we used to go up to my nan's once very six months and do all the bits the cleaner wouldn't do - it was a full day every six months - depending on what their contract says, they don't move things (so vac around furniture - even dining chairs - will vacuum mats but not under them etc.

i always have this thought that i don't mind people doing the obvious stuff, but the other stuff is more OUR issue and i don't want help with it. i'm very organised when i can be (spent yesterday sorting stuff while i could) and when that stuff is all organised and packed away as it should be, i have NO issue having someone come in and run a vac over the floor. i guess it's just so overwhelming to get to that point where i don't mind help. thankfully the friend who will be helping out has known me since i was six, so she won't say boo (she's also seen my house a lot worse than it is now, helped me move, has sorted mum's place - mum too sick! so this is no biggie). if it were a stranger that i felt may judge - i'd have a huge issue with letting them in when things aren't perfect! and i don't mean vacuuming first - it's more that i'd hate to have someone come in and look at surfaces that are cluttered at the moment with crap and then judge me on that.... the notion of having a regular cleaner is definitely motivating us to get all the other stuff sorted firs!