Recommendation – Housecleaner

In this guide, you’ll understand:

• The benefits and challenges of the job
• How to stand out on cleaning platforms
• Which tasks usually pay more
• The checklist of requirements and documents
• A basic starter kit to work safely
• How to gain recurring clients
• How much to charge without undervaluing yourself

Benefits of Working as a Housecleaner

1) Faster entry into the job market

In residential cleaning, what really matters isn’t a degree. It’s your ability to deliver:

• Punctuality
  
• Consistent attention to detail
  
• Good communication
  
• Trustworthiness
  

This makes housecleaning a real entry point for those who need to start working fast and build stability step by step.

2) Flexible days and hours

Many housecleaners plan their week around their own routine:

• 2 to 3 days per week (part-time)
  
• 5 to 6 days per week (full schedule)
  
• A mix of regular clients and one-time jobs (to boost income)
  

When you learn to organize a smart schedule, you can reduce commuting and increase earnings without working more hours.

3) Potential to grow income through repeat clients

The big advantage of residential cleaning is that a good job leads to repetition. If the client is happy, they’ll want:

• Weekly
  
• Biweekly
  
• Monthly (deep clean)
  

Recurring work brings predictability and improves your daily rate.

4) Opportunity to earn more with extras and service packages (without working more days)

When you clearly state what’s included in a regular cleaning and charge separately for services like deep cleaning, move-in/move-out, oven, fridge, or windows, you increase the value per visit without overloading your schedule.

This boosts your average ticket, offers options for different types of clients, and accelerates your financial growth with more control and less burnout.

Challenges of the Job (and How to Handle Them)

1) Physical fatigue and work pace

Cleaning is physically demanding. Your strategy needs to include:

• Well-timed short breaks
  
• Technique (to avoid wasting energy)
  
• A room-by-room routine (to stay on track)
  

The more structured your method, the less mental fatigue and faster you work with quality.

2) Commuting and hidden costs

One of the biggest mistakes is accepting distant jobs without factoring in:

• Transport
  
• Round-trip travel time
  
• Delays and risks
  

A “full” schedule might earn less than a smaller, well-located one.

3) Poorly defined scope

Saying you’ll “do everything” is the quickest way to reduce your earnings. To protect yourself, you need to separate:

• What’s included in regular cleaning
  
• What’s extra (and must be charged separately)
  

Clarity avoids conflict and increases the chances of turning a client into a regular.

Tips to Stand Out on Cleaning Platforms

Platforms can really speed up the start because they connect you with people already looking for residential cleaning. To stand out, the logic is simple: well-filled profile + availability + consistency + communication.

1) Consistent availability is more valuable than “perfect” availability

If you select only a few days and keep rescheduling, your chances of getting requests drop. Better to:

• Set 2 to 4 fixed days
  
• Stick to them consistently
  
• Add more days as your schedule fills up
  

2) Smart and short service area

Choose nearby areas you can reliably reach on time. This:

• Cuts transport costs
  
• Increases punctuality
  
• Improves reviews
  
• Makes recurring jobs easier
  

3) Deliver what gets the best reviews

Clients usually rate based on “visual impact” and key areas:

• Spotless bathrooms
  
• Well-finished kitchen
  
• Clean smell (not too much product)
  
• Light organization (without touching personal items)
  

4) Simple communication before and after

Before: confirm time and priorities.
After: let them know you’ve finished and ask if there’s anything to adjust for next time.
This shows professionalism and reduces complaints.

Checklist of Requirements and Documents

Having this ready avoids delays when applying on platforms or securing regular clients.

Essential items

• ID document
  
• Active phone number with WhatsApp
  
• Updated address (neighborhood/city)
  
• Bank details (to receive payments, when applicable)
  
• Availability list (days and times)
  
• Areas you can easily work in
  
• References (if available)
  
  • Names and contacts of 1 to 3 people you’ve cleaned for
    
  • Notify them in advance in case they’re contacted
    

For non-South Africans

• Residence and work permit documentation, when applicable to your situation
  

Tasks That Tend to Pay More

Not all cleaning jobs are equal. If you want to earn more, focus on higher-value services that require more detail (charged as extras or specific services).

1) Deep clean
Usually pays more because it’s more detailed and time-consuming. Can include:

• Baseboards, corners, and wall marks (when possible)
  
• Extra attention to showers and tiles
  
• Kitchen focusing on grease and buildup
  
• Dust in high or overlooked areas
  

2) Move-in/move-out
A checklist service to leave the home ready. Usually involves:

• Full bathrooms
  
• Full kitchen
  
• Floors and internal windows (if agreed)
  
• Removing marks and light residue
  

3) Extras you can charge for separately

• Oven (inside)
  
• Fridge (inside)
  
• Windows (inside and outside, depending on access)
  
• Deep organization (closets, pantry)
  
• Laundry and ironing (if offered)
  

Golden rule: extras must be agreed on beforehand. This protects your time and income.

Products and Basic Kit to Start

You don’t need to spend much to get started, but you do need the basics to maintain standards and not depend entirely on what’s at the client’s home.

Minimal kit (cheap and effective)

• Durable gloves
  
• Microfiber cloths (2 to 4 units)
  
• Sponge and small corner brush
  
• Extra trash bags
  
• Mild all-purpose cleaner
  
• Disinfectant (use responsibly with ventilation)
  
• Bathroom cleaner (or suitable alternative)
  
• Small spray bottle (very useful)
  
• Simple apron (optional, but looks professional)
  

Product safety tips

• Never mix chemicals
  
• Ventilate bathrooms and kitchens
  
• Use gloves with strong products
  
• If there are allergies (yours or the client’s), agree on neutral products
  

If the client provides supplies, great. Even so, having your own basic kit avoids surprises.

How to Get Recurring Clients (What Really Fills Your Schedule)

Recurring jobs don’t happen by chance. They happen through strategy.

1) Make a perfect first impression on key areas
If time is short, focus on:

• Bathroom
  
• Kitchen
  
• Visible floors
  
• Trash and finishing touches
  

The client should look around and feel it was “worth it.”

2) Offer a fixed routine with a ready-to-use phrase

At the end of the job, say (or send via message):
“If you want to keep your home this clean, I can come every week or every two weeks at the same time. Want me to reserve a fixed day for you?”
This makes the decision easier because the client won’t need to remember to book again.

3) Ask for referrals the right way

 Instead of “can you refer me?”, say:
“If you know someone nearby who needs cleaning, feel free to recommend me. I work with a fixed schedule.”
Local referrals reduce commuting and increase your earnings per hour.

4) Build a route (even a small one)

Goal: group clients by area and day.
Example:
Monday: two clients in the same neighborhood (morning and afternoon)
Wednesday: one regular client + one nearby one-time job
Friday: deep clean (higher value)
A route is what turns effort into money.

How Much to Charge (Without Undervaluing Yourself)

The safest way to set prices is to consider your total day time, not just cleaning time.

Simple formula
Service price ÷ (cleaning time + travel time) = your real hourly rate

If your real earnings are too low, you have three options:

• Raise your price
  
• Reduce the scope (fewer tasks)
  
• Decline and prioritize better areas
  

Example 1: regular cleaning

Cleaning: 5 hours
Total travel: 1 hour
Total time: 6 hours
If you charge ZAR 300, your real rate is ZAR 50/hour
If that’s not enough for your situation, review your pricing or service area.

Example 2: deep clean with extras

Cleaning: 7 hours
Total travel: 1 hour
Total time: 8 hours
If you charge ZAR 550, your real rate is ZAR 68.75/hour
Also, deep cleans typically justify a higher price due to extra detail and effort.

How to price extras without conflict

• Agree ahead: “I can do it, and it’s X extra.”
  
• Avoid “doing it for free to be nice.” That sets a bad precedent.
  

For reliable recurring clients, consider offering a package (e.g., monthly deep clean + weekly regular).

Conclusion

Working as a housecleaner in South Africa can offer quick entry, flexibility, and real growth — if you follow a solid method. 

The best results come from three pillars: quality standards, organized schedule, and recurring clients.

If you apply the tips from this guide — ready-to-use checklist, basic kit, focus on higher-paying tasks, platform strategy, and recurring client approach — you’ll move from improvising to building a more stable schedule, better earnings, and less stress.

Disclaimer: this content is informational and editorial. We have no association, partnership, affiliation, or commercial relationship with any of the companies mentioned.