Taking the Plunge.

I was raised to be an independent woman. I can do it all; have a successful career, rock it out as a mother/wife/friend, and keep my house in working order at all times. For the last 3 years I’ve done just that, but at the price of my sanity. Trying to do it all was stretching me thin and it was beginning to take a toll on my attitude and self-confidence. I decided something had to give, but what?

I realized that cleaning was taking over my life! When I wanted to take my son on a walk I was scrubbing out the tub.  When I needed to develop lesson plans I was washing the floor. I had three jobs: teacher, mom, and housekeeper. Two I found very rewarding, one no so much.

I never dreamed I would hire a cleaning service. I thought only rich people had cleaning services, not real people, like me. A few months back I decided to take the plunge (into my pride and wallet) and hire someone to come to my house every other week for four hours to do all the “heavy duty” scrubbing and general house tidying. Words cannot describe the love I have developed for my cleaning lady, Brenda. She has given me back the thing I value the most in life: TIME.

Are you on the edge about hiring a cleaning service? To help sway you to the dark side consider the following:

1. Cost. Cleaning services vary from way too expensive to too good to be true cheap (which is reflective of the quality of work you receive). I decided to go middle of the road. It’s still a significant expense in our budget, but well worth the cost. Also, I haven’t had to buy any cleaning products for the last four months, a cost saver. If you are concerned about the cost here’s a suggestion: next time you have a sitter come, over pay her a little extra to vacuum and wash the floors while the kids are sleeping. You come home to a clean house and pay an extra 10 bucks for it, not bad!
2. Time and stress reduction. I have so much more time now than before. I don’t freak out when my son pees all over the toilet seat or I see (gasp) a water ring in the tub. I know it will be taken care of and not something I have to worry about.
3. A cleaning service forces me to clean my house. Prior to a service coming, I am responsible for emptying the sink, doing the laundry, and organizing my house. Annoying sometimes? Yes. But it forces me to have a handle on daily chores at least every two weeks.

I can’t describe to you the feeling I get walking into a clean house after a day spent at the park with my kids or at school. Cleaning services aren’t just for those people. They are for everyone. Never feel guilty for admitting you can’t do it all. Specialize in the things you value the most in life and allow yourself simple pleasures, like a cleaning lady. You’ll thank me later, I promise.

Do you currently use a cleaning service? How beneficial is it in your life?  If you’re still scrubbing your floors, have you ever dreamed of “taking the plunge” and using a cleaning service? Please share your comments here.