After residing in a larger house for two years and handling the cleaning ourselves, we’ve reached a stage where we are contemplating the idea of employing cleaners. As someone who practices frugality, I find it hard to justify hiring others for tasks I’m capable of, particularly since I’m currently unemployed. Thus, I’ve consistently taken care of my own gardening, cleaning, driving, and more. Additionally, for over 26 years, I’ve relished the scent of Pinesol each time I clean the toilets!
Nevertheless, the drawback of living in a bigger house is the sheer amount of cleaning required. Eventually, the dirtiness and clutter begin to take a toll on my wife and me. We would much prefer to spend our time playing with our children or watching *The Morning Show* on Apple TV instead of dedicating four hours to cleaning.
Still, akin to spending $300–$500 on a car detailing, I can’t shake the feeling of it being wasteful. The car will easily get dirty again within a week or two. Consequently, I’ve never paid anyone to detail or wash my car. I just grab a hose and sponge and take 15–20 minutes to do it myself. Although the car isn’t spotless, it is about 80% clean!
In this article, I aim to find a way to overcome our hesitation about spending approximately $450 for a monthly deep clean of our home. Honestly, I feel lazy for even considering the option of hiring cleaners.
### The Hesitation To Employ Cleaners For Our Home
Initially, I sought to gain insight into how others approach this situation. The information I discovered regarding how others engage cleaners surprised me. Perhaps you can contribute and share your own experiences as well.
Recently, I conversed with a cleaner during my walk home. She was tidying up a neighbor’s house, so I inquired about how frequently she cleans there. She mentioned that her team cleans the house every week! Both parents are working professionals with two small children, and their home has been cleaned nearly every week for 13 years.
Wow! Could a home really become that dirty and cluttered in just one week, even with a couple of little ones? If the parents dedicated merely 15 minutes every other day for tidying up, and perhaps 30 minutes on the weekends, surely the house would be sufficiently clean, right?
If you care enough to invest in weekly cleaners, it’s likely that you also value the importance of spending just 15 minutes each day tidying up. Your threshold for messiness is low, prompting you to take action accordingly.
### Understanding the Guilt and Its Importance
For many of us raised in a frugal mindset and a middle-class environment, seeking assistance can feel like accepting defeat. If it’s something you can do yourself, you should. Performing chores builds character. Scrubbing the toilet fosters an appreciation for our wealth and encourages us to maintain cleaner bathrooms during use.
For those practicing FIRE, each dollar not saved or invested after managing basic living expenses can feel like a loss. Allocating funds for things like monthly cleaners can particularly sting because it equates to buying back less of your future time and freedom.
Over time, being in America can make us complacent. We have abundant food, leading to overeating. Our parents tend to provide everything we want rather than letting us struggle for our rewards, so when repayment for college loans arrives, we resist. When financial needs arise, instead of opting for a minimum-wage job, we often seek assistance from the Bank of Mom & Dad for an additional bailout.
In Japan, maintaining cleanliness in our homes is regarded as a gesture of respect—toward our space, ourselves, and others. It serves as a reminder that life tends to drift toward chaos, and it is our responsibility to keep it in order. The last thing I wish to do is foster an entitlement mentality, expecting others to manage all the unappealing tasks for me.
However, frugality is merely a tool and not a doctrine. At a certain point, it’s sensible to spend money to reclaim time and peace of mind. The equation involves not just dollars and chores, but also the balance of dollars, hours, stress, and relational bandwidth.
### The Hidden Costs of DIY
– **Time**: It could take a professional between 1-3 hours to clean 1,000 square feet. The bigger your house, the more time or labor will be necessary for cleaning. Those are hours you could instead allocate to work, rest, exercise, or spending time with your children.
– **Energy**: After a tiring week, cleaning demands energy that you might not possess. This can influence your mood and patience levels. A poor mood can result in a less satisfying marriage.
– **Quality**: Experienced professional cleaners with the right equipment can achieve a deep clean faster and more efficiently.
– **Opportunity Cost**: What value do you place on your time? Even