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 am a cleaner, and while anyone can clean ,I like to think I do it well and it is a skill! I clean private homes which i enjoy and also commercial cleaning which can actually be hard!

You clean a room a day for an hour? What in god's name are you doing for an hour? Unless you live in a stately home and each room only gets cleaned once every 100 days, then this is way, way over the top.

All I can say is you must be incredibly privileged and live in an almighty echo chamber if you cannot fathom why paying someone weekly to clean your home is a luxury…

If you have a day off then it is easy to do. Not if you work full time. I understand though that some people even though they work full time can’t afford it. But I think what OP was trying to highlight is that there is a lot of judgement towards people when they employ a cleaner and not so much when people order takeaways or spend money on nails etc. I am up at 5.30 am, so I can exercise daily, then get kids ready, give them bf get myself ready and then get to work. Back in the evenings to give them a shower, sort dinner, iron uniforms, pack lunches etc. By the time I get to relax it is atleast 9pm and I am falling asleep. I do basic cleaning daily like kitchen counters, sweeping and mopping kitchen and entrance hallway etc. Weekends are packed with kids activities, and food prep. I honestly don’t have time to do any in depth cleaning unless I give up my own time. Since I can afford it, I prioritise my health and well being. All meals are cooked from scratch and I rarely order takeaways.I am definitely not lazy!

I also have a cleaner, she comes once a week. I think it’s obvious to be honest, when you can’t afford something or it’s out of your reach you put it down, which is what all these mumsnetters are doing. As a poster said, they could clean their cars, or also wipe down their windows and not do online shopping as they can go to the shops…. The list goes on and so do does people's jealousy !

Totally agree with your reasons for having a cleaner and with full time hours, would consider it too (so can prioritise kids/getting outdoors at the weekend).

It is still a luxury though and OP’s life (as described in thread), is very different to yours. She doesn’t need a cleaner, so it is very much a luxury.

But if it’s out of people’s reach it’s a luxury! I think that’s the point. Nothing wrong with having a cleaner at all? But keys acknowledge it’s a luxury and out of many peoples reach.

Only wealthy people have cleaners

That's not true at all. I'm not wealthy and have a cleaner. I'm a cleaner myself and can't face cleaning my own house when I've been cleaning all day. My cleaner earns more than me -mainly because she works longer hours and does end of tenancy cleans etc.

MN is not representative of real life. It is heavily weighted towards very high earners and wealthy people (at least it seems to be if you read the £ threads).
I know a few people with a cleaner, they are definitely earning more than most.

Why? In our neighborhood the going rate for cleaning is £18ph. Why would a cleaner do it for less?

I don’t think it’s comparable to having a window cleaner. Most people don’t have ladders or poles to reach upstairs windows safely.

I think it's just very different lives. O don't have a cleaner, but don't see it as a luxury.

I don't see going on holiday to the Carribean or Asia as a luxury, but I'm well aware that many cannot afford this.

I'm able to do grocery shopping without a budget. I just buy what I need, but I've seen people have to leave things at the till when it goes over a certain amount.

Come off it. That's simply not true. If what you're getting at is that anyone who can afford to have one is relatively wealthy, I'd agree with you in so far as they're obviously not living hand to mouth, but there are plenty of us, myself included, who are far from wealthy (work p/t due to health limitations, in a field that's renowned for not paying generously) but go without other things to afford a cleaner because they either need to (like me, due to the aforementioned health issues) or consider it worth sacrificing other things for.

I do accept I'm fortunate to be in work that pays enough for me to do so, but if that were not the case I'd have to drastically lower my standards housework-wise, by which I mean that my physical limitations mean that I wouldn't be able to just switch to doing it all myself. A lot of us are in that situation.

Are you still at it!? Go away!

Fuck me I love Mumsnet sometimes. I’ve seen it all now!
“I don’t see a luxury holiday as a luxury”
🤣

Having a cleaner is expensive

A cleaner can be expensive, but it’s relative to your outgoings. If you choose to spend your hard-earned cash on a cleaner so you have more time for other things, I’m all for it.

Surely it depends where that poster lives?

All those things you mention are luxuries. Just because they're normal for you doesn't stop them being a luxury.

A luxury is something extra on top of essentials. That's literally the definition:

A luxury is a possession, service, or experience that provides great comfort, pleasure, or elegance but is not considered a necessity for daily life.

These things aren't necessary for you to live but they make your life nicer. Luxuries.

You can’t really expect people to go away when you start an absolutely stupid argument, get told you’re wrong over and over again and refuse to acknowledge their reasoning.

are you Lady C? That’s who you remind me of with all the bull sh xoming out of you

I stick to a rough budget when grocery shopping, but I've never left anything at the till. I'm pretty good at sticking to my list and not being tempted by extras, although I do include treats in the list.

A holiday is a holiday, regardless of where you live...