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Original poster

Is a cleaner a waste for us?

24 replies

Fornique · 15/09/2023 08:12

I rent a one bedroom flat with dp in Central London. We both finish work at about 9pm on average. So by the weekend all we want to do is chill out.

I also really like a clean flat. Dp doesn’t notice the dirt/mess. So I often spend my Saturday mornings cleaning or an hour before bed. I’d rather not (obviously!).

We earn a decent wage for the UK, but not that amazing for London. Combined is about 115k. But in my head a cleaner is for someone earning big bucks and a house too big to do themselves. So I feel for us it would be profligate?

OP posts:
TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 15/09/2023 08:15

How much would it cost? How often would you need someone? Can you afford it? I am invariably Team Cleaner because I see it as a perfectly valid use of money. Size of house doesn’t matter - you are tired and work long hours, that’s enough reason!

alongtimeagoandfaraway · 15/09/2023 08:17

Nope, you can afford it, you’re giving work to someone else, it will improve your quality of life - go for it.
Also, the burden of cleaning currently falls on you as your partner doesn’t see the mess but still benefits from your work.. If you share the cost of a cleaner you both benefit which is much fairer.

Torganer · 15/09/2023 08:43

I’m also central London and pay £30 for 2hrs cleaning a week for a house (including changing the sheets on our bed). A one bed flat would be even cheaper - go for it! It’s been a complete life changer. We also have a robo vac so neither of us do any cleaning at all anymore. I really notice it if our cleaner is on holiday!!

mosiacmaker · 15/09/2023 08:44

Absolutely not too much for you, get a cleaner, get them to come mid week when you are at work and enjoy the luxury of a lovely clean house all weekend x

Hbh17 · 15/09/2023 08:45

Of course not! People on much lower salaries have cleaners - go for it. You both work hard - why should you spend precious time doing chores? If you're lucky, you might find someone who does laundry and ironing too.

DelurkingAJ · 15/09/2023 08:47

Absolutely not. When DH and I had our first jobs (combined about £40k…although many years ago and not in London) the first thing we did was hire a cleaner for our one bed flat. We could afford it so why not outsource something we both dislike doing?

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 15/09/2023 09:20

I've always had a cleaner apart from a few breaks when it hasn't worked out. DH and I work fulltime, earn less than you do, and you work longer hours. My mother always had a cleaner. Not at all wealthy, but recommended by her GP when she was alone at home with young children.

In a one-bed flat you wont need many hours so it shouldn't be so expensive. You'll probably need to tidy so the cleaner can get round - tidy up your own stuff before the cleaner arrives (and chuck all your DP's stuff into a binbag and then in a cupboard for him to sort out later if he wont tidy himself)

I would be doubtful about committing to live with someone who "doesn't notice dirt/mess". Does he really not notice them at all, or does he only not notice them when he might have to do something about them?

Twiglets1 · 15/09/2023 09:26

You don't have to get anyone's permission or validation - if you can afford a cleaner (yes) and it will be helpful (yes) then why not?

Teddleshon · 15/09/2023 09:28

Definitely get one, not least because 2 hours in a one bedroom flat can absolutely transform it. Sounds like you are both working hard.

CMOTDibbler · 15/09/2023 09:30

We had a cleaner when we earned way less than that - we both hate cleaning and would prefer to give work to someone else. Go for it!

KievLoverTwo · 15/09/2023 10:17

AmaryllisNightAndDay · 15/09/2023 09:20

I've always had a cleaner apart from a few breaks when it hasn't worked out. DH and I work fulltime, earn less than you do, and you work longer hours. My mother always had a cleaner. Not at all wealthy, but recommended by her GP when she was alone at home with young children.

In a one-bed flat you wont need many hours so it shouldn't be so expensive. You'll probably need to tidy so the cleaner can get round - tidy up your own stuff before the cleaner arrives (and chuck all your DP's stuff into a binbag and then in a cupboard for him to sort out later if he wont tidy himself)

I would be doubtful about committing to live with someone who "doesn't notice dirt/mess". Does he really not notice them at all, or does he only not notice them when he might have to do something about them?

I would be doubtful about committing to live with someone who "doesn't notice dirt/mess". Does he really not notice them at all, or does he only not notice them when he might have to do something about them?

In my case, it's his ADHD combined with anxiety that causes him not to notice. Can't really be trained to either.

chopc · 15/09/2023 10:20

Go for it! There are no criteria for people needing or wanting a cleaner. I would rather sacrifice a meal out a week than give up my cleaner

CharSiu · 15/09/2023 10:26

I earned far less than you and had a cleaner almost all my working life, even when I was studying for just an hour a week. I even kept mine after I retired for a couple of years, but I hate cleaning.

Pfpppl · 15/09/2023 11:37

Do it, you won't regret it. My cleaner comes on one of my days off. I could clearly be doing the cleaning instead of her, but I hate doing it so I don't! We can afford it and I like having a clean house for all of 5 minutes until my DC or DH use the kitchen/bathroom.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 15/09/2023 11:38

If you’re both never home how messy can it get- it’s a one bed flat. Tbh I think it’s ridiculous.

whyisitallsohard · 15/09/2023 12:33

we were in the same situation a few years ago, and really wanted a clean home to come back to. we actually got a cleaner, but one week they broke a few things and tried to cover it up, for example, they broke this wooden panelling that covered some exposed bathroom pipes. We didn't really notice as it's kind of in the shadow of our bathroom cupboards and there's no way anyone could break it without force and actually going into that gap, it's not somewhere you would go into, we just didn't like the pipes exposed for aesthetics reasons so covered it up. It was 100% secured before but broken off and I think they may have whacked our Dyson hoover against it pretty hard. I also found scuffs on the hoover that we didn't make, so they did their job cleaning, but maybe aggressively, not respecting our home and things. we didn't bring it up, just cancelled them as i started to worry they may break other things and not tell us. they did a good job otherwise - house was clean and they'd just come and go, lock up. it depends on your cleaner really.

PickAPark · 15/09/2023 12:44

I had a cleaner in such circumstances and really appreciated someone doing all the boring jobs.

Occasionally there just wouldn't be enough for her to do in 2 hours, but we agreed in such weeks she'd do some ironing too or she's go around the skirting boards / clean the inside of the windows / clean inside the kitchen cupboards.

The key was getting someone flexible who wouldn't just do the minimum and leave.

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 15/09/2023 12:49

If its going to help you do it. Think the only issue might be that most cleaners like to do minimum 2 hours but some are happy to change beds, put a load of washing on and hang up or even a bit of ironing.

ThinkingAgainAndAgain · 15/09/2023 12:58

Absolutely, go for it. If you live in a block, you may find that others have cleaners, and coming to yours afterwards/before would be an attractive job. If it’s only a couple of hours a week, it could be less attractive due to travelling time/cost. Do you have a communal noticeboard or similar?

In a similar vein, my mum has had her hair blow dried every week for at least 49 years. She used to go to a small local salon, and now the hairdresser (Same person) comes to her. When she started going, she said it was the equivalent price of a packet and a half of cigarettes. Or two Bacardi and cokes. Mum never drank or smoked, but she would sort of see that blow dry as an equivalent spend.

ManchesterLu · 15/09/2023 13:05

mosiacmaker · 15/09/2023 08:44

Absolutely not too much for you, get a cleaner, get them to come mid week when you are at work and enjoy the luxury of a lovely clean house all weekend x

Absolutely this. It's what I'd do if I could afford to.

daffodilandtulip · 15/09/2023 13:16

I'm self employed and earn much less than you. When I lost a contract earlier this year, I cancelled Netflix, Disney and stopped eating out. I didn't even consider cancelling the cleaner 🤣

sedgyhdc · 15/09/2023 13:37

We have had a cleaner since our income was probably only about £50k, it's been something I've prioritised for years. We stopped for a short while when we upsized so our disposable dropped, but as soon as I got my next promotion we went straight back to having one.

Ibizafun · 15/09/2023 15:43

Of course it's not a waste! I don't work, its usually just me and dh and I've got one twice a week. I'd spend my last penny on her

piscofrisco · 15/09/2023 19:11

If you can afford it do it. And it shouldn't even cost that much if it's a 1 bed flat. 2 hours would be more than enough.

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