When American writer Dana M. and her husband moved into a large Victorian townhouse, her mother shook her head and warned her that they would spend all their time cleaning. Captivated by their new purchase, with wooden floors and period features, the couple laughed it off. Within weeks the couple realized that other was right. They’d lose an entire weekend to mopping and scrubbing under the same delusions that this time they’d get the house to stay clean for longer.

An Unkempt House Can Leave You Stressed And Overwhelmed

After trying various approaches, the couple gradually made less of an effort with cleaning and their new home soon lost its shine. Often Dana and her husband were only spurred into cleaning by an occasion like family visiting or hosting friends. Working from home Dana didn’t enjoy the sight of dirty dishes or a mountain of laundry left on the floor. It left her feeling stressed and overwhelmed, unable to focus — it meant she had to dedicate significant proportions of her workday to tidying up the house, which interrupted her flow and similarly left her feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

Dana’s feelings aren’t unusual. The research of Ashley Whillans, assistant professor at Harvard Business School, has shown that people who spend money to save time are significantly happier than those who spend it on material goods. But very few people – only two percent according to Whillans experiment — spend cash on a timesaving service.

Why People Avoid Hiring A House Cleaner

There are many possible reasons why people choose not to invest their earnings in timesaving services, but the research suggests that the feeling of guilt plays a big factor. Another reason is that people consider time abstract and money concrete. You can enjoy the benefits of a product now, whilst time benefits you in the future. It’s common to think we’re going to have more time tomorrow than today; this is not always the case.

The Benefts Of Hiring A House Cleaner

Eventually, Dana decided to hire a cleaner. It wasn’t after seeing the house after the first clean did Dana and her husband realise how badly their unkempt house must have been affecting them. They could draw breath again. For the first time, the couple fell into an easy routine of keeping things picked up. They’ve decided that it’s not the cleaners’ job to pick up dog toys, do dishes or fold our laundry, so they make a point to have the house clutter-free each week ready for her. They do what they can manage and leave the heavy lifting to the professionals.

Hiring a cleaner has made a huge contribution to Dana and her husband’s lives. The couple are proud to support their cleaner and no longer have any guilt associated to not doing the chores themselves. Sharing their personal recommendation to friends, Dana’s cleaner has picked up enough new clients to be able to leave her day job and strike out on her own with this new business.

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