Once a week person to help clean house? -is that too often

frameloss
frameloss Posts: 92 Member
in Motivation and Support
Both my husband and I work full time. Currently we have a person to clean the house once every 2 weeks, and I would like once a week. We have one 3 year old and are thinking of a second? I work 50 hours a week and he does the same. Am I asking for too much?
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Replies

  • Medwayguy
    Medwayguy Posts: 69
    Yes
  • Car0lynnM
    Car0lynnM Posts: 332 Member
    I have someone clean every two weeks, but I would do once a week if I could afford it. If you can swing it, and your cleaning person has the time, go for it.
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    Same situation; husband and I were both working and had young children at home. I used to have someone come in once per week. It was such a relief!
  • dakitten2
    dakitten2 Posts: 888 Member
    If it allows you more time with your family, then go for it!

    My parents was doing the once every 2 weeks and have now changed to weekly.

    When we were growing up, we had a daily maid, both parents were managers at IBM, working long hours and there was 5 kids. She did the daily household chores and fixed dinner nightly.
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    I am a single person in a 2 bed apartment, and my cleaners come in for 90 mins every week - so no I don't think it is too much.
    Much better to use your spare time with your family doing things that is important
  • cyberblonde
    cyberblonde Posts: 100 Member
    I have a weekly cleaner and she does all of my ironing, love it. She comes for 2.5 hrs per week for the cleaning and we live in a 4 bed house. She does the same things every week really so i still need to deep clean each room from time to time. Still have loads and loads of tidying to do with a 3 and 5 year old!
  • Tsunami79
    Tsunami79 Posts: 122 Member
    I will come clean your house for you.
  • djc315
    djc315 Posts: 585 Member
    Go for it. My best friend has someone come in once a week to clean, she has 3 kids (ages 7, 22mos, and 6mos). It is a huge help for her. If it helps you out, why not?
  • stroynaya
    stroynaya Posts: 326 Member
    If you can afford it and think you need it, it's not too much, especially if it keeps the stress factor low.
  • Medwayguy
    Medwayguy Posts: 69
    Still say yes
  • desiv2
    desiv2 Posts: 651 Member
    I wish I could get someone to clean the house once a week! If you can afford it then go for it. Life has much better things to enjoy than to waste time cleaning. lol
  • spoonful
    spoonful Posts: 200 Member
    Get a live-in housekeeper.
  • MichelleLaree13
    MichelleLaree13 Posts: 865 Member
    If it is in the budget, then go for it. Also I would weigh the amount you are paying someone else vs the amount you make at work. I make 40 and hour. So I would rather pay someone 10 an hour to work for 4 hours while I am at work an extra hour. (My fiance and I do our own cleaning but have considered hiring someone).
  • frameloss
    frameloss Posts: 92 Member
    thanks all! I think we can swing it, but my other half doesn't think so? He works from home and thinks besids not needing it, it disturbs him. I say maybe we can find someone on the weekends or do every 10 days, but not sure he will budge.

    Looks like once every 2 weeks will have to be for now, but still trying to get once a week! I just feel like with working, responsible for drop off and pick up from day care that I can't ever keep things as clean as I would like or do anything as good as I would like. Including being able to take some time for myself.

    That being said, I realize this is not a huge issue, just something I would like:).
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Still say yes

    There are worse things to spend money on than a clean house.

    And it gives someone else an income. Win-win.
  • missprincessgina
    missprincessgina Posts: 446 Member
    No, not at all. I don't even work and we have 2 cleaning ladies that work every week.
  • Sojaided34
    Sojaided34 Posts: 113
    Does nobody clean their own places anymore? How messy can your house be if you can't clean it? I have four kids, a dog, a cat and we both worked at one point. I managed to clean my house, do my shopping, kids to school etc and get to work on time. It's called time management. What kind of message does it send to your children if you can't even clean up after yourselves? Sorry just my opinion.
  • kenazfehu
    kenazfehu Posts: 1,188 Member
    Does nobody clean their own places anymore? How messy can your house be if you can't clean it? I have four kids, a dog, a cat and we both worked at one point. I managed to clean my house, do my shopping, kids to school etc and get to work on time. It's called time management. What kind of message does it send to your children if you can't even clean up after yourselves? Sorry just my opinion.

    There's still plenty of daily pickup that needs to be done even if you have someone come in to clean. As someone said above, it gives somebody else a job/income, and you get a little more free time. Win-win!
  • Medwayguy
    Medwayguy Posts: 69
    After pondering this for another 17 seconds I still say : yes
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    I am a single woman in a 2 bedroom apartment and I have a wonderful helper. I'm a clean freak and keep my place pretty tide. I do the laundry, do dishes, I vacuum every other day and wet clean my floors every day. But I need extra cleaning once a week and she does t. It takes her 1.5 hours. Actually we do it together bcs I'm also a control freak. :)))
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    I don't see how anyone can give a definitive "yes" or "no" answer on this one - it totally depends on individual circumstances. It also depends on what you mean by "cleaning". Someone above has already said that includes ironing, for them. My husband works from home, I work full time, we used to have a cleaner who came once a fortnight just to do the floors - hoover top to bottom and wash all the lino floors in the kitchen, hall, bathroom. She left and we haven't found a replacement yet, so we take a couple of hours out of our weekend to do this, but I'd rather it got done during the week.
  • eireannyoung
    eireannyoung Posts: 154 Member
    I have cleaned other people's houses when I needed extra money. When I do have extra money and not enough time/energy, I will occasionally pay a friend to help me deep-clean my home if needed. If it saves you time and helps someone else earn some extra money, why not? Go for it.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    It's your money; spend it as you wish.

    When I had 1-3 kids I had a cleaner 1x/week. After 4 kids, we went to 2x a week. Do you know how much laundry we have?!?!?!

    I've had some people get all in a huff over it. So what? I cook nearly every meal and pack lunches every day for the kids, I'm a soap and water (no fancy skincare) once-a-year haircut kind of gal, don't get nails done, we drive cars til they die, don't watch TV, don't have cable (BTW I can't BELIEVE how much people spend on cable!!), so there you go.
  • sleepytexan
    sleepytexan Posts: 3,138 Member
    Does nobody clean their own places anymore? How messy can your house be if you can't clean it? I have four kids, a dog, a cat and we both worked at one point. I managed to clean my house, do my shopping, kids to school etc and get to work on time. It's called time management. What kind of message does it send to your children if you can't even clean up after yourselves? Sorry just my opinion.

    I can't believe that people spend money on cable. I haven't watched TV in about 9 years. I spend that money on housekeepers BECAUSE I WANT TO.

    Actually, I think a housekeeper is cheaper than cable.
  • animatorswearbras
    animatorswearbras Posts: 1,001 Member
    Does nobody clean their own places anymore? How messy can your house be if you can't clean it? I have four kids, a dog, a cat and we both worked at one point. I managed to clean my house, do my shopping, kids to school etc and get to work on time. It's called time management. What kind of message does it send to your children if you can't even clean up after yourselves? Sorry just my opinion.

    My fiance and I both work 50 hour weeks, if I had kids and the spare cash I'd hire someone to help out once a week, I'd rather spend those few extra hours with my kids if I worked as much as this person does than washing windows and ironing, crikey even if it's to get her a couple of extra hours off to have a cuppa tea. Fair enough you can manage your time but I bet you're always off your feet busy, if it gives you a break what's the harm. And I don't think it gives this person any sort of negative message to her kids at all, my Mum used to hire a man to wash the windows once a month, I don't think I stewed thinking "god I've got such bone idle parents" it was just a thing that happened among other things a fairly neutral memory and message if you will, judgey mcjudge pants.
  • Susanthecatwhisperer
    Susanthecatwhisperer Posts: 141 Member
    I tried twice to have someone clean the house. Both were a disaster! The first one was a pet sitting/house cleaning service. The second she came into the house, she said cats freak her out. (Strike 1) She cleaned pretty well, got some things that I usually ignore (like cabinets in the pantry), but didn't clean as well as I do (didn't move the couch, or vacuum under the base board heaters, or refrigerator). (Strike 2). When leaving, I was going to give her another chance in 2 weeks, but she didn't have a schedule, and was going to call me to set it up, but never did. Instead she called screaming at me that she scheduled me, and I wasn't there. (Strike 3)
    The next person/people was a friends recommendation. Two ladies cleaned after a kitchen gut & re-sheet rock job. Very messy!!! They did a great job, but broke some collectibles, and just left them on the shelf. Never said anything.
    I've decided, if I want it done right, I'll do it myself. I need to burn the calories anyway.
  • Medwayguy
    Medwayguy Posts: 69
    Just checked with God, The answer is still yes....
    Left a message for Santa so just waiting on a return call, will keep you posted ok ;)
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    Just checked with God, The answer is still yes....
    Left a message for Santa so just waiting on a return call, will keep you posted ok ;)

    Why would God have anything against it? :) I doubt it :)

    What do you personally have against it? If its more convenient for someone, why would you care? If someone prefers to eat at a restaurant instead of cooking at home, would you consider it against your rules? What about dry cleaning? What about hair and nail salons? What about babysitters?
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Weekly is great, we've done that for several years -- but also have a list of deep clean projects for that person to do on a rotating basis. Like wiping down woodwork, deep cleaning of rooms (woodwork, windows, window treatments), etc. We pay someone to do the cleaning so that we have fun time with our kids -- the time is worth more to us than the money is.

    That said, don't let your kids dump on the cleaning person (they shouldn't dump on you either). They have to learn to pick up clothes, put them in the hamper if they're dirty, hang them up if they're not, put clean clothes away, put toys etc away so the cleaning person can do their job, and other chores.

    At 13 and 9, mine do some of the laundry, bus dishes, load/unload the dishwasher, fold the linens, etc. And as the kids get older, they can earn some money (for college, high school activities, whatever) by taking on the cleaning.
  • Medwayguy
    Medwayguy Posts: 69
    Santa just checked in: as I thought, he said yes also....

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