Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Housework Tuesday - A Cleaning Service?


Happy Housework Tuesday! Can you believe we are in April already? Where has the first quarter of 2010 gone my friends?


So today I want to get your opinion on something I have been considering a lot these days - the idea of hiring a cleaning service to come once a week. I’m just honestly tired of cleaning bath tubs, showers and hardwood floors. In order for me to truly keep my house clean, I either need to spend 45 minutes to an hour each day doing various chores throughout the week or spend four hours on the weekend knocking it all out at one time. With my recent focus on exercise and new office hours, I just can’t seem to find the time during the week to complete necessary housework – so I wind up spending 3-4 hours on Saturday running through my house like a mad woman trying to get everything clean.

This past Saturday was no exception. As I mentioned, my house was filled with guests Saturday afternoon, Saturday evening & Sunday for Easter brunch. I woke up at 7:45 am and began the race against the clock to get every inch of my house clean before 1pm when guests were to arrive. Thankfully I was able to get everything done – but I was so exhausted from my cardio cleaning session that I was a pitiful excuse for a hostess.

Steven mentioned late Saturday evening that we should consider hiring a weekly cleaning service to come and do the large chores: bathrooms, hardwood floors, dusting, baseboards, oven, etc. I can easily clean the dishes and laundry throughout the week. I could even find time to clean some glass here and there and dust the living room if necessary. Unfortunately, we do not have the disposable income at the moment to truly consider hiring a cleaning service – but he joked that by Christmas we could afford it and that would be my Christmas present – a year’s supply of a weekly cleaning service.

At first I thought he was crazy – but now I’m starting to think that would be a great gift. In essence, he would be giving me four hours of my life back each week. Imagine – I could have the cleaning service come every Friday morning and my house would always be ready to entertain guests during the weekend.

But then the accountant in me kicked in and I calculated the actual costs. Let’s say that it costs $60 per week for a maid (I realize that’s probably an underestimation – but our house is one story and only three bedrooms so the bargain hunter in me can dream!) Let’s say I have the maid come 50 weeks out of the year at $60 a week – that’s $3,000. That’s a pretty pricey Christmas present. In fact – that’s my trip to Jamaica that I have been daydreaming about. I’m just so cheap – could I honestly spend that kind of money on something that I could easily do for myself?

Then I started to think of the actual time I would be saving. 50 weeks at 4 hours a week – that’s 200 hours – that’s 8 ½ full days out of my year that I wouldn’t have to spend cleaning!

Ugh – you can see why I am so torn. And like I said, we aren’t truly considering hiring a cleaning service anytime soon. Just a “one day – when we can afford it” kind of thought. But then again, there is always something that I would like to spend $3,000 on.

So I ask you – is a weekly cleaning service really worth it?

18 comments:

LauraAnn said...

I have been contemplating the same issue! I would love to have someone come weekly to take care of things but I don't think that is feasible for us right now. But even if I could have someone come out every other week or even every three weeks to take care of dusting, cleaning the floors, etc that would be a HUGE help!

And figuring $60/week I think is very reasonable. My sister-in-law pays about $40/week for her maid service.

Good luck! And thanks for stopping by my blog! :-)

Bryan & Chelsey said...

Bryan and I talk about this all the time, but not really seriously.

I grew up in a house where we all cleaned up after ourself and never had a maid once. My husband grew up in a home where they have had a maid come every week when he was growing up.

I never thought that I would want a maid and had the mentality of "ugh, I can't believe people can't clean their own houses and would actually pay someone to do it!" Then I met my mother-in-law and I understand her side a little bit better.

She worked full time when her 4 kids were growing up, and so it was more important to her that she spend her time with the kids, rather than having to clean all day or live in a dirty house! Looking back, I wish my mom could have had a maid with all that cleaning she did!

I don't think there's anything wrong with having a little help, as long as you're willing to do the work yourself in the first place! ;) When kids come along, I can definitely see wanting to spend my time with them.

Maybe if you're worried about the cost, then have the maid come every other week, instead of each week. Then you can take care of the smaller stuff around the house. Also, $60 is reasonable. Just ask around your work place and do a little researching! Well, there's my very long two sense! Hope it helps and let us know what you decide! :)

Erika said...

why don't you consider having them come once a month and do a thorough cleaning. This way you can just maintain what they did. Just a thought...

d.a.r. said...

Maybe they could just come every other week? Or every three weeks?

No way, no how for us. I'd rather clean and keep the cash :)

Anonymous said...

Growing up, my mom had a cleaning gal come in every other week.
She would do the deep cleaning; baseboards, bathrooms, dusting, oven, vacuuming, mopping, etc.

Even with us two kids at home, twice a month was enough. She only paid $75 per visit. $150 a month, that's only $1800 a year-- much better savings!

In the middle of visits, you could just do a quick vacuum and light dusting (1 hour max- set yourself a limit!) and I think it would be just fine!

Good luck with whatever you choose! :)

Same Sweet Girl: Memoir of a Southern Belle said...

Hi girly!!! I just found your blog and I'm so glad I did! :)

Come check out my blog when you can! I'm doing a giveaway!!

Same Sweet Girl: Memoir of a Southern Belle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mateya said...

I think this is a great idea! Growing up, my mom had a cleaning lady come every other week. We were still responsible for cleaning our own rooms, but the cleaning lady did all of the big stuff like bathrooms, kitchen, wash floors, etc.

This was such a big help and I think she pays her around $40 per visit. I think the money is well worth not spending all of your free time cleaning!

agalandherdog said...

I pay my youngest sister $25 to come help me clean for 2 hours every Saturday. She's in college and needs the extra money, and we can get the whole house done in 2 hours (which would have taken me 4 by myself). I come out with a clean house and she gets $100 a month. Plus we get to talk and catch up the whole time so it doesn't feel like work at all. Do you have any siblings or friends who might want to strike a deal like this? I realize this might not be applicable for everyone.

mackenzie said...

i love cleaning and would sooo help you out but i can't even find the time to clean myself! what about every other week?!!? then the week they don't come, you can just clean it up a bit? i would say do it for the big big stuff!! like behind the fridge!! ahhh hate that!!

Unknown said...

Hire a cleaning service! You'll feel so much better about a clean house that you can relax in rather than constantly worrying about when/where/how long to clean. That's my two cents...good luck girl!

KW said...

it is TOTALLY worth it, but if you want to save on cost, do it every other week. that's what we do :) it's actually been a life-saver for our marriage, we don't fight about the house being clean any more. and in between i just swiffer vac (and if you don't have one you need one, especially since you have dogs) and clean the kitchen countertops in between :)

Anonymous said...

I wish I could help you on this one girl! I have been wanting someone to come clean my house once a week for a long time....just never seem to get around to it. I can't wait to hear what you end up doing! Good luck! xoxo

Jessica @ Wanting Adventure said...

I would *love* to have someone come in and clean for me every other week! Just so you know, my parents have a service that doesn't come in each week but every other (that cuts the cost in half for you).

I'm in the same boat financially as you guys, not having that disposable income, so I came up with an alternative. In our area, there are a few services designed for move-in and move-out cleans and also do peridoc cleaning. They can come in and deep clean the bathrooms and kitchen and whatnot and get you back on solid ground again. We're thinking of doing this every six months or so to keep the house in shape while we don't have time to clean it.

At least I know that something will be clean every half year or so!

Andrea @ The Dawley Fam said...

Hi there! I have someone clean my house once a week and it's amazing, I wouldn't trade it for anything! My cost is only about half of what you would spend so I might be a little hesitant if it added up to $3000/yr. But I say go for it, totally worth it!

tootie said...

I don't have a cleaning service, but I've considered it! (Who hasn't, right? :) My friend has one, but she has them come only once every 2 weeks to do a good cleaning. So maybe if you had them come less often, it could still get your house clean, but for a lot less money? (FYI - I think she pays $50 a visit.)

Ambs said...

Could you possibly keep some cleaning spray and a sponge close to the tub and just wipe it and the sinks down after every other shower? That might cut down on a little cleaning time since you'll be in there anyways! Just a suggestion

Tori Bella said...

We've really honestly considered it. You'd be suprised at how cheap it can be. But I am HOPEFULLY scaling back my workload here in the next few weeks so now we don't need to.



Young, Fabulous, Newlywed





Button Love

My Blogger BFF

Designed By:

Munchkin Land Designs
Elements by Karen Funk