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.

How can something be a luxury for some, and a necessity for others?

I view having a cleaner as an absolute essential for my mental health. My ‘lady who does’ comes once a week for 2 hours, she is wonderful. Don’t run away with the idea that the whole house gets cleaned in 2 hrs or that we don’t do additional cleaning, she concentrates on the bathrooms and floors then has half an hour to do a periodic deep clean of a small area, so on rotation that keeps most of it spic & span. Also, just having her makes all of us tidier, so the house is calm and nothing gets lost - a place for everything and everything in its place!

Just a question (not a criticism), what if muddy child then comes home from school, pees around the loo (boys!) and squirts shower gel everwhere (just an example). Doesn’t it feel like a waste of money? It just seems pointless to me to get a cleaner to do the things that pretty much need doing daily with kids. Our loos/sinks are done daily, deep clean once a week.

I can see the advantage of jobs that can easily get overlooked though - windows, oven etc.

A window cleaner would be a luxury to me, I do my own up and down stairs, and my partner washes the car.

Well personally I hate hoovering and mopping with a passion so it's worth it just for that. It's mostly cat fur as I clean localised messes as they occur.

So do I. That’s why we bought a wet and dry robot cleaner. It does the whole downstairs every day.

People who employ cleaners do not usually leave all the mess for their weekly clean.
My ex had a cleaner. He lived in a massive house but had massive work hours and commute to boot too. Of course, if he cooked a meal he would wipe the counters down and do the dishes etc. If he showered, he would use daily shower cleaning sprays etc. He would hoover etc.
The cleaners hoovered the nooks and crannies (he didn't). They gave the shower cubicle a proper deep clean.
A lot of people who have cleaners usually clean before they turn up 😂
DM has a cleaning company, and she hates cleaning clean places. She loves grubby places where you can make a difference.

It is a luxury and I would love one :) but more people are using and you can tell by the amount of new cleaner posts on fb .also more people work full time now due to need and so then need a cleaner to help out. You cant do everything

I get where you’re coming from, I think. Ultimately, as has been said, it’s rooted in misogyny unfortunately, how dare women outsource their women’s work!
I have a cleaner and am certainly not rich. I do, however, prioritise according to what makes my life easier and what makes me ‘happy’ (so to speak! Definitely happy to not have to clean so much!). So I don’t drink, or smoke, I rarely buy any new clothes (all second hand) etc, but I think a cleaner it’s important and so I budget accordingly. Of course I’m aware this isn’t an option for everyone, but no one should feel bad that it is for them, if that makes sense?

There seems to be an assumption, from.some pp that its an absolute neccessity to have a cleaner if both partners work ft, and it would be impossible to function, or live in a clean house without one....which is strange, because im sure lots of people do, and dont really think about it!

Youre contradicting yourself, you say in your OP you cant understand why people would see having a cleaner as a luxury. Then here, so what if it is a luxury... do you understand its a luxury or not?

"Comfortable" is relative, but comfortable whilst paying for regular domestic service is a regular, costly luxury. And i say this as someone of the opinion, if you want one and can afford it.. why not. Additionally most people are friends mostly with people of similar socioeconomic backgrounds so its likely your contemporaries would also be comfortable enough to afford a cleaner.

A guy to fix your boiler or toilet isnt the same at all its a (hopefully) irregular necessary expense that involves skilled experience and often certification to do the work (particularly if the boiler issue involves gas). You cant just repair your own boiler, you can just hoover your own carpet. Although i do think "do your own cleaning" is sometimes the response of people wishing they were lucky enough to have one.

A cleaner is an unnecessary expense that is relatively expensive. And i dont know how in a cost of living crisis you cant recognise that it is a luxury?

One which you absolutely should indulge if you can afford it and you like it

I fail to see how being a cleaner= being exploited. If they are good at the job word of mouth spreads and working full time they could probably be earning a good wad of wonga. Especially with wealthy clients who will pay good money for a decent cleaner.
But hey, this is mumsnet so I shouldn't really be surprised

Life's too short. Obviously, people can clean their own house if they choose, however a lot of professional people employ cleaners. Life is increasingly high pressure and busy.

Fair point that people do also clean with a cleaner - I would definitely be one of those who had to clean and tidy up for the cleaner 😂

To me, it makes sense to use a cleaner for the deep cleaning kind of stuff (if time doesn’t allow those things in the week) and its going to significantly impact your time off. I can’t see the point in a cleaner mopping a kitchen floor or running the hoover round downstairs as those jobs are multiple times a week, especially with kids.

Just an observation (reading a previous post) about a cleaner doing the basics etc, that surely it’s better to use a cleaner for the less frequent kind of jobs that you never get round to?

There is absolutely no point 'cleaning' for a cleaner. However, I do tidy up, because I don't want to the cleaner to waste time tidying.

I used to clean offices, and I used to get office workers report me for not taking their mugs to the kitchen etc. Tidying was not part of my job.

People don’t fix their own toilets or fix their own boilers because they’re not qualified to 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ I personally would not hire a cleaner especially for 2/3 hours a week as I think it’s pointless, when people could spend half hour a day and do their own cleaning, a little bit every day is all that’s required!

I do quite like the idea of a robot vac. Does it not scare your cat though? I feel like ADHD child would also do something bad with it like running experiments or try figure skating...

You will love a robot vac until your cat has the shits. Ask me how I know 😬

Sorry but it is definitely a luxury for us! Very rarely have take away because we have to chose our spends above the essentials carefully and a takeaway is not something I prioritise. We do spend money on other things that we enjoy, nothing wrong with that. But it’s important to recognise that is beyond essential. I would love a cleaner but I have to make a choice and I choose to spend it on other things . The fact that I can chose to spend it on something else means it’s a luxury I can mange without .

Hmm. I think a lot of people post on Mumsnet about having house cleaners as a bit of a status thing to impress other posters. Like cleaning is so low class, mind numbing and soul destroying.

As well as bragging about their children's after school clubs, Their salaries, cars, holidays and savings. Could also be made up bs of course.

Yes, l have arrived in Life Look at me.

Cleaning is a necessity and needs to be done.But would be e luxury to people who say they can barely get by.

This reminds me of my mum. She was a cleaner at a bank for years and the staff used to dump dirty cups and plates in the staff room sink full of manky water. The bins under their desks were half empty because they just chucked rubbish and most of it landed on the floor. It used really annoy my mum having to pick up after them.
They got a new bank manager and he was appalled. He read them the riot act and told them to clean up their mess in the staff room and all rubbish went in the bin not the floor. He did an inspection every day to make sure they obeyed. It made my mums job a lot easier 😀

OP I’ve definitely noticed on MN threads that there are people who seem to think doing your own cleaning is inherently virtuous and that it’s a sign of poor character not to.

We have a cleaner twice a week. Hard to say if it’s a luxury… I’m aware we are very privileged to be able to afford regular help. On the other hand I’m MUCH slower / worse at cleaning than our cleaner so it is efficient and frees up time for me to do my job well and (god forbid) relax. And there I go, justifying it, when I honestly agree with you that there is nothing wrong with it and no need to feel sheepish.

My husband has noticed my mood take a depressive turn when our cleaner is away, because I do find it a grind to keep on top of everything in amongst work and parenting (and getting the odd bit of exercise, or reading a book, or watching telly). I know people will judge me for that!

That was ridiculous of them. That is in no way the job of an office cleaner. I don't leave dishes for my housecleaner, either, although she will occasionally empty the dishwasher if it's been run and I haven't had time. That and laundry are the only 'tidying' type jobs I ask her to do.

My point was everyone decides how to spend their spare money that doesn't pay the essentials. I don't particularly like take aways. But the fact is that a weekly takeaway is not judged as having a cleaner every week. Even if it costs the same. I value my time at the weekend very much therefore I do choose to spend my spare money in someone else to help. There is always someone who will have more money than ourselves. It's the judgment.