Oh2katz, I went through that during the worst of covid…..the exact same scenario , just not so long. Had the I can do it zealous plan, with the same results. I asked here sbout vacs, trried three…all were returned. Realized I hate to vacuumn! Happy days to you !

Ha-ha - I actually like vacuuming now that I have that Dyson cordless stick. If I hadnt gotten that I probably would have succumbed to a housecleaner sooner. It’s dusting I despise and cleaning the shower and tub. 😣

2katz, I am so happy for you. This has been my dream. In my adult life, I have only had a cleaning service for a few short months (before the fire) and was more than happy to have a reason to terminate (different people every week, no attention to detail).

A friend recommended a woman a few weeks ago (I was sold when told she cleans floors by hand not by mop), but with my father passing and back to school chaos, I never got around to calling her. You have inspired me to put it on my to do list for today.

Excited for you! And i am with you, I would much rather scoot my little Dyson stick around than dust or clean the bathrooms.

Congrats! Ya'll are so funny. I don't enjoy cleaning, but I do like caring for our home, so that's what I tell myself I am doing. I occasionally have help for big projects, but really, I prefer to do it myself. The Mr. is good about helping. I don't mind dusting and doing the bathrooms, etc., the floors are my least favorite. I don't think you need to clean top to bottom every cleaning to have your home clean. I do think you need a few gadgets! A good vacuum, steam mop, etc.

My only regret was not having a house cleaner sooner. DH felt uncomfortable having people going through the house, so when I hired ours, they just don’t do his office.

As I have aged, it just took me so long to clean everything.

The ladies come every other week and are done in under two hours. My home is small and clutter free. I empty all waste baskets and pick up all accent rugs which is a time saver for them.

I am thrilled that people will clean as their job.

Totally understand your glee.

I'm so jealous. I keep meaning to get a house cleaner, but I guilt myself into believing that I should be doing it myself. Plus, we have two dogs and my work schedule changes weekly. I think I need to revisit the idea. My house overwhelms me.

@eld6161 I feel like your husband. :)

@jojoco why feel guilty? Especially if you are feeling overwhelmed? We all have our own thoughts on house-cleaning. I don't work, we don't have children (not even a pup now boo-hoo), and have the time (and much of the time the inclination). I think, if a person can get their house organized and clean, then the weekly upkeep is not so much. Well other than a few times a year when more deep-cleaning chores are done. But if having someone clean for you will make you happy, make you not feel overwhelmed, give you more time with your children, etc. go for it!!

Regarding guilt - though I had a housecleaner throughout my entire career, upon hearing I'd engaged one now DH gave me the raised eyebrow look - couldn't see why I'd do that now that I'm retired. I said because I can and because I don't like cleaning the house. He doesn't really care but I guess the idea came as a shock to him. Our house is always tidy and clutter free and he doesn't notice dust or other such subtle dirt. I do and I don't like it.

Even if you keep your house up, you are not doing all iof the necessary chores daily, I find.

It got to the point that I kept putting it off.

Now, DH is totally on board.

We use the time they are here to take the dog for a walk, then do a few errands.

Yes 2katz, my house has always been tidy, so the general appearance for unecoected compsny is that I had a clean house. Except for the dust bunnies……..

Mine is here today - yay! I'm with you 2katz - I can keep it looking tidy but I loathe doing tubs, showers and toilets. And floors. And dusting. I'm pretty good at cleaning countertops and laundry. That's about it.

I might have to disagree with you there @eld6161. Or maybe I would disagree with what you consider daily chores? Not trying to argue; this is an interesting discussion. Our house is clean. It is not always spotless, but it is pretty clean. I think alot has to do with organization and routine. One thing I struggle with is ALL THE PAPER THAT COMES INTO THIS HOUSE. I cannot let that go or it is just out of control. My MIL just turned 84 and let me tell you, that woman's house is pretty close to spotless. A clean house has always been a MAJOR priority for her, even when she was working. Granted, she is on her own now, but she has a 3 br, 2 ba house. She is in the habit of cleaning on Saturday mornings and she can have everything done in half a day. But her house is always picked up, dishes done, laundry caught up, etc. She has too much of a cleaning "schedule" for me, but that's her choice. It sounds like most here are having a cleaning person bi-weekly, but even a weekly cleaning, necessary daily chores may not be done. I think it's totally an individual thing. For instance, I clean our master bath more than once a week. I think a bathroom that is used by two people daily, tub and shower especially, needs to be cleaned more than once a week. But that's my thinking, my choice.

I'm on sabbatical that may turn into early retirement, we'll see. I have a ton of stuff to do around the house. If I had a housecleaner, that would be great since there is more than enough to keep me busy and some help would allow me to spend time on other things--like organizing family photos . . . etc. My late mother used to get a babysitter one afternoon a week for us even though she was a stay at home Mom. That way she could still indulge in her hobbies fully engaged. We loved the babysitter so it was a win win. I think whether one can efficiently utilize a housekeeper or not is very variable and fluctuates over time and availability of good people. A good housekeeper is a joy, a mediocre one is more trouble that it is worth.

Yay! I have almost always had a housecleaner. I don't particularly enjoy cleaning, but I love a clean house. Ours were here today and now our house is clean, our sheets are clean and I‘m a happy girl. I have never felt guilt about it either. I am employing people who provide a service that I am unwilling or unable to do. Nothing wrong with that.

Update: my new housecleaner came yesterday for the first time. OMG how wonderful to have a completely clean house once again after two years without a housecleaner. I did not meet her before yesterday - only talked on the phone but I liked the sound of her and since several people on my street have had her for years I figured I'd just get started. She is one of those professional, career housecleaners who seems to have a passion for cleaning. She cleans the floor by hand because she doesn't think mops do a good job in the corners! She has her own supplies but does use my vacuums. I have a Miele canister and a Dyson V8 stick. I haven't used the Miele since I got the Dyson but it's stored in our lower level so she used that downstairs and the Dyson upstairs. She was skeptical of the stick but was sold after she used it. I told her they're on sale at Target and I think she was off to buy one for her personal use at home.

Anyway I know this is a frivolous luxury because I could do it myself, especially now that I'm retired, but after 30 years of having someone else clean for me it's a luxury that I'm so happy to be able to treat myself to. Yippee!!

Congratulations! i too loathe cleaning house and would rather dig a ditch than do it. Our house actually feels different when it is truly clean. And when other people clean it I dont have that proprietary (resentful) feeling of not wanting anyone to use anything and mess it up, iykwim.

I have had a housekeeper since the early 1980’s. The few times i have been between people or services have been hell. Our new default system is a service to do heavy cleaning every two weeks and a person to do light cleaning and ironing weekly. We are auditioning for the new person; so far none of the younger ones can iron worth a flip. The search continues, and in the meantime the service is coming weekly. For me this is as far from frivolous as flush toilets or potable water!

No matter how fastidious a person is, depending on their biology, cleaning certain items becomes more and more difficult for some people, particularly if they are bothered by arthritis or bursitis or joint issues. And balance issues too. If one can afford it, having help allows you to stay in a larger home longer, if that's what you like. I entertain a lot, including out of town guests and outdoors, so that's why I have kept my larger home and yard, although the pandemic is causing me to rethink that . . . I visited a friend with a nice large condo last month and it was calling to me . . . but that was a yard issue not a home size issue . . .

Wow^^^^

It's the one thing I don't think I could give up. Ours have been with us for 8 years.

I am grateful there are people who are willing to do this as their job.

WOWZERS Dee! That's impressive!!

I miss the housekeeper I had that was actually good!

LOL, during COVID, I used to make those roses for my DH's bathroom, so he wouldn't miss our cleaning lady.

Our cleaning ladies have been with us since we bought in CT (10+yrs) and in ME (8yrs). They are both excellent, and we greatly appreciate them. The only things that bother me are little and it would feel mean/petty to bring it up. In CT, the cleaning lady thinks everything should always be on a jaunty angle. In ME, I found out the cleaning lady cuts flowers and puts them in a vase when I have guests (renters) and that the real estate agent also brings gifts. I rent twice a season and I compose my own gifts and, being a control freak, don't like a bunch of extra stuff. But how can you say that?

Congrats! I love our housekeeper, so much so that she comes weekly. We work for life’s luxuries and are so thankful for them.

OMG, Mtn, is it possible that there is some nationwide Jaunty Angle School of Cleaning? Our cleaners perform that particular black magic on mantels, furniture, books on the coffeetable, towels on the bathroom counter….even the bottles in our shower. It’s painfully tacky, even vulgar, and I grit my teeth and say nothing. I’d die before hurting their feelings and they obviously think it’s an improvement over my well thought out arrangements. 🙄

Definitely a first world problem @User 🙂

It is that!

What's a jaunty angle, pray tell?

As for cleaning help-add me to the list of those who will give up pretty much everything else as long as I can keep my wonderful housecleaner!

I vividly recall being at home alone on a Saturday when I was still working FT, cleaning toilets during my precious free weekend time while the rest of my family was out enjoying the day.

Luckily I found my cleaning goddess ~8 years ago. Never looked back and when I retired and moved an hour away, I upped her pay and she agreed to keep coming to the new place-whew.

She is one of those professional, career housecleaners who seems to have a passion for cleaning.

Same with my housekeeper, she leaves the house sparkling every other week including always finding something to spiff up that I don't expect or ask her to do.

We just started demo on our big remodel this week. So for the next few months we are living in our "honeymoon suite" AKA the 1/1 apartment on our first level while the entire second level (4/2) is gutted and will be rebuilt. Since there's really not enough for her to do to warrant coming regularly I'm giving her paid vacation days for the duration and she's worth every penny!