Kitchen

[Deanie]

I do my own cleaning. I found when I used a service there were issues with breakage, furniture damage, and the like. I also do all my own laundry, ironing, cooking (rarely eat out, I am a from scratch cooker-not a baker thou) and work out at the gym four days a week. I read numerous articles that claimed that people who do their own housework are more fit and healthier. In addition, I added up the expense. Whoa. I could go on a vacation with what is being paid out to do what I could do easily. Now, before anyone gets on their high horse about working and balancing out tasks and priorities, I am only relating what I do and the reasons therein. This is not to suggest or minimize what decisions others have arrived at based on time constraints and needs. (I feel like I am writing a legal disclaimer on this board due to the virulence that others feel is necessary in attacking positions differing from their own)

[pattypeep]

Yes, except for a few months about 15 years ago, I have always cleaned my own home. It's getting harder, but there's just no way I can leave when they come and I couldn't possibly "sit" and watch while someone cleans my house. Plus, my fur babies would be in their way and I'd have to schlep them out some where. Too much hassle. It's not as clean as it was when I was younger, but it's acceptable, and, frankly, other than my dh's shower, I don't mind cleaning. I've warned him that when he retires in a couple of years, it's share and share alike on the housework ~ especially his bathroom.

[!FitChick!]

I work full time and clean the house. I babysit twice a month on the weekends, so on the "off" weekends I deep clean- wash walls, move the furniture to vacuum, clean fridge, that sort of thing. The weekends when the kids are here are maintenence- dishes, keeping things picked up, sweeping.

I don't mind cleaning the house, it's yard work I can't stand. My husband is off during the summer, though, so the yard is his deal. I would hire someone to do the yardwork in a heartbeat if he worked year round full time. My back can only take so much, and I'm in shape.

[Boehm Collector]

I used to always clean my own house. But when my Mom came to live with us, I had her housekeeper come to my house once a week. I did it for several reasons: (1) at least I knew that someone was with Mom that one day while I was at work; (2) she had worked for Mom for many years and we felt bad letting her go; and (3) I have reached the point in my life where after working all week; cooking dinner almost every night; catching up on chores I cannot do during the week on weekends .... I am just too tired to clean the house. Unfortunately, during this past holiday season, this particular cleaning woman stabbed me in the back after we had been so good to her (we even GAVE her my late Mom's car ... gave not sold... because her own car was on its last legs and she could not afford to even purchase a used car) .... and repeatedly lied about it. So we let her go. We found a wonderful woman who was recommended by several mutual friends. She does a marvelous job.. even better than my previous housekeeper. She cleans the entire house ... including our finished basement.. for $70.00 a week. I do not have her do my laundry or my ironing or clean my refrigerator or clean my oven or clean out my closets or wash my dishes or make my bed.

[chrystaltree]

No and I cannot imagine getting satisfaction out of cleaning toilets and scrubbing floors. I did it in my mom days but I didn't like it and didn't pretend to like it. When I went to work full time, my husband and I shared the housework. A few years ago, I hired a part time cleaning lady and I have a service come in three times a year for major cleaning. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. We can afford it and I prefer spending my time enjoying my life. That's why retiring before 68 or 70 is not our plan. I need the same standard of living when I'm retired that I have now.......because housecleaning is not in my future.

[spud188]

I have help twice a year,there are 3 ladies they clean top to bottom and charge me $60 for about 3 hours work.I give them each a $5 tip.

[Daysdee]

On 6/7/2014 ID2 said:

Absolutely not! I wouldn't be comfortable with anyone else in my house! No one can clean it as good as me. I used to clean my moms condo periodically for her but I did it because she was elderly. I never thought able-bodied people had their houses cleaned. Never heard of it.

Many people I know have someone come in to clean. Some don't work and have someone come in. Some work and have someone come in weekly or twice a month. I did have someone at one time years ago while recuperating from surgery. I could use someone now, but it can also be a hassle to find someone trustworthy.

[Sebastian]

All my married life I have stayed at home and all that time I have cleaned my own home. I have the time to do so and I know exactly how clean my house is. Kudos to all... my kind and to those that are too busy to do it themselves or less inclined.

[sandy53]

I clean my own house now that I am retired, but I hired someone to clean every other week when I worked. I considered it the best money I spent! Even if I had the time, I did not have the energy to do it.

Now I have both the time and energy and do not mind doing it myself. Do I get satisfaction from it? Well...I like when it is done. I like doing it all at once so my whole house is clean at the same time. But sometimes I do the main floor one day and the upstairs the next day.

[SharkE]

On 6/6/2014 Carmie said: I always have cleaned my own house and would never allow anyone to do the cleaning for me. I am very private and do not want anyone going through my stuff. Cleaning people know more about you than your own family. Just saying.....

That's true. I'm not comfortable with another person in the house and I would have to hide valubles everytime I knew they were coming. Just do it yourself , then, U don't have that to worry about. When times comes I can't I'll go to assisted living and would had sold off my pretties by then.