Housekeeper or Clean Your Own Home?

Michelle - posted on 11/17/2010

I would hire someone in a heart beat... but since I run a home daycare and am home it just makes more since for me to do it myself! When I do decide to go back to work, we'll probably look into getting someone to come in once a week or once everyother week:o)

Johnny - posted on 11/15/2010

You know, I thought that reading through this thread would make me feel like I should get down on my knees and scrub my kitchen floor. However, I really just ended up hinting again about that Molly Maid gift card. I'm not to proud to sit on my ass and let someone else wash my walls.

Good Day! - posted on 11/15/2010

No, I wouldn't want a live in housekeeper. But I'd love to have one that came several times a week. Maybe I'll ask my husband if he'll hire someone to do a good deep clean as my Christmas present. That would be the best gift ever.

Anika - posted on 11/15/2010

I wouldn't want a live in housekeeper. They're fun (my FIL lives in Singapore where most ex pats have live in maids and we visited for 2 weeks and it was bliss, like living in a hotel), but they're always at your house. I'd feel like I had no privacy. What if I wanted to have a rip roaring scream at my husband LOL! And there are some things you just feel better about cleaning yourself! (my husband got food poisoning in Singapore and puked EVERYWHERE in the bathroom. He cleaned it himself because that was just nasty). So fun for a holiday but not what I'd want full time.

Tara - posted on 11/15/2010

Nothing wrong with hiring a housekeeper.
I take no satisfaction from cleaning my own home, would be way more satisfying to write a check.
Not a trust issue, I would hire a company with bonded employees and good references.
I honestly wish I had a live in housekeeper who could work 8 hours a day 5 days a week. But would settle for any extra help, be it once a week or once a year for spring or fall cleaning.
We have a very large, old, rambly house with wide hallways and high ceilings (great for spiders) and lots of rooms so it's a pain in the ass to clean, oh and it's all hard wood flooring so all little bits of dust show, not to mention the dog hair and dust bunnies that gather in herds and take over all the corners and behind every door within days of being eradicated by me and my vacuum.
Sigh... just thinking about all the cleaning gets me down.
I clean every day, without fail. I have no choice, lol
The kids do help as they all have chores but honestly to be done right most things require someone over the age of 10.
If I won the lottery I would have a live in, and a part time to take over when the live in was off or on holidays. My house would always be clean and smell fresh. ahhhhh... to dream...

Teresa - posted on 11/15/2010

I would love to be able to afford a housekeeper. I hate cleaning and I pretty much suck at it anyway. It's also too frustrating to spend time cleaning just to have 3 kids completely trash the place w/in an hour anyway. Just to have someone come in once every couple of weeks to un-disasterize the place would be wonderful. ;)

Stifler's - posted on 11/15/2010

Yeah we had a set list of things to do, but their family would come in and want extra things done and it was so ridiculous.

Toni - posted on 11/15/2010

"It's a mental thing I guess. Keeping a clean house clean is easy but tidying a dirty house makes me want to hide in a corner."



Oh Anika, I have this issue as well, I'm really good at staying on top of my cleaning but if I'm ill for a few weeks and don't do as much (hubby is supposed to take over but bless him he's hopeless I blame my MIL) then I just don't know where to start and just think oh God stuff it until one day it becomes like a fuddle in my head and I have to put it all right because I just can't deal with it.



Oh and Sara I have friends round every week because that makes sure I don't let stuff slip too much even if I'm ill :-)



Emma, I worked as a mobile carer for a while and on top of the personal care we had to do some basic cleaning tasks, although because we had very limited time with each client we could only do jobs that were agreed as part of their care package. I had one lady who was particularly rude to me yet expected me to move her laundry baskets around her home (which wasn't on the lists) I was quite anal about sticking to her care package and doing NOTHING extra, it pays to be nice to people!



I completely disagree that it is lazy to have a housekeeper Jennifer, IF you can afford one and get no enjoyment out of cleaning why would you subject yourself to it. Paying someone to clean my home is hardly shirking my responsibilities, I think that realistically spending more quality time with my son rather than cleaning is more beneficial and is a better use of my responsibilities. I'm really pleased you can get all your jobs done while your son is asleep but not everyone can and our standards are different as are our homes, hence it taking us different amounts of time to clean our homes to our personal standard.



Edit to add: I don't actually hire a housekeeper, I just think it's rude to suggest that people who do are lazy or snobbish, if I had the money I would because I HATE cleaning!

Anika - posted on 11/14/2010

LOL Carol, maybe we should start a support group "Children of packrats". It has bit me in the arse a couple of times though. I've made my husband throw things away and then he's happily informed me like 6 months later that he can't do something I've asked him because he's missing the cable or whatever. LOL

Becky - posted on 11/14/2010

Now that I've read the other replies, I wanted to add - because I sound like I'm a slob - I do do the daily stuff like laundry and dishes and picking up toys. Although I hate picking up toys because they get dumped 5 minutes later. And I vacuum my kitchen like 5 times a day! But I hardly ever find time or motivation to dust, wash walls, clean carpets, stuff like that. Those are the types of things I'd love to have someone come in and do.

Sal - posted on 11/14/2010

i would have to get a job to pay for a cleaner, as a at home mum i kind of feel obliged to do it all, i do think if i were to work full time i would get some help, either a cleaner for some tasks or a nanny for a few hours a week so i could do it my sef in peace

Becky - posted on 11/14/2010

Haven't read any other replies yet... I don't think there's anything wrong with hiring a housekeeper! I definitely would if I could afford it! I don't really think it's better to clean your own home. And for me personally, I don't think I'd get any more satisfaction from doing it myself than from having someone else do it. I HATE housework. I don't know why, but I really do. Some people vacuum daily because they get satisfaction from seeing the lines in the carpet. That is soooo not me! I'd much rather have fun with my kids all day. I guess yeah, I do have a feeling of accomplishment when I get some housework done, but I think the feeling of relief at not having to do it myself would be greater.
I would have trust issues having someone come into my home. I think I'd probably only hire either someone a good, trustworthy friend had used for a long time, or a big company where everyone was very carefully screened.
I think whether it's permanent or occassional depends on you - your finances, your domestic skills, your time, etc. I'd love to have someone weekly or every other week, but right now, honestly, my house is such a disaster that I'm overwhelmed and I think if I could just get someone to come in and get it in order and thoroughly cleaned for me, it'd be easier for me to keep it that way.

Kayle - posted on 11/14/2010

If I could just hire some one to do my dishes I'd be happy. Oh wait I could buy a dishwasher. If only If only... lol Or I can say what my dad always said " I don't need a dishwasher I have kids. " Well Kamden isn't old enough yet and even though he will have chores he won't be thought of as a house hold appliance.

Johnny - posted on 11/14/2010

LOL Anika. I'm the same way. My parents are total pack rats, verging on hoarders and I can not stand clutter in my house at all. If we don't absolutely need it, we don't buy it. If we haven't used it in 6 months (except for baby stuff) it's gone. Anything we need gets packed & organized into tupperware. I go insane when a room starts to get crazy. I won't allow my hubby to bring newspapers into the house. Right now, our front balcony is under construction, so all the pots and stuff from there had to go in my basement. It drives me nuts just glancing at the mess when I'm doing my laundry.

Jane - posted on 11/14/2010

I've had a cleaning service for about 18 years now. I can't imagine NOT having one. My house if pretty large and it would take me an entire day to clean my home leaving me less time for my family. I'd rather pay to have someone clean it then give up my free time being I work full time outside of the home. I have them come every other week and then in between, I do bathrooms and vacuum main areas. I used to have them come every week but it was too costly. The every other week works great for me.

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2010

I love washing and hanging stuff out (smells fantastic), but I hate folding it and putting it away.

Anika - posted on 11/14/2010

My parents are packrats and their house is FULL with stuff. It's my nightmare that I'll turn into them so I always make a point to de-clutter often and throw things away!

And a laundress would be bliss! Stupid neverending washing and we've only got ONE kid. I dread to think what it will be like when we have more. Eeekk!

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

LOL Anika, hubby & I are both clutter bugs, but I still REALLY REALLY want a laundress!!

Anika - posted on 11/14/2010

@Sharon - that's one of the good things about having a weekly cleaner. Every Thursday before she comes I run around tidying things up and throwing things away before she gets here. She cleans, she doesn't tidy. It's a good weekly reminder to sort shit out. AND I'm usually here when she is here cleaning so I don't want to look like a complete slob in front of her LOL Even if it is my husband that makes most of the clutter (IMO, he'd probably say otherwise!)

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2010

I got $18.84 an hour but I had to work from 7am to 7pm with all these stupid 15 breaks that they wouldn't pay us for but made us all lose out on about 3 hours worth of work a day. I live in a really rural area so there was only 3 of us and if someone was sick the clients got cancelled for that day and we had to make up the work and I got called into work for half an hour some days and would have to wait 2 hours between clients because certain ones wouldn't be home at this time and liked to keep their schedule. It was a great job for the bludge jobs like taking people shopping but it sucked for the hours and pay for how many hours you had to be uniform and couldn't drink or go off the radar. We also had to do paperwork and got paid 15 minutes a week and no more even if we had to do more than that worth of paperwork.

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

Dang Emma was the pay not very good? I got $27 an hour at the BEST and $12 at the worst (I set my hourly wage depending on the state of your house and what I thought i could get away with!).

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2010

Oh my clutter all comes out of the mailbox. So tempted to get a NO JUNK MAIL sign. But that wouldn't prevent me getting bills with 20 other pages of useless crap attached or things I have to sign and send back.

Sapphire - posted on 11/14/2010

A huge part of my problem is clutter and piles. I had an OCD friend come in and help me last year. He was awesome and I was able to remain uncluttered over the summer. THEN....it was back to work once the school year began, and my bad clutter & pile habits start over. Over my winter break, my OCD friend promised he will help me declutter again. So I do know my problem is primarily the piles & clutter, and then secondary the sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, vacuuming, daily chores that I am just beyond too exhausted to work on during the week. With my extra tutoring stipended, I am hiring a cleaning service over break once my friend comes to help me declutter.

Nikkole - posted on 11/14/2010

I think it would be a waste of money i can clean my house myself perfectly fine! My husbands Aunt has a housekeeper and 2 nannies one for each kid and i think that is soo stupid!

Melissa - posted on 11/14/2010

Im just getting lazy...i hate cleaning now..I desperatly want to hire a housekeeper!

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2010

Oh we were meant to do "Domestic assistance" AKA vacuuming, mopping and cleaning toilets, doing laundry and changing beds. People paid $2 an hour and the govt paid the rest and they would make lists of dumb chores to do and expect perfection and our supervisor would encourage it because she didn't have to do it, it was disrespectful.

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

Emma if you were a caregiver not a house cleaner then telling them to fuck off was entirely appropriate!



LOL it was the other way around for me. ::: sigh ::: this is a retirement state, I cleaned a LOT of old peoples homes. "can you help me turn her?" "can you hold this syringe?" um fk no. I just finished cleaning the toilets - REALLY? yes I wore gloves, yes I washed my hands anyway but come on?? omg that reminds me of the bitch who came shopping yesterday with her dripping hand carried catheter baggy, jesus christ.

Sherri - posted on 11/14/2010

Nope

I would feel guilty having someone else clean my home.

Ya it may be I don't like others in my personal space.

Depends on the person doing the hiring.

Stifler's - posted on 11/14/2010

I used to have to clean old people's houses at work. I was an in home carer, not a cleaner. I would friggin hate to clean other people's places and have them specify all the shit they want done. I wold feel so disrespectful doing it because I know what it's like to be "the cleaning lady... please dust the screens today and make sure you wipe out the cupboard under the sink" farkk off!

Kelly - posted on 11/14/2010

If your problem is clutter and maintaining the clean after a deep clean, why not splurge on an organizing service instead of a cleaning service. The organizer will help you sort all of your stuff, create storage solutions, and help you develop easy habits to maintain it. The cost is about the same, and I think you would get more from it if you are just going to do a one time thing. We used one to organize our office when my husband and I had to share it, and the woman was amazing. It has been 4 years and the room is still clutter--free and holds everything I need to put in it!

Kathy - posted on 11/14/2010

If I could afford it, I'd be hiring a housekeeper for sure! Providing work for someone, isn't it?

Anika - posted on 11/14/2010

I used to do cleaning too (commercial cleaning not residential) when I was a student. It wasn't so bad when it was being done every day or so, even toilets because they can't get that dirty in just 24 hours. But doing it when it hasn't been done in awhile? That can suck. And also, I'm a bit OCD when I start cleaning. If I do a job, I have to do it RIGHT so I can spend ages doing something. But if I never start, I can live in squalor LOL and so can my husband so we need our cleaner because once we get over a certain level of mess I give up and just let it slide. It's a mental thing I guess. Keeping a clean house clean is easy but tidying a dirty house makes me want to hide in a corner.

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

hahahaha Sara!! You're so right and its been my biggest bitch while being a sahm. "its just gonna be a mess again in 5 minutes" lmfao actually its my bitch at work too

Good Day! - posted on 11/14/2010

Sharon, my guess is you don't feel satisfied at home because you know you'll have to just do it all over again. That's why I'm never satisfied. I'll clean my little heart out then get so disgusted and disappoinnted when it's back in the same shape as before I cleaned. So sometimes I don't bother. My trick is that I make an effort to invite friends over every few weeks. THAT forces me to clean. (And I like to entertain)

Jennifer - posted on 11/14/2010

Yeah I guess that's true Sharon! If they were that lazy they'd not be bothered living in a pigsty!

I don't love cleaning but I love having a clean home and hate mess! But I couldn't clean someone else home...I'm used to our mess but no one elses lol

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

Some people hire cleaners out of necessity, some hire cleaners to take care of chores they hate, some - maybe laziness, but honestly if you're that lazy do you even care what your home looks like?

What I find funny/ironic/twisted is that I don't get much satisfaction in cleaning my own home, except the kitchen & bathrooms. But I felt HUGE satisfaction when I was cleaning other peoples' homes knowing that they would come back to a home that smelled nice, looked neat and was cleaned top to bottom.

Chatty - posted on 11/14/2010

Haha, Sharon brings up another great point. People have certain expectations and when those expectations aren't met, people get upset and frustrated.

If you're thinking about hiring a cleaner, you need to make sure you are VERY specific about what you expect to be cleaned, the time-frame you have alloted to do it, your financial expectations etc. We would often have people calling in asking for 100$ worth of cleaning once a week and they would often be disappointed because they had NO idea how long it takes to clean properly. I highly recommend having someone out to your house prior to hiring them so they can give you a proper complete estimate. Guessing over the phone is so difficult because you never know what shape the house is truly in.

Jennifer - posted on 11/14/2010

I wouldn't allow some one who didn't have a qualification in mechanics to change oil in a car if I had one. Here in the UK mechanics working in garages generally have qualifications.

And I didn't realise cleaners actually had training so sorry for presuming. I guess until I met someone who had a cleaner I couldn't grasp what they were like as individuals but living where I live if someone had a housekeeper they'd be a) rich and probably considered as snobby. Sorry again.

And Sharon Cohen my comment was directed to Sharon Grey...so sorry for the confusion.

Sorry if I've seemed out of line but I'm not in the best of moods. If people want a cleaner it's their choice

Anika - posted on 11/14/2010

OK, I'll come clean (pun not intended LOL) we have a cleaner who comes in once a week. I didn't want one because I'm cheap and didn't want to spend the money BUT my husband and I split the house work and he didn't want to do his share, so he got a cleaner. I couldn't argue with that LOL! AND I still make him do some of the remaining jobs. She cleans the kitchen and bathroom and vacuum and mops the floors. We still have to do the endless bloody washing and dishes and we have dogs so I still have to vacuum a few times a week. Oh and we have a guy who cuts our lawn. My husbands favourite saying is "I'll just pay a guy to do it". He's not a DIY kinda guy LOL

You can call us lazy if you want. Especially since I only work 2 days a week and am at home the rest of the week, but who cares what you think? We've got the money and I like to think of it as helping the economy LMAO :)

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

Oh Dana!! You've got to have some DOOZY stories!!!

Chatty - posted on 11/14/2010

It's not off topic -- you're proving your point, Shannen. I happen to agree with you also.



I can understand several reasons for not wanting to have a housekeeper in your home but typically people don't do it just because they're lazy and don't want to clean. You can think that about people all you want, Jennifer, but it doesn't make it true. Like I said earlier, I used to own my own housecleaning company and I managed three crews each day from the office plus I would go out cleaning too, every once in a while. There are so many reasons why someone would hire a cleaner, but "laziness" I'm sure, is at the bottom of that list.

Sharon - posted on 11/14/2010

LMAO! you don't need a "qualification" for oil changes either. AND high end housekeepers actually go to school. yes they do. I did it.

how to lay down proper tracks with the vacuum, how to use various solvents and tools. What defines "clean" versus "neat".

Every idjit can change oil, pull the plug, drain the oil, fill the pan, put the plug back and refill with clean oil. ITs not hard. it can be messy. i still choose to not do it.

Bonnie - either your cousins were pigs, the maid ineffectual or they were paying for particular chores that didn't stand out. When I cleaned houses, I did NOT do laundry, did NOT pick up a floor full of toys or do dishes. I DID dust every knick knack, scrub toilets, wipe down the outside of the fridge, clean glass topped stoves, stainless steel appliances, washing machines, dishwashers, dust the mouldings, door frames, cleaned the hairspray off mirrors, the toothpaste out of the sink, the spilt makeup off the vanity. I made the bed, changed the sheets but did not wash them.

Those were the basic chores. I WOULD do the rest IF I were paid to do so.

its amazing what people think will get done in 2 hours, (cleaning garages, scrubbing 15 years of hardwater build up off a faucet LMFAO)

Shannen - posted on 11/14/2010

"I don't have a car and I wouldn't know how to change oil - I'm not a mechanic. You don't need a qualification to clean your own house."

You know you don't need a qualification to change oil either. Or even in general fix a car. We do most of our car repairs our self.
Sorry i know it's off topic.

Sapphire - posted on 11/14/2010

Exactly Dana-THANK YOU! I've already expressed that I'm a crappy cleaner and the first to admit that I am bad at it. Although, I have to say that when I took a break earlier from lessons to scrub the downstairs toilet and poweder room, it looks awesome! Simple Green is my new favorite product. But it's just not in me to clean every single friggin' weekend non-stop.

Chatty - posted on 11/14/2010

I just want to point something out. Not everyone is capable or very good at cleaning. Those people SHOULD hire someone, especially when you're raising children. You don't know how many houses I've walked into and almost puked because it was so filthy, and the homeowner didn't think it was that bad. Everyone's idea of clean is different. "Clean" is subjective.

Sapphire - posted on 11/14/2010

"I consider it lazy because at the end of the day houses come with responsibilities and those include gdoing housework. It would be like hiring someone to change your babies nappies. I know no one with a housekeeper, never have and probably never will. Personally I do the housework when Logan's in bed/napping and when he's older I'll do it when he's at school or nursery, that way he won't miss out on time with me and my hubby. I guess at the end of the day it's all cultural and comes with what you've been brought up with. If my parents had a housekeeper I would think it was normal."

I prioritize my responsibilities, like oh...spending TIME with my son, doing things with him every weekend that are meaningful as opposed to plopping him in front of the TV or computer for hours while I clean. Other priorities include work-lessons, grading, assessments, other left overs that aren't done at work, since oh...I need to work to pay bills plus loans. I value my career, and value quality time with my only child even more, so yeah, I blow off housework. Your home must be spectacular and spic and span white glove clean I can eat off the floor. I'm jealous- how much do you charge for your cleaning services? I don't recall writing that having a housekeeper was the cultural norm and certainly not the way I was raised. My mom was a SAHM, and even on dialysis for 10 years. I'm a working mom. Big difference. Mom cleaned periodically throughout the day. So cultural? Don't get your rationale and quite frankly you rub me the wrong way.

Jennifer - posted on 11/14/2010

Bonnie I hope they complained and got a refund!!

Bonnie - posted on 11/14/2010

My cousins use to have a housekeeper come once every two weeks and within a day or two the house looked like it had never been cleaned. That was a waste of money if you ask me.

Jennifer - posted on 11/14/2010

Sharon: I don't have a car and I wouldn't know how to change oil - I'm not a mechanic. You don't need a qualification to clean your own house.

Personally I want my children to learn the reponsibility of doing chores around the home.

If people want a housekeeper it's their choice. In the same way it's my choice to stay home and look after my son instead of putting him in daycare. It's all about what the individual wants. I guess I just see no need to have a housekeeper unless you have a disability which prevents you from doing it.

Bonnie - posted on 11/14/2010

Sharon, might as well include a car wash too!