Considering a cleaner

[ExcitingTimes2021]

Hi everyone,

Iv just had a baby. She is only 4 weeks old but my god she is demanding. I love her but find I’m pinned to the couch for most of the day either feeding or getting her to nap. I maybe get an hour to two which I have to prioritise getting food and drinks prepared, washing clothes/bedding and having a shower.
Partner was off work for paternity leave and he did all the cleaning and food prep while on his leave. But now he is back and the house work building up is already getting to me. I’m considering looking into getting a cleaner to do hoovering, sweeping and mopping, dusting surfaces, and wiping cupboards doors down, maybe the bathroom aswell. Does this sound like a reasonable amount of work or is there too much or anything missed off? We aren’t wealthy by any stretch of the imagination so don’t want hours and hours of cleaning a week as I just couldn’t justify it. But to get the basics done properly once a week would be worth the investment. Any thoughts? Thanks x

Definitely do it! It will make you so much happier and relaxed.

Best money I spend each month.

Do it! Once a week for 2 hours seems to be my sweet spot.

It’s so lovely the only thing to be done is picking up things and putting them away. See if you can get someone who also does bedding - best thing ever.

Sounds good! We have a cleaner a couple of hours a week and it really helps!

Does anyone mind sharing often they have their cleaner and a rough guide of how much it’s costs. I haven’t approached any cleaning agencies around me yet. But looks like it would be around £26-30 for two hours based on their website estimates. Would a professional cleaner be able to get the jobs I listed done in two hours or am I being unrealistic? X

We don't have a cleaner atm but when we did she:

Cleaned bath and tiled walls around bath, shower, sink and mopped bathroom floor (I didn't ask her to do loo).

Hoovered 3 x large bedrooms, upstairs landing and stairs.

Changed 1 set of childrens bedding (alternate weeks). I still did our bed, just preferred it that way.

Hoovered 2 x large reception rooms, downstairs hallway and dusted.

Cleaned gas hob, outside of built in-oven, back of kitchen countertops and appliances like kettle and toaster that escaped the regular daily clean by us, wiped sticky marks off fridge and cupboard doors. Mopped kitchen floor. If she had any time left I would ask her to clean out a cupboard or drawer.

3 hours, £40.

Hoovered

I'm in Ireland so prices may be different. My cleaner wanted €42 for 3 hours. We give her €50 because she is a lifesaver.
She cleans one bathroom, 2 bedrooms (will change bed sheets etc), one living room, the kitchen in that time including vacuum & mopping all those floors (wooden). Most weeks (depending on how bad things are when she gets here...) she also has time for one other task. She just does these, I don't ask. Last week she folded and put away a load of washing I'd piled on the couch. The week before that she cleaned out some of the kitchen cupboards. She is really invaluable and it's the best money I spend.

We have a cleaner for 4 hours per week, and it’s £15.50 per hour to an agency.

I'd go for a recommendation from a friend or colleague. Two hours once a week sounds ok. Check they have public liability insurance and if they provide all the equipment. £15 an hour is about right.

Yes. I’m going to get some quotes/recommendations. Partner doesn’t think we need it but think he will change his mind when on his days off this little tiny bit of me/us time we get will be spent catching up with house work! X

Don’t let him put you off getting one.

2 hours per week at £10 per hour the best £80 we spend in a month in my opinion, I've given up things like my commute Costa coffee to pay for her I get much more pleasure!

I only get the communal areas done so wooden floors all brushed/steam cleaned, kitchen surfaces and 2 bathrooms. That takes 2 hours and costs £15.
If possible I wouldn’t use an agency I would ask for local recommendations.
Yes, partners often don’t see the need until they are having to do it all!
We love having a cleaner, again, we aren’t rich but that is our treat!