Ron used to say that we could find a way to get all the house cleaning done ourselves, but my definition of "clean" was different from his—call it a difference of perspective. In the past, we've had our nannies help out with some of the house cleaning, but it was always more important for us to have them focus their full attention on the kids and the dogs. So, we finally took the plunge and hired a housekeeper. It wasn't an easy decision, and the costs and benefits had to be weighed, but in the end, it has given us such peace of mind and so much more time as a family, and for that alone I think it's been worth it.

But hiring a housekeeper or cleaning service isn't for everyone. If you're weighing the decision, but need to draw up a pros and cons list, here are some things to think about:

• Nature versus Nurture
  Are you a natural "clean freak," or do you have to force yourself to clean because you know you should and you feel guilty about it? Real Simple magazine published a great chart last year, The Elements of Clean, which outlines all the basic house chores that need to be done and how often. If it seems overwhelming, or comes as a complete shock, you might consider calling in a professional (for whom it's second nature).

• Helping Hands
  How much help do you have from other members of your household? Is it always a struggle (or even a fight) to get your spouse or the kids to do their share of the chores? There are two things every couple argues or stresses out about: chores and money. Wouldn't it be nice to rid yourself of one of them? Hiring a housekeeper can be a literal relationship-saver for some people.

• Time
  How many hours a week do you spend cleaning? If the answer is more than 4 or 5, then you might consider calling in reinforcements. 5+ hours a week of cleaning becomes a part-time job. You would certainly spend time weighing whether or not a part-time job was taking you away from your family too much of the time. The same should be true if the chores become too intense! This great Time Value Calculator from MSN Money can help you quickly do the math to figure out how much your time is actually worth.

• Cleaning Products
  On average, how much do you spend each month on cleaning products? Add up all the paper towels, Windex, scrubs, sponges, etc. If the total is more than $50, then hiring a cleaning service or housekeeper might be more affordable than you think. Try looking for a housekeeper in your area who includes cleansers in their weekly or monthly rates and do the math.

These were just some of the contributing factors to my family's decision to hire Adriana, our housekeeper. If you decide to continue to go it alone, however, check out my favorite manuals from the housekeeping gurus:

Real Simple: Cleaning

Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook

How Clean is Your House?

And, if you've decided that hiring a housekeeper is the right decision for your family, be sure to check out these new articles from the Care.com Editorial Team to get started:

The Cost of Care: Housekeeping

Care Options: Housekeeping

Finding Care: Interviewing a Housekeeper

Have a story about or tips and advice on housekeeping? Share it with the Care.com community by posting a comment!

Cheers,
Sheila