Cleaning people’s houses pays better than looking after teeth

BY TOBY PORTER
toby@slpmedia.co.uk

It’s wrong, but mums seem to be expected to do everything.

But qualified dental technician Chersty Bitsindou has found she can spend more time with her daughter after switching jobs to try cleaning instead – and earn more.

Now the 34-year-old mother-of-three has won an award for helping her community amid the anxiety of lockdown.

Chersty, from Greenwich, had trained for four years in dentistry and worked full-time for almost a decade, earning around £17,000 a year.

But in 2021, she made over £18,000 completing tasks like vacuuming and mopping houses on Airtasker instead.

And she only worked around half the hours that she did as a dental technician.

Since starting work as a cleaner in 2018, Chersty has pulled in £36,000 – and she also has a team of people she can call on for the bigger jobs.

She has now been crowned one of the company’s Top Taskers for delivering outstanding service during the pandemic as part of Airtasker’s awards to celebrate people who went above and beyond during the pandemic.

She said: “I wasn’t earning enough and I spent a lot of time working.

“I was struggling to pay for my childcare and, every time I worked, all the money went towards nursery fees.”

Her new job has given her more freedom to do what she needs – then to do what she wants, which is be around her children.

But after she did some cleaning for a client who was being treated for terminal cancer, she offered to go back and clean for the client for free whenever they needed.

She said: “I’m making more money while working less – and it’s more flexible for me. It feels much better – it’s freedom. I feel good, relaxed and happier.

“I can choose my hours, so I don’t have to pay for childcare.

“I’m earning what I need, while also being able to look after and spend time with my children.

“You also don’t have to beg anyone for holidays, so I can travel as I don’t need to ask anyone for time off.”

Chersty has recently been able to make a trip to DR Congo and Togo.

She had worked for her own mother’s cleaning company for four years during her schooldays, so she knew what needed to be done, especially with tough jobs like cleaning up at the end of a tenancy.

She said: “I like to see my cleaning well done, so I still clean – I’m always cleaning.”

Chersty has now earned over 260 five-star reviews.

“You meet so many people with inspiring stories and I’m grateful to be able to offer my services,” said Chersty.

She made the switch when her daughter spotted an ad on the train for Airtasker in 2018.

 

Pictured: Chersty Bitsindou