Does anyone else run around like a scalded cat before the cleaner comes?

Never had one. I would hate the idea of a stranger in my house cleaning.

I tidy and give the bathrooms a quick once-over before our cleaner arrives. Otherwise she’d spend her time moving stuff in order to clean.

Good for you Auntieflo.

GagaJo
I can’t even go into my daughters bathroom, and her bedroom looks like a charity shop with stuff piled everywhere, she only does her ironing when everyone has run out of clothes.
I love them all to bits, and we’re happier that they are here, rather than in the situation they were in, but how I miss my lovely quiet tidy home.

Sara1954

GagaJo
Well I certainly know how that feels.

Isn't it crazy, that it has such an affect? I try to be grateful I'm such a part of my DGS's life, but living in squalor... (DD thinks it's clean!).

GagaJo
Well I certainly know how that feels.

I don't have a cleaner, but many that I work with do.

I would do a tidy-up, but that's it. That's what she is hired to do!
Floors and counters cleared should be enough.

Sara1954

For me, it’s mainly about retaining my sanity.
I’m neat and tidy, and I like everything to look nice, my daughter and her children are the messiest, untidiest people you could imagine, so rather than be constantly nagging, I thought this might be a solution.
It only partially works, but it’s probably saved me from total meltdown.

The only reason I'm considering getting one. Not that I can afford it, but my quality of life is suffering due to other people's mess. Grrrr

I have had one cleaner or another since 1976. The one I have now charges £30 fir 2 hours - upstairs one week, down the next. We always tidy but I would never clean.

I had a cleaner when I was working but not since I retired. I did have a lady come in on a three month temporary basis when I fractured my pelvis. I couldn't move much so any tidying up was done by my husband. I couldn't have managed without her.

I do spend a while tidying up before she comes. This one charges £12.50 an hour which I think is enough considering she has not moved anything and does not know my rooms have corners. She has been twice but she has to change or goodbye.

She has a law degree but is saving £10000 for her next degree. She wants to be a criminal lawyer and the sooner the better.

I live in London so English is usually a major problem but we usually get by.

Granny23

I've never had a cleaner, but I could do a spectacular job in half an hour when I knew that MIL was on her way.

Me too! I once caught my mother running her finger along the top of the door frame and perfected the quick whip round with a damp cloth after that!
DD has a cleaner once a week and the children always tidy their rooms ready for her. Daughter says it's worth paying just for that to happen!
I've never had a cleaner but I am sure I would want her to walk into a clean and tidy house.

BlueBelle

Never had a cleaner (been one) gosh is it really a thing I only know very old infirm people or very rich people that have cleaners No one in my circle does

So glad you said that! Thought it was just me!

Since Covid I am the cleaner!
I cannot justify my lovely cleaner anymore as most of my work dried up due to the pandemic.

Never had a cleaner (been one) gosh is it really a thing I only know very old infirm people or very rich people that have cleaners No one in my circle does

For me, it’s mainly about retaining my sanity.
I’m neat and tidy, and I like everything to look nice, my daughter and her children are the messiest, untidiest people you could imagine, so rather than be constantly nagging, I thought this might be a solution.
It only partially works, but it’s probably saved me from total meltdown.

I always tidied up and told my girls to tidy their rooms too - if she couldn’t see the carpet, she couldn’t vacuum it. She was a cleaner not a tidier-upper!
A friend has been quoted a one off clean at £120 for 4 hours, then a minimum of 2 hours (£60) after that. It’s a National company, named after a flower. I think it’s beyond expensive.
X

I would love to have a cleaner as I loathe housework. Ditto ironing. But I'm reasonably fit and well and my conscience wouldn't let me pay someone to do what I just don't want to do. It's not as if my time is worth money these days but I couldn't do it even when it was.

I pay £14.00 per hour, and she’s worth every penny.
She doesn’t do every room every week, but what she does, she deep cleans, and I can just whip around at the weekends with the vacuum.
She’s also told to leave the childrens rooms and the playroom if they are a tip. I don’t want to pay her to tidy.

I pay my two cleaners, mother and daughter £40 for an hour and a half. They work like galley slaves.

I have had a cleaner since my cancer diagnosis, just over a year now. She charged £25.00 for 2 hours, but she does such a good job, and is lovely, so I give her £30.00.

I know my cleaner’s charge is over the top, but having been either away or unwell for so long I really did need some help and as I said up thread it’s a case of supply and demand. I decided I can manage the two upper floors if the cleaner does the porch, hall, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and utility room. It took her the full two hours to do those rooms - after I’d tidied (not cleaned).

She’s only going to come once a fortnight - that’s all she could offer and it’s all I can afford.

I had my first experience of a cleaner only this week, like Susie have had a hip replacement and struggling.
It went well, yes I tidied as it made sense. She seems very pleasant, worked hard and charges £11 ph but uses my hoover and I provide the cleaning sprays etc.
Before I found her I rang a few agencies and they wanted me to pay their cleaner £10 ph direct and send them separately, £5 or £6 ph. a huge cut, which shocked me. Though there may be negatives I woukd much rather the cleaner got more of the money.

So I managed to find my cleaner on recommendation and if it works out I will,probably up her rate a little in future.

I live in the SE, close to outskirts of London.

I've never had a cleaner, but I could do a spectacular job in half an hour when I knew that MIL was on her way.

We are a household of three adults and three children. On cleaner day everyone is up early tidying and putting away.
I feel like I’ve run a marathon by the time I get to work.