The pros and cons of hiring a cleaner

Hiring a cleaner can save you time and effort that can be put to better use, as well as leaving your home professionally clean and polished.

If you're debating whether to hire a house cleaner or do it yourself, this guide could help. Read on to find out:

• What can you hire a house cleaner for?
• How much does a house cleaner cost?*
• Is a house cleaner worth it?
• Getting quotes for hiring a cleaner

What can you hire a house cleaner for?

A house cleaner will take care of all the cleaning jobs you don't have time for. At the bare minimum, they can:

• Clean every room in the house or selected rooms
• Wash your windows
• Clean your floors
• Dust the home

You can also hire a house cleaner for larger cleaning jobs such as cleaning carpets or removing very stubborn limescale on shower screens. They can also be hired for bond cleaning to make sure your rental property is presentable at the end of your lease.

How much does a house cleaner cost?*

The cost of hiring a cleaner varies, depending on the size of your home, the cleaning tasks you need and other considerations. Some services charge by the hour, while others may quote a total price.

Cleaner rates per hour vary from $30 to $50 in different parts of Australia, the average being around $35. Hiring a cleaner to clean an average family home costs from $125 to $180, with the average cost around $130.

At those rates, you probably wouldn't want the cleaners to come in every week, but you can arrange to hire a house cleaner periodically to give your house a thorough cleaning.

The more services you ask for, the more hiring a cleaner will cost, but getting quotes from cleaning services costs nothing.

Is a house cleaner worth it?

Hiring a cleaner can be a big commitment for the long term, so it's important to weigh up the pros and cons before making your decision.

Pros

The most common reasons people choose house cleaners are:

• Saving time
• Consistent cleaning
• Professional results

Saving time

According to statistics, the average household spends up to 13 hours a week just staying on top of cleaning jobs. This includes washing up, folding and putting away laundry and other chores.

13 hours a week is a part-time job! Add scrubbing toilets, the inside of the shower and other cleaning tasks to the list and you could easily spend 20 hours or more per week cleaning your house.

Hiring a cleaner gives you this time back to spend it with your family, on your hobbies or however else you want.

Consistent cleaning

It's easy to let household chores slip when you're busy. When you hire a house cleaner, you can rest assured that your house will always be cleaned on schedule, no matter your own schedule.

How often you hire a house cleaner will depend on your budget and the number of tasks you need them to do. If you want regular cleaning, you can tailor the level and frequency of service to your needs. For example, they can clean your bathroom and kitchen once a month or once every three months.

Professional results

Professional cleaners are experts at what they do, which could mean a higher standard of cleaning than you'd do yourself. This can be especially important for end-of-lease cleaning if you're moving out of a rental property.

Some house cleaners offer "spring cleaning" as a one-time service that can be arranged at any time of year, and as often as needed. This costs more, but leaves your house spotless.

Cons

There can be downsides to hiring a house cleaner, which may depend on the individual service or your own feelings. These may include:

• The cost of hiring a cleaner compared to doing it yourself
• Letting someone into your home involves a level of trust and giving up some privacy
• Inconsistent schedules if an agency uses different cleaners

Ultimately, the answer to the question, "Is a house cleaner worth it?" depends on you, your budget and how much time you want to spend cleaning your house yourself.

Getting quotes for hiring a cleaner

When you get quotes from house cleaning services, you should compare more than just the price. You should also check whether they are insured and guaranteed to give you peace of mind.

When you get quotes from local house cleaners, ask for references and other proof that they are a service you can trust. Whether you're hiring a cleaner for a one-off job or regular cleaning, they should provide you with a full list of services so you can see exactly what you're paying for.

*Costs and prices in this article are indicative and should only be used as a guide. They also vary locally and are subject to market forces.