Guides
Hiring a cleaner, explained
What the trade actually does, what things should cost, what a quote ought to contain, and how to check somebody is who they say they are.
Cleaner hourly rate UK: what a cleaner charges an hour
A self-employed domestic cleaner charges roughly £15 to £22 an hour outside London and £20 to £30 inside it. An agency charges more because the rate pays for holiday cover, insurance and a replacement cleaner.
End of tenancy cleaning and what a landlord can deduct
In England, the law does not allow a landlord to require a professional clean as a condition of the tenancy. They can deduct the cost of returning the property to its check-in condition, less fair wear and tear, and the inventory is what decides it.
What does a deep clean include? A room by room list
A deep clean reaches what a regular clean never touches: inside appliances, behind and under furniture, limescale, extractor grilles and skirtings. It takes two to three times as long and is normally priced by the job.
Does a cleaner need insurance or a DBS check? What they mean
Public liability insurance is not compulsory for a cleaner but is standard. Employer's liability is compulsory if they employ anybody. Domestic cleaning is not an eligible role for an enhanced DBS check, so a basic check is the standard one for domestic cleaners.
Domestic or commercial cleaning: which one you need
The two halves of this trade run on different hours, different equipment and different contracts. A company organised around office contracts is not usually the right fit for a house, while a domestic cleaner often suits a small business well.
Questions to ask a cleaning company before you hire
Eight questions that show how clearly a cleaning business has thought through the way it works. Most of them can be asked in a single phone call, and the answers matter more than the price.
Cleaning quote: what it should include
A usable quote names the property, the scope room by room, the hours or the price basis, what is excluded, and what happens if the job runs long. With all five written down, two quotes can be compared like for like.
Carpet cleaning methods, and which one suits your carpet
Hot water extraction cleans deepest and takes four to twelve hours to dry. Low moisture cleaning dries in one to two and cleans less deeply. The right answer depends on the fibre, the soiling and how soon the room is needed.
How to find a good cleaner, and keep them
Finding a cleaner is usually straightforward, and the aim is finding one who is still coming in two years. What predicts that is a clear arrangement, a fair rate and a realistic scope, agreed before the first visit.
Is black mould dangerous? The risks, and who they affect
Black mould is a health risk rather than a poison: it mainly affects the airways, and can bring on or worsen asthma, infections and allergies. Babies, older people and anyone with a lung condition or a weakened immune system are most at risk.
Landlord responsibility for mould: what Awaab's Law says
Since 27 October 2025, social landlords in England must investigate reported damp and mould within 10 working days and make a significant hazard safe within 5 working days of that. Private landlords are not yet covered, but must still keep the home fit to live in.
How to remove black mould, and why bleach is not the answer
Clean small patches on hard surfaces with a mould and mildew spray, wearing gloves, goggles and a mask, with the window open and the door shut. Bleach lightens mould on porous surfaces without removing it, and mould that keeps returning needs its cause fixed.
How to clean a fabric sofa, and when steam cleaning is safe
Find the cleaning code on the label first: W means water-based cleaning is fine, S means solvent only, WS means either and X means vacuum only. Then vacuum, test a hidden spot, use as little liquid as possible and let the sofa dry completely.
How to clean grout, get it white again, and when to seal it
Scrub grout with a stiff nylon brush and a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, or a pH-neutral tile cleaner, then rinse and let it dry. Cement grout benefits from a sealer once it is clean; epoxy grout does not need one.
Water fed pole window cleaning, and how well it works
A water fed pole scrubs the glass with purified water pumped up a telescopic pole and leaves it to dry without spots. It reaches upper floors from the ground, which is why most window cleaners now use it instead of a ladder.
How often should windows be cleaned? A schedule by home
Every four to six weeks for most houses, which is the cycle most window rounds run on. Homes by the sea, on a busy road or under trees need it closer to monthly, while inside glass needs cleaning two to four times a year.
Do solar panels need cleaning? When it is worth paying for
On a pitched roof, British rain keeps most solar panels clean enough. Cleaning pays where the pitch is shallow, birds or trees foul the glass, or generation has fallen against the same month last year; once a year is usual where it is needed.
How to get stains out of a mattress, and how often to clean
Blot, never soak: cold water with a little washing-up liquid for most marks, and an enzyme cleaner for urine, sweat and vomit. Vacuum the mattress every few months, keep a washable protector on it, and have it deep cleaned every 12 to 18 months.
What does a cleaner do? What a regular clean covers
A regular cleaner keeps a home at a standard: kitchen, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming and mopping on every visit, with other jobs rotated in. Inside the oven, carpets and outside windows are usually separate work.