When building a household budget, cleaning costs are often limited to supplies. For most people, hiring outside help with housekeeping is thought of as wasteful. Sometimes, though, working smarter is better than working harder. When making decisions like these, you want to keep a few things in mind: Your stress level, the cost of cleaning yourself, and the opportunity cost of the time you spend cleaning. A cleaning service is not reserved for the rich; there are many situations where it makes sense for the average person. With that said, let’s take a little bit of work off of your hands and discuss 3 reasons to call a cleaning service.
You Just Had A Party
Parties aren’t only expensive before and during the time everybody is running wild. In fact, they can often be far more expensive after the fact. Wine stains, old sticky soda, and the smells of various foods can require expensive tools. Buying or renting a carpet cleaner is a hassle for your wallet and your time, and with most cleaning services on sites like Angie’s List costing $100-150, the time you save could definitely be worth the money. Don’t incur the unnecessary stress, save your energy and your cash and get some backup. Ask them to focus on the things that require deep cleaning, and handle whatever menial leftovers yourself.
Your Spouse/Roommates Need a Break
Sometimes you notice that the people you live with are just losing their spirit. People are working and studying harder than ever, and sometimes they deserve a break at home. Now, as we all know, cleaning a house full of other people by yourself is a tall task. Oftentimes, these large projects lead to burnout, and you cut corners to get it done. As a result, you end up with an okay-looking, semi-clean home. Don’t give the people you care about a half-baked job; hire a professional. Cleaning services rely on online ratings and referrals to stay afloat, and getting a good one will leave your home smelling and looking amazing. With that said, pick up random clutter before they get there. This makes it easy for them to really get into the nooks and crannies within the time for which you pay.
You Live With a Lot of People
If you have a bunch of roommates, splitting the cost of a cleaning service can be a lifesaver. As long as you do the preliminary work I mentioned above, $150 split four-to-five ways is more than worth it to keep the place nice. Get one to come every month or so, and you will save so much headache with spot cleaning surfaces used by four-to-five people. The benefit of roommates if spreading the cost of living, and cleaning services are no exception. If you’re having trouble convincing the people you live with, just get them to try it once. Not only does it keep your workload low, it can even sew some rifts between sloppier roommates and cleaner ones.
Trey LaRocca is a freelance writer, financial sales worker, and tech guy. When he isn’t out and about or at work, he’s usually at home enjoying some video games and a beer. Currently residing in Newport Beach, this California Kid can be found at the beach on any given weekend. Trey has years of experience in day/swing trading, financial analytics, and sales.