How to choose a cleaner
Updated 5 August 2026
You're letting a stranger into your home or office — so trust signals matter more than price. The good news: professional cleaners expect to be asked about them.
On AusLocal, verified credentials show as badges, and every review comes from a completed job — a business can't buy or delete them.
The non-negotiables
Public liability insurance is the first thing to confirm — it covers accidental damage to your property. For in-home work, ask whether staff are police-checked. An ABN you can verify means you're dealing with a real business, not a cash-only operator who disappears when something breaks.
Get the price basis in writing before the first visit: hourly or fixed, what's included, and any minimum booking.
Questions worth asking — and red flags
Ask: Do you bring equipment and products? Same cleaner each visit? What happens if I'm not satisfied? Red flags: no written quote, cash-only with no receipt, a quote wildly below everyone else's, and reluctance to answer insurance questions. A professional answers all of these without blinking.
Common questions
Should a cleaner be insured?
Yes — public liability insurance is the baseline for any professional cleaning business. On AusLocal, verified insurance shows as a badge.
Hourly or fixed price — which is better?
Hourly suits regular maintenance cleans; fixed pricing suits defined jobs like bond cleans. Either is fine — what matters is having it in writing.
Run a cleaning business?
These are the credentials customers look for. Don't have them yet?
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