#34

Our landlord pays for a cleaner to come twice a month. Feel a bit awkward about it cos we’d probably not pay for one ourselves, and it’s made us much lazier with day-to-day cleaning.

#35

I had a cleaner for a little while but it made me anxious a day or two before they were due to call round, I was worried the flat was too messy for them so I would clean it to the extent that it didn’t need cleaning and when the cleaner came I had to ask her repot my plants instead.

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#36

I had a cleaner at Uni as part of our tenancy in a house share but she was basically a SPY! And stitched us up to the landlord, claiming that we were smoking in the house, taking drugs and leaving the place a disgusting mess. In fairness, we were smoking in the house, taking drugs and leaving the place a disgusting mess, but that isn’t really the point is it?

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#37

Some of the equivalences being made really aren’t legit.

“Gardener”

There’s a couple of fundamental differences between a gardener and a cleaner. Gardening requires specific specialist materials (and storage side for them) and a certain level of knowledge. Cleaning really does not (above and beyond cloths, fluids, etc).

“Café/restaurant”

Unless you’re suggesting that all food consumption beyond the confines of your own home should be packed lunches, drawing an equivalence between cleaners and cafes/restaurants is meaningless.

#38

This isn’t as hot a topic as it used to be on here.

Depends on personal circumstances doesn’t it. We had a cleaner for a couple of years at home who came round once a week when my Mum was recovering from a car crash and my Dad was working long hours for instance.

It’s your money, your house, you do what you want. Personally I’d feel a bit of a failure if I was unable to keep my own house clean with my current living space + lifestyle. Outsourcing it to someone else feels like a bit of a failing.

That said I’d happily draw the line at ironing and pay someone to come round once a week and do that for me if I needed ironed clothes every day.

#39

Yes - quite a spread of votes which surprised me.

One thing I’ve noticed though (amongst our group of friends anyway) is that those who do have cleaners often don’t have very tidy homes.

#40

I’ve not noticed this myself (dunno who has a cleaner out of my mates tbf) but it makes perfect sense. If you’re spending I dunno £60 on a cleaner to come round twice a month then you’re likely to have a constant attitude of “Meh, the cleaner will sort that out”. And plus what’s the point in cleaning yourself if you’re paying someone to do it? Waste of money.

There’s probably some sort of swanky paradox that articulates this conundrum (i.e. paying for a cleaner = less tidy house) but not sure what it is.

#41

Don’t see an issue with it. Actually annoys me when people try to justify it with some 14-hour shift/broke my arms and legs story… Don’t bother justifying it to people, it’s no big deal and you look defensive. Have never had one though

#42

I think also people who are naturally untidy and haphazard (looks in mirror) will be more likely to employ a cleaner to help them out. Clean-obsessive types by definition don’t need a cleaner, and their house will be none the worse for it.

Our cleaner comes on a Tuesday. if we didn’t continue to clean and tidy after that, then by a Wednesday you wouldn’t know she’d been. So unless you have a cleaner every day/ every second day, you still need to do the majority of your own cleaning and tidying or else your house looks bogging again. I tidy before she comes because she’s paid to deep clean, not superficial clean or tidy, which is our job. I am unapologetically just never going to have the time or the inclination to do deep cleaning of surfaces and baths/ bogs etc at the weekend. and for me to have that done once a week or a fortnight just about enables me to keep on top of everything else. If you surprise me at my house on any given day though you’ll probably think’ wow, when did the bomb go off??’. That’s kids for you. :yum:

2 Likes
#43

Aye. Think it’s worth separating out cleanliness and tidyness as well. If you have a kid you can forget about tidyness for a number of years. Cleanliness is another matter (and a subjective one to an extent).

fwiw tidyness is overrated. Clutter adds character if done right.

#44

In our circle, I’ve noticed that a few people who are neurotically tidy (wife, sister, a few others) have very tidy homes and think that a) spending hours cleaning is fine/enjoyable and b) a cleaner “won’t do it properly”.

#45

Yeah my wife is COMPLETELY neurotic about it. I’m used to it now but the main contention is about when the dusting needs doing. I say it’s largely fine to leave it until other people come round (which is every 2/3 weeks on average); she says it needs to be done every single week, which is absolute madness in my view.

#46

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I feel like cleaners are REALLY good for a person’s mental health, they should get paid loads more and if I was cutting costs I’d rather get rid of the virgin or something like that before the cleaner!

#47

I’ve never had one - and don’t now because I don’t think I can afford it, and keeping my relatively small flat clean is not too much effort for me

I think it’s completely fine though - just a personal choice about what you spend your money on (as long as you pay a fair amount to the cleaner and are not a dick to them of course)

My ex got a cleaner and it turned into a whole “thing” - with her saying the cleaner was not doing a good enough job. The thing was that her flat was/ is a bit of a tip. I can’t imagine there was much time for actual cleaning after tidying up all the mess

#48

alright Moctezuma

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#49

Get rid of the virgin? You mean ditch your DiS Platinum membership?

1 Like
#50

love when people act like they don’t have an hour a week spare. i’m just soooo busy, i can’t possibly find time to clean.

#51

It’s more a question of what that time could be used for. Spend time with one’s loved ones, relax or clean?

#52

Exactly. Plus it takes a lot longer than an hour. Any, all moot as we’re not allowed get one.

1 Like
#53

would definitely get one if i was rich enough to live on my own and still afford a cleaner
when you live with other people you kind of motivate eachother to keep clean don’t you? as long as its not a dysfunctional houseshare