How to Choose a House Cleaner You Can Trust
A practical guide to choosing a house cleaner in the UK: what to look for in profiles and reviews, how to run a trial clean and when to walk away.
Letting someone into your home on a regular basis is a matter of trust as well as skill. A good cleaner makes the week easier; a poor match leaves you chasing missed tasks or feeling uneasy. Choosing well is mostly about asking the right questions up front and testing the arrangement before you commit.
Start with what you actually need
Before you contact anyone, write down:
- The number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and any pets.
- How often you want cleaning: weekly, fortnightly or one-off.
- The tasks that matter most, such as kitchen, bathrooms and floors.
- Whether you want extras like ironing, changing beds or inside the fridge.
- Preferred days and times, and whether you will be home.
This brief makes quotes comparable and helps a cleaner say yes or no honestly.
What to look for in a profile and reviews
A profile tells you something, but reviews tell you more. Look for:
- Specific comments. "Always on time and left the bathroom spotless" is more useful than "Great!".
- Consistency over time. A run of similar comments across months suggests reliability.
- How they handle problems. A reply to a lower rating that is calm and constructive is a good sign.
- Relevant experience. If you have a large house, pets or a baby, look for people who mention similar homes.
On Compito, reviews come after completed bookings, and providers are ID-verified, which gives you a baseline. Use it alongside your own questions rather than instead of them. Our safety page explains more about how the platform approaches this.
Questions to ask
You do not need a long interview, but these questions reveal a lot:
- How long have you been cleaning professionally?
- Do you bring your own products and equipment, or do you use mine?
- What does a typical visit include, and what is extra?
- How do you handle cancellations or if you are ill?
- How would you like me to tell you about issues or changes?
For a longer list, see questions to ask before hiring a cleaner.
Run a trial first
Rather than promising weekly visits, book a single clean or a four-week trial. Watch for:
- Punctuality and communication. Did they confirm arrival and tell you if anything changed?
- Standard of work. Check corners, edges, taps, skirting boards and under items.
- Respect for your home. Were belongings handled carefully and returned where they were?
- Value. Did the time taken match the estimate?
It is normal to give feedback after the first visit. A good cleaner will welcome clear instructions.
Think about the match, not only the price
The cheapest offer is not always the best value, and the most expensive is not automatically better. Consider whether the cleaner's availability matches your schedule, whether they seem comfortable with your home's quirks, such as pets or delicate surfaces, and whether communication feels easy. A slightly higher price for someone dependable usually pays for itself.
Warning signs
- Vague answers about what is included.
- A price far below everyone else's with no explanation.
- Pressure to pay outside the platform or in full up front for many sessions.
- Reluctance to put the agreed scope in writing.
- Poor communication before the first visit, which rarely improves afterwards.
If something feels off, trust that instinct and look at other offers. You can learn more about how to compare offers in our quote comparison guide.
A simple scoring approach
When you have two or three candidates, it can be hard to decide on gut feeling alone. Score each from one to five on the following:
- Clarity of communication. Did they answer your questions directly?
- Fit with your schedule. Can they do your preferred day and time consistently?
- Match to your home. Experience with pets, children, older properties or large houses.
- Evidence from reviews. Specific, consistent, recent comments.
- Value. The total price against what is included.
The highest score is not always the winner, but it highlights where a concern sits.
Individual, small team or agency
| Option | Strengths | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Same person each visit, flexible, often lower rate | Cover when ill or on holiday |
| Small team | Faster jobs, better for large homes | Different faces and consistency |
| Larger company | Management, cover and set processes | Less personal, higher price |
Special circumstances
If you are older or have a disability, say so openly and ask how the cleaner would adapt, such as working around equipment or being gentle with mobility aids. If you work from home, agree quiet times or rooms to avoid. If you have pets, tell the cleaner how they behave, whether they should be shut away, and any medicine or food that must not be touched.
After you choose
Write down the agreed days, times, tasks, price and cancellation approach, and send it by message so there is a record. Put a short list of preferences, such as how you like towels folded, on a note. Review after the first month, and make it normal to give feedback early rather than letting small irritations build up.
Frequently asked questions
Should I hire a company or an individual cleaner?
An individual offers consistency and often a lower hourly rate. A company offers cover for absence and structured management. See self-employed cleaner or cleaning company for a full comparison.
How long should a trial period be?
Two to four visits is usually enough to see reliability, standard and fit. Agree upfront that either side can stop after the trial.
Do I need to supply cleaning products?
Not always. Some cleaners bring everything, some prefer to use yours, and some ask you to buy specific items. Agree this before the first visit; see supplies: bring your own or client provides.
What should I do if the first clean is disappointing?
Describe exactly what was missed, ideally with photos, and ask them to fix it at the next visit. A good cleaner will want to put it right. If the same issues repeat after clear feedback, it is reasonable to look elsewhere.