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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

What are your thoughts on having a cleaner?

51 replies

mads1 · 23/02/2007 11:32

I have had a cleaner since dd was born (22 months ago). Until I had dd I always cleaned my house top to bottom and I feel it was always spotless. I was even cleaning windows and power washing my driveway when I was 1 week overdue.

However, I started having a cleaner cos i had a c sec and I do suffer from slight back problems.

I do however feel less of a SAHM because of this. I feel i should be cooking, cleaning, playing etc... I literally feel guilty for not cleaning my own house. I do keep it tidy and obviously clean up after play, cooking, baths etc. But when I hear other Mums saying that they clean on such and such a day and vacuum every day etc I feel embarrassed.

does anyone else feel guilty?

OP posts:

rookiemum · 23/02/2007 20:20

Massive vote of YES for a cleaner.

She is a godsend since I have been back at work and we are going to get her to do more hours so she can do the ironing as well, woo hoo.

We have ours through an agency, yes its more expensive but means we don't need to worry about making sure she is getting the right tax stuff and if she is sick then they organise a replacement, however normally we get the same lady every week.

Oh and we also had her when I was off on maternity leave. I was going to cancel but wise old DH who knows how much I hate cleaning said we should keep her. Its worth it just to get that once a week lovely clean house effect.

VoodooChickenhead · 23/02/2007 20:24

lucky dog if you can afford it

mm22bys · 24/02/2007 19:58

I am a SAHM and we have a cleaner. She comes for about 3 hours a week, and it is lovely having the house clean for a couple of hours once a week! She does the bathroom, floors, and whatever else needs doing, including DHs shirts. I spend a fair amount of time cleaning up for her on Wednesdays for when she comes on a Thursday... yes cleaning for the cleaning lady!

I seem to spend a couple of hours on the other days trying to keep the house tidy, but don't have much concentrated time to "deepclean".

I used to feel guilty about it, but not anymore - life is too short (besides I'd rather spend my clleaning time on MN!)

BarbieLovesKen · 24/02/2007 20:21

Oh my God, are you serious? .. im going to absolutely burst with envy I work full time, take care of dd (well obviously!) and clean and take care of the house and I too have slight back problems since having dd (16 months). I suppose the thought has never crossed my mind to have a cleaner... (Id probably be like mm - cleaning before the cleaner comes in) anyway... guilt? for Gods sake, lap it up!!!! - well for you though...

chocolatekimmy · 24/02/2007 22:21

Sorry I didn't post earlier, the butler is off tonight, the cook finished an hour ago, the maid is busy cleaning the bathroom, the gardener can't type (the pa is doing my e-mails), the chauffer is collecting the kids and my lady in waiting is running my bath and turning the bed down for me!

Seriously, no you shouldn't feel guilty. I have a cleaner for 4 hours on a Friday each week and I often feel I have to justify it (chronic back pain and 3 kids - there I'm doing it again!). I have made big cutbacks on shopping and takeaways are about once a month instead of once a week.

Having a blitz still means I have to keep tidy every day and iron, cook and hoover most days. I also use 'spare' time to keep on top of paperwork and spring clean jobs like cleaning the oven and sorting out cupboards etc

FluffyMummy123 · 24/02/2007 22:22

Message withdrawn

Rumpel · 24/02/2007 22:26

I had a cleaner when I had 2 jobs and no time. It was fab to come home to a clean house and it freed up time to enjoy other stuff. I admit when my hours changed and I used to be here when she was here, I would go to the gym as I felt a bit weird about being in when she was cleaning - but we do have a small house. She died last year and I always think about her now when I am cleaning the cooker brackets, I hate that job and she was really good at it.

If you can afford it enjoy it and pat yourself on the back for creating a green economy, you are helping someone else to pay their bills.

Twinklemegan · 24/02/2007 22:27

Couldn't have put it better myself (might have spelled it better mind you )

pinkslippers · 24/02/2007 22:27

Wish i could afford one.

FluffyMummy123 · 24/02/2007 22:28

Message withdrawn

Twinklemegan · 24/02/2007 22:29

We need lazy () wealthy mums so energetic not-so-wealthy mums can get some extra cash.

Rumpel · 24/02/2007 22:30

R u computer dyslexic? I am sometimes.

Lubielou · 24/02/2007 22:32

Why do we mums beat ourselves up so much?! I have 2 kids and work 3 days a week. My house is a tip most of the time. I hate housework and on my days off work would rather spend my time playing with my kids. When my kids are both at school and I get a minute to myself maybe then I'll consider "deep cleaning" the house... but til then I'm saving up for a cleaner!! {smile}

Lubielou · 24/02/2007 22:34

p.s. What the heck are cooker brackets??!!

Rumpel · 24/02/2007 22:46

Don't know their 'technical' name. Those metal things on the top of a gas cooker that hold your pots above the flames. There are 2 of them and you need to lift them off to clean them.

Pavlovthecat · 24/02/2007 22:49

if you are paying a decent wage and not expecting the bins to be emptied or DH/DP morning 'time-out' debris cleaned from the toilet then I would say go for it, abso - bloody - lutely.

Original poster

mads1 · 25/02/2007 19:56

Wow! didn't expect to get so many responses.

Thank you all. I will take your advice and appreciate how lucky I am. {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you all.

OP posts:

Skyler · 25/02/2007 20:01

Only read the OP. We had a cleaner when I just had one child and we lived overseas and it was the best money we spent. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY. ENJOY!!!! We now live in the UK and with two children I can't afford one. I spend time putting dd1 in front of CBeebies in order to clean the bathrooms while dd2 sleeps . I wish I had the time I had when I had a cleaner. Money very well spent IMO.

sheffmummy · 27/02/2007 17:15

I'd love a cleaner! ds is almost 4 months now , I seem to spend too much of my day doing housework...much more fun playing with ds! How did you find one? The commercial companies seem an expensive way around and we dont really know many people here to ask for a personal recommendation..plus I feel guilty like I'm being a lazy mummy!!
Thanks

Original poster

mads1 · 27/02/2007 22:23

sheffmummy
This is exactly what I was feeling (being a lazy Mummy) until fellow MNetters put me right!

I found my cleaner through word of mouth.
Have you tried local newspapers? there might be one in the ads?
Good luck

OP posts:

WideWebWitch · 27/02/2007 22:24

Nope, don't feel guilty and neither should you.

paulaplumpbottom · 27/02/2007 22:29

I wouldn't be without my cleaner. I still have to do housework but she helps me keep on top of things.

notnigella · 27/02/2007 22:32

hi, i am looking for a cleaner at the moment, and believe it or not can't get one! i wanted to get one from an agency cos i thought that would be better for insurance etc if i'm not around so that i can have a key. have tried 4 agencies, who say they dont have a cleaner in my area - near haslemere, in case anyone knows of one!

Original poster

mads1 · 27/02/2007 22:55

Good luck notnigella

OP posts:

ricepudding · 28/02/2007 14:09

Don't feel guilty! I'm at home at the moment too, but I love having someone give the house a really good going over once a week, and I've had the same person for years and she is really nice. I do some general tidying and cleaning, but it's fab to have someone who'll do the oven etc, why would you want to do that if you didn't have to?

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