In our quick and easy guide, we take at some of the important things you need to know when providing professional cleaning services. We share some tips to make your job easier and what to avoid as a professional cleaner.  

Starting out 

It’s exciting that you’ve decided to start your own professional cleaning business, an industry that is always in demand and full of different opportunities. While you may be a pro at cleaning your own home, taking on someone else’s property as a task can be quite different. 

These are some best practices to think about when you start cleaning your client’s properties: 

  • Be thorough- your clients have high expectations when it comes to the standard of professional cleaning services that they are paying for you to do. 
  • Take your time- your professional cleaning skills will develop over time, but in those early days, master the art of refining your cleaning skills.  
  • Practice makes perfect- it might be worth getting in touch with your family and friends to see if they would be happy for you to test out your professional cleaning skills. It’s a great way to gain experience and to build up some testimonials and references, both are essential when trying to build your professional cleaning business.  

What kind of professional cleaning tools do I need to do the job? 

There is a cleaning tool and product for almost everything out in the marketplace, but the fortunate thing is you don’t need them all. Many of your professional cleaning tools and products can double up to help with the task at hand.  

These are some of the supplies you may want to consider getting to help support your professional cleaning business: 

Product list: 

  • Bathroom cleaner 
  • Glass cleaner 
  • Furniture polish 
  • All purpose cleaner  
  • Mops 
  • Magic erasers 
  • Broom and dustpan 
  • Toothbrush 
  • Grout cleaner 
  • Cloths 

Tool list: 

  • Vacuums- no professional cleaning business is set without a decent vacuum 
  • Tile floor cleaner- this machine is designed to make your life easier and can be used to steam clean out even some of the toughest of marks 
  • Wooden floor steam mop 
  • Leaf vacuum for outside cleaning 
  • Fabric steam cleaner to help with things like upholstery  

What should be on my cleaning to-do list? 

While every client will be different in the kind of professional cleaning services they require, this is an overview of some of the typical tasks that you may expected to perform when cleaning a client’s property. 

Having some sort of list and guide can help create an efficient routine to ensure you are getting all the jobs done, leaving your client impressed by your professional cleaning services.  

These are some jobs you want to add to your list: 

  • Tidy and straighten the beds 
  • Clean and dust ceiling fans 
  • Empty and replace garbage bags 
  • Dust cobwebs both inside and outside the property 
  • Clean the windowsills 
  • Dust the furniture 
  • Clean glass services 
  • Wipe down kitchen surfaces 
  • Clean and disinfect the bathroom 
  • Scrub the bath and shower 
  • Sweep and vacuum carpets and hardwood surfaces 
  • Mop the floors 
  • Clean wall hangings 
  • Dust and clean light fixtures 

If you are doing an end of lease clean you may need to put in a bit more hard work and include the following: 

  • Deep cleaning of appliances like ovens and microwaves 
  • Ensure the inside of all drawers and kitchen cabinets are spotless 
  • Clean out the pantry thoroughly  

What kind of services could I add on to my professional cleaning business? 

The exciting thing about the professional cleaning industry and that there are many avenues and ways that you expand and grow your business. As your skill set develops and you learn and attain new skills, but them to good use by offering your clients more.  

If you’re short of inspiration these are a few ideas to keep in mind: 

  • Window cleaning services 
  • Professional carpet cleaning 
  • New construction cleaning 
  • Real estate cleaning 
  • Errand services 
  • Pet walking  
  • Laundry services 
  • Office cleaning 

What not to do as a professional cleaner 

While we’ve shed some light on the key things to keep in mind when starting your professional cleaning business, equally important is understanding the things you shouldn’t do. We’ve broken it down into a few areas of the business that you can easily manage and make sure don’t get too out of control. 

Cleaning tools that you need to give the flick 

  • The old-fashioned string mop- while it may be iconic, the humble string mop has well and truly seen its use-by-date. With so many other different designs and inventions on available, this mop shouldn’t ever be an option in your professional cleaning arsenal. 

Not only are they old, but they are not the most hygienic of cleaning tools. They can quickly smell and are constantly in contact between dirty water the floor surface. They can also be a breeding ground for germs and may easily spread dirt and debris because of not being replaced often enough. 

  • A filthy mop bucket- the string mop and bucket go hand in hand. While the cleaning process may start with a clean bucket of water, this is quickly changed as soon the mopping process starts, turning it into a dirty, unhygienic water.  
  • Old cotton rags- once again these can easily spread germs and need to be disposed of once initially used 

Forget about getting your business insurance  

One thing that you need to consider is protecting your professional cleaning business with appropriate types of business insurance. You’ve made a commitment to make your business work, so the last thing you want is for a claim to occur to send it down the drain.  

One of the important types of business insurance that you may need to consider is Public Liability insurance*. Public Liability insurance is designed to provide protection for you and your business in the event a customer, supplier or a member of the public brings a claim against you due to their being injured or sustaining property damage as a result of your negligent business activities. 

It’s there to not only give you peace of mind, but it may also be a requirement for your cleaning business to have a certain level of cover in place before you work on a job. 

We’ll leave the cleaning to you, while you let us take the hassle out of shopping around for your policy. At Public Liability Australia we want to make getting your cleaning insurance easy and hassle-free.  

Multiple competitive quotes from selected leading Australian insurers are only a few clicks or a phone call away. Select the policy to suit your business and be covered in minutes.   

* This information is a general guide only and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs.  As with any insurance, cover will be subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions contained in the policy wording. The information contained on this web page is general only and should not be relied upon as advice. 

Public Liability Australia is a business name of BizCover Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975; AFSL 501769)