With so many people juggling priorities and trying to make ends meet, is it time to consider evaluating the value of your time against the cost and of hiring a cleaner for your home?
New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics says that almost 1 million of us – 974,000 – report having second jobs to cope with the cost of living crisis.
So, are you someone who’s finding it hard to juggle two jobs, or more, and get the housework done, too?
It’s no disgrace if you’re finding yourself stretched thin.
A different data set from private researcher Roy Morgan claims women do 22.3 hours of unpaid work while men commit 15.3 hours.
The disparity is unlikely to surprise anyone. However, would it actually make financial sense to hire someone to do your housework and ease the pressure on your time? It would allow you to cope better with the additional burden of work, too.
If this sounds sensible, you should do the sums to compare your hourly rate with the charge a cleaner, gardener or shopper might provide. You can find help by posting your needs on platforms such as Airtasker.
And if you’re preparing to sell, then a professional deep clean will work wonders and relieve a lot of time pressure for you as you prepare your home for sale.
If this is not for you, we’ve got six great tips for making you super-efficient when cleaning your home.
Declutter First: Don’t clean around clutter. Tidy each room before you clean. Clear surfaces and get everything off the floor.
Clean Top to Bottom: Gravity is a thing! So, start with higher surfaces like ceiling fans and light fixtures, then work your way down to furniture, counters, and lastly, the floors.
Hot Spots: Prioritise areas that get dirtiest fastest, like kitchens and bathrooms. A quick wipe-down of counters, sinks and toilets make a big difference.
Right Tools: Microfibre cloths, a good vacuum cleaner with attachments, and a squeegee are your best friends.
Multitask Strategically: While you’re waiting for the floor to dry in one room, clean the mirror in another. Let cleaning products sit for a few minutes while you tackle something else.
Make it a Habit: Don’t wait for your home to get dirty. Incorporate small cleaning tasks into your daily routine. Wipe down kitchen counters after each meal, sweep high-traffic areas daily and tidy the bathroom at least twice a week.