To be confused as to why hiring a cleaner is seen as an indulgence?

[Gahr]

This is something that I see time and again on this site, and it is SO WEIRD. People seem to think that it is the height of luxury to have a housecleaner, and also seem to be strangely apologetic about it, offering disclaimers as to why they need one. Also, I've noticed that on threads when someone has a problem with their cleaning service, they will get several posts telling them to 'clean their own house'. Nobody would tell someone to 'service their own boiler' or 'fix their own toilet'! I don't understand it at all. I have a cleaner and I wouldn't be without her.

I have a cleaner because my shoulder is fucked and cleaning makes it worse and more painful. I pay my cleaner to clean for 2 hours twice a week because my house still needs cleaning but I'm not really able to do it now. She changes our bedding too. I have a gardener for a couple of hours each week to from early Spring to late Autumn because DH has a bad back after fracturing it in a bad car crash and arthritis in his knee so using the lawn mower causes him pain. We are using PIP money to pay for the services we can no longer do ourselves. If we were both in better health we would probably just do the jobs ourselves.

Did it not ever occur to you that some people can’t afford a cleaner? I can’t. Would love one but I need to eat. So to me, yes it is a luxury. HTH.

I do get that and don’t blame anyone with limited time choosing to use that time for a hobby they love.

I do think society is getting less physical and alot of people could do with moving their bodies alot more. Cleaning is a brilliant way to move your body plus the mental benefits of not living in a dirty/untidy home and just keeping on top of it.

As said all through the thread, I would get a cleaner if I was out 5 days of the week and couldn’t do it.

Kids are 5 and 9 years old. They make their own beds daily and tidy up their toys after playing. They also keep their toy/playroom neat. They empty their plates after eating and put it in the sink. I think that is sufficient for their ages. DH works 2 weekends a month and is a high earner, so gets a break after working for two weeks continuously in a stressful and busy job. He does not want to clean during his time off which I think is fair. He is quite happy for us to employ a cleaner as he knows when he is working I am picking up the slack in terms of ferrying the kids to activities like football, swimming, dance, gymnastics etc. So yes, I am looking at my own convenience and this works well for us. When I didn’t work I did the cleaning, now that I work I am happy to pay the cleaner so I can exercise, spend time with the kids, take kids for their activities, meal prep etc during the weekends.

Because it is. Not everybody has the spare money for a cleaner. I don’t see how that is even a question.

I don't see it as a luxury. For some, it is a necessity.

I know people on benefits who have a cleaner because they are unable to clean the house themselves.

But for the vast majority, it's not a necessity is it? They could clean the house themselves, they choose to outsource.

It's not a bad thing, but it absolutely isn't an essential thing for the majority of people.

i am pretty sure you have completely misunderstood my post @Jaffalemons

maybe take a second before firing off nonsense

Does it matter? Someone has a job because the cleaning is getting outsourced.

I dare you to express this “confusion” to your your cleaner @Gahr !!

I literally said it's not a bad thing.

However the question is whether it's a luxury or an "indulgence" as the OP phrased it. And it absolutely is for the vast majority of people. That's fine. No issues. Not a priority for me, but I have luxuries other people wouldn't prioritise.

But pretending that because some people are unable to clean for themselves it is therefore an essential thing for everyone, is strange.

Because most people can't afford a cleaner.

I have a cleaner every 2 weeks for 2 hours. I am a carer to two family members. She keeps on top of my home and it makes my life so much easier. She is genuinely my only proper help.

My cleaners other clients are an old lady pensioner who is in her 80’s and lives on her own, has no kids. My cleaner also does grocery shopping for this lady and sometimes takes her to doctors appts. She has been cleaning for her for many years. Her other client is a guy who lives on benefits, he is disabled and constantly on drugs, he is often late with his payments but he pays eventually, so she keeps going. He supposedly didn’t pay her on her last visit and said he owes his drug dealer £600 but was waiting for benefits to be paid out. Her other two clients other than myself are families with two working parents.

And she does pretty much everything aside from cooling and cleaning up afterwards in that time? Including most of the laundry?

Although I suppose just a couple. Do you wfh? Any pets? I have my cleaner once a week for 4 hours but that include laundry and I sure as heck clean the toilets, vacuum etc in between visits!

DM used to do domestic cleaning and I would go with her sometimes. Most of her clients were clean and tidy anyway, but on the whole, doctors were the worst.
We also used to do end of tenancy student cleans and you used to find some vile things hiding under beds (think old KFC, cups with cobwebs in, and used condoms).

Why do you need to know everything she does for me? Do you want her job?

Basically yes.

I don't have any problem with people employing cleaners but I think that they should realise they are lucky to be able to do so and that not everyone is in that position.

Where did I say or imply i wanted to know that detail

I was just asking if you or partner did anything beyond the 4 hours a week?

Please do update if you express the confusion to your cleaner!

I recognize you, you are that poster who posts goady nonsense. Knock it off. I will no longer respond to your ridiculous posts on my thread.

Alot of elderly people have cleaners and I can understand why. I dont know anyone with children still living at home who have a cleaner though because a family home needs cleaning constantly. Anyways, everyone spends their money on what they deem to be most important to them. No big deal.

Bloody hell that hit a nerve!!

You know full well you would never express your confusion about seeing her cleaning your house as a luxury to the cleaner herself

because you know your cleaner would think “twat”

I always think this when you read comments like ‘we have a cleaner for 2 hours every 2 weeks’. Completely pointless with kids, you would need several hours every week at least to get it to an acceptable level. Must be bare minimum cleaning if anyone has 2 hours every 2 weeks in which case, just do it yourself 🤷🏼‍♀️

But then people drive miles and pay to have their car hoovered out and the interior given a wipe down. Takes 15 mins to hoover out a car with 2 kids making plenty of muddy footprints in there 😅