Case study: Luxury of a cleaner

EACH Wednesday afternoon, for a few hours, Katie Durkin is the envy of her friends. That is the time, Fabio, an Italian cleaner, makes her flat in Edinburgh’s Grange spick and span.

A mother of two to Mortimer, almost two, and three-year-old Ivy, Ms Durkin is partially sighted and suffers from a back condition.

Since utilising the services of Home Sweet Home, a cleaning service based in the capital’s Largo Place, she says her quality of life has improved.

“Both the kids are autistic, so they’re quite demanding but very good fun,” the 41-year-old explained.

“I’ve only been using the company for a couple of months, but it’s been amazing. Fabio cleans the place to a high standard and is trustworthy and good with my daughter.”

Ms Durkin said that while she has to “penny pinch” to pay for the “luxury” of a cleaner, it is also a necessity.