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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

Housekeeper an hour a day

42 replies

goldpendant · 25/04/2021 11:57

Do you think I'd be likely to find someone to come to the house and do a tidy up/wipe down every morning after the school run? Maybe someone already doing a childminder school drop job?

We are lucky that we can drop our own kids but then straight into a full work day.

I'd like someone Mon-Fri to;

Clear away breakfast
Clear away anything kids have had out
Pick up kids rooms/make beds (they are little)
Put a wash/dry on
Put any laundry away.

£12/13 an hour?

Do people do this?

OP posts:

Confusedandshaken · 25/04/2021 18:22

I think you might be able get someone to come in for an hour a day to clean (although a lot of cleaners specify a minimum 2 hour booking) but the tidying up and putting away would be difficult. How would they know where things belonged? How would they know which clothes belonged in which bedroom or wardrobe? I think any time advantage gained from them doing this would be offset by spending time searching for things not being put where they belong.

Cynderella · 25/04/2021 18:49

Maybe the sort of thing a 16-18 year old might be happy to do after school/college?

Dimsummummy · 25/04/2021 18:54

I’m a self Employed cleaner, on the face of it I would (couldn’t as too full) I usually have 2 hours minimum but that’s to offset travel cost/time, so if you were extremely local I would as the weekly income would be worth it.
It’s worth asking an independent cleaner (agencies I’d guess would be more firm on minimum hours). I also do jobs where tidying is as much of my workload as cleaning is. Hth.

Original poster

goldpendant · 25/04/2021 23:36

Thanks for the replies, we have a weekly cleaner already, who I spend at least an hour tidying for ever Thursday morning!

I thought it might work for someone doing a local school run - clothes and toys fairly self explanatory - it's me, DH, DS and DD. The kitchen is straightforward.

I might put and ad on the local neighbourhood WhatsApp and see if anyone bites. I'd have thought the additional weekly income might make it appealing for someone local.

OP posts:

Alpines · 25/04/2021 23:38

Do you have space for an au pair? That might work nicely.

Original poster

goldpendant · 25/04/2021 23:43

Sadly not, house is full (elderly mum currently with us too!)

OP posts:

dontblameme · 26/04/2021 00:01

I do this but also walk their dog and pick up the kids from school so it makes it worth it. £12 an hour. I'd do yours if you were very local.

Pancakeorcrepe · 26/04/2021 10:04

How little are the kids?
I think it's important for them to learn to put away their stuff and get organised from when they are very young. If they come to magically tidied up bedrooms, beds made and all their toys put away, this will not be conducive to them learning to get generally organised. They should be putting away what they take out, and as they grow older, they should be able to help with clearing the breakfast stuff.

SnowdaySewday · 26/04/2021 11:04

@Pancakeorcrepe

How little are the kids? I think it's important for them to learn to put away their stuff and get organised from when they are very young. If they come to magically tidied up bedrooms, beds made and all their toys put away, this will not be conducive to them learning to get generally organised. They should be putting away what they take out, and as they grow older, they should be able to help with clearing the breakfast stuff.

This.

The laundry I can understand, but you're not doing your children any favours in teaching them to make whatever mess they like and not tidy up. If they have time before school to be getting things out to play with then they have time to make their beds and help tidy up the breakfast things.

Viviennemary · 26/04/2021 12:30

I think it would suit somebody living nearby. Especially if you offered a big more. Say £15 an hour.

Original poster

goldpendant · 26/04/2021 17:22

Thanks, the kids tidy up their rooms twice a week, once before the cleaner, once on a Sunday. Sadly it's not enough, the youngest is 5 and she tears through her toys in blissful play, I don't want to stem that just yet by always nagging her to keep it spotless!

Definitely this is for my own sanity, I can't work in a messy environment (still wfh) so need a clear space/clear mind.

I'll look on local boards, thanks everyone

OP posts:

Pancakeorcrepe · 26/04/2021 20:08

OP you sound like a lovely mum
I must say however that the youngest being five, then my comment definitely stands. I thought they would be toddlers or very young children.It’s not about nagging them to keep things spotless but teaching them to look after their stuff and after their environment. If you don’t do that now, it’ll be much harder later. I hope you find someone to help you on the local boards.

BackforGood · 26/04/2021 20:19

I think this would be quite appealing to quite a few SAHP if you were local to the school they'd dropped their dc at.
Or even potentially a retiree.
£60 per week for a job with no travel time nor expenses is quite appealing.
Or, if it didn't need to be done first thing in the morning, then a 6th former or student might also be interested. I do get that you want the house straight first thing though.

My ds had a cleaning job after school when he was in Yr12. It was in a shop, that he passed on the way home anyway. It was 'until the job was done' and he could normally do it in about 50 mins. It was an ideal job. Not the most glamorous of jobs, but her realised his mistake when tempted in to what he thought would be a nicer job (customer facing) in Yr13, and then found they'd give him 4 hours shifts, but he was actually out the house 6 hours due to traveling to the City Centre, and about 1 and 1/2 hours wages went on his train fair..... so he was then spending 6 hours for 2 and 1/2 hour pay......
Sometimes, you have to work these things out for yourself, but I bet there would be quite a few people that would think that would be a great job.

Invisimamma · 26/04/2021 20:41

Why don't you do it before you take the dc to school? Make sure everyone is ready half an hour before you need to leave, let dc watch TV and whizz round and clear up breakfast, hang the laundry and clear toys. Then you're coming back to a clear house ready to start work.

Gottalovesummer · 26/04/2021 20:45

I am a childminder and have 2 late starts a week. I'd definitely do it! I love tidying up etc.

I think you'll find someone easily for this.

Original poster

goldpendant · 26/04/2021 20:48

Oh @Invisimamma if only I'd have thought of that!

I'm being sarcastic, but obviously for us that approach doesn't work. Mornings are when we do the kids reading, one attends extra catch up early mornings twice a week, etc etc. I don't want to wake up any earlier!

OP posts:

FraterculaArctica · 26/04/2021 20:51

OP gosh I so feel the same! We can't even get a cleaner because we can't keep the house tidy enough. All those saying "teach your kids to do it" - well what if they simply refuse? Ours are 4 and 7 (and 1) and we spend our lives threatening to take their toys away which they just ignore. I am really interested to know if you find someone to do this!

UhtredRagnarson · 26/04/2021 20:58

I have a minimum of 2 hour visit but I might consider a 1 hour call for £15/hr if it fitted in with my schedule.

Invisimamma · 26/04/2021 21:00

Fair enough! If you can throw money at the problem then why not. Someone might be interested in the job but it probably needs a decent hourly rate to make it worthwhile, maybe £20.

It really only takes 15-20mins to load dishwasher, wipe surfaces and put on a load of laundry/lay it away. I agree with pp that by 5yr old dc could be taking responsibility for making their beds and tidying toys. Also they're old enough to be clearing the table and putting plates straight into the dishwasher.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 26/04/2021 21:01

I would love this and this is my dream..
More practically though - I had major surgery when my husband had just started a new senior job (not ideal at all) and he couldn't take time off.
Once I was discharged I found someone who did exactly as you describe and used to make me a tea and a sandwich (I wasn't able to walk). It was bliss.
Local forum/ school mum who worked weekends

Sleepingdogs12 · 26/04/2021 21:18

Why are people suggesting different ways of doing things and not answering the op's question? I am sure she has thought of lots of ideas and come up with this one as it suits their family. I would love a housekeeper and it isn't that long ago that people with busy working lives employed housekeepers or had a wife at home to do the housework. I am annoyed on the ops behalf .

fruitpastille · 26/04/2021 21:21

Could you drop the kids a bit early every day if there is before school club? You say you go early for catch up sessions anyway Then do it when you get back before you start working from home.

Personally I/kids do these jobs before leaving for school/ work and wouldn't pay £60 a week for someone else to do it but each to their own.

fruitpastille · 26/04/2021 21:23

I guess people are making alternative suggestions because they think it would be tricky to find someone who would fulfil the role described.

Twickerhun · 26/04/2021 21:28

I don’t think you would need to pay £15 or £29 an hour for that kind of work. It might fit with someone who was already a cleaner/ pet sitter kinda person. It might take a search but that could well be an ideal job for someone and it’s not as physically hard as cleaning etc.

absolutelyknackeredcow · 26/04/2021 21:29

Depends where you live but in London would be easy to find this type of person.
No reason to feel guilty OP - if you can afford it and it would help you and your family go for it

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