29/07/2025
🧽 “It’s just cleaning…” but is it really?
Sometimes I stay quiet when people throw comments like:
“How are you making more than a nurse?”
“You get paid that just to scrub toilets?”
“It’s not exactly skilled work is it?”
But today I want to speak up — not to argue, not to ask for sympathy but to bring some light and respect to a job that is constantly misunderstood.
🧾 According to Checkatrade (March 2025), the average self-employed cleaner in Northern Ireland charges £25/hr, with end of tenancy cleans averaging £300.
👉 My rates? Considerably lower than that.
I’ve purposely kept my prices affordable for long-term clients — even if it means undercharging myself, pushing through exhaustion and covering all my own:
• Petrol and travel
• Cleaning supplies and uniform washing
• Equipment maintenance and replacements
• Admin time, booking, messaging, invoicing
• And every other cost that comes with being fully self-employed
And yet, despite all that, I still sometimes get judged.
💬 So let me ask:
Why is it just because I’m a cleaner people think I don’t deserve a decent living wage?
🧠 The truth is cleaning is not “unskilled” work. It takes:
• Discipline and motivation
• Physical strength and endurance
• Reliability, trust and consistency
• People skills and emotional intelligence
• And the ability to run a business completely alone
You’re not just paying for “a clean.”
You’re paying for peace of mind. For someone who shows up — even on the tough days. For a service that keeps homes healthy, manageable and dignified.
And it’s not just me saying this.
📊 A recent UK survey found:
• 70% of cleaners report being overworked and underpaid
• Only 21% have access to sick pay
• And many feel judged, invisible, or even ashamed just for doing their job
Another study found that cleaning is often labelled “unskilled,” even though it requires the same dedication, discipline and responsibility as any other essential profession.
🗣️ Let me be clear:
This post isn’t about asking for a pay rise.
It’s about educating those who look down on this job — because cleaning is a career to be proud of. It’s real work. Honest work & it makes a real difference.
I may not wear a suit or clock in at an office but I turn up with care, every single day.
I’m a cleaner and I like to think I make a difference.
