Cleaner wanted!!

[ladymuck]

I go back to work full time in January after having a year off on maternity leave. I'm wanting a cleaner, I don't know anybody that has one & we've just moved house so don't really know anybody in the area. Does anybody have any suggestions on finding a trustworthy cleaner?

[Scarlett]

Search in the yellow pages or small ads in the paper. I would go for a firm rather than an individual. I get a cleaner in when my house gets really desperate to do 2 hours. She works for a firm called "Clean as a Whistle" and I pay her �8 an hour by cheque, made out to her boss. She pressumably gets less than that and her boss pays her. Also if anything goes wrong or I am not happy, I can contact the owner of the company rather than confront the cleaner. Having said that, everything has gone very well so far!

[ladymuck]

Cleversod, I am getting a life thats why I'm not doing D.I.Y

[Dee Sa]

put an ad in the local newsagent's window, put exactly what you want e.g. must be a good at ironing etc so they know what is expected and hope you get some replies, always ask for a reference, solely because if they disappear with the silver you have a name to trace them with, and keep the names of the ones you turn down, in case it goesnt work out. You will find an older applicant will be more reliable than someone with young kids especially if they want to bring them along with them each day.

[Scarlett]

cleversod. The reason I have a cleaner is because I have a broken back. Now clear off.

[toby99]

Go and get a cleaner and don't justify it - you don't need to- like you said you are getting a life. I keep thinking about it too when I spend all weekend cleaning!

When you come home you will be able to concentrate on the important things like playing with your baby without worrying about the housework!

I have never got round to it as I, like you, don't know who I would trust around my house. Also when it comes down to the cost, I end up thinking I should do it myself.

If you do though, make sure they are CRB checked!

[toby99]

Once you have a baby the cleaning is never done 'right' again as you don't have the time - I was always so house proud, now it is a case of 'that will have to do' as I would rather play with my daughter. It is tidy, but It doesn't stop me always worrying it not being perfect though!

[toby99]

cleversod - we all have different ideas of what perfect is and we also all have different circumstances to deal with.

Who is right - the one who works full-time, comes home and cleans, cooks etc and misses out on life and thier family pleasures or the one who takes control and says I don't want to time manage and fit my children around my life and chores and does away with the chores, by getting a cleaner, to spend time with them. I know what I would opt for.

My mother taught me .... that the dust will still be there tomorrow, but your children won't be. My mother died at 42 - did it matter whether her house was 'perfect' or did it matter that she spent her time with me and that I now have wonderful memories and think of her every day.

Sorry to get so heavy, but we are made to feel so guilty if we are not superwomen. We have lives and it is about time we realised this.

I work too many hours (which I also feel guilty about) and I wish I could justify it (to myself) to go and get a cleaner.

[cazzz1975]

Im a superwoman..

and dont you lot forget it!, ya hear me?!

[toby99]

Explain your version of time management?

As far as I am concerned any unnecessary time away from your family is wasted, regardless of how you time managed it.

If I could stop being so hard on myself and being the martyr, I would have someone in to help with the housework to free up my spare time.

Why is it ok for the rich and famous to have people to fetch and carry for them, but it is not ok for the hardworking middleclass, who just desperately want to address their work/life balance?

[toby99]

"just a bit of housework" - then our idea of 'perfect' (referring to your earlier response) really does differ!

Anyway, like I said previously, people's circumstances, views and priorities are all different so I suppose we should not judge.

btw -Does your daughter work full-time, have a baby and work part-time for you?