If you have a mega mansion with five bathrooms, it will naturally take more time to clean than a single bedroom city apartment. Similarly, heritage-listed and older homes typically require more upkeep—perhaps floors to polish, high ceilings to dust and fireplaces to clean.

Most cleaning clients want the basics done like cleaning the floors, bathrooms, kitchens, toilets and other areas. Cleaners typically dust, vacuum, mop, wipe surfaces, clean the kitchen, bathroom and toilets. You might want extra attention paid to skirting boards, under furniture or other nooks and crannies too. Chairs, splashbacks, couch cushions, microwaves or ovens, mirrors, windowsills, walls and light switches might need regular attention too.

Are you a neat freak, living alone and rarely at home? You definitely don’t need super-frequent cleaning. But if you have pets or children (the messy darlings) you may need to have cleaners come more often to deal with the aftermath of all that pet hair, crumbs and general mess that they’re so good at creating.

You need to factor in what you’re willing to spend on a cleaner. For many of our clients, they’d rather invest in a cleaner so they can spare up valuable free time. This may be to enjoy life with friends and family, without worrying about cleaning. Or, to earn money that far and beyond covers whatever cleaning costs are incurred. (Usually, it’s both) Investing in cleaning gives you the gift of more time, and less stress—so we think it’s invaluable. But you should always get what you can afford and what your budget allows.