The weekend has arrived. You're cleaning instead of sleeping late, taking the kids to the park, or working the morning shift. It's generally tedious, monotonous, and dirty work, but it's necessary to keep the home functional. And, it goes without saying, it frequently falls to women. 

Is cleaning a cause of stress in your household? Whether it's a couple, a family, or a shared property, some people - usually women - are expected to do more cleaning than others. Here are four guidelines to help you fix that.

According to the most recent census, Australian women spend up to 14 hours a week doing unpaid domestic housework. The average male works only five hours per day. "Everyone uses the bathroom, walks on the floor, dirties the dishes, yet it is women who end up doing the majority of the housework," explains Melbourne University sociologist Dr. Leah Ruppanner.

"My research has revealed that couples who do housework equally have the best satisfaction and are less likely to divorce," she says. However, depending on your circumstances, there may be a third option: outsource the problem. 

"Why spend the weekend arguing with my husband over who will do the cleaning?" Dr. Ruppanner asks. "It feels like a luxury item, but paying for a cleaning may be cheaper in the long run than paying for a divorce." 

So, is it time to hire cleaning services for help?

Make your calculations.

"An economist would look at this issue by asking, 'How much could I make per hour if I worked instead of cleaning my own house?'" Dr.  Gigi Foster, an economist at the University of New South Wales Business School.

The first step is to determine the cost of a cleaner. The award wage for a full-time cleaner is roughly $20 per hour, but if it's a casual agreement, pay between $30 and $50 per hour. It may be a reasonable economic choice if you can make more than you would pay for the cleaning. However, the option is not solely monetary.

The Advantages of Hiring Professional Cleaning Services

Outsourcing isn't just about avoiding cleaning - you may justify it by telling yourself that you're doing it for the greater good of the country. "If you hire a cleaner, you're creating wealth because the work counts toward GDP," explains Dr. Foster. 

"And it might have a double effect if it allows the person who would otherwise be cleaning [you] to enter the labor market." It may also generate more commodities and services for the economy as a whole. According to economic theory, overall output is maximized when everyone focuses on what he or she is best at.

Calculate how long it would take you to clean your own house. Would a professional cleaner be more efficient at the work, for example, taking two hours to complete a task that would take you five hours? If this is the case, keep your day job and leave the cleaning to the professionals.

But what if you'd rather spend that extra time with your family, playing sports, or watching Netflix than working? Put a monetary value on those tasks and consider whether your five hours are more valuable than paying a cleaner for two hours.