To Clean Or Not To Clean
July 11th, 2008 - Sandra MarshallOk I don’t mean literally whether to live in a mess or do some cleaning. My question really is how much to do oneself on the basis that most of we girls find cleaning and housework generally about as boring as any man would if they got around to doing much of it. Of course there are women who actually enjoy this dubious task and good luck to them, and there are those who end up doing extra as a job, the latter being integral to my question.
When I was working full time in the UK (ok a long time ago now), I automatically had a cleaner each week and at various times since I have also had one, simply because I’m not that good at getting around to housework and tend to do the bare minimum, having so many other more interesting calls on my time. Now I have a really pleasant and quite cheap Romanian lady every Wednesday, who does a great job and completely blitzes my apartment in 3 hours.
My problem is that in this land of wind and dust, and with my windows open all year round for my cats, and said cats depositing hair to varying degrees daily, I’m not too sure now what real benefits I get from my cleaning lady. I think that what I really need is to be able to pay her the same for coming for 30 mins each day, since my floors seem permanently covered in dust and animal hair! and whilst my home looks fantastic just after she leaves (great if I only invite anyone over on Wednesday night) almost by the next afternoon the cleanliness is starting to diminish!
Initially I only had her fortnightly to do the jobs I really hate and relieve Chris of his window cleaning duties. Maybe that is what I should have stuck with, whilst ensuring I did a little cleaning each day. Now that I pay her every week for more hours, I am even more loath to do much myself and tend to ignore the dust and wait for her stirling efforts. A prime example was when my visitors left on Monday and my instinct to tidy up straight away was over-ruled as I didn’t want to risk leaving my cleaner nothing much to do a mere 2 days later. You see what I mean?
So here is my question to myself: would my apartment be cleaner if I put in the effort myself daily and invested my cleaner money on a spanking new baby ‘animal’ Dyson which @ 399€ promises to suck up thoroughly all those little black hairs and dust, and be cute and tiny to store? The answer is probably. AND if I can find someone to bring one back from the UK, they are only 280€ with free delivery from Amazon.
I also have to own up to not particularly liking having someone working in my apartment all afternoon. It was great when I used to be out at work, but now I tend to find myself often sitting around out of her way actually just waiting for my cleaner to finish, when I guess I could be doing it myself.
SO I’m pondering on this one and as rumour has it my cleaner may be off doing something else for the whole of August, maybe this is a good time to try the alternative and get back into being a slightly more ‘proper’ wife as my husband would cheekily say… hee … hee.
AND of course for those of you who have just read Chris’s last article, I am quids in as I won a 1000€ bet that Batch PC would not have the cable he needed cheaper than the posh 39€ one he was about to recklessly buy! He thought he was making a point about me being ‘penny pinching’ but I like to think women are much better at micro management when it comes to money and have a less cavalier attitude to looking after and spending it. Anyway I can buy my cute baby Dyson even at Spanish prices, and still have 600€ to treat myself to something else!
AND whilst the jury is still out, if I do decide to keep my cleaner long term, I’m sure she will enjoy the playing with the baby Dyson!!!
SO that in essence is my question: Are weekly cleaners particularly beneficial here in Almerimar, and is it better to clean or not to clean (yourself)?
About Almerimar
Almerimar is located in the region of Andalucia, Spain. The nearest airport is 30km away in Almeria. Other airports that are within 3 hours include Malaga, Murcia, Granada, and Alicanti. Other holiday resorts in the region include Mojacar , Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar
Almerimar is a great place to live as an expat amongst the expats, or to work amongst the Spanish. There are all kinds of properties including villas, apartments and town houses for rent or sale. It is a very traditional part of Spain, with traditional Spanish foods so if you plan to travel to Spain either to look for jobs, for your company to trade with companies in Spain, or to learn Spanish and enjoy the Spanish weather then come and take a look.
If you are interested in purchasing a property in Almerimar please visit our sponsor Mediterraspain. If you have purchased a property and need it furnished please check out our Sponsors DBJ who will give you a Exclusive 5% discount with the code AL2008.
If you want to learn Spanish, get help with anything to do with the legal issues in Spain, or want WiFi access in the marina please check out our sponsor CentrePoint who will give you a 10% discount off all services with the code AL2008.
If you want an amazing activity based day out in the mountains and to learn how to ride a motorcycle off road then check out our sponsor The Long Way Round and get 5% off with the code AL2008.
Almerimar is also one of the largest marinas in Spain with over 2,000 births and excellent boatyard facilities.
July 24th, 2008 at 10:46 am
[...] she was going to have some fun, and as Sands had moved their baskets while she cleaned the floor (the cleaner is history!) she was going to sleep in it [...]
August 21st, 2008 at 1:40 pm
[...] as you can see from the above video the cleaner lost and the Dyson won, much to the joy of both Moreno and [...]