Before you book
What does a house cleaner do? Domestic cleaning explained
Quick answer: Domestic cleaning means cleaning the home you live in. A house cleaner typically cleans kitchens and bathrooms, dusts accessible surfaces, vacuums and mops. The exact duties depend on the service you book: cleaning inside a fridge or cupboard, doing laundry and other extra tasks should be agreed separately.
Use this guide to turn “clean the house” into a clear list of work. You’ll know what to expect, what to ask for and what to prepare before the cleaner arrives.
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What is domestic cleaning?
Domestic cleaning is cleaning in a private home, rather than an office, shop or other commercial premises. It can be a one-off visit or regular help with everyday cleaning.
“Domestic”, “house” and “home” cleaning describe the setting. They do not promise an identical checklist from every provider. A standard maintenance clean, a detailed deep clean and an end-of-lease clean have different purposes and inclusions.
This guide focuses on hiring someone to clean a home you live in. For a routine you can follow yourself, use our house cleaning checklist. For help choosing a provider, start with hiring a cleaner.
What does a house cleaner usually do?
The everyday jobs centre on kitchens, bathrooms, floors and accessible surfaces. This summary uses Simply Maid’s current standard-clean checklist as a concrete example; another cleaner’s list may differ.
| Area | Typical cleaning duties | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Clean benches, splashback, stovetop and sink; wipe appliance exteriors and cupboard fronts; clean the floor. | Fridge and cupboard interiors are different tasks from wiping the outside. |
| Bathroom | Clean the toilet, shower or bath, vanity, mirrors, taps and floor. | Describe heavy build-up before booking; repairs and specialist mould removal need separate arrangements. |
| Bedrooms and living areas | Dust accessible surfaces, vacuum carpets and rugs, mop hard floors and clean mirrors. | Tell the cleaner about delicate items, rooms to leave alone and surfaces that need a particular product. |
| Hallways and shared areas | Clean accessible floors and entry areas, wipe handles and empty household bins. | Confirm access to the rooms you want cleaned; heavy furniture moving is outside the usual scope. |
This is an overview, not the complete service checklist. Use the written scope for your booking when checking the finished work. Source: Simply Maid standard-cleaning checklist. Checked 8 October 2026.
Which tasks are included, optional or outside the clean?
A cleaning task is included when it appears in the service you booked. An optional extra needs to be selected and confirmed; writing it in your notes does not add it to the package.
At Simply Maid, fridge and kitchen cupboard interiors are optional extras with both standard and deep cleans. The inside of the oven is an extra with standard and included with deep. Check the selected service and extras in your booking rather than relying on an older package description.
Laundry and interior windows also need a scope check before you expect them. Explain the work you want and confirm whether it is available, its price and any preparation. Don’t assume that asking for “the kitchen” means every appliance interior or that asking for “the bedrooms” includes washing bedding.
Mould removal, hazardous waste, heavy lifting, high-reach work and repairs are outside Simply Maid’s domestic-cleaning scope. Carpet vacuuming is included; carpet steam cleaning is booked separately, on its own or with a deep or end-of-lease clean. Check the standard service checklist for the current detail.
Does a deep cleaner do different work?
A deep clean adds specified detail work to everyday cleaning. It does not mean every possible job in the home is included.
For Simply Maid, a deep clean adds work such as the oven interior, skirting boards, door frames and grout scrubbing. Fridge and cupboard interiors remain optional. Choose it for the condition of the home and the detail you want, rather than assuming every first visit must be deep. Compare standard and deep cleaning.
An end-of-lease clean is a separate service for a handover. If you are leaving a rental, follow the moving guide and check the relevant service scope before booking.
Will a cleaner tidy up, wash dishes or do laundry?
Do not assume general cleaning includes organising belongings, washing dishes or doing laundry. Ask about each task before the visit and include any agreed extras in the booking.
Clearing loose clothes, paperwork and toys makes surfaces easier to reach. It is preparation, not a requirement to scrub the home yourself first. Tell the provider if clearing space is difficult so you can agree what is realistic.
Simply Maid’s standard checklist includes a light reset of cushions and throws. That does not turn the visit into a decluttering or housekeeping service. Keep private papers and valuables put away, and identify anything the cleaner should not touch.
Domestic cleaning and organising belongings are different tasks. Clearing surfaces gives the cleaner access to the agreed work.
Read the illustration as text
- Tidying and organising
- Put belongings away and decide where they should live.
- Cleaning the surface
- Remove dust, dirt and residue using a suitable method.
Agree any organising work before the visit.
What can a cleaner get done in two hours?
It depends on the home, its condition and the agreed scope. Two hours is a planning allowance, not a universal promise to clean every room.
Simply Maid currently allows 2h of total cleaner time for a one-off standard clean of one bedroom and one bathroom, for a home kept on top of and without extras. A larger home, build-up or extra work changes the allowance. Two cleaners share the labour, so cleaner-hours and time in your home are different.
If you hire someone by the hour, agree priorities and a limit before they start. For a fixed-scope service, review the package rather than replacing included tasks with unbooked extras. Our cleaning-time guide explains the estimates by home size.
How to agree a cleaner’s duties before the first visit
Give the provider a short brief and ask them to confirm the scope. The useful result is a shared understanding of what will be cleaned.
Describe the home as it is now
Give the room count, condition and access needs. Mention build-up and delicate surfaces so the provider can allow for the work.
Check the written inclusions
Compare the actual tasks, not just labels such as standard, premium or deep. Confirm products and equipment too.
Choose extras and priorities
Add paid extras through booking. Then put the most important included tasks in order and say what should be left alone.
Review the result against that list
Walk through the priority areas and identify any agreed task that needs attention. For recurring visits, update the notes if the home’s needs change.
If you decide to hire a cleaner, compare your options: House cleaning providers in Australia compared. Compare cleaning providers’ inclusions, prices, who arranges the cleaner and what happens if a task is missed.
Example: a clear request for a regular clean
A useful brief names the service, the priorities and any confirmed extras. Keep requests specific enough that the cleaner can act on them.
Illustrative brief: “Standard clean of our two-bedroom, one-bathroom home. Main priorities: shower glass, kitchen benches and the living-room floor. Please leave the study desk and papers alone. We have booked the fridge interior as an extra for the first visit only and will empty it beforehand.”
For later visits, keep the agreed standard checklist and confirm any extra separately. If the fridge needs attention again, adding it to a rotation plan does not book it. This example is a template, not a customer story or a time estimate.
Questions about domestic cleaning duties
Is domestic cleaning the same as housekeeping?
The terms overlap, but housekeeping can describe a wider set of household tasks. Ask for a written list rather than assuming a cleaner will organise rooms, cook, wash dishes or handle laundry.
Does a cleaner bring cleaning products?
Simply Maid cleaners bring products and equipment. Other providers may use yours. Mention sensitive surfaces or a product you need used before the visit so suitability can be confirmed.
Does cleaning the kitchen include inside the fridge?
Not automatically. Fridge and kitchen cupboard interiors are optional extras with Simply Maid standard and deep cleans. Confirm the extra in booking and prepare the interior before the visit.
Do I need to clean before the cleaner comes?
No. Clear accessible surfaces and floors where you can, arrange entry and put away private or delicate belongings. Describe build-up beforehand so the right service and allowance can be arranged.
Can I change the task list on each visit?
You can communicate changing priorities, but the booked service still sets the scope. Confirm extras, a service change or additional time before expecting work outside it.
When you would like a hand
Choose the clean that covers what you need
Select your rooms, service and extras, then review the scope and price before confirming.
Service details used in this guide
Simply Maid examples use the service checklists below. Other providers set their own inclusions. Confirm your selected service and extras before booking.
- Standard-cleaning inclusions and extras, Simply Maid. Read 8 October 2026.
- Deep-cleaning inclusions, Simply Maid. Read 8 October 2026.
- Preparing for your first clean, Simply Maid. Read 8 October 2026.
Policies quoted from Simply Maid's published terms and help centre on the date shown.
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