A couple amazing things happened today.
My house became sparkling clean.
My back deck got stained.
And I had nothing to do with it.
Let me back up for a moment.
A few months ago, I read this post from our friend Susan at Working Moms Against Guilt. When I read the opening line (“I am a big fan of outsourcing. Cleaning and landscaping are two of my favorites. There’s something wonderfully freeing about coming home to a clean, fresh-smelling house or a neatly trimmed lawn in the summer.”), I was immediately intrigued. Susan’s point was that we all have so much to do, and sometimes it’s nice to outsource the tasks we dislike most, so we have more time and energy to do things we like.
That, coupled with the experiences Jenny and several of our friends have had recently with EcoMaids of Dayton, convinced me that it was time to start outsourcing. I asked around town, got some recommendations, and found someone who comes in once a month and does an absolutely amazing job cleaning my house and it makes me so happy. It is worth every single penny.
Similarly, all last summer Andy and I talked about how badly our deck needed to be stained, and somehow we managed to not get around to doing it. That kind of thing is not our forte, and we were intimidated by the size of the job. So, we hired a good friend of ours who knows what he’s doing, and it’ll be done by Friday.
I have to tell you, this has been liberating! We are having a cookout over the weekend and it’s great not to have to worry about getting the house ready to go. I just have to find a way to keep my kids out of there until Sunday. Details, details.
So, what’s something you outsource – or wish you did?
cleaning service = best. idea. ever.
Could not survive without my cleaning gal! Love it! My guilty pleasure I call it. 🙂
Outsourcing the “house cleaning” was the best thing TLW has done. It inspired me to outsource the “lawn” as well!
Coming home to a clean house and a pretty yard – neither of which were of your own doing – is awesome!
UP
How did you get your husband on board? My husband is not in any way cheap…..but….he says he married his maid! Lol! I love to clean. But since I stay at home with my 2 1/2 year old son, I can hardly find time. It’s never all clean at the same time, and that drives me crazy!!!
We “outsource” our cleaning as well….and it has been such a life saver! I can’t imagine working full time without the cleaning help. Actually, I can imagine it, but our house probably would have been condemned by now!
🙂
I just had the most wonderful lady clean my house on Tuesday, and she’s going to come every other week through the summer. Best money I’ve ever spent. I’m not a great housekeeper when I’m NOT a million months pregnant with twins, but let’s just say the house has been quite the disaster lately.
Hey, thanks for the shoutout! I’m SO glad my post inspired you to get help with stuff around the house. Outsourcing some of my least favorite tasks has freed up so much time and energy for me. It’s worth every penny and then some.