Anyone get rid of their cleaning people/person ~ was it manageable?

[StitchBuddy]

I have a cleaning DD13 does that count?? Actually, I do pay her to do things that need to be done that are not in the normal day to day stuff. We have a large house and there is no way I could do it by myself and work full time. So, I pay my daughter for things like all the basebaords. I paid her $40 to clean them all this summer. Win-win for us. She wants the money and learns how to keep a house and I don't have to do chores I don't like or have time to do. She is an awesome cleaner!! Now, don't ask about her own room! Ha, ha!!

 

[drcmk]

Currently they come every other week - there is usually 4 ladies and it takes them a little more than 1.5 hours to do the cleaning. My husband thinks our kids (one turning 7 and one is 3) should be able to help out more, etc.

That makes it easy. If it takes four people 1.5 hours, the two of you need to find six extra hours to do the same work. I think it is great to involve the kids in cleaning, but honestly, at their age, you are going to have to go behind your kids and redo what they do, so it won't save you any time.

For me, the amount of money that I spend on my cleaning service-- about $115 each time they visit--is clearly worth six hours of my time since I value time with my family or pursuing my hobbies at more than $19 per hour and so does my spouse.

Everyone's judgement there will be different.

 

[jcgonczi]

We got rid of our cleaning lady and IT SUCKS! I am a SAHM with 3 kids. I am busy and kids are messy! I spend so much time cleaning up the day to day gunk, that it is hard to get to the deeper stuff. Last month we slept on the same sheets for the entire month because I couldn't find the time to change them.

I don't want to spend so much of my time taking care of my house and things. I know that sounds lazy, but it is not meant that way. There are just so many other things I would rather be doing with my time. However, as with most things, whether or not to have a cleaning lady is a trade off between time and money. Right now for us the money wins.

 

[Chelley00]

DH and I both work full time, have 4 kids with busy sports schedules, a dog and a cat. I have NEVER in my life had a cleaning lady.

I spend 15-20 minutes 2 or 3 days a week cleaning after the kids go to bed, and on the weekends we finish what I couldn't get done during the week. The kids are expected to keep their rooms picked up and anything they get out downstairs, and occasionally they will help with chores on weekends if I need them too. We don't spend our entire weekend cleaning, but once in awhile we have to do the chores before we can go play.

If everyone pitches in, things get done, and we are teaching the kids to be responsible for their messes and to help out as part of a family.

 

[QVCshopper]

I've never had one, but I think a cleaner would make life easier if you have small children and work full-time. I have small children and work part-time at night, so I work cleaning/laundry into my day, as my husband does at night. It's about teamwork; we do equal work and get the job done. It would be nice to have a cleaner and I could afford it, but I think I'm ultimately too cheap to ever get one.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I'd suggest getting organized. Look into Fly Lady online for help. She's great!

 

[windycitymom]

I'm the frugal one, but I LOVE having my house cleaned! I would cut the budget elsewhere. Typically, one lady comes in for about 5 hours, and I pay her $70 (4 bedroom home). It is a polish cleaning service so sometimes the ladies don't speak English, but the owner does. I'm always home when they clean. They also change sheets. It takes time to prep for a cleaning because I need to clear up the clutter and papers - but it's a good thing, otherwise, the piles would grow. Sometimes for budgetary reasons they don't come in as often as I would like, but I would never totally give it up.

I just had my house cleaned so now I can put up ALL of my Christmas decorations in a clean house!

For those who need a cleaning lady, ask your friends and neighbors whom they use. Word of mouth is good.

 

[pearlieq]

If you don't HAVE to cancel it, I sure wouldn't!

Cleaning is time-consuming and unpleasant. It also leads to plenty of "but you said you would vaccum!" bickering.

As long as I have the means, I will be paying someone to clean my house. I have better things to do with my time and energy!

 

[Anjelica]

We ended up NOT getting rid of our cleaning folks (glad we didn't). Unless we can't afford it or one of us is no longer working we don't have any plans of getting rid of them.

 

[counselormom]

Nooooo!!!! Don't do it. I let my husband talk me into it a year ago and I regret it every weekend, after a long week at work, I'm spending hours
on Saturday cleaning instead of spending time with my kids.

 

[nicki.momof3]

If I can do it, anyone can.

This is statement assumes that you work more, have more kids, and a larger house than anyone else.

I have had a cleaning lady and not had one. My husband works 11.5 hours days (only off one Wed. and Sunday) and I am a full time high school English teacher (I see 180 students a day - 5 classes x 36 kids per class). I also have 3 children under the age of 6.

Between grading a ton of papers everynight, spending time with my kids, helping my kids with their homework, making dinner / dishes, bed, and bath (My husband does not arrive home until after bedtime every night) the last thing I have time for is deep house cleaning.

We can not afford a weekly cleaning lady but we have found a nice medium in a bi-weekly one. She does all the deep cleaning and I do surface cleaning daily.

It has ment less $$ to spend on "extras" such as dinners out and movies but it is worth it in time. If I had to spent every weekend / evening deep cleaning it would have a huge (negative) impact on my childrens quality of life.

So my advise to the OP is if you can keep her - do it. Maybe reduce the frequency if you have to.

 

[eeyore81]

My vote is not to cancel. We were without a cleaning lady for 3 weeks until we could find a new one. It was horrible. My husband and I both work and neither one of us wanted to clean on the weekends. We have a cleaning lady 2 days a week and I could not do without it. I would definitely cut out other things in our budget before I would cancel the cleaning lady.

 

[CanBeGrumpy]

I don't have a cleaning lady, if I could find someone that would do a good job, and if I weren't so cheap I'd think about it. For those of you that use a chain...do they really clean or is it surface ? I remember from "Nickled and Dimed" the author was appalled at how they were taught to make it look nice, but no real cleaning. Gross. ....

That book ("Nickled and Dimed") is one of the big reasons I won't hire a cleaning person/service. In addition to what is mentioned above by the previous poster, the author also said they reused the cleaning cloths from house to house, so someone else's bathroom germs were now all over your bathroom. I just can't handle the thought of that.

Also, my house is continually a complete wreck, so no cleaning person would even want the job, I'm sure. Now, a personal chef, THAT is something I would LOVE!!!!!

 

[nicki.momof3]

DH and I both work full time, have 4 kids with busy sports schedules, a dog and a cat. I have NEVER in my life had a cleaning lady.

I spend 15-20 minutes 2 or 3 days a week cleaning after the kids go to bed, and on the weekends we finish what I couldn't get done during the week. The kids are expected to keep their rooms picked up and anything they get out downstairs, and occasionally they will help with chores on weekends if I need them too. We don't spend our entire weekend cleaning, but once in awhile we have to do the chores before we can go play.

If everyone pitches in, things get done, and we are teaching the kids to be responsible for their messes and to help out as part of a family.

I agree with the everyone pitches in concept - we also do that. However, I think there a lot of factors (size of house and level of expected cleaning desired). There is no way my house could be cleaned in 15-20 minutes day 2-3 days a week even if all 5 of us did it. Washing the floors and scrubbing the showers takes that much time.

When I clean my house I expect it very clean - a half done, quick job is not acceptable.

 

[JeannieNM]

Since it is not an economic issue, I would not get rid of your cleaning lady especially if she or he is good. Three years ago my housekeeper left because she was pregnant, two more kids later she is back. I had a cleaning person who did what I call spit and polish but did not really clean while she was gone, I was never so happy as when she called and told me she could come back. MY housekeeper is back and comes twice a week, would do anything in the world to keep her, I am generous with leave and bonus for that very reason. Good luck with your decision.

 

[graygables]

We/I have never had a cleaning person/service. I am used to just doing it myself. I work FT and have always just set aside a couple hours per week for cleaning. If you keep things "picked up" it doesn't take that much time...really. We do laundry as we get a full load so that it doesn't pile up. I do deep cleaning in the spring and again in the fall windows, closets, etc. Our house is very clean.

I am surprised at the number of people that hire someone to clean. I would rather save the $$ for Disney.

I have always said that I will never pay someone to do something I can do myself. Last year, I worked full-time (in an internship, so 50-55 hours/week), went to grad school full-time, homeschooled 2 kids, all as a single mom and still cleaned my own house. Well, OK, the kids helped. We still had time to do things as a family. I teach my kids that work is part of life and that includes maintaining one's living space. Leisure time is earned after hard work. First things first, and all that.

I also am a Flylady proponent. Her system is extremely adaptable and works very well. My "control journal" is in a rolodex while my friends have a binder and one uses a pocket photo album. It really is a matter of finding what works for you.

Here are some things that make maintenance easier and reduce the big cleaning jobs:
Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner
Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-a-Clean (bathroom counters)
bleach tabs in the toilets
basic toilet brush (daily swishes), we do use a disposable in DDs' bathroom
steam mop
Magic Erasers (esp in the kitchen)
Scotch Brite cooktop cleaner (glass-top range)
Swiffer dusters w/ extending handles

Maintaining is really so much easier than trying to do "big" cleaning. I might do that a few times a year, but it's hardly ever necessary. 5 minutes here, 15 minutes there, everyone picks up after himself, and things look pretty good.

 

[mhsjax]

I agree with the everyone pitches in concept - we also do that. However, I think there a lot of factors (size of house and level of expected cleaning desired). There is no way my house could be cleaned in 15-20 minutes day 2-3 days a week even if all 5 of us did it. Washing the floors and scrubbing the showers takes that much time.

When I clean my house I expect it very clean - a half done, quick job is not acceptable.

This. I want 100% clean. I am crazy. Also if you have a cleaning lady that comes every other week or even once a week, if you have kids and or an animal, you need to clean in between. Also, kids don't do that great of a job, and they can learn in between cleaning sessions.

 

[mhsjax]

I have always said that I will never pay someone to do something I can do myself. Last year, I worked full-time (in an internship, so 50-55 hours/week), went to grad school full-time, homeschooled 2 kids, all as a single mom and still cleaned my own house. Well, OK, the kids helped. We still had time to do things as a family. I teach my kids that work is part of life and that includes maintaining one's living space. Leisure time is earned after hard work. First things first, and all that.

I also am a Flylady proponent. Her system is extremely adaptable and works very well. My "control journal" is in a rolodex while my friends have a binder and one uses a pocket photo album. It really is a matter of finding what works for you.

Here are some things that make maintenance easier and reduce the big cleaning jobs:
Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner
Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-a-Clean (bathroom counters)
bleach tabs in the toilets
basic toilet brush (daily swishes), we do use a disposable in DDs' bathroom
steam mop
Magic Erasers (esp in the kitchen)
Scotch Brite cooktop cleaner (glass-top range)
Swiffer dusters w/ extending handles

Maintaining is really so much easier than trying to do "big" cleaning. I might do that a few times a year, but it's hardly ever necessary. 5 minutes here, 15 minutes there, everyone picks up after himself, and things look pretty good.

wow, all of that and you didn't cure world hunger. Did you create more hours in a week or am I misunderstanding. worked 50 hours, plus your own school, plus home schooled your kids. Did I miss something?

 

[graygables]

wow, all of that and you didn't cure world hunger. Did you create more hours in a week or am I misunderstanding. worked 50 hours, plus your own school, plus home schooled your kids. Did I miss something?

Math class?
168 hours in a week.
55 for work.
10 for grad school.
10 for homeschooling (it doesn't take homeschooled kids as long to do their work, plus mine are old enough that a fair bit does not involve me)
49 for sleep

That leaves me 6.5 hours per day (average) for other things. Utilizing my time wisely allowed me to do all of that. In that 6.5 hours, I also prepared homemade meals (no processed foods), repaired plumbing, painted walls, gardened, and still found time to do some fun stuff with the kids along the way (not the world hunger part, of course ) Hard does not mean impossible.

A little bit of daily maintenance goes a very long way to reducing the need for the clean-a-thon that so many people seem to think is necessary. Time management is a beautiful thing.

 

[mhsjax]

Math class?
168 hours in a week.
55 for work.
10 for grad school.
10 for homeschooling (it doesn't take homeschooled kids as long to do their work, plus mine are old enough that a fair bit does not involve me)
49 for sleep

That leaves me 6.5 hours per day (average) for other things. Utilizing my time wisely allowed me to do all of that. In that 6.5 hours, I also prepared homemade meals (no processed foods), repaired plumbing, painted walls, gardened, and still found time to do some fun stuff with the kids along the way (not the world hunger part, of course ) Hard does not mean impossible.

A little bit of daily maintenance goes a very long way to reducing the need for the clean-a-thon that so many people seem to think is necessary. Time management is a beautiful thing.

Sorry, just assumed you commute time, homework time, kid activity time. I also know someone that worked full time and got her masters and it darn near killed her and that was without kids. I have a relative that did all you do but didn't work and she was never still, but her house was immaculate, so there was no need to insult my math skills. Seems like a little much to me, but hey, I loved my cleaning lady, and my kids still leaned how to do it. In fact we just purchased a new vacuum and my son had to try it because like he said, he is the one that vacuums.