Do you have a cleaner?

I have had my first cleaner since the summer and pay £11 ph for two hours every fortnight. Initially because I had an operation but now recovered, have got used to the help and plan to continue. She uses my cleaning materials and equipment.
I live in the SE just outside London.

When I was rushed off my feet, I paid a friend to clean all the floors weekly. If she had time, she'd clean the hob or mirrors too. It was brilliant, as I didn't have to spend the entire weekend cleaning. My kids even suddenly started clearing up - as she was coming the next day (a miracle indeed).

My mother had a gardener (every three weeks) who'd do 'heavy housework' like cleaning baths, windows, tiles, high cupboards, etc. - and minor repairs too. She also had a cleaner for the floors and bed making - but preferred to do the dusting herself! Might I add that she could do all these things - but chose not to?

Magrithea

Norah

We have weekly cleaning.

Pair of women, their own business. Their supplies.

Two hrs @ £40/hour.

Gosh, @Norah! Where do you live that your cleaners get £40/hr!

There are 2 women, they own a business, we pay £40 total per hour for the two of them. If only one arrived it would be £20/ hour and take twice as long.

The number is a point of reference to the OP.

I'm now 78 and I don't clean our home any longer.

£20 an hour - each.
About normal I think.

Norah

We have weekly cleaning.

Pair of women, their own business. Their supplies.

Two hrs @ £40/hour.

Gosh, @Norah! Where do you live that your cleaners get £40/hr!

I've a list here of reputable companies, and their charges.

That is why I've sorted out my own arrangement.

PS this lady costs £16 per hour but it's definitely worth it! we are in our late 70's, and really appreciate her helping with floor cleaning etc.

We have a cleaner. We have a 3 bedroom house so, for 2 hours fortnightly, she does the ground floor and 2 bathrooms only.
We do the rest of upstairs. Get someone by word of mouth recommendation and make sure you have a written reference.

I had a cleaner when I worked full time. Regrettably it was a complete farce; I asked her to clean, vacuum and dust our four bedroom house (she had all day Friday to do this) and wash the kitchen and bathroom floors. I cleaned the bathrooms myself. I watched the house get dirtier and dirtier, and when the lights in my bedroom had fluff hanging from the shades we parted company. I suspect she was resting on our bed and reading the paper for most of the day - evidence of lunch being eaten there too! A friend took on the job and was wonderful for several years, but since retired I like to do it myself, as exercise. Lucky that I can, I am well aware.

It seems to vary quite a bit from area to area, Nanderin - £20+ hour in some areas where there is high demand. £12-£15 in other areas.

How much does it cost to hire a cleaner

Yes I have a cleaner, he’s also known as my husband
I do a bit myself too.

I have had a cleaner every week for over 20 years. 3 hours a week when I lived in a house but now 2 hours a week as I am retired and living in a flat ☕️

Actually@ Gabrielle56 if you talk to "professional" housekeeping staff (hotels stately homes etc) there is degree of skill and "training" involved.
I'm not protesting just tired of the "humblebragging" and intolerance of those who for whatever reason choose to employ a cleaner.

Vintagenonna

I enjoy cleaning my home and can do the tasks myself.

It isn't about having a'protestant work ethic', MawtheMerrier, just a genuine pleasure in having my own home and caring for it.

It enables creative thinking, keeps the weight off and promotes mobility. And I can go on strike and still not get paid.

me too, I love my home and being new build and already ship shape, it does not take me long.

I don`t at all begrudge anyone a cleaner but I do have two roombas, one upstairs and one down, they are elderly now but still going strong and have paid for themselves over and over

4 bedrooms, three toilets, only me but all used. Not having a cleaner, I treated myself to a very expensive dyson connect the other week which will also pay for itself within six months as I use it twice a week

I have had a cleaner a few times, when I was a busy working mum but I quickly worked out that their particular standards were not as good as mine. Then I employed my teenage daughter, very good pay and she did an amazingly good job

MawtheMerrier

^I agree it's a little 'entitled' to refer so casually to the fact one has expensive cleaners, at a time when so many people cannot afford to heat their homes, let alone dust them! Yes, it's good to provide work for others, of course, but that doesn't alter the fact it is quite a luxury^
Why is it “entitled” to pay for work done in one’s house?
Is it “entitled” to have a plumber fix a leak under your sink?
Is it “entitled” to have your car fixed or serviced at a garage
Is it “entitled” to go to the dentist instead of filling your own teeth?
Or have a haircut?
Or have decorators instead of doing it yourself?
If nobody employed anybody to do the work that needs to be done, a lot more would be out of work. Cleaning can be made to work around school hours etc and can be an invaluable source of income. It’s nothing servile or obsequious, but well done, is something to be proud of.
Nobody is boasting just being open about paying a decent wage.
I cannot understand this Protestant work ethic which attributes such virtue in doing everything oneself or implies those who pay a cleaner or gardener should feel obliged to apologise for it.
Is this a hangover from the class conscious society of past centuries where quite humble households had a maid of all work because domestic appliances had not yet been invented ?
I must ask the butler and chambermaid when they bring my morning tea tomorrow.

"the lady doth protest too much methinks"
Cleaning ones own detritus is not a skilled job requiring years of training and knowledge. It just good housekeeping!
Your comments are completely OTT!

I would if I could run to it. And a gardener.

When my parents were very elderly a lovely lady came in for 2 hours a week to clean their house while I was caring for them. It was a tremendous relief for me and she got on really well with them and was also a great help in difficult times. She remains a friend to this day. She is a very jolly lady and nothing was too much trouble. My parents adored her.

My dh goes to the gym. I do whatever I need to do. I certainly don't 'hide'.

Ours does upstairs one week and down the next so, if I'm in, I would probably do admin type stuff somewhere else.

i have never had a cleaner, it sounds like a nice idea but what do you do when they are in your house cleaning your mess? do you hide in another room? do you go out?

I had a cleaner for a few weeks when I went back to work after 15 years and 3 children but, unfortunately, there was always smeared mirrors or gritty tops from powdered cleansers for me to reclean, so I decided to just do the cleaning myself. However, now that I'm 75 and finding housework and gardening getting too much for me to do by myself, I'm seriously thinking about getting someone in again. Alternatively, can do my own housework and have someone to keep my large lawn and "jungle" in order. So far in my retirement I have been live-in housekeeper and babysitter for my daughter, and carer for an invalid son, so I'd like to have a bit of free time now to myself now.

I enjoy cleaning my home and can do the tasks myself.

It isn't about having a'protestant work ethic', MawtheMerrier, just a genuine pleasure in having my own home and caring for it.

It enables creative thinking, keeps the weight off and promotes mobility. And I can go on strike and still not get paid.

That would be £20 each - 2 cleaners 😉

I agree it's a little 'entitled' to refer so casually to the fact one has expensive cleaners, at a time when so many people cannot afford to heat their homes, let alone dust them! Yes, it's good to provide work for others, of course, but that doesn't alter the fact it is quite a luxury
Why is it “entitled” to pay for work done in one’s house?
Is it “entitled” to have a plumber fix a leak under your sink?
Is it “entitled” to have your car fixed or serviced at a garage
Is it “entitled” to go to the dentist instead of filling your own teeth?
Or have a haircut?
Or have decorators instead of doing it yourself?
If nobody employed anybody to do the work that needs to be done, a lot more would be out of work. Cleaning can be made to work around school hours etc and can be an invaluable source of income. It’s nothing servile or obsequious, but well done, is something to be proud of.
Nobody is boasting just being open about paying a decent wage.
I cannot understand this Protestant work ethic which attributes such virtue in doing everything oneself or implies those who pay a cleaner or gardener should feel obliged to apologise for it.
Is this a hangover from the class conscious society of past centuries where quite humble households had a maid of all work because domestic appliances had not yet been invented ?
I must ask the butler and chambermaid when they bring my morning tea tomorrow.

I have two women who stay an hour and give them £40, That works out to two hour's work, so £20 an hour.

Always had cleaners, not wonderful but better then me doing it.