Below you will find a complete guide, written in straightforward language and organized into practical topics that you can use as a "map" for:

• Understanding the legal minimum;
• Where to find opportunities;
• Simple step-by-step instructions.

What does a House Cleaner do (in practice)?

In advertisements and platforms, "house cleaner" may also appear as domestic worker, home cleaner, cleaner, housekeeper (Some terms overlap). In daily life, the most common tasks are:

• General cleaning: sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, organizing surfaces
• Kitchen: sink, stove, countertop, exterior cabinets, trash, degrease
• Bathroom: toilet, shower stall, sink, mirror, tile, drains
• Bedrooms and living room: tidying up, changing sheets (when agreed upon), simple window cleaning
• Deep clean (heavy cleaning): Baseboards, grout, behind furniture, more detailed window work (usually charged separately).

Practical tip: those who grow faster tend to sell claritynot a "promise". Instead of "I'll do everything", use a checklist What's included and what's extra.

Step-by-step guide to getting a job as a House Cleaner

Here's a guide that works for both day laborers and permanent positions.

Step 1) Define your "package" (so you don't get lost)

Create 2 simple offers:

1. Standard cleaning (X hours) weekly maintenance
2. Deep clean (X hours + extras) – heavy and detailed cleaning

This avoids confusing negotiations and makes you appear more professional.

Step 2) Create a checklist (printed or on your phone)

Concise checklist (example):

• Living room/bedrooms: dust + flooring + light organization
• Bathroom: toilet + shower stall + sink + mirror + trash can
• Kitchen: sink + stove + countertop + trash can
• Extras: oven, refrigerator interior, detailed windows, ironing board

Step 3) Prepare a "mini resume" (1 page)

Even for residential cleaning, a short resume helps. Structure:

• Name + city/neighborhood + WhatsApp
• Summary (2 lines): experience, reliability, availability
• Services: standard, deep clean, laundry (if available)
• Availability: days/times + areas served
• References: 1–2 contacts (with permission)

Step 4) Start where it's interesting (and then refine it)

Platforms (more predictable demand)

• SweepSouth — One of the best-known companies for residential cleaning; good for filling up your schedule at the beginning. Common requirements include WhatsApp/smartphone, background checks, and documentation (if applicable).
• Domestly — an alternative to broaden opportunities and avoid relying on a single channel.

Placement agencies (Good for permanent positions and more demanding homes)

• Handy Helpers — Placement/recruitment with a presence in large cities; useful for permanent positions.
• Maid4U — Focus on placements (domestic/cleaning/care), with screening.
• Domestic Angels Placement agency for housekeepers/cleaners.
• Rent A Maid — Recruitment and placement (including permanent positions).

Job portals (for formal employment in the hotel/business industry)

• Indeed (ZA), PNet, Careers24, LinkedIn Jobs — Good place to find cleaner/housekeeper jobs in companies and hotels.

How to use it without wasting time: Log in to 1 platform + 1 agency and, in parallel, monitor 1-2 portals (Indeed/PNet) 2-3 times per week.

Step 5) Standardize your offer message.

Short and to the point:

• who are you
• What's included?
• availability (days)
• region
• if there is a reference

Avoid lengthy texts. What seals the deal is confidence and clarity.

How much they pay: hourly rate and actual market ranges.

1) Legal floor (minimum reference)

THE National Minimum Wage (NMW) in effect since March 1, 2025 and R28.79 per hour  and the official material reinforces that domestic workers They fall into that minimum.

If you convert that value to a monthly reference (just to have a baseline), some analyses use 22 days × 8 hours/dayreaching approximately R5.067/month.

2) "Real" tracks (which usually vary) — a very objective version

House cleaner pay in South Africa is not fixed. It changes due to 5 simple factors:

A) Legal floor (your “floor”)

• NMW: R28.79/h (since March 1, 2025).
• If you work less than 4 hoursyou are still due to receive like 4h (daily minimum).
• Quick reference: 8h ≈ R230.32; 22 days (8h) ≈ R$5,067/month.

B) City/province + neighborhood

• In general, Western Cape and Gauteng pay more. than other provinces.
• Example of logic (without promising value): higher cost neighborhoods (e.g., Sandton, Constantia) tend to pay more, especially for deep clean.

C) Daily worker vs. monthly worker

• Housekeeper: They usually earn more per hour, but it varies by scope and displacement.
• Monthly subscriber: It provides stability, but you need to align tasks; it's always worth it. Convert monthly to hourly and compare it to the floor.

D) House size + level of detail

• Maintenance (Routine) tends to become more “standard”.
• Deep clean (baseboard, grout, windows, oven/refrigerator inside) pulls the value up.
• Report indicates average hourly rate at home of R33–R39/h Based on collected responses, the number is above the minimum, but varies.

E) Extras (charge separately)

• Washing/ironing/cooking/detailed organization/interior windows/oven/refrigerator: treat as modules so that "everything doesn't end up being the same price".
• Functions of care (child/elderly) They tend to pay more for pure cleaning.

Benefits and rights: what usually matters in everyday life.

The "benefits" of residential cleaning can differ from those in the corporate world. Generally, it's best to separate them into two scenarios:

A) When there is a fixed-term contract (monthly/recurring hours)

A very important point is the UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund)The official government guidance is that the employer must register and contribute. if a person works more than 24 hours per monthThe total monthly contribution is 2% of gross salary (1% deducted from the employee + 1% paid by the employer).

This is often a differentiating factor for the worker (greater security in certain situations) and also helps to keep the relationship more organized.

B) When she is a day laborer/self-employed

In many cases, the "benefit" turns freedom of schedule and potential to earn more per dayprovided that you:

• Have repeat customers.
• Standardize your checklist.
• Minimize no-shows and rescheduling (this greatly impacts trust).

Requirements: what they typically ask for (and what increases your chances)

There is no single list, but there are strong patterns in the market — especially across platforms.

On a popular platform (SweepSouth), for example, requirements such as the following appear:

• to have smartphone that it runs WhatsApp
• to have clean criminal record
• If you are not South African, you must have valid documentation (work permit/refugee ID/residency).

They also explain that, initially, the professional may receive 65% hourly rate during an initial period (with support and checks included), and they give examples of approximate monthly earnings depending on hours/bookings.

In practice, what most increases your chances is:

• reference (even if it's 1 or 2)
• punctuality and clear communication
• well-defined checklist (normal vs. deep clean)
• organized presentation (simple, but well-done)

How to set a price without undervaluing yourself (and without overpromising)

Use three simple latches:

1. Legal hourly rate as a minimum basis for comparison
2. Estimated time (Different houses have different times)
3. Extras charged separately. (deep clean is another proposal)

A practical way (without any "magic"):

• First call: estimate hours with a margin (better to have extra time than to run out).
• After the first service: adjust your estimate and start offering recurring services (weekly/bi-weekly), because recurring services reduce mental costs and increase stability.

Security and fraud prevention (essential)

Some simple rules prevent problems:

• Combine Address, schedule, and tasks in writing. (WhatsApp already solves it)
• If something seems strange (a "different" advance payment, an external link, excessive haste), do not advance
• Prefer to start in places and situations where you can confirm identity and have a minimum of predictability
• Inform someone you trust about the location and time of the initial consultation.

Where platforms can help (and what precautions to take)

Platforms can make it easier:

• recurring demand
• scheduling standardization
• Support and processes (depends on the company)

But you need to understand this clearly:

• How does the fee/transfer work (e.g., percentage received)?
• Requirements and checks (e.g., WhatsApp, criminal record, documentation)
• rules of conduct and onboarding (many require attendance and preparation)

Conclusion: the shortest path to a good start

If you want to get started in the safest and fastest way, follow this plan:

1. define standard x deep clean
2. create one checklist and a short message
3. organize Reference + availability + region
4. Search for opportunities through a platform/agency/referral.
5. Adjust your times and prices after 2-3 services.

Editorial note (important): this content is For informational purposes only.This information is based on public information and official sources. We are not an employment agency and do not handle hiring.