Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter

TRADITIONAL roles really do seem to have been reversed when you discover that men are more houseproud than women.

This startling fact is revealed by a team of housework specialists who are making a clean sweep of homes across East Lancashire in a booming business venture.

There was a time when only the more well-to-do families had cleaning ladies.

But Ribble Valley businesswoman Dorothy Bruce has found that the trend of the '90s for women to forsake their pinnies in favour of a career has led to a call for help of all kinds in the household.

Dorothy said: "People are realising that their leisure time is more and more precious and many men don't expect women to be housewives any longer."

She said: "We have found the belief that men are more untidy than women is not true.

"Men are more meticulous when it comes to their homes."

From actors to footballers, people from all walks of life like someone else to keep their home in shape.

And it isn't only women who are wielding the vacuums.

Dorothy Bruce has a dedicated team of expert cleaners and, to prove that the cleaning business is politically correct, she even has a male cleaner on her books. Dorothy, who lives in Sabden and bases her business there, left her job in local government looking for a new career.

Being a working mother-of-three herself, she soon realised that there was a shortage of reliable, expert cleaners in the area.

So seven months ago she took on a franchise operated by the giant cleaning company ServiceMaster and the Merry Maids of Ribble Valley took up their dusters and polish. Dorothy said: "We like to live up our name and have a laugh and a joke, depending on the customer."

Now the team of six, including "Merry Man" David Jefferson, of Read, provides cleaning services for 50 regular clients and several one-off customers.

Dorothy said: "We have found that not only do we visit a number of large houses and celebrities' homes, we also have a regular clientele of bachelors, working mums, elderly people and others who just want a particular job doing once in a while." "The days of employing a little old lady from down the road to come in once a week seem to be declining. Now people want a reliable and regular service which is not affected by the usual problems of a one-person operation.

"We have a team of ladies who do an excellent job and David, who is perfect for the heavier jobs and high windows.

"He also acts as a supervisor."

David took up his job with the Merry Maids of Ribble Valley after he became bored with the early retirement he took from an insurance company.

He added: "I enjoy the work, although my wife insists that I help her with the housework at home now."

Jobs can be as diverse as a quick wipe with a duster to spending a massive 15 hours cleaning an industrial oven.

But do any of the Merry Maids take tips from their clients and get someone else to make their home a domestic paradise?

"No, they do it all themselves," said Dorothy.

For more information about the Merry Maids, call 01282 777456.

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