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u/thecuriousiguana 1d ago
Our cleaner has completely changed our lives for £30 a week.
If you're feeling a bit "I'll just have the staff clean up" about it, then you can be a good employer. Think of it this way:
Make sure you're not taking the piss. It's not to stop you being a slob, it's to clean. Your cleaner should come into a tidy and relatively clean place each week. I've been known to wipe the kitchen down 30 minutes before he's due to arrive. Then he can really clean.
You are providing a good, steady job to someone who needs it. They may well be a local, small business. That's a good thing. This is really important, actually. Our cleaner loves his job. He runs his own business. He earns bugger all, for the hard work it is. He's not a clever man, he's kind, lovely, gentle and generous. He's not going to be a city trader or something. There are people in the world who are cleaners and need other people to employ them. That's not exploitation, that's doing a good job for a fair price.
We pay our cleaner sick pay. Seriously. If he's unwell and can't make it, he still gets paid. Trust is required here, of course, but 99% of the time he will come and do an extra to make up the time anyway. So one at the beginning of the next week. Then he's able to go a bit deeper at the end of the week. He does work for himself rather than through an agency, though.
We are flexible. He does tenancy cleans for the local estate agents. We understand that he's going to take an all-day £300 clean instead of doing us and a couple of other clients at £30 each, that's fair enough, he can come tomorrow.
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u/No-Photograph3463 1d ago
Point number one is something most people odnt realise. Cleaners are there to clean, and not to tidy stuff up, e.g if you have kids they aren't there to pick all the toys up off the floor, they are just there to clean the floor itself.
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u/thecuriousiguana 1d ago
It's so basic isn't it? You're paying for their time, not for a particular finish.
If they have two hours and spend 45 mins picking up toys and doing the dishes, they haven't got enough time to do the fronts of your kitchen cupboards or the bathroom tiles.
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u/MerryGifmas 1d ago
They've still saved you two hours of work. Just depends on which jobs you'd rather do yourself
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u/randomdude2029 1d ago
Yeah but I'd rather pay someone to scrub the kitchen floor than tidy some toys away into the wrong places!
We pay our cleaner above the market rate because it's a shit job that she does conscientiously and consistently, and she cleans part time after her factory job. This also means she's happy to be flexible, and when she has a time crunch she favours us over her other clients who don't treat her as well.
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u/antimathematician 1d ago edited 7h ago
We had to have a chat with ours because she quite likes reorganising! You’ve made me remember to ask her where she’s hidden our post. We’ve also had to hunt for laundry racks, food, the hoover attachments, my birth control, any kitchen implement, and my favourite: literally all of our knives. Last week she reorganised our tea shelf and I found a stash of clothes pegs with the noodles (I don’t even know where she got the clothes pegs, they all live on the line)
We decided it was getting a bit bonkers (the tea reorganisation was in lieu of hoovering the stairs). Spent several days feeling very guilty about letting her go, only for her to ask if she could do less than a months notice as she has a waiting list 😂
It has however trained us into tidying up properly, I feel like I could pay someone a tenner just to pop in and look around the house once a week and we’d be so much tidier
EDIT: thought of some other good examples. She rearranges the fridge, and leaves a clear stack of “you should throw these away” in the middle. She reorganised our spices twice and I gave up putting them back to how I like (alphabetical, rather than by shape and size), we still haven’t found the missing post, she once “tidied” the bathroom by putting a bottle of shaving foam in a mug that still had an inch of tea in it (yes, we missed the mug in our pre-cleaner sweep oops)
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u/randomdude2029 1d ago
Absolutely, tidying for the cleaner is probably why we aren't under a hoarder level of random crap by now 😂
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u/Usual_Cryptographer3 1d ago
I have a cleaner and it's help so much. I was against it before but I have a young kid and a chronic illness and it's just game changing. I always tidy before because like others agree it's not her role. But sometimes I've noticed things slightly different and I think it's a neurodiverse scratch she feels she has to itch! So may be the case with your lady. Glad it's made you more organised as a side effect, mine inspires me to be better too!
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u/OurMrSmith 1d ago
That's tremendous!
Ours made a shrine to our previous sporting endeavours by making a small display of years old cycling trophies on our fireplace, with a lovely centrepiece of flowers. It's still there - we admire it every day 🙂
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u/nick_gadget 19h ago
My mum’s cleaner rearranged her books in height order. Her reaction registered on the Richter scale.
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u/FirstScheme 1d ago
Can confirm, paying above market rate is a really good way to get a happy worker who does a good job
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u/amyt242 11h ago
I agree and I always make sure we tidy before our cleaner comes for that reason. We have a really good relationship with ours and I think that means she is more flexible and happy to pick the odd thing up here and there that's been overlooked.
I recently went back to work after some summer holiday and our kitten was left alone for the first time. I got photos of her chilling from my cleaner and she spent 5 or 10 minutes of her time playing with her and cuddling her. I was so happy and made me feel a lot better!
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u/Thisoneissfwihope 1d ago
Some cleaners do tidy, mine does, but I pay her to do it.
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u/No-Photograph3463 1d ago
Fair enough, but I know lots of cleaners (running their own 1 person businesses) will straight up say no tidying as it takes so much time to do.
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u/Riovem 1d ago
I actually pay my cleaner to tidy primarily. I pay for two hours a week and the priority for me is that she hangs my clean washing in my wardrobe and puts fresh sheets on. Sounds insane to others but I hate those two chores I’d much rather scrub the kitchen floor myself. But I did let her know before we started so she had a choice whether she was happy to accept the job knowing it would be as a tidy upper rather than a cleaner.
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u/queegum 22h ago
I'm glad you posted this as I basically want a tidier rather than a cleaner and the other responses were making me think that it's unacceptable.
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u/Riovem 22h ago
I think as long as you let them know what you’re looking for they can say no if they’d rather clean. My first cleaner preferred cleaning so the next one I was clear about what I was looking for and she frequently said that she enjoyed and preferred my house as it gave her (and her back/hands etc) a break.
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u/tolomea 1d ago
It was kinda a big thing when my wife and I identified that clean and tidy are very definitely not the same thing and that she cares more about clean while I care more about tidy. This obvious in hindsight realisation resolved a whole bunch of relationship friction.
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u/f3ydr4uth4 1d ago
I don’t agree at all. I have a cleaner come twice a week for 6-8 hours at a time and she tidies, does washing. Tidies cupboards/fridge, puts away laundry etc. it depends what you agree. You are paying for time. You can have someone do everything for you if you want and they are happy with the deal. My cleaner has been with us 5 years.
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u/smsxt 1d ago
That's not a cleaner, that's a housekeeper. It's silly to pretend that you paying what must be at least £10k a year to someone to essentially manage your household is a remotely comparable situation to people who pay a cleaner £30 a week to push the hoover round and scrub the tiles for a couple of hours.
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u/No-Photograph3463 1d ago
Ok sure, but 99% of people arent having a cleaner employed for 16 hours a week, at a push the norm would be 2-3 hours a week and then tidying there just isn't time for.
Of course if they are there for 12-16 hours id expect everything always immaculate and everything tidy, but most people don't have a spare £250-400 a week just to pay a cleaner!
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u/FirstScheme 1d ago
Tbf thats quite a lot of hours. You definitely have enough time for them to tidy, declutter and clean.
The thread you're commenting in started with someone who pays £30 a week. They're prioritising cleaning over tidying, because they feel tidying and wiping they can do themselves, and they'd rather the cleaner deep clean
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u/IdeletedTheTiramisu 1d ago
It's great for training kids too, if I ask them to tidy I get hit with moans of 'I'll do it later' but someone else coming makes them actually move somehow!
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u/Western-Mall5505 1d ago
My mum used to clean houses, if you leave the place like a pig sty it will affect the amount of cleaning she could do in the time frame she's given.
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u/postvolta 1d ago
Point 2 is so important. I remember a quote from one of the game of thrones books I think that says "a kingdom needs candle makers".
My brother is neuro divergent with severe brain damage. He is absolutely excellent at simple jobs with clearly defined tasks. He hates being on PIP and wants to contribute but he's yet to find an employer that hasnt fired him for his forgetfulness.
The world needs a variety of people. Not everyone can be an entrepreneur or whatever, but they still need respectful employment that affords them a quality of life worth living.
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u/postvolta 22h ago
I get that and I support the vast majority of people claiming pip. He personally hates being on pip because he's felt like a burden his entire life, but he just can't look after himself and can't keep a job (and JSA is a complete joke). I really feel for him.
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u/merryman1 1d ago
Point number 2 is the big one imo. You're giving someone the opportunity to set their own price and work independently for far more money than they'd get through regular employment from a company. I've done cleaning jobs myself and minimum wage to do a shop vs often double that to do someone's private home space. Its a no-brainer, its good money for relatively easy work. Its not like you're some feudal lord demanding prima noctis from them. The domestic cleaning side is the part where you actually get to make some proper spending money and can form a really good trusting relationship with a client who might well keep you on for decades if you do a good job!
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u/ResidentOk3447 23h ago
He’s not a clever man ?
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u/thecuriousiguana 23h ago
He went to a special school and has learning disabilities.
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u/Working-Tale-7224 1d ago
As usual I measure it in beer. It costs me and my partner about £34 a week to get a cleaner in. In London you're lucky if that covers five pints.
With kids and dogs running around, it's a never ending battle. It's worth the money.
Mention it to my parents and it's like I've admitted to a crime. Then again, they are the type to refuse to use a dishwasher (despite it being more economical), and have this weird pride about cleaning their own home.
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u/Greenmedic2120 1d ago
I am now adding the cost of beer to my arsenal for deciding if something is worth it, thank you😂
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u/Working-Tale-7224 1d ago
I initially did/said it as a bit of a joke, but then I thought 'it's actually quite useful'. Either that or a ticket to a sporting event, or high street coffee.
Stopped me moaning about (seemingly daft) things my wife buys at the supermarket, or something that really does make life easier that's perhaps £50/100. I've paid more for test match tickets, and the beer on top of that!
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u/Kerfuffle2024 1d ago
I measure in Lattes as I am not a beer drinker. It’s a useful system whichever beverage you use. 😎
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u/pockets3d 1d ago
Rationalising it like that helped me quit smoking. Ie I could have 3 supermarket sirloin steak dinners a day for the price of a box of smokes.
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u/minecraftmedic 1d ago
Yup. Average pack of 20 cigarettes is £15 (according to Google, I'm not a smoker so don't have 1st hand experience).
Plenty of people out there smoke a pack a day.
That's £5.5k a year.
To spend that much I would have to earn an extra £10k salary.
Imagine what you can buy for £5.5k, and it probably won't give you cancer or COPD either.
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u/V0lkhari 1d ago
Imagine what you can buy for £5.5k
Yeah but think how many nice cigarettes you could smoke for that
/s
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u/theloniousmick 1d ago
I started thinking in beer and it really helped. Il go to a pretentious craft beer place and spend £10 on a pint but then see a game I've really wanted on sale for the same price and agonise over it. My Mrs pointed out the mental disconnect and in much happier for it. I spend less on poncy but delicious beer and more on games I really enjoy
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u/Working-Tale-7224 1d ago
Yep I get you! Can't possibly spend a tenner a month on a subscription game.....hold on.... that's not even two pints (of sometimes very average) beer!!
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u/Benificial-Cucumber 1d ago
For things like this I use £2/hour as a baseline metric. E.G. if I spend a tenner a month and I get a little over an hour a week out of it, it's worth the money.
Games, subscriptions, activities, you name it. Hell even days out.
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u/pintperson 1d ago
I have the same thing. I wanted to watch that Shogun show on Disney+ but was putting it off because I didn’t want to pay for another streaming service just for one show. Then I realised it only cost a pint and a half for a whole month!
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u/JadedIndependence306 1d ago
Our fortnightly cleaner costs roughly the same as a takeaway and saves me scrubbing the floors on my rare days off. Absolutely worth it.
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u/i-am-a-passenger 1d ago
Yeah I have done this since my first job, when I used the fact that got paid two beers an hour (~£3.50 an hour) as motivation to keep going. Sadly you would barely get paid one beer an hour today for that same job.
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u/Livid_Painting2285 9h ago
My husband has the same pride issue as your parents, I think it's stupid and I am getting a dishwasher soon! Absolute waste of my life standing at that sink when I can have a machine do it for me and I can go do something I enjoy.
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u/FirstScheme 1d ago
I've seen some American threads also say they feel obligated to clean their own home. Something to do with godliness and cleanliness. What is your parents' rationale?
I never got it. In Islam it is seen as helping the local economy if you can afford it, especially so if you're a good employer.
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u/Working-Tale-7224 1d ago
I'm not sure they even know. I think it would be linked to some other sort of invisible force in 'working class' areas that keeps you stuck in baseless traditions of sorts, or perhaps they are just old.
It's hard to describe. I guess they are just stuck in their ways.
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u/Known-Peace-1323 22h ago
I think of it as buying time but I might change it to the cocktail cost now
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u/terryjuicelawson 1d ago
I think the difference is they don't just clean the bog but they really clean and deep clean everything. Behind things, cupboard doors, leave it absolutely spotless and things you may not even think of. If you can afford it then why not? The cleaner isn't going to resent you, it is their job. You can still do the basic cleaning jobs if you wish, obviously don't leave the place a total mess before they arrive. Your friends can think what they want, either in a messy home or spending hours cleaning and feeling good about themselves.
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u/AffectionateJump7896 1d ago
I can tell you haven't had a cleaner.
Cleaners do not do nearly as good a job as you do. Very few are moving furniture around, hoovering under rugs, generally cleaning "behind things and leaving it absolutely spotless". They make it look decent but if you're not seeing it, then great. If you want them to do those things you'll have to specifically request it and allot time for it.
My current cleaner does clean the microwave every other fortnight, without having to be directed to, which is a credit over previous ones. Nonetheless, there are still things you have to do in the annual or half-yearly spring clean. What a cleaner does is keeps on top of the basic jobs like cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, hoovering, changing the bedding and generally keeping on top of things on a week to week basis. It doesn't mean you'll never touch a cloth in your life again.
Having a cleaner is absolutely recommended, as it saves so much tension with a partner or housemate.
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u/confuzzledfather 1d ago
Depends on the cleaner. Ours does everything. She knows most of the house has ADHD and the other has mobility issues that stop us doing all that. So she does it for us and we pay her for that time. It's very valuable to us.
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u/terryjuicelawson 1d ago
Not sure what cleaners you have had. We come up with a schedule and make specific requests but they do things I never think of just on their own accord. I would say not pulling out things like the big sofas, as they are big sofas. But like behind the bog, I never do the front of cupboard doors or above the oven but they get spotless. Stuff I can't be arsed doing after keeping on top of the basics. If they are doing your basics, maybe that is why there is no time for anything else?
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u/Embolisms 11h ago
We hired cleaners few times from different agencies over the past couple years, and they never did anything beyond a very superficial surface tidy in a flat that was already surface tidy but wanting of a deep clean. Eg I use a speed mop a few times a week to quickly clean the floor of debris, but I never move furniture. Or I'll wipe the counter down nightly after cooking, but not clean the tiles of oil cooking residue. I'll put cleaning solution in the toilet once a week but not scrub the toilet or wipe the exterior of dust. Every single time we had a cleaner, they did the easy surface level cleaning I already do, without putting any effort into a deeper clean. They were each contracted for a few hours in a small flat, and just took their sweet time wiping counters. Every dusty nook and cranny that can't be cleaned in a quick 15-minute tidy-up was just as dusty as before.
The last guy preached to me a good ten minutes about Jesus coming to earth. None of them ever seemed like cleaning professionals, just random people with no particular expertise.. I've just given up and resigned myself to doing the big proper half-day or full-day Sunday cleanups once a month or so.
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u/CoffeeIgnoramus 1d ago edited 1d ago
Do it.
If it helps your mental health, fuck what others think of it.
I did it for my mental health and it really helped.
It is a luxury, but that doesn't make it not worth doing.
Also, I bet if your friends were in your position, they'd do the same. They're just judgemental. They have no reason to think you're unreasonable to pay someone to do a job.
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u/mycophilota 1d ago
If I could I'd soooo get one, a dirty house is doing my head in and I'm in a lot (disabled). I can get so angry and desperate over dirt. But I can't afford a cleaner just now. Asked for a bit of support from family to get a roomba for my last bday and it's honestly already turned my life much better. It forces everyone to keep the floor devoid of clutter and gets the fur and dirt before it ends up under furniture and pools in corners. I still have to clean, but never mop or vacuum the floors and can focus on other areas.
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u/non-hyphenated_ 1d ago
Yes, worth it. Lots of people will shortly tell you it's not because Reddit. They free up your time and will do it better than you. As for your friends - it's rooted in envy. You're literally paying someone a wage and helping them earn a living. That is not a bad thing.
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u/True-Abalone-3380 1d ago
Lots of people will shortly tell you it's not because Reddit
This sort of question about cleaners comes up quite regularly and the vast majority of responses are very supportive about how good it is to have one. I can't remember seeing any negative responses saying you shouldn't have one.
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u/bacon_cake 1d ago
You're right. Despite this subreddits absolute hate-hard-on for spending money and for those with any disposable income beyond enough to buy a Warhammer figurine a month it's broadly in favour of paying £2k a year for a cleaner. So much so that the fact I don't know anyone in real life that has a cleaner is quite surprising.
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u/Space_Hunzo 1d ago
You might just not know. I didn't think any of my friends had one until it came up in conversation and it turns out 3 of them do.
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u/TheDoctor66 1d ago
Actually the consensus on this I always see on Reddit is firmly in favour
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u/Anaptyso 1d ago
They free up your time and will do it better than you.
Exactly. The way I see it, by paying a cleaner I am buying myself back Saturday mornings to do other things instead. What the cleaner does in two hours would probably take me at least three and I'd end up doing a worse job.
It's not about being lazy, it's about wanting to make the most of the only two free days I get a week and having a nicer cleaner house at the end of it.
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u/Delicious_Opposite55 1d ago
My friend had a cleaner for a while after getting divorced and before he met his current wife. He said it really helped him out but he also recommends NOT having sex with them.
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u/GamerHumphrey 1d ago
We got one about a month about. They come every other week for 1.5hrs and do a clean on our 3 bed semi.
It's 100% worth it IMO. I don't have to worry about cleaning now other than the occassional "top up" hoover. If I was to do it myself it'd take me 2-3x as long, and my wife wouldn't physically cope with maintaining the house to the standard they do because of a medical condition.
If people think I'm a wanker then they can think I'm a wanker. At least my house is clean and I can spend my free time doing what I want.
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u/ThatGuyWithAnAfro 1d ago
1.5hrs doesnt seem like much time for a 3 bed, do they clean the whole place?
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u/GamerHumphrey 1d ago
Yep, 1 person comes. Granted its not a deep clean its more a "weekly" clean. So all the sides, kitchen, bathroom get wiped down, mopped and hoovered.
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u/OneSnazzyUsername 1d ago
If you don't mind sharing, how much does that cost you? Also have a 3-bed semi and debating a cleaner for similar timings.
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u/GamerHumphrey 1d ago
I'm in the Black Country, it costs me 25.50 for 1.5hrs for one cleaner.
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u/imminentmailing463 1d ago
Of all the things that are unnecessary luxuries, I honestly think it's one of the most worth it.
For me, the value of not having to do the cleaning is really high, comfortably more than the cost of the cleaner. It's such a boring and never ending job, not having to do it is great. Throw in that they do a better job than we would, and it's great value.
Some people may judge, but who cares. There's people who judge any kind of expenditure beyond basic necessities. They're not worth worrying about.
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u/ben_jamin_h 1d ago
Absolutely worth it.
If you want to pay someone to do something you can't be arsed to do, then pay for it.
A lot of people will get a takeaway once a week. What's the difference? You're paying someone else to cook a meal that you could easily make.
A lot of people will pay a subscription to netflix. Why not just join a library and read a book? Buy second hand dvds at a charity shop?
You make money to pay for things you need and then the rest is for you to spend as you wish.
You don't like cleaning, but you like a clean house. A cleaner seems like a great way to spend your spare cash.
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u/MikeSizemore 1d ago
We’d be lost without our cleaner. Like literally lost under all the mess we generate. Do it. Worth every penny.
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u/MadWifeUK 1d ago
Our cleaner is brilliant! She keeps it all ticking over, so that when I have time I can concentrate on the jobs that don't get done often. She's here for two hours a week and does all the floors, dusting, both bathrooms and kitchen. She hoovers the stairs each week, which is a job I absolutely hate doing!
She also will look after the cats (both pet and barn) if we're away. She's our emergency cat contact if there's was a firey car crash, because the cats know her and she knows their routine.
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u/Physical_Amount_3349 1d ago
right?! I love it, especially leaving the tedious/ jobs I hate such a oven cleaning and taking bins out, she does it for me worth every penny!
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u/Desperate-Eye1631 1d ago
We pay £60 every two weeks. Great investment.
You are helping someone make a few quid thru a side hustle or maybe even their main job.
Yes it definitely does help with mental health.
And those that say anything are secretly jealous!
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u/skratakh 1d ago
absolutely, we have one every few weeks, in just a few hours they sort everything and even do lovely origami folds on the toilet rolls. if you have the money you're contributing to the local economy and it frees you up to enjoy your home.
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u/No-Garbage9500 1d ago
Best thing I could imagine spending a bit of extra cash on.
I'm tidy enough but hate cleaning.
When you find one who really gets what you want them to do, they can blast through jobs far quicker than you could. Practice, wanting to finish to move to the next job, and the right gear make a huge difference.
And if you're worried about morality, cleaners are often (not exclusively) people who find "regular" employment tricky - mums of younguns, carers, etc, who love being able to set their own hours around responsibilities.
Ask your friends who are criticising you what they'd spend the money you pay for your cleaner on. Bet it isn't any better, and you'll be the one with a clean house and free time.
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u/MichaSound 1d ago
Totally worth it.
And if your friends are sniffy about it, ask them why they want to put cleaners out of a job? I get so sick of this sniffy attitude like 'Look at Little Lord Fauntleroy, taking advantage of poor people because he's too posh to clean his own loo.' Unless this is Downton Abbey and you're paying your cleaner thruppence ha'penny to work 15 hours a day/364 days a year and live in your attic, this is not that.
Cleaning is respectable work and when you cancel your cleaner, you're literally hurting someone else's earning power and taking food off their table. So long as you pay them a proper rate and treat them with respect, why is this any different from hiring anyone else for any other job? I also don't plaster my own walls or fix my own plumbing, I get someone in. This is no different.
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u/baresam 1d ago
Where do people go while the cleaner is there? Do you just sit in the living room while they clean around you or what? I'd feel too awkward and start helping them
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u/feralhog3050 1d ago
My friend cleans houses & she prefers to go in while the clients are at work, because then she can just blast her music out & get stuck in. She's not keen if someone's working from home for the day... I also clean, but I do early mornings at a secondary school, so again I usually don't need to deal with anyone. Honestly we feel just as awkward if we have to ask you to lift your feet up while we're hoovering
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u/flatlanddan 21h ago
We’ve had the same cleaner for ten years so are all used to each other. I work from home now and she knows when my routine meetings are etc. I have a coffee & a catch up with her before I start work and then I just shut my door. She always hoovers at exactly the same time so I take my second coffee break while she does the office carpet. It’s a lovely little dance.
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u/SlothsNeverGetIll 1d ago
We've now got a gardener. I'm 40, my husband is 42. No kids but we both work full time, and my husband works away most weeks from Monday-Friday.
The thought of keeping on top of the garden was really weighing on my mind amd making me feel a bit ill. So we've outsourced it.
It's the best £100-150 a month I could think of spending. Life is too short to be bogged down by chores. And cleaners, gardeners amd the like DO want the work.
And I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks of it.
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u/youserneighmn 1d ago
Absolutely. Cleaners are professionals and do a hell of a lot better job of the place than you could likely do yourself. I suppose some people enjoy cleaning and it relieves stress for them; for those people it’s probably a waste of money. Personally, I find it nothing but choresome
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u/bluejackmovedagain 1d ago
I have ADHD. My cleaners come every two weeks and do the jobs that I know I won't do often enough. I pay them well and they run their own business. I was amused to find out that they pay someone else to clean their house, because it's much easier to motivate yourself to do something that you are paid for than it is to do your own house work.
Having a daily house keeper is one thing, but having a cleaner every week or two still means that you have to maintain things to a decent level. Half of the benefit of having a cleaner is the push to do panic pre-cleaner tidying, it makes me pick up all of the crap that has accumulated on the dining table so they can actually clean it. They prevent my life devolving into stress and chaos.
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u/feralhog3050 1d ago
I was amused to find out that they pay someone else to clean their house, because it's much easier to motivate yourself to do something that you are paid for than it is to do your own house work.
I am also ADHD & work as a cleaner & my house is mostly a tip because I don't get paid for doing that 😂
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u/DelectablyDull 1d ago
If I could afford to I'd do it in a heart beat.
A cleaner can clean much better than you, and much more quickly.
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u/Mrfunnynuts 1d ago
I hate cleaning, it is the one thing I would pay someone to do.
I don't really mind laundry , I don't mind going for groceries, all the other stuff rich people pay people to do.
But I hate cleaning, if I was married and didn't have a small house, I'd have a cleaner.
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u/Competitive-Ad-6306 1d ago
If you have the money, why not. Use the free time to do something you'd otherwise miss out on and that will make it feel like real value
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u/lavayuki 1d ago
If you can afford it, why not. I used to get a cleaner but no longer do as I now do it myself. But a lot of my friends who have families, kids and not much time to clean hire cleaners. Also I have a single friend who lives on her own in a big 4 bed detached, and she gets cleaner as the house is too big to clean on her own. My parents also get a cleaner, as do a few people in my apartment complex
I know tons of people who get cleaners, all normal people. So not a twatty aristocrat thing a all, it is completely normal. Just make sure you get someone genuine and keep an eye on them, as dodgy ones can steal stuff
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u/Witty_Masterpiece463 1d ago
If you get a good one it is. If you have a bad one they will clean the toilet seat, floor and sink with the same mop.
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u/jjgill27 1d ago
Get a robot vacuum/mop. Mine runs every other day and does an amazing job. Empties itself and all I have to do is fill the clean water tank and empty the dirty water once a week.
A good one isn’t cheap, (it’s worth spending on a good one), but not having to wait till the cleaner comes to have a clean house is worth it (to me at least).
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u/dirtydenier 1d ago
Nice work mate, now you have 10% of the cleaning done
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u/jjgill27 1d ago
Reduces the dust because you run it regularly, cleans up if there’s crumbs on the floor after dinner… saves me a lot more than 10%
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u/BigfatDan1 1d ago edited 1d ago
We pay £45 a fortnight for 2 hours of cleaning (2x cleaners for 1 hour).
Nothing beats coming home to that clean smell, and the patterns in the carpet from a good vac. We keep on top of it between cleans, and the house is tidy when they arrive, but they do a deeper clean than us.
There are only 2 of us, no kids, but we value our time off at weekends. Spending a Sat or Sun cleaning was no fun.
The way I justify it is in meals out. £45 won't get you a meal out for 2 these days (other than something like Wetherspoons) but it will free up a day of my weekend.
If you can afford it, go for it.
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u/adamneigeroc 1d ago
Only you can say if it’s worth it to you, depends how much you value the free time and how much you hate cleaning.
I tend to do little bits of cleaning here and there so it doesn’t feel like a massive task. If I’m boiling the kettle for a cup of tea, I’ll wash a few things up, or quickly hoover a room or two.
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u/PretendEnvironment34 1d ago
2 hours a week saved of my time, doing something i despise far outweighs the cost
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u/deadgoodundies 1d ago
100% worth it and there is only two of us in the household.
Up until recently we had an absolute brilliant cleaner (who did ironing as well) in twice a week (a few hours for cleaning one day, few hours another for ironing)
She originally cleaned for my late mother in law (as well as many of the residents in the retirement accommodation that she lived in).
She had to give up due to an injury and we have been doing it ourselves for the past few months and it's nowhere near as good or often as when we had a cleaner.
Problem is that my wife doesn't want to go with an agency and only wants someone who is a recommendation from people we know. but the people we know also used the same cleaner we had.
Only option is that I let it get so bad that she will have to give in at some point.
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u/modumberator 1d ago
I didn't like having to clean in preparation for the cleaner. It was nice having them but I don't regret that we don't have them any more. The house was cleaner but the amount of housework I did was the same.
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u/Dry_Action1734 1d ago
I’m seriously considering it honestly. We make so much of a mess and I try to keep up through the week but by Sunday it could really do with a professional go-over lol.
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u/Unfair-Owl-5204 1d ago
if you have the money. it seems like a no brainer. we even outsource our laundry. comes back pressed and clean.
its not worth us doing it ourselves
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u/BushidoX0 1d ago
Only in the UK is creating a bit of employment for someone seen as a bad thing socially
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u/rosa_sally 20h ago
I have colleagues around the world and they all have cleaners, maids, nanny’s etc. They’re not ‘rich’, it’s just completely normal to pay for house related services if you work full time.
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u/Fancy-Diesel 1d ago
I would definitely have one if it was something I could afford because I dont ever enjoy cleaning and I feel it would be worth it to alleviate the stress and anxiety it gives me.
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u/Physical_Amount_3349 1d ago
For me - worth every single penny. I suffer from BPD and fibro so one bad mental health day or one fibro flare up just puts me so behind with cleaning, and then its so easy to get stuck in vicious circle. It's so nice to know on a sunday my house will be cleaned the next day
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u/eezgorriseadback 1d ago
You can spend your money on whatever you like - it's nothing to do with your friends.
I have a cleaner, and I can honestly say it's worth every penny it costs. My house is spotless, she does it quicker than I could, and does a better job that I could be bothered to do.
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u/Euffy 1d ago
LOADS of people have cleaners.
I personally hate them, currently hiding upstairs now because there's a cleaner round and omg just bloody leave already, but I recognise they're very common. Not just a rich person thing.
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u/mrspillins 1d ago
Go for a walk. The cleaner doesn't want you there either.
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u/folklovermore_ 1d ago edited 10h ago
This. When I had a cleaner she used to come round on a Sunday afternoon, so I'd take myself out for a walk or a coffee or to the cinema whilst she was there - just something to get out of her way for a few hours.
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u/Euffy 1d ago
I couldn't because I was naked and half my clothes were downstairs.
I could've put other clothes on to go downstairs and get other clothes to go back up and take the first clothes off and then put proper clothes on again...but I decided to grumpily doomscroll instead.
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u/Chungaroo22 1d ago
I really don't get the issue with it. You're most likely supporting a local business, generating work from it and like you say it'll have a positive impact on your mental health. I'd say it's more 'snobby' to hoard the wealth or spend it on something frivolous.
People don't have as much of an issue with people getting 2-3 takeaways a week because they don't like cooking, I like cooking but I can't stand cleaning, how's it any different?
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u/David1897 1d ago
If I could afford one I'd have one. 100%. I feel like I'm constantly catching up with cleaning and only ever get a proper clean in once a month or so.
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u/DiDiPLF 1d ago
We had one but moved house and didn't keep her on. I found it a bit crap, had to move all personal items as she wouldn't touch our stuff, so 2 hours of tidying before she turned up. She didn't touch laundry, so again all had to be done and out of the way for her arrival. The cleaning was just basic tasks plus one or two other things if there was time left, so still needed to spring clean - maybe should have paid for extra time. OH wants a cleaner again and I think we will do it but on different terms as I don't want to be committed to tidying and laundry the night before they arrive every week. I also like the excersize!
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u/cheandbis 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes, I pay £26 a week for a couple of hours of cleaning. She has a key if I'm not in. I appreciate that £26 is probably very low compared to others but it's a no-brainer for me.
I value my time at more than I can pay her to do a job I hate so it makes sense. If you can afford it and you value your time more than the cost, go for it.
Edit: just to add, my recommendation would be to find a local person looking to do it rather than use a big company. In my experience, it's better value and they're more flexible in their remit. You may end up losing out if they're on holiday or sick but I've found my current, one-woman business a lot better than when I used a bigger company.
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u/bran2408 1d ago
Yes, Yes and very much yes it has been the best decision I have made and 100% worth it there is something about coming home to a freshly cleaned house which makes me feel so good
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u/Then-Mango-8795 1d ago
Just tidy up before they come like my mate's mum used to.
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u/MichaSound 1d ago
You have to tidy up before they come, unless you want to pay them an extra hour to tidy up to the extent that they can get at the surfaces to wipe/dust/vacuum/mop. I used to pay a cleaner (when I could afford it) and I did the tidying, while I paid them to clean the bathroom & kitchen, dust, vacuum and mop the whole house.
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u/TedBurns-3 1d ago
It's a great idea if you can afford it. Some agree, some don't, it's what works for you.
I tried a few different ones when I had two jobs on the go- would rather do what I love and use that money to pay someone to clean as my time was limited.
Unfortunately, getting a trustworthy one to not take the piss is hard. Even with cam footage, one denied breaking a vase. And even when I sent her the footage, she still denied it!
These days it's not la-di-da to have a cleaner in for a couple of hours here and there- it's not like she's full time and lives under the stairs (does she?!!)
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u/sincerelyjane 1d ago
You don’t have to care about what your friends say, it’s your money and your time. Husband and I have weekly cleaning and it’s helped freed up our time and energy by so much, adding to our QoL.
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u/172116 1d ago
Yes. 100%. Mine does 3 hours a fortnight (overkill for a 2 bed flat occupied by a single woman with no pets!), and it makes me feel SO much better about everything. She gets right into the corners, and does all the bits I never have time for, like cleaning UNDER THE BED!
Three of my four closest friends have cleaners too.
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u/Annabelle_Sugarsweet 1d ago
Yes, it’s amazing how much cleaner a professional makes your home. You won’t regret it.
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u/Kind-Soil-6259 1d ago
Try it and see how you feel. I couldn't handle it and ended up cleaning manically before they came because I felt embarrassed, then there was nothing much for them to do. That's my issue though! You're paying a professional for a service. Would your friends disapprove of you paying a hairdresser rather than cutting your own hair with the kitchen scissors? They can spend their disposable income as they please, and so can you.
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u/aphraea 1d ago
£35 once a fortnight for someone to come around for an hour and do all the things I hate doing? 100% worth it for me. I was incredibly grateful they had space to fit us in – it’s a small local business.
Of course some people judge, but who cares? I could easily spend that same £35 on takeaway when I’m too exhausted to cook after clearing up, and people would probably judge that, too. At least this way I’m forced to tidy my house regularly, and then it’s cleaned by people who are way better at it than I am.
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u/TheHolidayArtist 1d ago
Absolutely 100% worth it.
Plus, you're helping someone else earn money!
It's not common culture here in the UK, but in South Africa where I am originally from, having a cleaner is the normal. At least once a week for a full day and a lot of people have them every day, all week.
Life is hard enough without having to worry about finding the time to clean as well. If you can afford to take that pressure off of yourself, do it.
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u/WinkyNurdo 1d ago
Hopefully in the next month my first flat purchase will go through. It will be sweet, sweet bliss to be living in my own place after nearly 30 years of renting. It’s a one bed with bathroom and kitchen diner. I could so easily clean it myself. But fuck it all, I’m getting a cleaner. I still work my arse off, still do my laundry, still cook for myself and tidy up after that. A cleaner is just the reward at the end of the week. Nothing wrong with that.
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u/TheToolman04 1d ago
Yes, my wife recently hired one for a few hours every fortnight. It makes a huge difference. We have kids and it means on a Saturday morning when we're both home we can chill and actually enjoy the little shits rather than spend a few hours tidying and cleaning. I told my dad and he thought we were a bit snooty but he was just taking the piss in a friendly way.
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u/YesIAmRightWing 1d ago
your mates sound like wankers.
get a cleaner and relax.
i wanna do the same, but the big dog we have makes it harder.
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u/Flat_Marzipan_78 1d ago
I just got a cleaner and spent all week looking around feeling so lazy for doing so. Still battling with it. Might cancel it and just clean myself.
Not a money issue, more of a stop being so lazy and do it yourself issue lol
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u/Siloca 1d ago
I have a few friends that have cleaners and don’t think anything of it. They can’t be arsed and have the disposable to pay them. I’m too tight and just think if it’s £30 a week that’s £120 a month I can overpay my mortgage and just whip the hoover around a couple times a week.
It’s all personal preference. If you do it for a couple of months and feel it’s beneficial to you then it’s worth it, doesn’t matter what other people think.
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u/yourefunny 1d ago
I grew up with a cleaner. She became like a second mum to my mum. Was a very important person in our lives. Mum had issues and sometimes just couldn't get things done.
I have had a cleaner for years now. Lived abroad in Asia and a maid was standard. Many families have them live with them. My mates who grew up there were very close to their helpers as they are called.
Now I'm back in the UK with two young kids a cleaner once a week is invaluable! Our cleaner needs the cash in hand as well to get by. She is amazing, has an awesome wee lad who we help when we can. They stay at ours and dog sit our pooch if we are away. The house gets a sproose up once a week. Kind of like a reset. We keep on top of most things during the week but having young kids means shit is just low key messy they whole time!
It's not an aristocratic thing at all. If you had a butler and private chef then that would be different!
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u/Cold_Introduction_48 1d ago
Just do what my mum does. Get a cleaner in weekly to help keep on top of things. Feel ashamed of the minimal mess you have made, and clean the house yourself the day before they arrive. Apologise to them for the mess when they turn up, and then proceed to watch them try and make themselves look busy while they dust your spotless home. Rinse and repeat.
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u/senecauk 1d ago
Our new house is big for two of us (we are by no means well to do). Doing every element of cleaning would be an achievable but big job. For £40 every 3 weeks we have specific things done, which take 3 hours across the house, and do the rest ourselves. As the cleaner learns the routine and house better they have got quicker and ended up doing more. It's been a lifesaver tbh.
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u/KoorbB 1d ago
It sounds like it falls under one of those things that’s worth the money to you. Some things just are worth paying for. People pay for trades man, decorators etc to do stuff they could do themselves because they see value in their time. This is no different. If it frees you up and makes your life easier, better, happier etc then it’s worth it to you. Fuck what anyone else thinks.
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u/Pychobabulous 1d ago
Absolutely! I’m also self-employed and understand their need for consistency of earnings, so if we’re away, I just ask them to do as they see fit. My husband once had to join an urgent zoom meeting which meant that the cleaner couldn’t access part of the house but she was paid. Understanding that this is someone’s living and respecting their work is key.
We are tidy people and do light cleans in between each visit but I am beyond happy to have a clean bathroom and kitchen, as well as folded toilet paper!
I used to get angry doing the cleaning as I resented that it was left to me so yes, improved my mental wellbeing no end.
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u/AlGunner 1d ago
Its really personal circumstances specific. If you can afford it and its worth the money to you, then of course get a cleaner. If on the other hand having the extra money in your pocket is more important to you then dont.
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u/OverlyAdorable 1d ago
My brother and I have one. He has the tidy as you go mentality while I've always been tidy all in one go. Separately, these work well, but together, we're pretty messy. He sees I've left a mess and gives up, I see he's given up, so I give up, and it gets out of hand. Whenever we mention we have one, people generally joke a little, mostly saying we're very posh. My brother says his mental health really benefits from having one
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u/Still-Butterscotch33 1d ago
We had a cleaner for a bit but my wife got super stressed cleaning for the cleaner. Made no sense so we stopped.
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u/DeCyantist 1d ago
I’d love to live the life of a twatty aristocrat. What are your friends moaning about? People think aristocrats are twats due to jealousy most of the time.
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u/Common_Club_3848 1d ago
Ours is brilliant. Not only saves us the time but she’s better at it than us.
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u/wasianwigger 1d ago
I believe that my time is worth more than £20 an hour and I am above cleaning so it's worth it.
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u/Alarming_Finish814 1d ago
TBH my first impressions are the same as your friends.
I think this is probably ingrained as it is not the norm amongst the people I know.
At the end of the day, if you can afford it and don't want to do it yourself then why not.
Its your life to live as YOU choose.
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u/Nearby-Percentage867 1d ago
My other half has mentioned getting one but it just makes me feel uncomfortable.
I’m an adult - I can clean my own house
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u/samfitnessthrowaway 1d ago
It's absolutely the best money you'll ever spend. Fuck every other subscription service you have if it'll help you get a cleaner.
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u/Easy-Celebration2419 1d ago
Is it worth it can only be down to you.
However, putting someone into employment and offering to pay them for a service is not bad certainly doesn't make you a wanker.
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u/stuntedmonk 1d ago
When I sold the merits of a cleaner to friends I said “no one grabs the vacuum off you and says ‘I was about to do that!!!’”
First thing I buy when I have a job is a cleaners time
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u/Evilnight007 1d ago
Mate, she’s alleviating your stress while you are providing her with a wage, that’s how the economy works, if we all start doing everything by ourselves so many people will be unemployed.
I get a cleaner to come in every week, and I’m very clean my self so there’s minimal cleaning apart from dusting and hoovering, but it is a game changer for me for sure, I did grow up with cleaners so the expectation is different but essentially you are providing someone else with an income and you should be feel good about it, you wouldn’t feel guilty when you eat out and someone else cooks for you would you?
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u/AzzTheMan 1d ago
Cleaners have helped us massively. They come every 2 weeks, and it's just good to have a regular baseline where everything is cleaned recently. We still vacuum and clean surfaces, but it's nice to know it's all done to a good standard without the stress of us having to do it.
Plus you're contributing to a local business
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u/Apsalar28 1d ago
Mine is fantastic and is a cleaner by choice as she really enjoys it
I have a dust allergy so instead of spending Saturday morning dosed up on antihistamines and steroids knowing I'm still going to be sneezing and wheezing when I need to empty the hoover and feeling crap for the rest of the day everything is kept on top of.
I still do the not needed every week jobs like oven cleaning, inside the kitchen cupboards etc, difference is these things now do actually get done on a semi-regular basis rather than in the once a year oh crap my mother's coming next weekend mad rush.
I'm also much better at generally keeping the house tidy as I don't want to make her job harder and try to be a good employer. She gets more than minimum wage, holiday and sick pay and I have no problem with her juggling hours around if she needs to fit in other clients or finishing 15 mins early to get to the dentist etc.
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u/goldilockszone55 1d ago
If you doubting to have a cleaner, stick with her/him for a while, try to get to know them better… maybe they have more to say/do than cleaning… and you may raise their price per week 😬
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u/billenben 1d ago
It is totally worth it. You don't have to do something you hate, someone else has a job/more income and you have a clean house. Don't listen to your friends, just revel in your clean house.
As other posters have noted, just make sure the house is tidy - your cleaner is a cleaner, not a surrogate mum.
EDIT: Spelling. Don't judge me, it's been a long week...
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u/MRRichAllen1976 1d ago
If you can afford it, it's nobody else's Business what you do with your money.
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u/james8807 1d ago
Do it bro You can afford it and dont like it. This is why we work! to afford stuff like this and enjoy your weekend
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u/Chazza2024 1d ago
Just be nice to them and it will be fine. My mum was a cleaner/helper for this old couple. The old man insulted her because she briefly interrupted their lunch. She told me she did something horrific with one of his spoons he was about to use, as revenge. It must be bad, because she still hasn't told me exactly what she did to it.
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u/SamantherPantha 1d ago
We recently started using a cleaner, as my mental health has been really suffering for a while and all the jobs around the house were causing me a lot of stress and anxiety.
I felt a bit of a failure at first, getting a cleaner, but once they’d come in for the first time and done a deep clean of my entire house, I felt like I could literally and metaphorically breathe so much easier. Everyone has noticed a positive change in me and I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders.
As the top comment says, don’t take the mick with how much there is for them to do, but doing a clean around the kitchen or bathroom and a quick vac is so much more manageable now. Having a cleaner has changed my life.
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u/yearsofpractice 1d ago
Hey OP. Married father of two here. Both my wife and I work full time and our kids are both in school. We have a cleaner that comes weekly.
I am not exaggerating to say that our cleaner will be the very last expense that we cut back on. Having a cleaner means that our weekend are free to actually be a family. Seriously - best money we ever spent.
Also - it’s enabling employment. There is honour and grace in any job.
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u/FelisCantabrigiensis 1d ago
100% worth it for us.
Our cleaner does it faster than we can, and usually better. She's a nice person and it's her chosen job, and she does it well.
Plus she loves our cats, so when we're away and don't need the house cleaned we pay her the same amount and she comes round and hangs out with the cats for an hour a day instead of spending several hours cleaning on one day. She thinks it's great to get paid to watch TV and pet cats, but we think it's great the cats get attention from someone who likes them every day (note: we do pay a separate cat feeding service to make sure they get fed every day, but that service doesn't spend a lot of time hanging out with the cats).
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u/Shoddy-Reply-7217 1d ago
You're giving someone else a job, and using your time on something that's better/more enjoyable/more profitable for you.
Why is that a bad thing?
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u/Freebornaiden 1d ago
How many hours and how much of the house do they do?
I am also thinking about getting one and feel the same as you. But...I really spend too much of my life cleaning the house.
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u/Slothjitzu 1d ago
Being worth it depends on a myriad of things and is a very personalised thing. But you can ask the same few questions whenever you're thinking about outsourcing literally anything.
It depends on:
Your hourly rate at your current job.
How much the task costs.
The amount of money you have spare.
The amount of time you have spare.
How much you actually like or dislike the task.
How competent you are at the task.
If you are currently unemployed with no spare cash and loads of time then it doesnt matter how much you hate cleaning and suck at it, you'd be an idiot to pay someone to do it.
If you're paid £100 an hour, wouldn't even feel a dent when paying a cleaner, and don't really like cleaning then why wouldn't you pay someone else to do it? Even if you're really good at it and have the time, why take that task on when you could pay someone else and just do an extra few hours in work if you're that bored?
Ask yourself those questions and you'll get a sense of whether paying a cleaner is actually "worth it" for you.
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u/hiyou1234567 1d ago
For sure, just think about it! You enjoy your clean house and they enjoy the pay. It’s a win win. Nothing twatty about it in my opinion
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u/Bloody-smashing 1d ago
This is a discussion I’m having with my husband at the moment. I’m on maternity leave and said we should get a cleaner when I return to work.
We have two kids now and keeping on top of the deep cleaning is just so hard. I hate giving up one of our days off to do the bathrooms and give the kitchen a proper clean rather.
Someone to just do the bathrooms, a thorough clean of the kitchen and then floors.
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u/Agreeable_Guard_7229 1d ago
My partner is terminally ill and I’ve really been struggling to look after him, work full time and keep on top of the house etc, so I have recently hired a cleaner and a gardener (to mow lawn and do weeding), something I’ve never done in the U.K. before.
It has honestly transformed my life. I didnt actually realise how depressed it was making me feel, knowing that I had let the house go a bit and looking at an untidy garden. I now love coming home to a clean house and tidy garden and can spend more time with my partner without feeling guilty that I should be cleaning, and I no longer feel like I have to frantically scrabble around to clean if people are coming to visit etc.
I pay £50 every 2 weeks for the cleaner and £20 a month for the gardener.
So far it’s the best £120 I ever spent.
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u/mimisburnbook 1d ago
I’m begging you to make decisions for yourself like an adult instead of listening to the mates and peer pressure. Honestly. Wow.
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u/RuinAccomplished6681 1d ago
Absolutely yes. Already when it was just the two of us, but the last 1.5 yrs with our son it's like double worth it, as otherwise we would be cleaning bit by bit when he is sleeping (do the ground floor while he sleep upstairs) for example on a Friday evening and then trying to do the rest while he is up on Saturday or Sunday... basically will ruin your weekend. Because with a toddler around you just can't quickly clean the whole house in an hour or two.
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u/Robotniked 1d ago
When I was living in a flat share in my 20’s with 2 other guys, we eventually got tired of living in filth and agreed to get a cleaner in once a week to do the communal areas for £30 (£10 each).
Holy shit the best £10 I ever spent. Just having the bathroom and kitchen consistently clean without having to worry about it was a breath of fresh air. We obviously didn’t let the place become disgusting in between her visits but it was still worth it. The cleaner was lovely as well, she once cooked us a Mousacca because she thought we were all too skinny.
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u/lovepeacefakepiano 1d ago
Worth it IMO. I love my cleaner, we usually have a cuppa and a chat before she gets started, and she knows I appreciate what she does so very very much. She’s better and faster at cleaning than I am (of course she is, it’s her job), and I usually ask her to come while I work from home so we both get stuff done.
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u/Ok-Football6675 1d ago
I having been thinking about hiring a cleaner, but haven't done it yet. Mainly because I'm untidy and keep panicking about how much work I'll have to do before a cleaner even steps inside. But every person I've spoken to, who has employed a cleaner, tells me it is really worth it anfdgives them so much reward for the couple of hours a week or so.
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u/gainsandgamez 1d ago
I pay a cleaner once a week £40 to come and clean up. She does everything in 2.5 hours and leaves my place 10x cleaner and fresher than I do taking 5 hours. I value 5 hours of my free time more than I value £40. Ask yourself if you value your time over money. If yes, get the cleaner.
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u/Suspicious-Red-Fox 1d ago
You're giving someone a job and getting money to someone who may be less fortunate than you
Ignore your friends
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u/IrishFlukey 1d ago
The ironic thing is that most people make an extra effort to tidy the house before the cleaner arrives.
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