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

[SaraJayne]

Again, it's not a matter of being ABLE to do it. I am CHOOSING to do it because that time spent cleaning is less time for the kids. I CHOSE to stay home to spend time with them...not to deep clean my house. It's no different than a working person CHOOSING to spend their time at home doing other things except cleaning, also. And if I can afford it, SAHM or not....so be it. But to think for a SECOND that I sit around eating bon bons because I have a cleaning service is just ignorant.

I've been on both sides, and I can see where someone who has never stayed home with kids would think that. I once did. But I will say it over and over again...working and not staying home was way easier than staying home with kids.

I am a SAHM and have been since my firstborn was 6 months old.

 

[shortbun]

Does anyone else find it ironic that there are so many people who pay for a cleaning service and they are discussing it on the Budget Board???

It's in my budget because I don't go out to eat or buy expensive clothes, shoes, bags, accomodations, cars....and I do not accumulate credit card debt.

 

[SaraJayne]

Does anyone else find it ironic that there are so many people who pay for a cleaning service and they are discussing it on the Budget Board???

Yup.

 

[mhsjax]

Yup.

Don't know why you are so quick to say Yup. Do you go on vacations? My dad thought they were a total waste of money. Do you ever eat out? Do you have pets? Again could be thought of as a total waste of money. Your computer, do you need it for work, do you need a cell phone, an other conveniences. Again, why so judgmental, just because you don't have one and don't want one doesn't mean that others wouldn't love one or that others would refuse to part with theirs.

 

[Figment1990]

This is an interesting post to me because I was just debating this over the weekend.

We have someone who comes every week, actually, two ladies. It kills me every week to write the check. Not necessarily because I would rather be saving the money, but because i'm not exactly happy with the results.

We started off having her come every other week about 5 years ago, but that was when it was only DH and I, and since we both worked long hours, the house was really not that messy. Almost a year after DS was born when the holiday season started, I had her come every week, and we just kept her at every week since then. For the most part the house looks fine. I love coming home to vacuumed carpets. And this past year, I've had an injury that would not have enabled me to do the cleaning myself. Like PP have said, the time we do not spend cleaning enables us to have a little more time together on the weekends, or breathing room during the week.

The last few months, I've noticed our floors just do not look that clean. Then last week, neither do my bathrooms and I found makeup spilled on my dressing table. Now I don't expect her to move toys off the floor if I forgot to, or for her to move excessive things on shelves to dust around. But the makeup was just splattered there on my desk, with one swipe in it, like she took a quick swipe at it, but left it there. Fortunately it's a very old desk and laquered so no harm, but still - I expected it to actually be clean!

Anyhow, so I don't know what to do. I know that she does mostly surface cleaning, and alternates in some more detail work, like baseboards and windows every so often. But she's supposed to dust the lightfixtures (like kitchen and dining chandliers) all the time and I looked up and saw a cobweb having dinner with us the other night! Ick!

So last week I said: if I'm going to have to reclean a bunch of stuff, I might as well clean and put the money towards a second Disney trip!

Any advice? I don't know how to approach her. We never agreed on services too much because when I hired her I had no idea what to expect. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong. My house is definitely not messy - my family is very very neat (DS 3 doesn't spill paint or food or anything), and we have a little clutter but DH and I are a little picky so not that much.

Maybe I can say something to her like: Is there a different product you recommend for the floors and toilets? I noticed they don't seem to be looking as clean as they used to. Do you recommend a deep cleaning product to be used every so often?

???

 

[mookie]

Does anyone else find it ironic that there are so many people who pay for a cleaning service and they are discussing it on the Budget Board???

Now I'm starting to wonder...how is this any different from someone who goes and gets their car washed? Couldn't you do that at home too? Anyone that goes to a car wash is lazy.

Do you have a dishwasher? Couldn't you be washing them by hand? Again...lazy.

Do you order out? You could be making your own meals. Anyone who orders out must be lazy.

This could go on and on. The point is, people pay for conveniences all the time. To judge what we spend our money on if we can afford it is wrong, because I'm sure that you spend your money on some sort of convenience item, too. The budget board is here for people to make their money go as far as they can so they can afford the things that they want. It's not always about people who are scraping by and looking to cut corners to provide the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. If you look through the threads, it's about saving money for WDW, or buying the latest Christmas gift. These are all luxury items....just like a cleaning service is.

 

[princesspeach]

Keep the cleaning lady!!!

I would love to have one, but I am not sure how to go about finding one.

How did you find yours? And how did you go about trusting that person in your home? Any tips would be appreciated.

Word of mouth is best. Do any of your neighbors or coworkers have a cleaning person. The agencies will charge 3x as much to clean your house. I would look for somebody that works for themselves. You can hang around while they clean until you get to know them. Ours is like a member of our family now. She has been with us 6 years. I trust her completely and she watches our house for us when we take vacations. Good luck.

 

[mookie]

Don't know why you are so quick to say Yup. Do you go on vacations? My dad thought they were a total waste of money. Do you ever eat out? Do you have pets? Again could be thought of as a total waste of money. Your computer, do you need it for work, do you need a cell phone, an other conveniences. Again, why so judgmental, just because you don't have one and don't want one doesn't mean that others wouldn't love one or that others would refuse to part with theirs.

mhsjax, you are in my head!!!!

 

[declansdad]

Now I'm starting to wonder...how is this any different from someone who goes and gets their car washed? Couldn't you do that at home too? Anyone that goes to a car wash is lazy.

Do you have a dishwasher? Couldn't you be washing them by hand? Again...lazy.

Do you order out? You could be making your own meals. Anyone who orders out must be lazy.

This could go on and on. The point is, people pay for conveniences all the time. To judge what we spend our money on if we can afford it is wrong, because I'm sure that you spend your money on some sort of convenience item, too. The budget board is here for people to make their money go as far as they can so they can afford the things that they want. It's not always about people who are scraping by and looking to cut corners to provide the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter. If you look through the threads, it's about saving money for WDW, or buying the latest Christmas gift. These are all luxury items....just like a cleaning service is.

Why are you so defensive?

I think it is ironic because I look at the budget board as a place to go to get tips on how to save money, not spend it.

For the record, I didn't call anyone lazy. However, we did have a cleaning lady at one time and I thought it was a complete waste of money.

 

[princesspeach]

Does anyone else find it ironic that there are so many people who pay for a cleaning service and they are discussing it on the Budget Board???

I didn't realize the budget board was just for poor people. Do you think us middle to upperclass people don't have budgets. A budget is a budget whether you make 20,000 a year or 200,000 a year. We all have have budgets to live on. Do they need to rename this board the low income budget board?

 

[mookie]

Why are you so defensive?

I think it is ironic because I look at the budget board as a place to go to get tips on how to save money, not spend it.

For the record, I didn't call anyone lazy. However, we did have a cleaning lady at one time and I thought it was a complete waste of money.

I'm not defensive at all, and if it came across that way, I do apologize. I totally agree with you, it is somewhat ironic. But, I like the budget board so I can save money....for the other things that I want to spend money on. I like a good deal, and it helps me to be able to get ones on the more expensive things I want. I never thought you called me lazy, I was responding to SaraJayne's posts.

 

[declansdad]

I didn't realize the budget board was just for poor people. Do you think us middle to upperclass people don't have budgets. A budget is a budget whether you make 20,000 a year or 200,000 a year. We all have have budgets to live on. Do they need to rename this board the low income budget board?

Did I say that? When I think of looking for ways to save money, I don't think of paying for a cleaning staff for my home.

 

[SaraJayne]

Don't know why you are so quick to say Yup. Do you go on vacations? My dad thought they were a total waste of money. Do you ever eat out? Do you have pets? Again could be thought of as a total waste of money. Your computer, do you need it for work, do you need a cell phone, an other conveniences. Again, why so judgmental, just because you don't have one and don't want one doesn't mean that others wouldn't love one or that others would refuse to part with theirs.

I said it was my opinion, which we are all allowed to express.

Why are you so defensive about being a SAHP and having a cleaning lady?

I think this is another regional difference that is often talked about.

And for those saying I'm jealous, no, I'm not. People that know me know what my house looks like.

 

[princesspeach]

Did I say that? When I think of looking for ways to save money, I don't think of paying for a cleaning staff for my home.

When I browse through these boards. I think there is a lot of things people spend money on that I would consider a waste a money, but I would never comment on it or tell them its a waste of money. Its their money. You may consider a cleaning person a waste of money, but for me its one the best investments I have ever made. It allows me the freedom to work more hours if I want and I make 10x more a day than I pay I pay my cleaning lady to come in and clean for a day. There is all different ways to look at things.

 

[Minnesota!]

We work 40+ hours a week (he works closer to 50), we both are in school full time, and have 2 kids. We don't have a cleaning person. Finding a routine is key. We do a "pickup" everyday. Meaning putting thing back where they belong, vaccuming, sweeping, cleaning the toilet and keeping up on the laundry. Plus dishes. Takes about 15 minutes out of the day. Saturday mornings are our big clean day. Dusting, organizing, going through the pile on the counter that accumulates during the week, bedding washed, walls washed, floors mopped, etc. It takes about 1 hour out of the day. So...I spend about 2.5 hours a week cleaning...and I save a lot of money! My kids (ages 6 and 3) have chores, too. The older one is responsible for gathering all the laundry, for dusting the living room, and he sweeps and vaccums, too. The little one dusts, picks up toys, wipes down the walls and counters and tables.

A daily routine is key.

 

[NMAmy]

Back to the original question--of course, it's manageable. Millions of people manage to work full-time, raise and spend time with their kids, and clean their own home.

 

[mhsjax]

I said it was my opinion, which we are all allowed to express.

Why are you so defensive about being a SAHP and having a cleaning lady?

I think this is another regional difference that is often talked about.

And for those saying I'm jealous, no, I'm not. People that know me know what my house looks like.

I am defending the choice of others, I no longer have one and I haven't in over 6 years. I did when the kids were very young and with 3 and DH working 6 12 hour days, yep, you betcha I did. We wanted time off to do things together. As far as now, I am the cleaning lady. But I would never call someone spoiled or lazy because they had one, that is my problem with what you said. Why do you feel the need to basically call names?

 

[mhsjax]

We work 40+ hours a week (he works closer to 50), we both are in school full time, and have 2 kids. We don't have a cleaning person. Finding a routine is key. We do a "pickup" everyday. Meaning putting thing back where they belong, vaccuming, sweeping, cleaning the toilet and keeping up on the laundry. Plus dishes. Takes about 15 minutes out of the day. Saturday mornings are our big clean day. Dusting, organizing, going through the pile on the counter that accumulates during the week, bedding washed, walls washed, floors mopped, etc. It takes about 1 hour out of the day. So...I spend about 2.5 hours a week cleaning...and I save a lot of money! My kids (ages 6 and 3) have chores, too. The older one is responsible for gathering all the laundry, for dusting the living room, and he sweeps and vaccums, too. The little one dusts, picks up toys, wipes down the walls and counters and tables.

A daily routine is key.

I takes only 1 hour to wash bedding, wash walls and mop floors. I realized that this can be done while bedding is being washed, but it takes 40 minutes alone just to wash mine, and with my family it is at least 2 loads. I am not trying to argue really, I am just trying to understand correctly. Dusting doesn't take long, but how often does anyone really polish, do baseboards, windows? I guess I am slow, it takes me way longer than that, but I do it during the week. I would not do it if I worked, but more power to anyone that does. My time off is way more important than any money I have to spend, but that is me, what others do is fine. I have friends that don't and I have friends that do. And unlike the other pp, I don't think that one is lazier than the other.

 

[mookie]

I takes only 1 hour to wash bedding, wash walls and mop floors. I realized that this can be done while bedding is being washed, but it takes 40 minutes alone just to wash mine, and with my family it is at least 2 loads. I am not trying to argue really, I am just trying to understand correctly. Dusting doesn't take long, but how often does anyone really polish, do baseboards, windows? I guess I am slow, it takes me way longer than that, but I do it during the week. I would not do it if I worked, but more power to anyone that does. My time off is way more important than any money I have to spend, but that is me, what others do is fine. I have friends that don't and I have friends that do. And unlike the other pp, I don't think that one is lazier than the other.

Agreed. I have a decent sized house, and it takes my cleaning ladies (a team of 3 girls) about 3 1/2 hours to clean it when they do it. And I'm not messy or a slob, it's just the way that it is. It's a big house. If it takes them that long to do it, imagine how long it takes me with 3 kids thrown in the mix? And that is just the regular cleaning...we aren't talking the usual pick up/do laundry/etc, thrown on top of that. Well worth the money for my time, not for being "lazy." But again, that's just my opinion.

 

[allison443]

Hmmmmm. I don't have a cleaning lady. Can't afford it. wouldn't have one if I could. Do I care if someone else has one? No--spend your money how you want. The question was though--"was it manageable?"

I wanted to come in and put a few and say "no we are just living in a pig sty' decided not to. But, the question just kills me! Of course its managable! You do what you have to do! Families have been working and cleaning for years without someone hired to do it for them, I don't think that it has suddenly become something people cannot do!
I work 40 hours a week, spend a minimum of 20 hours per week on school, take care of dd by myself throughout the week--cooking, washing clothes, running her to activities, etc. And on Saturday morning we get up and spend a couple of hours getting the house **** and span. And then enjoy the rest of our weekend. (we don't clean the baseboards on a weekly basis but really don't see the need either) Its just a matter of what you WANT to do.

OP, if you do not WANT to do without a cleaning lady--keep her. If you WANT to do it yourself--get rid of her. But, "is it managable?" Seriously?

I agree with the bolded part...asking is it "manageable" sounds like it's so hard to imagine doing without a cleaning service....we don't have one and believe me my house is clean...Millions of people have done this and still do it!
I will add that I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with having a cleaning service whether your work outside the home or stay at home. If you can afford it and want it, go ahead!