It is a fact that, generally, people are not fond of cleaning, whether it be their house, garage or automobile. Cleaning itself is hard work, time consuming, tiring and often very stressful, particularly when it is a deep clean which is carried out two or three times a year. We only have to think of the annual spring clean which so many people dread. A full house clean can take upwards of a day to complete if done properly, involving disruption, noise and inconvenience. Nonetheless, it is a task which must be done.
Keep up with the routine cleaning …
Routine daily cleaning, of course, is much easier, and relatively quick and easy. These are the tasks which you carry out on a regular basis, thus avoiding the need for major cleaning operations more than a few times a year. Daily cleaning will involve small tasks such as vacuuming the carpets, dusting and polishing the furniture, mopping the floors and cleaning the windows. Bathrooms and kitchens, as a rule, are cleaned more than once per day as they are used, and if you are a health fanatic, disinfected with antibacterial surface sprays as you work. Personally, I’m all for them, although there are others who believe that too much sanitising breaks down one’s ability to develop a strong immune system, but everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
Can’t – or won’t – clean up yourself?
Nonetheless, even small tasks can be too much for some people due to health problems, frailty, age or – quite simply – a deep-seated desire not to do the work because of a little factor called laziness. Being a gadget junkie and with an overwhelming desire to ease my housework load as much as possible, I veer towards buying any utensil or tool which will make my cleaning life easier and have fun using them whilst achieving the cleanliness I want. Others are not so enamoured of such gadgets and want to get on with anything other than cleaning! Even so, most of us want to live in an environment which is clean, hygienic and appealing.
Call in the cleaners to help
So what is the answer? If you feel that you cannot face the thought of cleaning, lack the interest or are too busy with life to be bothered with cleaning up after yourself, your best bet would be to employ a cleaner to come in once or twice a week or use the services of a professional cleaning company. The upside of this arrangement is that you are providing much-needed employment in a harsh economic climate, whilst also having the benefit of living in a clean space.
A cleaner’s work is the hardest part …
Both cleaners and professional cleaning companies do a variety of different tasks around the home, including seeing to the washing and ironing and doing the “heavy lifting” parts of the job such as mopping or polishing the floors, washing the windows, moving items of furniture and vacuuming under them, and giving the kitchen and bathrooms a thorough cleaning. I know there are people who leave their kitchen in total chaos and do not wash up after themselves when they know the cleaner will be in the next day, but this is something which is totally alien to me. After all, we have automatic dishwashers which we can load over a few nights and then set to run when they are full, so leaving dirty dishes in the sink is unfathomable to me. I am disgusted at the thought of flies using leftover bits of food on dishes and plates as their nurseries and breeding grounds, and this applies also to fresh or tinned pet food which is not fully eaten at one sitting and left on the floor for flies to lay their eggs on. And, yes, it can happen in a matter of minutes during the hot summer months!
Domestic and professional cleaners both have their roles
Employing a regular cleaner or domestic assistant gives you peace of mind that your home will be thoroughly cleaned and order restored at lease once per week, as well as forming a good working understanding between you. A regular cleaner will become very much a part of the family in a sense, in that they will know your routine, know your expectations and standards, and know what to do and where everything is kept without being told every time they come. A professional cleaning company, on the other hand, will supply their own cleaning materials and work in small teams which do the job in a fraction of the time that one person working alone can achieve. Professional cleaners often have on on-site supervisor who is there to ensure that set standards are met and to sort out any problems which may crop up, such as machines breaking or staff members not doing their jobs correctly. It saves time and allows minimal disruption during your day, especially if you are working from home and need a peaceful and quiet environment.
Never downplay the role of the cleaner in your life
To my mind, there is nothing nicer than coming home to a newly cleaned, fresh-smelling house – or office, for that matter – and being able to carry on with the most important aspects of your life in a clean and sanitary environment. Never disregard the value that cleaners bring to your life by allowing you to do what you do best whilst they do their own part in keeping life running smoothly in the background.
