Do you pay for a cleaner at home?
- Thread starter Above Average
- Start date
Should'nt you be washing the dishes and ironing the clothes?
In my home there there never was anybody who could'nt do any of the above and more.
Including cooking a few different and decent meals.
They want everyone else to be useless so they can can complain about everyone else and in their own mind fell superior.
They live with and marry dimwits so they can boss them too around and complain about how useless they are.
Without realising how dumb they themselves are for choosing them in the first place.
Of course this is not in reference to the thread starter.
In my home there there never was anybody who could'nt do any of the above and more.
Including cooking a few different and decent meals.
Weg the trend is that of the "new mum" whiner that the blames others for everything and can do it all better.Personally I'd rather clean a bathroom than be on our school committee.
Last I heard, the new mums were bossy and trying to 'take over', so the older members decided they'd withdraw guidance and help, so they mess up
They want everyone else to be useless so they can can complain about everyone else and in their own mind fell superior.
They live with and marry dimwits so they can boss them too around and complain about how useless they are.
Without realising how dumb they themselves are for choosing them in the first place.
Of course this is not in reference to the thread starter.
I'm guessing you are male Bon, I love it how men say housework is easy and only takes a few minutes. Usually they either a) have never done it and don't have a clue or b) clean like a man, i.e. not to womens standards.
It's not rocket science.
I think that might be a bit of a generalization, even though my experience has been that there seems to be a high percentage of these committee members taking the organizing of school stuff far too seriously. I've heard quite a bit of bickering and backstabbing over the years.
In this case I think it's the older member (she was venting to me) that's more of the problem, as she likes to have control.
Her husband's actually a quieter version of her, and the one I feel less comfortable with. And I don't think he's henpecked; more like two peas in a pod
.
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Can you please list what that 15-30 minutes of cleaning entails?
I couldn't clean my house in 30 minutes. Glad of any hints you have to offer.
Bathrooms (wash shower, floor, toilets, sink. Towels in wash, new towels in.
sweep, wash floors,
Bedrooms, change sheets, vacuum, dust.
Lounge/ family room, vacuum, dust.
Kitchen, wash up, clean benches, stove, wash floor, clean fridge.
Wash clothes, hang out, fold, iron.
+++++ windows, verandahs. I'm tired just listing things.
I hired a cleaner for a few months and it was great but they weren't that good. I would LOVE a cleaner again. I considered dropping to 4 days a week once but it's cheaper to get a cleaner.
sheesh - yes please! - my house takes 3 hours just for a lick and a promise (ie, not skirting boards or inside/on top of cupboards or moving furniture or remaking beds etc).
and that is each week so it's not as if i'm letting the "grime" build up!
I've had times when i've had one just for a couple of hours a week or two, and times when i havent as my kids grew up.we havent had one for years but i support that families with kids and both working full or part time need one even a couple of hours every week or two.
My kids had day to day jobs to help eg fill or empty dishwasher, sweep kitchen, clean benchtops depending on age.
without one, sometimes mess builds up and sometimes on the weekend we get to it, well that means mostly me, and sometimes there is longer periods between some jobs getting done.
but truly like someone said, with kids there is enough work with tidying,
so help with cleaning really makes a difference.when both work whether full or part time it is really busy. if you have ironing, a cleaner really helps. I've seen some people have a cleaner weekly, some every second week. It definitely reduces stress enormously, is very energising, and frees up alot of time thats needed for things that cant be delegated. It also protects your health, as what you dont spend on a cleaner during very demanding years you may end up spending on doctors for stress symptoms
My kids had day to day jobs to help eg fill or empty dishwasher, sweep kitchen, clean benchtops depending on age.
without one, sometimes mess builds up and sometimes on the weekend we get to it, well that means mostly me, and sometimes there is longer periods between some jobs getting done.
but truly like someone said, with kids there is enough work with tidying,
so help with cleaning really makes a difference.when both work whether full or part time it is really busy. if you have ironing, a cleaner really helps. I've seen some people have a cleaner weekly, some every second week. It definitely reduces stress enormously, is very energising, and frees up alot of time thats needed for things that cant be delegated. It also protects your health, as what you dont spend on a cleaner during very demanding years you may end up spending on doctors for stress symptoms
How much you should pay a cleaner is completely up to you. You can find cleaners who charge the bare minimum, and those who charge an arm and a leg in comparison, this is because there are a number of things to take into consideration, and unfortunately most of us don't really know how to weigh up the pros and cons of each.
Below I have listed the most important factors to take in to account when hiring a cleaner, the more boxes you tick here, the better their work will be, the safer you'll feel with them in your home, and chances are you'll pay more for their services.
- Police Clearances Any respectable cleaner will carry this with them, and anyone who does not, doesn't take their business/job/clients seriously and you shouldn't even consider allowing them into your home. Insurance companies are becoming more strict on this as well, in many cases they simply will not cover you if you use cleaners (or any tradespeople) sufficient without clearances.
- Insurances This should also be a given, so make sure it is one of the first questions you ask. It is the cleaners (or their company's) responsibility to ensure they are covered by public liability insurance. As much as you may love the old lady who comes in to clean once a week, you will be held responsible if your 200kg television drops on her foot. An accident like that severely outweighs the $15/wk you pay for her to come in, and they do happen regularly.
- Chemicals A cleaner (or company) who is serious about their work, will be using their own high grade chemicals, not your super market purchases. Professional cleaners will generally use a great deal more chemicals to get a job done properly. It is faster and gives you a better result therefore, cleaners should also be using environmentally friendly chemicals where possible. Any cleaner who tells you they don't use them because they don't work as well, simply doesn't know their industry well enough and is lying to you.
- Image How do they look when they arrive at your door? A company serious about their image, ethics and workmanship will ensure employees are uniformed, have a company van and all the supplies they will need for the job. The company should also have an easily accessible website with all their details on there.
- Testimonials & References This is be a sure-fire way of finding out more about the company, through the customers eyes. Ask whether they can supply you with testimonials of past clients, either in writing or on their website. If they can't, keep looking.
- Experience This is a tough one. A company may have been around for ten years and can say they have ten years experience, yet their employees are different every month because they are not experienced at all. Make sure you speak to someone who knows their stuff.
- Individuals or Teams depending on the size of your home (job), the company may choose to send out an individual cleaner or a team of two. If you are given the choice, hire the team - they will get the job done in a fraction of the time and be out of your way. They are generally more expensive, but their work will be impeccable.
- Quoting & Billing This is an interesting one also. Many companies bill per hour, others bill per room, and others bill per job. All of these are viable billing methods, but because of the nature of the industry, you are best off choosing a company that bills per job because you won't be wondering why it can take two hours one week and three hours the next, and if you only make $20/hr, they will often drag it out an extra 30 minutes just to make more themselves.
Ultimately, people will choose cleaners for different reasons, but hopefully this list will help you to choose a cleaner who is right for the job, and right for you.
Below I have listed the most important factors to take in to account when hiring a cleaner, the more boxes you tick here, the better their work will be, the safer you'll feel with them in your home, and chances are you'll pay more for their services.
- Police Clearances Any respectable cleaner will carry this with them, and anyone who does not, doesn't take their business/job/clients seriously and you shouldn't even consider allowing them into your home. Insurance companies are becoming more strict on this as well, in many cases they simply will not cover you if you use cleaners (or any tradespeople) sufficient without clearances.
- Insurances This should also be a given, so make sure it is one of the first questions you ask. It is the cleaners (or their company's) responsibility to ensure they are covered by public liability insurance. As much as you may love the old lady who comes in to clean once a week, you will be held responsible if your 200kg television drops on her foot. An accident like that severely outweighs the $15/wk you pay for her to come in, and they do happen regularly.
- Chemicals A cleaner (or company) who is serious about their work, will be using their own high grade chemicals, not your super market purchases. Professional cleaners will generally use a great deal more chemicals to get a job done properly. It is faster and gives you a better result therefore, cleaners should also be using environmentally friendly chemicals where possible. Any cleaner who tells you they don't use them because they don't work as well, simply doesn't know their industry well enough and is lying to you.
- Image How do they look when they arrive at your door? A company serious about their image, ethics and workmanship will ensure employees are uniformed, have a company van and all the supplies they will need for the job. The company should also have an easily accessible website with all their details on there.
- Testimonials & References This is be a sure-fire way of finding out more about the company, through the customers eyes. Ask whether they can supply you with testimonials of past clients, either in writing or on their website. If they can't, keep looking.
- Experience This is a tough one. A company may have been around for ten years and can say they have ten years experience, yet their employees are different every month because they are not experienced at all. Make sure you speak to someone who knows their stuff.
- Individuals or Teams depending on the size of your home (job), the company may choose to send out an individual cleaner or a team of two. If you are given the choice, hire the team - they will get the job done in a fraction of the time and be out of your way. They are generally more expensive, but their work will be impeccable.
- Quoting & Billing This is an interesting one also. Many companies bill per hour, others bill per room, and others bill per job. All of these are viable billing methods, but because of the nature of the industry, you are best off choosing a company that bills per job because you won't be wondering why it can take two hours one week and three hours the next, and if you only make $20/hr, they will often drag it out an extra 30 minutes just to make more themselves.
Ultimately, people will choose cleaners for different reasons, but hopefully this list will help you to choose a cleaner who is right for the job, and right for you.
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Having a cleaner is consistently in tune with my grain of thought re outsourcing tasks I don’t enjoy at a low rate so I can either focus on the things that are worth a high rate of return (investing & day job), or spending time with family which I also put a high value on. Pretty easy mathematics in my opinion.
The alternative is for you to not work part time and stay at home and be able to do the work yourself.
This is one of the fascinating aspects of modern life that baffles me, and makes me shake my head;
my wife and I see it all the time; the modern couple with all the bells and whistles in cars, houses, clothes etc, coupla kids, big commute and so on.
Both out working from daylight to dark, earning the good dollar, kids in child care etc, and spending a shizen-load of the good dollars on getting others to help them live their lives.
Not saying you shouldn't do it, but we all need to step back and analyse just exactly what it is that we are working for.
Your case is a bit different, because you are active investors - which most of the planet are not, so your extra work is no doubt going towards a very good financial cause and not just keeping up with the Jones.
But as I said; you need to weigh up the benefit of working a few days, and then spending a chunk of it on getting work done because you are not there to be able to do it yourself.
Of course, if your part-time work is paying WAY above what your outlay would be for cleaners etc, then go for it.
I agree, but which one of the couple is going to sacrifice their career, if they are both in fields which require the morning till night long hours?
I agree, but which one of the couple is going to sacrifice their career, if they are both in fields which require the morning till night long hours?
Don't know.
That's their big decision to make.
In most cases, the wife would pull the pin, but if she's earning way more than the husband, then he could suck it up and be the house dad. But would he?
No-one cares about those old stereotypes anymore....do they?
We have a friend who is very well paid through her role in Telstra. Hubby has a very good career in the force.
Have two daughters of 4 and 6; in child care or with grandma 5 days per week, from 6.00am wake-up. Oldest in 1st year of school now.
Whinges about her lot a bit. Will either give up? No.
No sympathy here. Feel sorry for the kids, but then; they know no better.
Do it.
Go for about 3 hours pw - she probably has that as a minimum.
It will be life changing. If it isn't then you can stop her at any time.
My experience is that women LOVE coming home to a freshly cleaned home.
If the woman is happy then everyonce can be happy.
Do it.
