Cleaner Anxiety

Don't like mopping and dusting? Many Australians are getting some help, according to Alex May from the Age, who blogs at Renovation Nation

One in 25 Australian households employs a cleaner. Spending on "domestic services" doubled to $2.4 billion between June 2000 and June 2005, according to an analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics figures by Commsec.

But is hiring someone else to clean up after you ethical?

Not sure whether ethical is the point. I am not too good at cleaning and we are both busy. When I stayed home with the kids, cleaning was not my favourite task. Now that we are both working, there is a bit more money and a lot less time.

We use a cleaner once a week and a lawnmower man once a fortnight. We also delegate all our clothes dry cleaning, shoe making, food supply services, children's education and car maintenance, amongst many other tasks and services, to others, because they are better at it, usually a lot cheaper than if we were to do it and we don't have the time.

There seems to be an element of guilt associated with this. I say bunk. Many people need an income and if this is what works for them, why not. It certainly works for us.

I know that my grandparents would be shocked at the thought of hiring somebody to clean your house, but having lived around the world, I can say that the people who have helped us out have been interesting and genuinely interested in the opportunity. It is a good way to spread wealth, wherever you are. Nothing like a clean house once a week.