Do you clean your own house?

[ryanpatricksmom]

It seems as if I'm the only one in my neighborhood that doesn't have a housekeeping service.

DH is constantly after me to hire somebody (feeling guilty because he doesn't help), but I continue to resist. Here are two reasons:

1. My family can best be described as Goldilocks and the Three Pigs. Me (Goldilocks), one husband, 2 boys, and 2 cats on top of that. I figure that I would pay to have the house cleaned, and by the time that I got home from work, someone would have already messed it up. I don't want to pay for something that I don't get a chance to appreciate. At least if I do it, I see it clean for an hour or so.

2. There isn't an everlasting fountain of cash. The money to pay for a housekeeper ($125.00 per visit) has to come from somewhere. I would rather do it myself and leave our vacation budgets and other extras intact.

The weekly housekeeping takes about 5 hours, the yard an additional 2. We've been in this house for less than a year, so maybe I'll change my mind as time goes on. I'm curious as to how others get it all done...what do you do?

 

[janette]

Mine just isn't getting done. I'm trying to work my finances so I can hire someone. I have before and it works out best for me.

It is expensive but I really like having everything clean at the same time. If I have someone coming I also make sure everything is picked up instead of doing it in spurts and hit / miss style.

 

[SeaShelley]

I do as much as I have time for. Believe it or not, my MIL helps out some especially if she knows we're having company over the weekend. She's retired and I work full time. She does our laundry some too. She jokes that charity starts at home and she's putting in some sweat equity. "I may need you both someday!"

Every once in a while I get really ticked off that the house doesn't look perfect, but then I remind myself that we live here. It's not going to be spotless 24/7.

A sign hangs in my kitchen that about sums it all up:

CLEANING THE HOUSE WHILE THE CHILDREN ARE GROWING IS LIKE SHOVELING SNOW WHILE IT'S STILL SNOWING!

 

[Claudia1]

Define the word, "clean" .

I do the work but all the rooms never seem to look good all at the same time......

 

[aahmom1]

If I didn't do it, it wouldn't get done.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

The big hassle with this house is the number of different surfaces. We have some hardwood floors, carpeted rooms and stairs (three floors worth), granite countertops, assorted marble areas, wooden banisters, windows out the ying-yang, tiled bathrooms, glass shower stall w/ separate soaking tub, yada, yada. I wax nostalgic for the good old days when bottle of fantastik covered most everything!

To answer your question Claudia, my version of clean may be a little obsessive-compulsive! BTW, I clean when the house is empty so I get to appreciate the end result for at least a few minutes.

 

[anniet]

My apartment wasn't that clean and then somebody recommended www.flylady.net

It's now spotless when I stick to the program, but sometimes I get sidetracked, but it's still cleaner than before.

I hope some of you might find it helpful too!

p.s. don't go crazy and order the book, a friend told me that all the info in the book is on the website.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Yes, we clean our own house. A cleaning service would be nice, but really isn't practical for us at this point. Too much hassle to get them on base, too much money, and too much time.

But someday....

 

[JAP]

My DH and I go back and forth about this issue. I have had a cleaning lady on and off the last couple of years. When money gets tight we stop and clean ourselves. HA HA LOL I just realized how that sentance reads!

Right now we are doing without since I have been on disability. The house is not spotless but the important areas (kitchen, bathrooms, clothes and bedding) are all clean. DH has been helping and so has DD who is 5.

 

[caitycaity]

yup. we clean ourselves.

last night i was so impressed -- i came home to a clean kitchen and living room -- dh cleaned for me b/c he knew i wouldn't have time.

we've had a cleaning person in a couple of times for special occassions or when my parents were coming to town and i didn't have time to do a really thorough cleaning. LOL

 

[Meriweather]

I clean my own house.

I'm the type of person that would have to clean before the housekeeper came , so what's the point!

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Well, what I do can't really be called cleaning, but I do it myself!

My only goal with housekeeping is to keep it just clean enough that I wouldn't be embarassed if someone stopped by unannounced.

 

[newmousecateer]

I have a cleaning person. Really frees up my time. She isn't as good as I wish she was, but DIL has her own cleaning service, and when they move closer to us this year, her service will take over.

 

[snoopy]

I'm a rare breed who loves to clean my own house. I find it rather therapeutic. I'm also very picky and I'm sure I would find fault with a cleaning service.

This drives DH nuts, especially when I'm up in the middle of the night scrubbing floors, but its just the way I am. Can't see paying for something when I don't mind doing it myself.

 

[helenabear]

DH and I share the duty of cleaning (since we both work full time). I can't say our house is ever spotless (and we don't have kids) but we'd rather do it ourselves.

 

[ryanpatricksmom]

Hey Snoopy! C'mon over to my house, I'll give you more free therapy than you could ever hope for!

 

[Denine]

Between myself and DH, the house gets clean. The cats mess it up, but they won't lift a paw to help clean it up.
I have a bad back and can't clean like I would like, especially if I have to work more than usual. I just can't see having someone come into my house to clean for me.

 

[glo]

We used to have someone, until DH lost his job. We are still digging out of the hole, so haven't gotten one again. DH and I split the cleaning, but I must say he does more than I do.

 

[Straycat]

I actually like cleaning my house when i am home alone. I turn the techno music up loud and clean for hours, i do that about once a week, that is all i have time for, but its nice because cleaning doesnt take any real thinking, you just do it, and your mind is free to think of other things.
I've never had a cleaning service because i am one of those people that doesnt want a stranger in my house.

 

[SeaSpray]

DH has hired a cleaning service a couple of times for me. Both times were before we were having out of state company and/or big parties and this left more time for me to concentrate on menu's decorations, and other things. I really appreciated it, but my house didn't look any better than when I clean. lol

I'm a stay at home mom, both of my DSs are in school all day, so I have the time to clean while the house is empty. I turn the music up loud and actually enjoy it, to an extent. lol

DH does the yard work. We have a ride-on mower and he enjoys mowing. Every couple of weeks I get the weedwacker out and do the trim work while he's mowing.

DSs have weekly chores, so it's really a waste of money for us to have a cleaning lady on a regular basis. And like someone else said, knowing me I'd probably clean before they came anyway. lol