I’m a woman of many hats, one of which is a side-gig connoisseur. My friends and family joke that I’m always doing some random hustle that I wasn’t doing the week before.
As gigs go, I’ve done the pet-sitting, dog-walking, and child-care of your typical college student. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve stumbled upon more unique arrangements.
This past June, I began the long-term weekly job of cleaning my 92-year-old neighbor’s house — and we’ve even become what I would consider friends.
This arrangement came about when I was looking for another cleaning gig
Over the years, I’ve occasionally gotten paid to clean. In college, I worked as a sub for a commercial cleaning company. More recently, I took on an informal weekend cleaning gig for a local taproom.
How I fell into cleaning for my 92-year-old neighbor, though, is a roundabout story of speaking to the right person at the right time.
I’m very short (5-foot-1, to be exact), and in undergrad I couldn’t regularly get my clothes hemmed back home because I lived far away. So, a local friend’s mom connected me with a woman who sews. She’s since touched nearly every piece of clothing in my closet.
One day, coming from my weekend taproom gig to pick up some alterations, she and I started talking about cleaning. I said something along the lines of, “If you know anyone who needs some help cleaning, let me know!” Apparently, her sister had been driving an hour each way, twice a week, to clean for their mother, and they were looking for someone more local.
I try to be aware that receiving help can be a vulnerable experience, so I scheduled a meet-and-greet with my neighbor and her three adult children. With a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a fresh bag of Doritos in the other, I offered my most friendly, eager-to-help energy.
After some introductory conversation and solidifying details, I officially started cleaning a few weeks later.
The cleaning gig has come with learning curves and unexpected benefits
As jobs go, it’s pretty simple. Every Monday or Wednesday, I arrive at 5:15 p.m. and leave around 7:15 p.m. I’m paid $35 an hour.
I work through a list of tasks, usually starting with the basics of cleaning surfaces, then floors. I usually spend the last 45 minutes of my shifts focusing on a bigger project, like dusting or cleaning out the fridge.
I enjoy the solitude of the job and the two-ish hours of uninterrupted audiobook time — and even more so, the sense of accomplishment and being able to make an immediate positive impact on someone’s day-to-day life.
This weekly ritual keeps me grounded, too. I’m a creature of habit, and knowing that I can decompress over some scrubbing and mopping at the end of the day is truly something I look forward to.
Cleaning also helps get me moving, an especially nice bonus since my main job as a therapist involves a lot of sitting.
Learning how someone likes their house cleaned can be tricky business, though. Everyone has their own preferences about where things go and what counts as “clean.” I’ve learned that it’s better to ask the question rather than assume.
I’ve also gotten tuned into the small ways my client lives, and started to notice what gets used, overlooked, and what actually makes her house feel like a home. For example, I love cleaning up the expected grounds around the coffee machine because I know that cup of joe was how she started her day.
I’ve also developed a real appreciation for older forms of decor, from elaborate curtains to the little trinkets reminiscent of ones I’ve seen in my grandparents’ house. There’s something charming about helping to upkeep a home that hasn’t been completely updated or stripped of its history.
Above all, I’m grateful to have formed an intergenerational friendship
Balancing the practical nature of the work with the relationship I’ve developed with my client can also be tricky. I’m not just showing up to tidy — I’m a small, meaningful part of her week, and the feeling is mutual.
Yes, I’m there to clean, but I’ve come to genuinely enjoy the time spent with my neighbor-turned-friend. It’s made me think differently about what a “cleaning job” can actually be.
This arrangement has also reminded me of just how much value there is in forming age-gap friendships. Too often, we stay tucked away in our peer groups, not willing to mix with different generations. In doing so, we miss out on the valuable insight of those who’ve lived longer and vice versa.
So yes, I get paid $35 an hour to clean someone’s home, but I also get to watch “Jeopardy!” with my sweet, older friend while eating my pre-packed dinner.
We chat about family, life, and the next little project that will undoubtedly make her life easier. And honestly, I think that’s pretty special.
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