There are few qualifications you need to become a cleaning professional. Most locations offer on-the-job training with any specialty equipment, but you should have the physical ability to fulfill your duties and be detail-oriented.
To sum up, becoming a true professional cleaner requires a combination of various qualities and skills. Attention to detail, quality work, a strong work ethic, communication skills, and flexibility are just a few examples of the qualities that make you stand out as a true professional.
If you pay cash wages of $2,800 or more for 2025 (this threshold can change from year to year) to any one household employee, you generally must withhold 6.2% for Social Security tax and 1.45% for Medicare tax (for a total of 7.65%) from all cash wages you pay to that employee, unless you prefer to pay your employee's ...
There are no set entry requirements, but you'll need to show that you're reliable and able to do the job. If you're looking for specialised cleaning work such as in a medical setting, it can help to have some experience.
California. To get your cleaning business started in California, you must apply through CalGold and the California Franchise Tax Board. Start by registering your business with the county and city. Next, register with the California Franchise Tax Board.
Tax Responsibilities to Workers in Your Home
If a worker is an independent contractor, your federal tax responsibilities are few. In fact, you don't even need to fill out the IRS form (1099-MISC) usually required when hiring independent contractors, because an exception excludes household workers.
Examples of office cleaning expenses
Cleaning supplies: Purchases of cleaning products like detergents, disinfectants, and paper towels. Janitorial staff wages: Salaries or wages paid to in-house cleaning staff. Equipment purchases: Buying cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners or floor polishers.
The main differences lie in their roles: a cleaner is there to clean, while a housekeeper is there to manage, organize, and maintain the overall well-being of your living space.
From traditional mops to advanced steam cleaners, professionals employ diverse tools for cleaning floors. These methods include: Mopping: Using string, sponge, or microfiber mops combined with specialized solutions. Steam Cleaning: Utilizing gas-powered or electric steam cleaners for deep sanitization.
Professional cleaners don't circle a room more than once. Taking their place before the bathroom sink, they'll spray and wipe the mirror, scrub the sink, wipe down counters and polish fixtures before they move one inch to the right or left. Don't get physical with your cleaning sessions—make every movement count.
Square footage typically translates directly to cleaning time, with homes under 1,000 sq ft taking around 2-4 hours, while larger homes (e.g., 2,000-3,000 sq ft) can require 5-8 hours or more. A general guideline is to charge around $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot, depending on the level of detail required.
House Cleaning Technician (HCT) Certification
The House Cleaning Technician (HCT) training and certification program is a comprehensive overview of best practices in cleaning. This course is designed specifically for the HCT who wants to meet the expectations of this more educated marketplace of homeowners.
Hourly: $30 to $50 per hour, per cleaner on-site. Flat fee: $400 to $800 depending on the size of the job. Per room: $125 to $175 for an average single-family home. Per square foot: $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.
The wages you earn from sprucing up someone's abode are taxable and must be disclosed to our friends at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the government tax authority.
If you pay independent contractors, you may have to file Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation, to report payments for services performed for your trade or business.
Key Takeaways. If you're a housekeeper who works as an employee, you should receive a W-2 form from your employer. If you're an independent contractor and you are providing services to a business, you should receive a 1099-NEC form if you earned $600 or more from a client.
You can calculate how much of your house cleaning expenses are tax deductible simply by using the equivalent percentage of your home office to that of your entire home. For instance, if your home office takes up 10% of the total square footage, you can deduct 10% of the total cost of cleaning services.
Therefore, in California for an entrepreneur seeking to begin a new cleaning business, a business license would be required. California has simplified obtaining a business license by allowing new entrepreneurs to form a business online through the California Secretary of State online portal.
To use the self-clean function, first remove any large debris or spills from the oven. Lock the oven door and select the self-clean option on your oven's control panel. Set the duration for the cleaning cycle if your model requires it.
The qualifications you need to become a private housekeeper include cleaning skills, the ability to perform manual labor, and knowledge of cleaning techniques. Homeowners typically require housekeepers to have references and may ask you to undergo a background check before hiring.