What to agree with a cleaner before the first clean comes down to ten practical points: the tasks included, timing, who supplies products, the price and how you pay, cancellation, access, pets, children's safety, anything off-limits, and insurance. Settling these before the cleaner arrives, rather than during the visit, is what stops the most common disagreements between a customer and an independent cleaner.
Why agreeing these details matters
A cleaning arrangement with an independent cleaner is a service agreement, and it does not need to be written down to count. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission notes that contracts for home services are covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2022 whether they are verbal, written, or simply understood from how both sides act. That flexibility is useful, but it also means a loose conversation can leave real gaps. If you have not worked with the person before, a short written note of what you agreed, even a text message confirming the day, the tasks and the price, gives both of you something to point back to.
The 10 things to agree with a cleaner before the first clean
- The tasks and rooms included. Say which rooms, and whether anything specific (inside the oven, the fridge, interior windows, skirting boards) is part of the visit or billed separately.
- One-off or recurring, and the day and time. A single deep clean and a regular weekly or fortnightly visit suit different arrangements, so say which one you want from the start.
- Who supplies products and equipment. Decide whether the cleaner brings their own kit or uses yours, and flag any product you want avoided, such as on wood floors or delicate fabric.
- The price, and how and when you pay. Agree the figure before the clean starts, not after. See our price guide for a sense of typical ranges before you discuss numbers.
- What happens if either of you cancels at short notice. Decide how much notice is fair, and whether a late cancellation carries a charge.
- Keys, alarm codes and access. Agree how the cleaner gets in if you will not be home, and how keys or codes are kept safe afterwards.
- Where pets will be during the clean. Some products and tools unsettle animals, so agree whether a pet is shut in another room or outside while the cleaner works.
- Keeping products and tools away from children. If children are in the house during the visit, agree that nothing is left out or within reach while in use.
- Anything fragile, valuable or off-limits. Point out items you would rather the cleaner left untouched, from a delicate ornament to a home office you want left alone.
- Insurance, for specialist jobs. For upholstery, after-builders or pressure-washing work in particular, ask whether the cleaner holds their own insurance, and ask to see it rather than assume.
What people often forget to agree
Scope is the most common gap. “A clean” can mean different things to two people, and the table below shows the usual split.
| Area | Usually included | Often extra |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Surfaces, hob, sink, floor | Inside the oven and fridge |
| Bathroom | Toilet, shower, sink, floor | Grout restoration, mould treatment |
| Living areas | Dusting, vacuuming, surfaces | Upholstery and curtains |
| Windows | Internal glass, wiped | Frames and exterior glass |
| Laundry | Not usually included | Washing, drying, ironing |
None of this is fixed. An independent cleaner may happily do the oven or the ironing; the point is to ask rather than assume, so the visit matches what you both expected.
Why it helps to get this in writing
The CCPC's guidance on cancelling a service points to the same habit from both directions: keep a written record of what was arranged, including any cancellation terms, rather than relying on memory. It also sets out a useful backstop. If you never agreed a price and you have not already paid, the trader must charge a reasonable price for the work. That rule protects you, but it is still far easier to agree the figure up front than to argue about what counts as reasonable afterwards.
Keeping people, pets and products safe during the clean
If products are being used in your home, whoever supplies them should read and follow the label. The Health and Safety Authority's guidance on household chemicals advises keeping children, pets and their toys out of a treated area for as long as the label recommends, and never transferring a product into another bottle, since a child can mistake it for something safe to drink. If anyone in the house has asthma, a skin condition or is pregnant, say so before the cleaner opens the first bottle, not partway through.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a written contract with an independent cleaner?
No. A service agreement does not have to be in writing to be valid in Ireland. But the CCPC advises keeping a written record of the main terms, so there is no dispute later about what was agreed.
What happens if we never agreed a price?
Under Irish consumer protection rules, if no price was agreed in advance and you have not already paid, the trader must charge a reasonable price for the work done.
Should I ask an independent cleaner if they have insurance?
It is reasonable to ask, especially for specialist work such as upholstery, after builders or pressure washing. Ask to see proof rather than assume cover exists.
Who is responsible for chemical safety during the clean?
Whoever supplies and uses the product should follow the instructions on its label, including how long to keep children and pets away from the treated area.