The Cons---
First, I don't like having someone in my house working. I can't relax no matter how hard I try. I felt like I couldn't go to the nursery to rock and nurse baby "G" because the lady cleaning might need to ask me a question of how I want something done. I'm sure some of that would change if she got to know my house and how I wanted things done.
Second, It takes work to have someone come clean. I had to clear off counters in the bathrooms and kitchen before she came. She can't clean surfaces that have stuff all over them and she wouldn't know where to put the stuff, so all that had to be done before she came. It happened to be on a day when all the "nestling" were home, so it wasn't the best day for me to spend time doing that. If I had someone come regularly then I'd have to commit to more cleaning myself. That would probably be a good thing except for the fact that if more important things come up i.e.-a baby needing his mama, then I put him first and the cleaning waits, thus the clutter on counters. Without cleaning help I can clean when it's convenient for me, not the cleaning lady.
Third, In the time it takes to clean my kitchen I need it multiple times. If you have little kids you know that you can't go without being in your kitchen for long. The "nestlings" being home didn't help this matter, but still, I usually have at least two kidlets home all the time. I didn't want to get in her way. The "nestlings" kept asking for this and that and I had to keep telling them, "When the cleaning is done then I'll get it for you." If she wasn't there and I was the one cleaning I could have just stopped and got whatever they needed. I wanted to start dinner early and I couldn't. I guess some of this could be avoided if I had her clean the kitchen at a particular time in the day.
Fourth, Some areas weren't as clean as I would have cleaned them myself. Why pay someone to do something you can do better. I'm sure if I told her I wanted it cleaned more thoroughly she would, but I have a hard time doing that. It makes me uncomfortable.
Fifth, It costs money. I could buy a new outfit for me or a couple for the "nestlings" with the money it costs. Maybe I can live with a semi-clean house and have more money for other things.
The Pro---My house was clean. Every one of my bathrooms and my kitchen were clean all at the same time. A rare occurrence.
Some of the cons can be helped, some can't. I still haven't decided if hiring a cleaning person on a regular basis is for me. Do you have someone come in and clean for you? What do you love/hate about it?
Your post touch me. I just hired someone to clean my house every other week. And I have some of the same issues you mentioned. I work outside our home during the school year, but am home during the summers. My children are young adults (16, 18, & 21) so know that somethings NEVER change. My house is as cluttered now as when they were babies, maybe more.
ReplyDeleteI think my issues stem from guilt. I HATE being a slave to my guilt. For me it is guilt that I can't (or don't want to) take the time to clean my house like I think it should be done. I REALLY like having a house clean all at the same time. I just have other things I want to be doing (kids/scrapbooking/gardening, etc)
I like that having someone clean for me does force me to cut the clutter more regularly. And since I'm paying for it I think I make my kids more responsible for picking up their stuff.
We're still new at having someone clean for us & I struggle with telling them when I'd like something done better/different. Again my guilt.....it feels like if someone else is cleaning I need to be grateful (even if I'm paying them).
We're a month in to the cleaning & I sure do LOVE the Thursdays they come. I feel such relief. And I have found that it frees me up to clean out & declutter closets/the garage/dresser drawers. Things that seemed to get overlooked while I was just trying to get/keep the house cleaned.
I'm sorry for such a long post. But like I said your post touched me.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Oh Emily..I totally understand this. After Camryn was born I just couldn't keep up with all the task that needed to be done ( hence the lack of posts on my blog). We decided to hire someone to come clean once a month and do a total cleaning of the house. I felt the same way. I felt like I was cleaning before the cleaning ladies came, felt weird that someone was cleaning. And I decided I am really nit picky about the way people clean. Although it was nice to have all the base boards, windows washed, and things done that don't get done I'd rather do the regular cleaning and let them do those type of chores that I dread doing.
ReplyDeleteIf only I was Mary Poppins!
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ReplyDelete