How a Busy Doctor Got Her Weekends Back: A Real Client Story | DayMaker Cleaning Co.

Dr. Helen Rees is a podiatrist in Saint John. She's also a mom of two young kids, a wife, and someone who was spending every weekend cleaning instead of living.

Sound familiar?

We sat down with Dr. Rees to talk about what it's actually like to hire a cleaning service when you're juggling work, kids, and life. Here's her honest story—the hesitations, the reality, and what actually changed.

The Before: Weekends Consumed by Cleaning

Like most working parents, Dr. Rees was stuck in the cycle.

Work all week. Come home exhausted. Face a messy house with dog hair everywhere, dishes in the sink, and a never-ending to-do list.

Weekends weren't for rest. They were for catching up on everything that didn't get done during the week.

"As a working mom, I was spending entire afternoons cleaning. My whole weekend would disappear into housework," she told us.

The guilt was real too. Time spent scrubbing floors was time not spent with her kids. Time organizing the kitchen was time not spent with her husband. Every minute cleaning felt like a minute stolen from what actually mattered.

But hiring help felt like a luxury she wasn't sure she could justify.

The Hesitation: Is It Really Worth It?

This is the question everyone has before hiring a cleaning service.

Is it worth the money? Will they actually do a good job? Can I trust strangers in my home? What if it's not that different from just doing it myself?

Dr. Rees had all the same doubts.

But she also knew something had to change. The weekends consumed by cleaning. The constant mental load of what needed to be done. The feeling of never being caught up.

So she decided to try it.

The First Clean: "Wow"

We asked Dr. Rees about her first impression after that initial cleaning.

"I think it's 'wow,'" she said. "Coming home and feeling it decluttered, everything is clean and organized, and it's one less thing to worry about."

But it wasn't just about surfaces being wiped down.

"Knowing that my children can play around in a clean environment, especially with having a dog, knowing they aren't going to pick up fur—it was just wow! Brilliant!"

That first clean did something she didn't expect: it gave her permission to relax in her own home.

What Actually Changed

It's one thing to have a clean house. It's another thing for your life to actually feel different.

We asked Dr. Rees: How has this changed your day-to-day life?

"Relaxing, beautiful—a weight off my mind," she said about coming home after work. "It has dramatically changed my life because as a working mom, knowing that's one less thing to do, I can take my kids to the park instead of spending a whole afternoon cleaning."

Read that again. She takes her kids to the park now instead of cleaning.

"After school, knowing I don't have to tidy up, I can just walk in, make dinner, put them to bed, and we can have a nice evening."

This is the part people don't think about when they're calculating whether cleaning service is "worth it." You're not just paying for clean floors. You're paying for evenings with your kids. For weekends that feel like actual weekends.

The Surprise: It's More Than Just Cleaning

Dr. Rees told us something surprised her about having regular cleaning service.

"How effective and life-changing it actually can be. You don't realize how much it changes your life; you just think, 'Oh, I'm just going to hire you to clean these things,' but it's the amount that you do and the way that it looks, feels, and smells. It is so refreshing, like a fresh start!"

She mentioned specific things that stood out—little extras that made a difference:

"Coming home and seeing that you've folded all of the reusable bags and decluttered the countertops—and that's not even part of what we signed up for—but you've gone above and beyond and made those things wonderful!"

It wasn't just about checking boxes on a cleaning list. It was about walking into a home that actually felt cared for.

The Mental Health Impact

We asked Dr. Rees about stress and mental health. Because let's be honest—that's what this is really about.

"Definitely reduced it! 500%," she said without hesitation.

500%.

Think about what that means. The constant background anxiety about what needs to be cleaned. The guilt about not keeping up. The weekends spent catching up instead of relaxing. The mental load of managing yet another thing.

All of that—gone.

"Also, just knowing you're coming helps us put things away and keep up on it," she added.

Even between cleanings, life felt more manageable because she knew help was coming. The mess didn't spiral because there was a reset built into the schedule.

The Time Back

We asked: Do you feel like our services have given you more time back in your week?

"Absolutely! 100%—there is absolutely no doubt."

So what does she do with that time now?

"Sharing moments with family and my husband, and it has allowed me to do other things too, like I can work on decluttering my wardrobe instead of cleaning floors or doing yard work that needs to be done."

She's not just avoiding cleaning. She's actively doing things that matter to her. Quality time with family. Projects she actually wants to tackle. Living her life instead of maintaining her house.

The Trust Factor

Here's something most people worry about: Can I trust strangers in my home?

We asked Dr. Rees about our team's reliability and trustworthiness.

"See, that's the thing, I 100% trust you with your personality and how you greeted us, how you set it up, how you came in and were so organized—it gave me 100% trust. Everything I see is just very good, professional—very professional. I think that's what speaks volumes about your company and that's why I recommend you!"

Trust doesn't come from a brand name. It comes from real people showing up consistently, doing good work, and treating your home with respect.

Would She Recommend It?

We asked: Would you recommend our services to someone with your busy lifestyle?

"I'm already all over my mommy group! I often say to them, just do it. There's that extra little bit of cost, but the quality time that you get to spend without thinking of cleaning and being with your children, that peace of mind is what really sells it!"

Notice what she said: "that extra little bit of cost."

When you're calculating whether cleaning service is worth it, you're weighing money against time, stress, and quality of life. Dr. Rees did that math and the answer was clear.

Looking Back: The Decision

We asked Dr. Rees how she feels now about the decision to invest in cleaning service.

"I think it speaks for itself, honestly. It's life-changing and I could never go back! So, don't ever quit, move away, or get too busy for me!"

"I could never go back."

That's the thing people don't realize until they try it. You think it's a nice-to-have. Then you experience what life actually feels like with that constant burden lifted. And going back becomes unthinkable.

What This Actually Means

Dr. Rees isn't unique. She's just like you.

A working parent trying to juggle everything. Spending weekends catching up instead of resting. Feeling guilty about not having time for what matters. Wondering if hiring help is justified or just indulgent.

Here's what changed for her:

✓ Weekends back for family time instead of scrubbing floors
✓ 500% reduction in stress (her words, not ours)
✓ Evenings with her kids instead of cleaning
✓ Mental space freed from constant worry about housework
✓ A home that actually feels relaxing to come home to

And here's what it cost:

The price of bi-weekly cleaning service. Which she describes as "that extra little bit of cost" compared to what she gained.

The Question You're Really Asking

"Is professional cleaning worth it?"

That's what you're wondering. That's why you're reading this.

Here's Dr. Rees's answer: "It's life-changing and I could never go back."

Not "it's nice." Not "it's convenient." Life-changing.

You can keep spending your weekends cleaning. You can keep feeling behind and stressed about housework. You can keep choosing between a clean home and time with your family.

Or you can do what Dr. Rees did—try it, see how it actually changes your life, and realize you should have done it sooner.

Dr. Rees is one of hundreds of families in Saint John, Quispamsis, and Rothesay who've gotten their weekends back with DayMaker. Ready to see what that feels like? Let's talk about what it would look like for your home.