Getting a Cleaner so that I CAN be 'Oldstyle'

sleepy-lady

I'm planning to get a lodger to help with finances and I think that if we share the cost of a weekly cleaner it will a) motivate us to be tidy and b) help to avoid disagreements over who does what. So definitely on my agenda.

Mrs_A_4

Getting a cleaner is something I would definitely consider in future, when I'm out of debt and have a nice enough house to enjoy!
Hate that I spend most of my very precious free time shoving washing in and doing pots. My house only gets properly clean during the school holidays, when I am procrastinating to avoid the piles of marking!

Softstuff

I had a cleaner, but it just didn't work out for me. We lasted about 6 visits. I have a very small 1 bedroomed flat, and wanted about 1 1/2 hours cleaning, with a half hour of ironing (about 6-8 items). I know that if properly motivated, in 2 hours I could do that myself.

I found that I couldn't rely on her to do the simple cleaning, but instead she'd pretty up the bed or refold the towels.... the dust would still be there though. If I wanted to gloss over the dust I wouldn't have hired her!

Instead now I've enlisted my hubby and we do it together. Takes about an hour each a week.

lil_me

Congratulations on the promotion. Hope it works out well for you. Time I always see as money.

I was considering a cleaner before I found the flylady thread on here. If I am honest, I would probably have tidied before I'd let a cleaner in, same thing my DPs Nana did when her daughter paid for her a cleaner she'd clean before the cleaner came and just sit drinking coffee with her instead. I don't think I would feel comfortable someone cleaning while I wasn't here either. I also have to do the floors several times a day because of dog hair so wouldn't remove that need.

Laundry is another matter, if I could afford to pay for someone to I probably would, but then I'd need many more sheet etc for the boys.

Quasar

I think that money is there to be enjoyed not just saved. If you can afford a cleaner, why not?

Besides, all that cooking and baking you want to do should not be seen merely as 'Old Style' in the sense of saving money, but as a healthier way of eating which has in itself benefits far beyond material wealth. And time spent doing the things you want is time well spent.

Remember that money comes and goes, but time only goes...

SammyD_2

Personally, I found a cleaner was more hassel than it was worth. My cleaner was good (but very slow - I think she tried hard to impress). What I found hard was running round tidying the house the day before she came so that she could clean it, and also managing to organise the right money each week. Sounds quite funny now that I couldn't get 20 quid organised, but had just returned to full time work with baby as well, and it was all too much.

But for you, a good idea to try it. If it doesn't work out you can go back to the idea of decreasing your hours. Or just live with dirt!

Dumyat

my friend who works full time did this and online food shopping not to be OS but to get her weekend back. Saturday morning was spent shopping, the rest of the weekend cleaning and washing...if you can afford it why not.

debbycatz

Thanks so much for all your replies so far. I feel very encouraged to go ahead but I do take on board the comments from others who have ended up cleaning themselves before the cleaner comes !! That would be risk factor for me too
I also acknowledge how difficult it is to find someone who you trust.
Another problem I have is that my son has just started a night shift and is all over the place with his sleeping habits - I can't say with any conviction that there would be a specific time that a cleaner could come and clean as I have no idea when he is sleeping and when he will be up. I can't expect the cleaner to clean 'quietly' either :rotfl:

I did make a list of all the things I would like the cleaner to do, but then after some financial calculations, I realised I would only be able to afford her once a fortnight. Then I thought that maybe I could try doing those jobs on the list myself once a fortnight and at least I'd get the following week 'free' of housework. So, given the above issues, I will give this a try but still keep my eyes and ears open for a reliable cleaner.

BTW - I did try the Flylady thread but I just couldn't keep up with jobs after a busy day at work etc. I know others do and I take my hat off to them but it just didn't work for me.

Thanks again gals :beer:

SammyD_2

debbycatz wrote: »

Another problem I have is that my son has just started a night shift and is all over the place with his sleeping habits - I can't say with any conviction that would be a certain time that a cleaner could come and clean as I have no idea when he is sleeping and when he will be up. I can't expect the cleaner to clean 'quietly' either :rotfl:

yes, I know that problem too, my husband was doing nights when we had the cleaner - I just used to tell her not to clean our bedroom when he was on nights and he was so exhausted he never really noticed. (Also had to remind my husband not to get up in a state of undress if he needed the loo which was my worst fear...)

Penelope_Penguin

Interesting thread :T What is the going rate to pay a cleaner Asking out of interest, only, of course :whistle: :whistle: :whistle:

Penny. x