Hiring a cleaner

Letting someone into your home to clean is a matter of trust as well as convenience. The guides in this section help you decide what kind of help you need, find and check a cleaner, compare quotes properly and agree the details in writing, so there are fewer surprises later.

The guides in this section

• Hiring a house cleaner What to decide first, what to ask and how to brief a cleaner.
• Checking a cleaning business ABN checks, insurance, reviews and red flags.
• Cleaning quotes and agreements Comparing quotes and what to put in writing.
• Regular or one-off cleaning Choosing between ongoing visits and a single deep clean.

A simple hiring process

1. Decide what you need: rooms, tasks, frequency and budget.
2. Shortlist a few options: an independent cleaner, a cleaning business or a platform.
3. Check them: ABN, insurance, reviews and references.
4. Get written quotes for the same scope.
5. Agree the details in writing: scope, price basis, products, access, cancellations and how problems are handled.
6. Review after the first few cleans and adjust the brief.

Your rights as a customer

Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that consumer guarantees apply automatically to services, including that they must be provided with due care and skill, and be fit for any purpose you made known. If a service doesn't meet a guarantee, you may be entitled to a remedy. Keep your quote, invoice and messages.

Writing a good brief

A clear brief is the single best way to get the clean you want. Before the first visit, write down which rooms are included, the tasks you care about most, anything that must not be touched or moved, and any products to use or avoid. Mention pets, alarm systems, parking and where rubbish goes. Point out fragile items and surfaces that need special care, such as natural stone benchtops, timber floors or delicate fabrics. Walk through the home with the cleaner on the first visit if you can. After a few cleans, review the brief together and adjust it. Our cleaning checklist can be printed and left on the bench as a simple brief.

What affects the cost of cleaning

We don't publish prices, but understanding what drives cost helps you compare quotes:

• the size of the home and number of bathrooms;
• the condition of the home and how long since the last clean;
• the tasks included, especially ovens, windows, walls and carpets;
• whether products and equipment are supplied;
• how often you book;
• access, parking and travel time;
• weekend or urgent bookings.

Ask cleaners to explain how they've calculated their quote.

Keeping communication clear

Most problems with cleaners come down to expectations that weren't shared. Agree the scope in writing, give feedback early and specifically, and keep messages polite and factual. If you're not happy with part of a clean, describe exactly what wasn't done and, if helpful, send a photo. If you need to change the schedule, give as much notice as you can and follow the agreed cancellation terms. A short message thanking the cleaner for a good job also goes a long way in a long-term arrangement.

If something is damaged

Accidents happen. If a cleaner damages something, tell the business promptly, in writing, with photos and a description. Ask how it will be resolved and whether its insurance covers the damage. Consumer Affairs Victoria explains that services must be provided with due care and skill, and that if they aren't, you may be entitled to a remedy. Keep copies of your communications. If you can't resolve the matter, Consumer Affairs Victoria has information about next steps.

Use the checklist tool

Our free cleaning checklist turns this guide into a practical list. Choose a regular clean or moving out, tick the rooms you have, and work through the tasks. You can print it, give it to a cleaner, or tick items off on your phone. Nothing you tick leaves your browser. It's a general checklist, not a legal standard; for renting rules, check Consumer Affairs Victoria.

A note on products and brands

We don't recommend particular cleaning brands, and we're not paid to mention products. When choosing a product, look for one that's designed for the surface and the job, read the label in full, and check the directions, safety warnings and first aid instructions before you start. Products sold for similar jobs can differ a lot in strength and ingredients, so don't assume one works like another. If a label is unclear or missing, don't use the product. Choosing the mildest product that does the job is usually the safest and cheapest approach.

Making it work for your household

Every home is different. A small apartment, a family house with young children, a share house and a home with someone living with a disability or health condition all have different needs. Adapt the advice in this guide to suit your space, your time and the people you live with. Focus first on the tasks that affect health and safety, such as kitchens, bathrooms, mould and safe storage of chemicals, and then on the tasks that matter most to you. Good enough, done regularly, usually beats perfect, done rarely.

Five habits for a cleaner home

1. Little and often: short regular cleans beat occasional marathons.
2. Ventilate: use exhaust fans and open windows to keep moisture and mould down.
3. Never mix products: the Victorian Department of Health warns never to mix bleach with ammonia or acids.
4. Store products safely: in original containers, out of reach of children and pets.
5. Keep records: quotes, receipts, condition reports and dated photos.

About these guides

Cleaners Melbourne is an independent information site. We aren't a cleaning company, agency, tenancy advice service or government body, and no business pays to appear in our guides. We don't publish prices or rank cleaners or products. We write every guide in our own words and list the official sources we used, such as Consumer Affairs Victoria, the Residential Tenancies Act, VCAT decisions, the Victorian Department of Health, healthdirect and the Fair Work Ombudsman. Rules change, so check current details with the relevant agency.

How we keep these guides current

We review each guide against official sources and show the date it was last checked. If you notice something out of date, please tell us through our contact page, and we'll check and correct it.