When it comes to keeping your house clean you have basically two options: hire a pro or DIY. What’s the best choice? The truth is there’s no true right or wrong answer. Both have their pros and cons — and it really comes down to what’s best for your personal situation.
On the one hand, hiring a housecleaner might seem like a luxury. However, your time is valuable, too — and spending hours scrubbing bathrooms and vacuuming under furniture may not be the best use of it.
In this article we’ll explore the pros and cons of each option so you can make the choice that’s right for your needs, budget, and how much effort you want to put in. Let’s look at the challenge from both points of view.
Time and Energy
Doing your own housecleaning can take up hours of time each week and it’s often physically demanding. Are you willing to give up your weekends to scrub floors and dust furniture? Hiring a professional means the job gets done with minimal effort on your part. That said, if you’re the type of person who wants things done exactly their way, you may find the experience intrusive, and you’ll wind up re-doing a lot of the work yourself. You may even find cleaning to be somewhat therapeutic, even relaxing.
Think about the time you currently spend sweeping, mopping, dusting, scrubbing, and sanitizing your home. Many experts will tell you it’s at least 5-6 hours every week. Professional cleaners not only have the skills, equipment, and experience to clean your house thoroughly and efficiently, they can accomplish in a few hours what might take you all weekend to do yourself. It all comes down to how much you want to invest, whether physically or financially – to get the job done.
Costs and Savings
You might assume that doing the housekeeping yourself is less expensive, but is it really? Here’s one way to think about it: If you’re currently working, roughly calculate what you earn per hour. Then do a bit of research – with friends and neighbors who have housekeepers, professional cleaning services and self-employed cleaners – to determine the hourly going rate where you live. If you’ll spend more per hour than you’re earning yourself, the DIY route is probably more cost-effective.
Something else to consider: Unless you already own a high-powered vacuum, mop, duster and cleaning solutions, you’ll have to invest in the necessary tools and products, which can get quite expensive. Still not sure? Why not start with a professional deep clean, then maintain your space yourself or with occasional help as needed from the pros?
Health and Safety
Many household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals. Professionals know how to handle and apply these chemicals properly with less risk of damage or accidental poisoning. They also have the proper protective gear.
Happiness and Peace of Mind
Psychologically speaking, hiring a housekeeper can be a good thing. In an article featured in Harvard Business Review, Ashley Whillans, assistant professor at Harvard Business School, found that people who spend money to save time are happier than those who spend it on material things. In other words, paying for a service versus doing it yourself can be a real mental boost, provided you can afford it.
If you’re living with others, also consider that hiring a housekeeper can end potential friction around who takes care of what —and how they do it —in the day-to-day maintenance of your space. Also keep in mind that since they have the perspective of cleaning multiple homes, a good housekeeper can help organize your space better, too.
What’s the Best Choice for You?
If you have the time and don’t mind cleaning, doing it yourself can save money. You’re in control of the schedule and can clean at your own pace. However, if you can afford a professional, you may find that the benefits are well worth the investment. In the end, you need to go with what fits your needs, abilities, and budget.
We hope your journey to Finding Home is smooth and successful. And remember, no matter where you happen to be in the moving process, you can count on Mayflower to be with you Every Step of the Way®.
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