How to Hire House Cleaners: A Complete Guide for Cleaning Business Owners

Hiring reliable house cleaners is the #1 challenge for growing cleaning companies. You've probably experienced it: applicants who ghost interviews, show up without transportation, or quit after the first week. Here's how to stop wasting time and start hiring great cleaners.

The Biggest Mistake Cleaning Companies Make When Hiring

Most cleaning business owners hire like this:

1. Post "Now Hiring Cleaners" on Craigslist
2. Get 50+ texts at all hours
3. Call everyone back (waste 10 hours)
4. Find out half don't have transportation
5. Hire whoever shows up to the interview

This is backwards. You're spending hours calling people who were never qualified in the first place.

The fix? Screen BEFORE you call. Not after.

Step 1: Create a Simple Application Form

Before you call anyone, make them fill out a basic form. This filters out 80% of unqualified applicants automatically.

What to ask in your cleaner application:

• Transportation: "Do you have reliable transportation to job sites?" (Yes/No checkbox)
• Experience: "How many years of cleaning experience do you have?" (Dropdown: None, Less than 1 year, 1-3 years, 3+ years)
• Availability: "When can you work?" (Weekdays only, Weekends only, Both, Flexible)
• Hours per week: "How many hours per week are you looking for?" (10-20, 20-30, 30-40, Flexible)
• Pet comfort: "Are you comfortable working in homes with pets?" (Yes/No)

Step 2: Screen for Transportation FIRST

This is the #1 dealbreaker. If they don't have reliable transportation, nothing else matters.

Don't assume:

• "I have a ride" usually means they're borrowing someone's car
• "I can figure it out" means they don't have transportation
• "I have Uber" gets expensive fast and they'll quit

What works: Make it a required yes/no question upfront. "I have my own reliable vehicle" checkbox. If they can't check it, you saved yourself a wasted phone call.

Step 3: Ask About Weekend Availability

Most residential cleaning happens on weekends. If someone can only work weekdays, they're not a fit for most cleaning businesses.

Ask this question in your application form, not on the phone call. It saves you from scheduling interviews with people who can't work when you need them.

Step 4: Interview Questions That Actually Matter

Once you've screened for transportation and availability, NOW you call them. Here are the questions that separate good cleaners from bad ones:

Experience Questions:

• "What types of cleaning have you done?" (Look for: residential vs commercial, deep cleaning vs maintenance)
• "Walk me through how you would clean a bathroom." (Good cleaners have a system)
• "What cleaning products do you prefer to use?" (Shows they've actually done the work)

Reliability Questions:

• "What would you do if your car broke down the morning of a job?" (Do they have a backup plan?)
• "Have you ever had to miss work? What happened?" (Everyone has. How they handled it matters)
• "Can you provide references from previous cleaning jobs?" (If they can't, that's a red flag)

Red Flags to Watch For:

• They ask about pay before you even describe the job
• They show up late to the interview (they'll show up late to jobs)
• They can't explain their previous cleaning experience
• They're vague about their availability

Step 5: Do a Working Interview

The best way to hire cleaners? See them actually clean.

How it works:

1. Bring them to a small job (bathroom or bedroom only)
2. Pay them for 2-3 hours
3. Watch how they work

This tells you more in 2 hours than a 20-minute interview ever could. You'll see:

• Do they have a system or just spray and wipe randomly?
• Are they thorough or do they rush?
• Do they bring their own supplies or show up empty-handed?
• How do they handle feedback?

Common Hiring Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)

Mistake #1: Hiring the first person who shows up

Fix: Interview at least 3 people before making a decision. The first person might be good. The third person might be great.

Mistake #2: Not checking references

Fix: Always call at least one reference. Ask: "Would you hire them again?" If they hesitate, that's your answer.

Mistake #3: Skipping the working interview

Fix: It costs $40 to do a 2-hour working interview. It costs $200+ to hire the wrong person, train them, and replace them 2 weeks later.

Mistake #4: Not screening for transportation

Fix: Make it the first question. If they don't have a car, end the call politely and move on.

The Simple Hiring System That Actually Works

Here's the exact system successful cleaning companies use:

1. Create application form (5 minutes with Hireling template)
2. Share link everywhere (Craigslist, Facebook, Indeed, word-of-mouth)
3. Filter applications (Only call people with transportation + right availability)
4. Phone screen (10 minutes, ask the questions above)
5. Working interview (2-3 hours, see them actually clean)
6. Check references (5 minutes, call their previous employer)
7. Make offer (If everything checks out)

This system filters out 90% of bad applicants before you waste time on them.

FAQs About Hiring House Cleaners

How much should I pay house cleaners?

Most cleaning companies pay $15-$25/hour depending on your location and the cleaner's experience. In expensive cities like NYC or SF, expect to pay $20-$30/hour. Don't lowball - good cleaners are worth paying for.

Should I hire cleaners as employees or contractors?

Legally, if you set their schedule and provide supplies, they're employees. Most successful cleaning companies hire W-2 employees, not 1099 contractors. Talk to an accountant about your specific situation.

How do I find house cleaner applicants?

Best places to post: Craigslist (still works!), Facebook community groups, Indeed, local job boards, and word-of-mouth referrals from your current cleaners.

What if they don't have cleaning experience?

You can train someone with the right attitude and reliability. What you CAN'T train is showing up on time and having transportation. Focus on reliability first, skills second.

How long should the hiring process take?

From posting to hiring: 1-2 weeks. You need time to get applications, screen calls, do working interviews, and check references. Rushing leads to bad hires.

Next Steps

Hiring great cleaners comes down to one thing: screening better applicants upfront. Stop wasting hours calling people who don't have cars. Use an application form to filter out unqualified applicants before you pick up the phone.

The fastest way to start? Use our pre-built House Cleaner template. It asks all the right questions (transportation, experience, availability, pet comfort) and gives you organized applications in your dashboard.