedding on the other slot. Be in recieve and put away the food shop.

Do 3hrs twice a week and ask cleaning companies if they have a housekeeping service. They do this around where I live and it’s £20p/h.

How old are your kids? A nanny/housekeeper might be an economic choice too depending on your childcare needs.

New to mums net - wasn’t sure where to post it to be seen. Thanks for the thoughts

I’ve thought about timings and considered this already. The laundry and kitchen clean up occur daily though :) as I work from home they lurk at me 🙄

our cleaning service don’t do housekeeping but I’ll ask around! Good idea, thanks :)

a neighbour is looking for the same - so it’s definitely in the mix. Great thinking, thanks!

Yes, was hoping for someone local. Thanks for the idea!

How about a local sixth former or early years student to play with children supervise homework etc while you can get other things done.

How long does your person do? What kind of tasks? I’ve written my list but not sure things would take more than an hour…

I’d prefer to play with my kids and supervise their homework any pay someone to do the housework 😀

3 x 2 hours

or

2 x 3 hours

1 hour is pointless, just put your own plates in the dishwasher and make your own beds each day!

Are you a single parent? Just wondering, because if there’s another adult living there they should be pulling their weight.

Are you the only adult in the home?

Have you thought about getting an au pair? I had one when my daughter was little and i went back to work full time. This was 10 years ago but they are still out there and available. You need to have a spare room is the only thing.

How about an au pair?

It may be easier to find someone who can work the day doing a full clean, washing and ironing for you rather than 1 hour per day. If perhaps post on your local Facebook hroio and ask for recommendations

What do you mean by ‘housekeeping’ as distinct from cleaning, though?

I see them as different. Cleaning is dusting, hoovering floor washing etc. Housekeeping is washing, ironing, washing up, loading dishwasher etc. Two different things. It's why you 'tidy' before a cleaner comes as its not normally in their remit to pick your child's knickers up off the floor (in my case!!)

I agree, although sometimes it’s easier to get help in than have a constant mental load of picking up the other half that hasn’t been done along with the annoyance of it not being done. In addition, we both have busy and mentally taxing jobs. It’s ok for us to take a break at home.

Exactly!