Do you have a cleaner?

stmartinsdiver

My late mother did all her own gardening and cleaning until she was 90 and did it well despite failing health in the last couple of years. She always took a pride in her house and her weekly routine kept her busy and happy.
My other halfs mother had 'a woman in' once week to clean her flat - but not until she was in her late 90's - she hated the intrusion but loved how clean the place was afterwards. A case of 'horses for courses' I think.

Teacher2

I had a cleaner when I was working full time and for a year afterwards. I paid her for two hours of cleaning and two of ironing. She was lovely and did a great job and asked for £10 an hour though I realise the going rate has increased since then.

When my husband had a job scare we had to let the lady go and I took over cleaning a four bedded house and maintaining a large garden myself. I use this as my exercise regime and do a bit every day. It is quite a big task but to pay for a cleaner out of taxed income would now cost about £3000 a year which I really cannot afford.

I am fine with the situation now but worry for the future as I get older.

pollypenny

I had a cleaner for most of my working life, apart from the horrors of the 15% bank rate and mortgage and the periods when my OH worked shifts.

I loved coming home to a clean, sweet smelling house. I trusted my cleaner, found through contacts, and when she got a full time job her mother took over and was with me for years.

Feefeefalloo

I would love a cleaner - I don't mind deep cleaning stuff but I hate washing up (I work in a kitchen so I do loads at work everyday and no room for a dishwasher) and I hate Ironing. Considering one for when I have my first child, just to help me keep on top of things for the first six months or so. If you can afford it and it make you happy then why not!

Kim_kim

Feefeefalloo wrote: »

I would love a cleaner - I don't mind deep cleaning stuff but I hate washing up (I work in a kitchen so I do loads at work everyday and no room for a dishwasher) and I hate Ironing. Considering one for when I have my first child, just to help me keep on top of things for the first six months or so. If you can afford it and it make you happy then why not!

Have you thought creativity? Move your washer & dryer out of the kitchen, spare bedroom, study, conservatory, even a large cupboard. Then you can put your dishwasher in :-)

ViktorOnopko

I am looking to get a cleaner for most of the reasons shown above. I always felt it was a bit snooty but it would free up so much time and make life easier for us. I told my parents and my mum (who's a housekeeper/cleaner) said she would do it for us. I feel a bit weird about paying my mum to clean my house but will probably use her as I know it would be useful financially as they're in a difficult time right now due to my Dad's ill health.

hello007007

I haven't read the whole thread.

We had have cleaners when I have been ill. To be honest, none of them were that good. About 6 years ago we had a regular cleaner - on days it wasn't that messy, in an hour she would have done the living and dining room and kitchen. On day there was mess - she would do less.

We once had a messy house (nothing too bad - most of the mess was laundry, which could have been bagged up) and employed someone to come in for the whole day to clean up as we wanted a spring clean - in the 8 hours she was there she didn't do very much, she was so slow - she put all the clothing in the bedrooms on the beds (she just left them there) and vacuumed upstairs, spent 3 hours in the kitchen but only one did one side (no cluttering nor deep cleaning) , didn't touch the bathroom, stairs or hallway. We paid her £80 - if I was well I could have done everything she did in 8 hours in 1.5hours easily.

After she left my husband, turn up the music and cleaned the whole house in no time - including all the windows and dusting.

Its much better to clean yourself.

hello007007

MrsSippi wrote: »

This is a very interesting thread for me to read as I am due to start a job cleaning next week and I've never done it before (i mean as a paid job not that I've never cleaned :rotfl:) so would love some tips.

I am going to be cleaning a small 2 bed property for 1.5 hrs and walking a dog for 30 mins and have been told I will be paid £8/hr (probably a bit lower than I'd hoped but hey ho, it is my first official cleaning job) and at my interview they told me what was required (very straightforward - vacuuming throughout, cleaning bathroom, kitchen and mopping floors and wiping windows). I have to go back next week to get the key but I am worried that I may have forgotten something so wondered if it's standard practice for the owners to write down what they want or should I take a pen and paper and make notes myself? I assume they would provide all the cleaning equipment? Anything else I should be aware of or ask?

I would be very careful with the house keys if your given them - I once knew a lady who ran a cleaning company and one day while she was out with me, her cleaners called to say they lost all the keys for their round - she nearly had a heart attack, thankfully they had left them at the house they had just cleaned.

Robisere

This has become a worry for us lately. Both my wife and I have disabilities, although until recently my wife's problems were not severe. Now, at 71, she has developed a problem with her hip and often struggles to walk. She is waiting for an operation: the GP had X-Rays done and states from the results that the wear is very serious. I am 72 and have a list of problems including spinal damage, a Parastomal hernia, Hiatus hernia, Reflex associated with something called Barretts Oesophagus, a skin problem and scarred lungs. My own hips are painful, but I am keeping that to myself for now. My left knee is also a problem: the cartilage is almost destroyed, but again that is something I want to ignore until my wife has had her operation.

I really don't know how we are going to be able to cope without help, but cannot afford to employ a cleaner. I am going to ask Age concern for help, but am worried about Means-testing. We don't qualify for any Benefits: although we are light years away from being wealthy, we have just enough to keep being refused. This annoys me when I see a drunken layabout of a neighbour, who has every benefit going yet has never worked for years.

System

Jamiehelsinki wrote: »

I don't mind cleaning the house anyway it's hardly hard work if you keep on top of it.

I think this pretty much sums it up, really. Although I can understand someone who works long hours in a stressful job might not want to start mopping the floor when they get in at 11pm.. So (for able-bodied people) I suppose it depends on your job.