Two income parents: Do you have housekeepers? (vacuum, cleaner, ceiling)

[twoincomes]

For those of you that are two income families, do you have housekeepers / cleaners / maids help you with your house?

My spouse and I are struggling. There is an endless pile of laundry that needs to be done, cooking home cooked meals every night, constant cleaning, vacuuming. Helping our child with her needs.

I really am reluctant to hire cleaners because of the cost associated, but I don't see anyway that we're supposed to have the time to get everything done.

Any advice (from other two income parents) would be helpful.

[cpg35223]

We have Mildred, who has worked for us for 15 years. She comes in once a week, turns on her soaps, and does the laundry.

We had Mildred's daughter, too, who would clean house while Mildred did the laundry. But while the house was immaculate when we got home, she was always putting stuff in drawers where it didn't go, which meant we had to get up early to clean house before the housekeeper came.

All that being said, the mental relief one gets from having such a time-consuming chore done for you is worth the money. Trust me on this.

[flyonpa]

1 income single dad +(16 son) . I have a maid service come every 2 week ($132) 3br/2.5 bath 2700sf

They do the heavy cleaning: Kitchen, bathrooms, vacuum whole house, Dust etc. They do two room 'deep clean' each two weeks. Over 6 months every room get a deep clean, then they repeat the cycle.

[plmokn]

One income (me), SAHM mom and FOUR DAUGHTERS (14, 11, 9, and 5) and we STILL have a cleaning lady twice a month. Yes, I am ashamed of that.

[Kibbiekat]

To me, a housekeeper means Alice from the Brady bunch. We have cleaners that come every other week. I do all the laundry and cooking.

[librarySue]

You didn't mention...Can you actually afford this? If so, why the heck not?

The good news is that hiring help is not a lifetime commitment. Try it out as an experiment.

And google FlyLady. She can help return the sanity to your life even without hiring help.

[strawflower]

Single parent, one income.

Housekeeper? No.
Cleaning lady? Yes. She comes 2x month and does the heavy stuff like mopping floors, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms, etc. that I don't have the time (nor the desire) to do. I also have several people lined up who are willing to stay with my kids or cart them to activities on short notice.

I do the laundry and cooking myself. Staying organized is key.

[butterflies1375]

I do! In reality they are my children though and not technically housekeepers. Another reality, they are more housemessers(I realize I made that word up) than housekeepers. Most of the mess is theirs so they get to deal with it.

[steelstress]

If the cost is prohibitive, perhaps hiring a local teen/student can do it for a lower rate?

[SXMGirl]

I try to follow flylady. My only time with a house cleaner did not work out since she told me that she was too short to do things like ceiling fans and anything that required her to do any reaching.