How to Choose a Good Cleaner (and What to Look For)

Letting someone into your home is a big decision, and most people make it on price alone. Price matters, but it's the other things that decide whether you end up with a cleaner you keep for years or one you're replacing next month. Here's what to check, in roughly the order it matters.

1. Are they insured, and for how much?

Ask for public liability insurance and the amount. If a cleaner breaks something or someone is hurt in your home, this is what pays. A business that's properly insured will tell you the figure straight away; hesitation is a warning sign. (Silv's carries $10 million public liability.)

2. Are the people who come to your home police-checked?

Ask whether every person who'll enter your home has a current police check, not just the owner. If children live with you, ask about Working With Children Checks; if anyone in the home is an NDIS participant, ask about NDIS Worker Screening.

3. Who actually turns up?

Some companies send their own trained team; others are booking platforms that pass your job to whoever accepts it. Neither is automatically bad, but you should know which you're getting, and whether it will be the same person each visit. Consistency is what turns a cleaner into someone who knows your home. We compare the two models in Cleaning agency or local company?

4. Are their cleaners paid properly?

It's a fair question to ask. The Fair Work Ombudsman says cleaners employed by a cleaning business are most likely covered by the Cleaning Award, which sets minimum pay and penalty rates, and that calling someone a "contractor" when they're really an employee (sham contracting) is illegal. A price that seems impossibly low often means someone isn't being paid what they're owed, and that tends to show in turnover and quality.

5. Is the price clear before they start?

Good businesses publish their rates and tell you how a quote is worked out (hours, rooms, extras). Be wary of a figure that changes once they're in the door with no explanation. For bigger or first cleans, an in-person look before the final price is a good sign, not a delay: it means the quote is based on your actual home.

6. What exactly is included?

Ask for a checklist. "General clean" can mean very different things. Inside the oven, fridge, windows and cupboards are usually extras; make sure you both know which ones you've booked.

7. Is there a guarantee, and what does it actually say?

Look for something specific: how long you have to raise a problem, what they'll do (re-clean, refund) and whether you need photos. A vague "satisfaction guaranteed" with no terms isn't much of a promise. Ours is 48 hours to raise any checklist item, a free re-clean, and a refund on that item if it's still not right.

8. Do they bring their own products and equipment?

Most professional cleaners do. If you have allergies, asthma, a baby or pets, ask what they use and whether they can work with products you supply.

9. How do they handle keys and access?

A careful business won't ask you to text alarm or lockbox codes in a booking form. Ask how keys are stored and who can see your access details.

10. Can you pause or cancel without penalty?

Lock-in contracts are a red flag for home cleaning. Ask about notice periods and cancellation fees up front.

11. Are they a real, local business?

Check for an ABN, a real phone number answered by a person, and reviews you can trace back to Google or another public platform. Reviews that only appear on the company's own site, with no way to verify them, carry less weight.

12. How do they communicate?

Notice how quickly and clearly they answer your questions before you book. That is usually exactly how they'll handle a problem after you've booked.

Red flags

• Cash only, no ABN, no receipts.
• Won't name their insurance amount.
• Can't say who will come, or it's a different person every time.
• Prices far below everyone else's with no explanation.
• Pressure to sign up for a long contract.
• Asks for alarm or lockbox codes by email or form.

Questions to ask on the first call

1. What insurance do you have, and for how much?
2. Is everyone who comes police-checked?
3. Will it be the same cleaner each visit?
4. Are your cleaners employees?
5. What's on your checklist, and what's extra?
6. What happens if I'm not happy?
7. Can I pause or cancel anytime?

Frequently asked questions

Sources: Fair Work Ombudsman, Contract cleaning (fairwork.gov.au), checked October 2026. General information only.