It's worth it to ME!

Somehow the conversation at our class reunion last weekend turned towards cleaning the house and with pride I announced that YES I have a cleaning service.  I know I only live in a two bedroom apartment and that to some people having a "Cleaning Lady" is an extravagance but to me it's a necessity.

The first time the idea was put into my head was when we were living in Muskegon, Michigan for hockey.  My friend and neighbor in the building had a women come clean her condo every week or every other week and so whenever I went over there for wine it was always so nice and spotless.  While downstairs in my apartment there was a dust bunny farm in every room.  The hardwood floors were "hard" to clean especially without a vacuum and I just didn't see the need for anything other than a swiffer.  Which by the way does not really get the job done.  I'm not a dirty person per say I just don't enjoy cleaning so I typically only did it once a month... if that.  That meant walking around on sandy floors, rings around the toilet {yes I'm admitting it} and pink shower grout.  Not so cool.  The kitchen is the only place I clean daily and that's because it's not appetizing to have a gross kitchen and I enjoy eating.

So this friend of mine suggested I hire her cleaning lady and I thought it was a genius idea!  I brought it up to Luke and he laughed in my face.  I guess he figured that with me working from home and not having too many friends in town that I should have plenty of time to Swiffer the bunnys away.  So much for that!

It wasn't until we had Max that the cleaning started to be non-existent.  Luke would make snide comments about things being dirty and in the middle of feeding, changing, burping, doing laundry and trying to get Max to sleep I would shoot him dirty looks and sometimes even felt the urge to growl {although I never did}.  Instead I would just get angry and overwhelmed... that mixed with lack of sleep made me a SUPER FUN person to be around let me tell you!

I tried asking Luke to help but his idea of cleaning is spraying Fabreeze on it and letting it air dry.  I'm not even sure he would know where to find the Fabreeze if he needed to use it.  Therefore, in January I called up a cleaning service and had them come look at my place.

They talked about cleaning cob webs every time and getting on their KNEES to clean the floors and how they clean dirt out of the bathroom vent {I didn't even know you could do that}.  I was so giddy that I hired them on the spot.  They come every two weeks and I love it.  Some people hear this and possibly look down on me for spending money on something that I can damn well do myself but how I see it is this: I work full time, have a one year old son and and thirty year old husband and I would rather spend my time with my family, reading, crafting or just doing ANYTHING other than cleaning.  Therefore, this is worth the money to me.

What is something that you do or have that is worth the money to you that sometimes others just don't agree with?

My apartment on cleaning day {friend Hartman on the couch in his usual spot}