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If you have a cleaner .

(71 Posts)
NotSpaghetti Thu 10-Oct-24 11:14:45

My house is like yours Grammaretto - full of clutter and projects...

But I'd still like a cleaner to do stairs/kitchen/bathroom and windows.

My mother-in-law's cleaner has a straightforward job in many ways as my mother-in-law lives very lightly there - but her cleaner works really hard, dusting, polishing, hoovering, changing beds, doing ironing, cleaning the dishwasher - whatever is needed.

I'm so grateful that this amazing woman helps my mother-in-law because she is also kind and compassionate and does things that most cleaners wouldn't do (changing light bulbs or curtains for example).

She genuinely cares for my mother-in-law and knowing this gives us a day a week to relax, know someone will be there with her and to know she will get things done when a "job" comes up suddenly.

Norah Thu 10-Oct-24 11:12:09

Yes, we have a weekly cleaning team. I hoover dog hair daily.

We leave or stay in, depending on the day. They're lovely young women, don't appear upset by us, like the dog(s) put up.

NotSpaghetti Thu 10-Oct-24 10:58:44

BigBertha1 - don't go out if he comes for your company!!
🤣

BigBertha1 Thu 10-Oct-24 10:52:09

I have a very nice chap who does it all while I go out to play golf or shopping/lunch. Doesn't charge- does it for the pleasure of my company.

Allira Thu 10-Oct-24 10:28:03

I'd rather have someone to come in and do a deep clean every so often than a regular weekly cleaner.

Jaxjacky Thu 10-Oct-24 09:51:44

I used to have one when I worked, there were two of them, they used to take the ironing away too and return it a couple of days later, it was great.
A friend of my daughters cleans and we’ve had her in a couple of times to blitz upstairs twice and downstairs once, after work has been done, I’ve stayed in for the upstairs, went out for downstairs. I trust her, so am not bothered if I’m in or not.

Grammaretto Thu 10-Oct-24 08:47:46

I'd love to have a cleaner but where would they start! I have a very cluttered, enormous house. Some rooms are not in use.
I host volunteers from around the world to whom I assign tasks but only sometimes actual cleaning.
I pay a gardener, who brings her own tools, so that the shrubs and lawns look tidy and since DH died I've given away the big petrol mower which was impossible for me to handle.
As for cleaning: I whizz round with the hoover when it's required and keep kitchen and bathrooms hygienic.
There will come a time when help will be needed.
DMiL was scared of her cleaner who insisted on certain brands of products from particular shops. A separate cupboard was set aside. Cleaner's cupboard which noone else could touch!

Tuaim Thu 10-Oct-24 08:34:41

No, I don't have a cleaner but a strict routine each day and I listen to lectures on You Tube or Radio 4 while I am cleaning.

Iam64 Thu 10-Oct-24 08:26:22

I got a cleaner earlier this year after a fractured shoulder stopped me doing even basic stuff like hover sweep or mop. She comes with a colleague for one hour a fortnight. I’ve decided to treat myself by keeping this on. Now I take the dogs out during their visit. I return to clean floors and surfaces. 🌞. I leave the house tidy so they can clean

Liz46 Thu 10-Oct-24 08:19:05

I got a cleaner a while ago and explained that I was having trouble in cleaning the shower. She spent a long time in the bathroom and it was spotless. As time went on, she spent more and more time on her phone and just cleaned the middle of the carpets so she had to go.

Charleygirl5 Thu 10-Oct-24 08:11:43

Mine comes for 3 hours a week. Sometimes, if I ask, she will put clean bedding on. I prefer to strip the bed myself.

I try not to be in the same room where she is working. It works well with this lady who seems to think I am useless at my advanced age. Not quite yet!

Aveline Thu 10-Oct-24 07:51:14

Mine comes for 2 hours a week. She's very thorough and a chatty wee thing. I usually do any jobs that I can get on with or just read the papers or make phone calls. I'm quite comfortable with her working away.

Ziggy62 Thu 10-Oct-24 07:42:03

I am a cleaner and I prefer it if customers pop out while I'm working. I get so much more done.

GrannyGravy13 Thu 10-Oct-24 07:16:39

Ours is here this morning, just keep out of the way, or go out.

kittylester Thu 10-Oct-24 07:11:17

We have a cleaner for 2 hours a week. She does upstairs one week and downstairs the other. I go where she isn't. DH goes to the gym.

We are quite tidy but make sure everything is put away before she comes.

I am happy to leave her to get on whether I am in or out.

biglouis Thu 10-Oct-24 00:41:57

I have a cleaner every other week - a gay man whom Ive known for many years. I just continue with business in the office ot stockroom while he's here and let him get on with it.

dustyangel Wed 09-Oct-24 23:54:58

We have a cleaner once a fortnight as well. It’s a small house but she says it’s not worth her while financially to come for less time so I try to save the ironing for her too.. We go out some of the time she’s here and get her to do the living room while we’re out so that at least we’ve got somewhere to sit because it is difficult to just relax as someone works round you. I’m finding it less guilt inducing as I get older though. grin

crazyH Wed 09-Oct-24 22:47:49

I have a ‘cleaner’ once a fortnight. When she’s here, I take myself off shopping and lunch. Nowhere special - just Asda or Tesco. … read the news on my phone and generally relax. There’s a lovely pub, not far from my house. I could go there I suppose, but I prefer the anonymity of a grocery store 😂

Allira Wed 09-Oct-24 22:35:07

I'd feel that I had to look incredibly busy while the cleaner was here, that's why I haven't looked for one yet, although it's going to be a necessity soon.

SueDonim Wed 09-Oct-24 22:07:28

Our cleaner is terrifying in a whirling dervish kind of way, and we try to be where she isn’t, whilst keeping our cats out of her way, too. grin

Floradora9 Wed 09-Oct-24 21:32:32

DH and I mused to-day about what we would do if we had someone in to do our cleaning . Many years ago we had a lady for two hours a week and we just left her to it and went off shopping . I really do not like anyone else working in our house but we might have to at some point . I had a relative who spent most of the time her cleaner was working in her bathroom giving herself beauty treatments while my friend , who is over 90 , works alonside her cleaner .