7 Questions to Ask Any House Cleaner Before They Enter Your Home

Hiring a house cleaner means handing someone you've only just met a key to your home, often while you're not there. That's a big ask, and it's worth asking a few questions first.

Here are the seven we'd ask, and how we answer each one. If a cleaner can't answer these, don't hire them (unless you don't care about the safety and security of your home).

1. Are your cleaners employees or contractors?

This matters more than anything else on the list. Marketplace apps and plenty of cleaning companies use independent contractors, which means the company you booked may not know much about the person who turns up.

Our cleaners are our own employees. We hire them, train them, roster them and we're responsible for them. We never subcontract.

2. Are they police-checked?

Ask to be sure, and ask whether it's every cleaner or just some. Every one of ours is police-checked before they start.

3. Who's insured, and for what?

If something gets broken or damaged in your home, you want to know whose insurance covers it. With a contractor, it's theirs, if they have it. Our cleaners are covered by our business insurance.

4. How are they trained?

Cleaning well is a skill, whatever anyone's uncle says. Ask how a new cleaner learns the job. Ours go through a structured training program, cleaning alongside a trainer before a supervised solo clean, and only work alone once they've passed it.

5. Will it be the same person each time?

A cleaner who knows your home does a better job and needs fewer instructions. Wherever we can, we roster the same cleaner to your home, and if they're away we'll tell you who's coming before the visit.

6. How do I know the clean was done?

If you're not home, you're taking it on trust. We don't ask you to. Our cleaners clock on and off at your address, so we know when they arrived and left, and every visit is finished against a checklist with photos. Proof, not vibes.

7. What happens if something isn't right?

Find out who you call and what they'll actually do about it. With us, you call or email one of the two of us, and if a clean isn't up to standard and you tell us within 24 hours, we'll come back and fix it free.

See what a house cleaner costs in Melbourne, or read about how we work in South Yarra, Toorak, Malvern and Brighton. When you're ready, get a quote.

Cheers, Liam and Andrew