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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to consider getting a cleaner with 2 days off work?

84 replies

Advice5 · 04/05/2026 22:51

Reposted sorry as title didn't appear!

Aibu to consider getting a cleaner? I work part time, have 2 days off. I have 3 kids all are now in school. My husband works long hours and I do all domestic chores, all pick ups drop offs, cooking, the mental load of what kids need etc seeing to there needs mainly myself during the week due to long hours husband works. I do not expect my husband to do more due to how we have split responsibilities across everything so not asking for input regarding this. I have a large house 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, 2 sitting rooms. I am considering getting a cleaner as I feel exhausted, thinking I would be a better person for it at home and it would give me some breathing space. Aibu to do this considering I have 2 days off? I wouldn't give everything to the cleaner to do just things like bathrooms, and some of the floors bit of dusting so would still be doing some stuff myself. Anyone got any experience of having one in this situation? Anyone who has cleaners do partial cleaning? How did it improve your life if so?

OP posts:
TheSmallAssassin · 04/05/2026 22:55

If you can afford a cleaner, absolutely go for it, and let them do as much as they can in the time you can afford, rather than keeping some back for yourself, why would you?

I am so glad we have a cleaner, it takes off such a load - mentally and physically! Our house is much cleaner than it used to be!

Inmyuggs · 04/05/2026 22:58

Get a cleaner...life is to short to clean
It gives someone the opportunity to earn and work.

TheRealShatParp · 04/05/2026 22:59

Two days off total or in addition to a weekend off, so 4 days off?

AffableApple · 04/05/2026 22:59

Can you/the family pot/whatever money pile this is coming out of - able to afford it? Fucking crack on!

Millymollymandy4 · 04/05/2026 22:59

Love I had a cleaner when I was in my 30s, working part time - no kids and no partner

of course you can!!!

there is no hurdlE you have to get past

Millymollymandy4 · 04/05/2026 23:00

Do it

life is too short -

Original poster
Advice5 · 04/05/2026 23:04

TheRealShatParp · 04/05/2026 22:59

Two days off total or in addition to a weekend off, so 4 days off?

It's 2 days off in the week and the weekend off too. 1 day weekend is mostly taken up with kids activities, the other helping them with homework some family time and prep for the week

OP posts:
tightfit · 04/05/2026 23:04

Life is too short to spend time on anything you ‘feel’ you should do. If you can afford it and that’s what you want then it’s no one else’s business

suki1964 · 04/05/2026 23:05

I only work 20 hours a week and I posted the other day about getting a cleaner, to do the stuff I struggle to keep up with

There's just the two of us, but same sized house as yours near enough. Big house, lot of garden, there's just too much

If you can afford it, go for it

Icequeen01 · 04/05/2026 23:05

I only work 2 days a week as I’m semi-retired as is DH. We still have our cleaner and wouldn’t be without her.

Original poster
Advice5 · 04/05/2026 23:05

AffableApple · 04/05/2026 22:59

Can you/the family pot/whatever money pile this is coming out of - able to afford it? Fucking crack on!

Yes could cover a partial clean of the main areas.. Full house would cost a lot and there's some areas like kitchen I'd prefer to do

OP posts:
PollyBell · 04/05/2026 23:06

I dont think they make you fill out a form to check if your situation entitles you to pay for a service or not, if you want one why on earth would anyone else care?

and even if they do why on earth would this matter to you?

Haffway · 04/05/2026 23:09

Completely unreasonable.

You’re a disgrace to women everywhere. You should clean your own house. How could you relax knowing someone else is doing work that is your sole duty because you were born with a vagina? Paying another person to do a job they advertised to do is the worst form of exploitation imaginable. Anyway, what could you possibly want to do with your time that would be more fulfilling than taking care of a house?

Seriously, op, why are you even asking! Of course it’s ok.

Original poster
Advice5 · 04/05/2026 23:11

suki1964 · 04/05/2026 23:05

I only work 20 hours a week and I posted the other day about getting a cleaner, to do the stuff I struggle to keep up with

There's just the two of us, but same sized house as yours near enough. Big house, lot of garden, there's just too much

If you can afford it, go for it

I work 18.5 hours there's just something in me that feels a bit guilty having 1 with 2 days off! Have you felt that? But overall what I do feels like a lot which is probably why I feel tired and a bit snappy sometimes!

OP posts:
Original poster
Advice5 · 04/05/2026 23:16

TheSmallAssassin · 04/05/2026 22:55

If you can afford a cleaner, absolutely go for it, and let them do as much as they can in the time you can afford, rather than keeping some back for yourself, why would you?

I am so glad we have a cleaner, it takes off such a load - mentally and physically! Our house is much cleaner than it used to be!

I think to do a full clean would cost a lot and there's some areas like kitchen I'd probably feel more comfortable doing. Glad to hear it's helped your life.

OP posts:
MetalliCat89 · 04/05/2026 23:29

If you can comfortably afford it why does it matter what anyone else thinks? Nothing wrong with out sourcing if you can afford ir and get some time back for youself/family. You want the break and self employed people need the work, it's a win win for both parties.

Ouuuuccchhhh · 05/05/2026 09:04

Well objectively I have two days off too (Saturday and Sunday!) but we still have a cleaner! My partner and I both work full-time (no kids) and getting a cleaner was the best thing ever. Go for it and sod any judgement, including your own inner judgement!

chocolateaddictions · 05/05/2026 09:19

Totally fine OP if you can afford it and your kids won’t go without because of it. I did the same in your situation, I had a very stressful job and was trying to get promoted while working 3 days a week so it was a big help to me. Big house, travelling DH, tiny children. I did get promoted so it was worth it. I work FT now but kids are teens so out of the house a lot so we reduced cleaner hours, I have a bit more time to keep on top of it and training the DC to help more.

henlake7 · 05/05/2026 09:22

If you won the lottery would you still clean your house?
(personally Im doing a roadrunner impression out of work and hiring as many 'little people' as I can afford!!LOL)😆

CircusAcer · 05/05/2026 09:24

It doesn't matter how much free time you have, if you can afford it and want it then get one. You don't have to justify it. Cleaners like cleaning, it is their job. Had my Mum lived longer she would have taken ironing in after she retired as she loved ironing and other people hate it.

Get a cleaner to do the things you don't want to do.

NeedATreat · 05/05/2026 09:30

You could have 7 days off and I’d still say YANBU to spend money you can afford on a cleaner if you want to. Martyrdom is dull; if you (like me) have the luxury of working part time then life has a million enjoyable, enriching and worthwhile things you can do with that time. Why spend it doing something you don’t enjoy and can comfortably outsource?

suki1964 · 05/05/2026 11:30

Advice5 · 04/05/2026 23:11

I work 18.5 hours there's just something in me that feels a bit guilty having 1 with 2 days off! Have you felt that? But overall what I do feels like a lot which is probably why I feel tired and a bit snappy sometimes!

Show quote history

No I dont feel guilty at all

Ive worked since I left school at 15 , some periods in my life Ive worked up to 4 jobs a week

We can afford to live on what we earn - DH only works 3 days a week most weeks - his days at home are busy with the garden and house maintenance

Just Im not getting younger , joints are aching more , things take longer to do and I dont want to be spending every hour Ive got cleaning

Katemax82 · 05/05/2026 11:35

Get a cleaner for whatever reason you want. You're paying for a service you don't need to justify it. I used to be grateful for new clients when I was a cleaner

KoiTetra · 05/05/2026 11:36

Can you afford it without affecting other areas of life financially? If yes do it!

HoskinsChoice · 05/05/2026 12:37

Have you seen a doctor? Most people work 5 days a week, bring kids up and manage a household. It's quite worrying that you're so exhausted. I would go and see your doctor to get some tests done, it isn't normal to be exhausted when you only work 3 days and have a husband to share the load with. Hope you are OK!