Introduction
Life is a balancing act between doing everything yourself and hiring professionals when you can especially when it comes to household maintenance. I, for one, have experienced both methods. In this article, I will explore my journey from hiring a professional cleaner to tackling housework alone and discuss the pros and cons of each approach.
Personal Experience and Satisfaction
One of the reasons I enjoy doing my own cleaning is the sheer satisfaction of a job well done. There's something incredibly rewarding about transforming a space from cluttered and messy to pristine and polished. Plus, cleaning can be remarkably relaxing. It’s a form of self-care and meditation, allowing me to focus on the task at hand and detachment from the stresses of daily life.
Or, as an alternative to pure relaxation, cleaning can be a form of physical exercise. By targeting problem areas and moving furniture, you can get a good workout. For instance, scrubbing the floors, cleaning windows, and dusting furniture can provide a full-body workout while giving your home a refreshed look. I often find myself in a better mood after a thorough clean, and my home feels like a resort compared to before.
Employing Professionals During the Professional Years
During my career in London, balancing a busy work life and personal life was a challenge. My wife and I maintained a reasonable income and needed to prioritize weekends for personal activities rather than housework. Therefore, like many, we opted to hire a relative to come in once a week to keep our home spotless. This not only provided us with free weekends but also ensured that the house was in top condition.
Our cleaner was exceptional. She was an incredibly fit woman in her 70s who brought her own equipment, including a steam mop. We paid her 25 an hour initially and eventually increased it to 30 after a year. Given her age, she was a valuable asset, and she always left us with a clean, fresh-smelling home. We provided her with a little holiday gift during Christmas, and she was happy to come on our day off when I wasn’t working extra hours.
Over time, she also helped me with special cleaning tasks like under heavy furniture and ensuring the kids' rooms were spotless before their visits. She was diligent, covering not just the main rooms but also the bathrooms and even cleaning mirrors and bathroom tiles with diluted vinegar spray. I often did the laundry, changed the sheets, and cleaned the kitchen surfaces during her not-so-busy periods to save time.
Post-Divorce and Alcoholism Recovery
Life took a sharp turn after my divorce. Struggling with alcoholism and unemployment, I found myself in a very difficult financial situation. Despite this, I’ve noticed an unexpected benefit in taking on the cleaning myself. After years of outsourcing, the act of cleaning has become therapeutic. It provides a sense of accomplishment and contributes to a positive mental state.
When I was able to work, I hired a cleaner every two weeks. She was a remarkable woman in her 70s who stayed 2 hours and delivered top-notch results. I appreciated her punctuality and dedication. With her help, I managed to maintain a clean home without overburdening myself with work and housework.
Finding Balance: The End of Regular Cleaning
As my work hours reduced, so did the financial viability of hiring a regular cleaner. By the time I cut my work to two days per week, the cost and effort of getting a cleaner no longer justified the outcome. While I miss her help and the efficiency she brought to my home, I’m learning to manage without her assistance.
Summary and Conclusion
Whether you prefer self-maintenance or professional help, both methods have their merits. Personal satisfaction, physical benefits, and external assistance all play a role in maintaining a clean and organized home. Whether I choose to do it myself or hire help, the end goal remains the same a clean, productive, and welcoming place for me to live.