What Tasks Can a Cleaner Do in Your Home?

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Ever booked a cleaner and wondered what you can actually ask them to do? It’s a common question, especially before a first booking. The answer depends on the type of cleaning service you choose, how much time you book and the priorities you set for your home.

Some tasks, such as dusting, vacuuming and cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, are part of everyday domestic cleaning. More intensive jobs, such as cleaning inside an oven or tackling hard-to-reach areas, may require a deep cleaning service instead.

In this guide, we’ll explain what tasks a cleaner can do, what may require a different type of cleaning service and how to get the most from the time you book.

What is a domestic cleaner, and what does the job involve?

A domestic cleaner is a professional who helps keep a private home clean and well maintained, whether through regular cleaning or a one-off session.

Typical domestic cleaning focuses on everyday household tasks such as:

• Dusting and wiping accessible surfaces
• Vacuuming carpets
• Cleaning hard floors
• Cleaning kitchens and bathrooms
• Emptying bins
• Cleaning accessible windows and mirrors
• Changing bed linen
• Ironing, when added to the booking

The exact tasks completed will depend on the service you choose, the size and condition of your home and the time available. Letting your cleaner know which areas matter most helps them prioritise the session effectively.

What tasks should a cleaner do? Your checklist by room

The easiest way to understand the duties of a cleaner is to look at the home room by room.

Kitchen cleaning tasks

In the kitchen, a domestic cleaner can typically take care of everyday cleaning tasks such as:

• Wiping countertops and worktops
• Cleaning the sink
• Cleaning the hob
• Wiping small appliances
• Vacuuming and cleaning the floor
• Emptying bins

For more intensive kitchen cleaning, such as cleaning inside the oven or giving appliances more detailed attention, a deep cleaning service may be more appropriate.

Rather than trying to squeeze a time-consuming deep-cleaning task into a standard session, choose the service that best matches what your kitchen needs.

Bathroom cleaning tasks

Bathroom cleaning usually focuses on the main surfaces and fixtures, including:

• Cleaning toilets
• Cleaning sinks and taps
• Cleaning baths and showers
• Wiping mirrors
• Cleaning the floor

The amount that can be completed will depend on the condition of the bathroom and the time available. If one area needs particular attention, let your cleaner know so they can prioritise it within the scope of the service you’ve booked.

Bedroom cleaning tasks

In bedrooms, cleaning usually focuses on keeping surfaces and floors fresh and tidy.

Tasks can include:

• Dusting accessible surfaces
• Vacuuming carpets
• Cleaning hard floors
• Cleaning mirrors
• Changing bed linen
• Emptying bins

Changing bed linen can be particularly useful during regular cleaning sessions, as it allows several routine household tasks to be handled during the same visit.

Living room cleaning tasks

In living and dining areas, a cleaner can typically:

• Dust tables, shelves and other accessible surfaces
• Vacuum carpets
• Clean hard floors
• Clean accessible mirrors
• Empty bins

If there are particular surfaces or areas you want your cleaner to focus on, mention them before or at the start of the session.

House cleaning checklist

A simple house cleaning checklist can help you decide what needs to be prioritised before your cleaner arrives.

For a standard domestic cleaning session, your checklist might include:

• Dust and wipe accessible surfaces
• Vacuum carpets
• Clean hard floors
• Clean kitchen countertops, sinks and hobs
• Clean bathrooms and toilets
• Clean accessible mirrors and windows
• Empty bins
• Change bed linen
• Complete ironing if it has been added to the booking

You don’t necessarily need every task completed during every visit. For regular cleaning, you may want your cleaner to focus on different priorities from one session to the next.

If your home needs more intensive work, such as oven cleaning, detailed appliance cleaning or hard-to-reach areas, a deep cleaning service may be more appropriate.

What are the main duties of a cleaner?

The duties of a cleaner vary depending on the service and the home, but their core role is to help keep the property clean, hygienic and pleasant to live in.

Typical duties include:

• Cleaning and dusting surfaces
• Vacuuming and cleaning floors
• Cleaning kitchens and bathrooms
• Emptying bins
• Changing bed linen
• Cleaning accessible windows and mirrors
• Following the household’s cleaning priorities
• Managing the available cleaning time efficiently

A domestic cleaner’s role is focused on cleaning rather than general household maintenance. Tasks such as DIY, repairs, gardening, childcare or meal preparation fall outside the scope of a standard domestic cleaning service.

What skills does a good cleaner need?

Cleaning well involves more than simply knowing how to use a vacuum or mop. Some of the most important skills for a cleaning job include:

• Attention to detail – noticing dust, marks and areas that can easily be overlooked
• Reliability – communicating clearly and respecting agreed appointments
• Time management – prioritising the most important jobs within the time available
• Organisation – working efficiently from one task or room to the next
• Knowledge of cleaning methods – understanding how to clean different surfaces appropriately
• Care and professionalism – treating the customer’s home and belongings respectfully
• Communication – understanding priorities and asking questions when something is unclear

These skills are particularly important for regular cleaners, who gradually become familiar with a home and the customer’s priorities.

Standard cleaning vs deep cleaning: what’s the difference?

Not every cleaning task requires the same level of attention.

What does standard cleaning include?

Standard domestic cleaning is designed for everyday or regular upkeep.

It generally focuses on tasks such as:

• Dusting and wiping surfaces
• Vacuuming and floor cleaning
• Bathroom cleaning
• Kitchen cleaning
• Emptying bins
• Changing bed linen
• Cleaning accessible windows and mirrors

It’s well suited to weekly or fortnightly maintenance as well as straightforward one-off cleaning sessions.

What does deep cleaning include?

Deep cleaning goes further than routine household maintenance and is designed for areas that need more intensive attention.

With Wecasa, deep cleaning can include tasks such as:

• Oven cleaning
• More detailed cleaning of appliances
• Washing down walls
• Cleaning inside drawers
• Tackling harder-to-reach areas

These jobs are more time-intensive than standard cleaning, so choosing the right service helps set realistic expectations for what can be achieved during the session.

Is ironing included in domestic cleaning?

Ironing is available as an extra with Wecasa.

If you’d like ironing completed during your cleaning session, add it when booking so it can be taken into account.

General laundry tasks such as washing, drying or folding clothes should not be assumed to be part of a standard domestic cleaning session unless the service provider specifically offers them.

What about cleaning products?

Cleaning products aren’t automatically included in every Wecasa cleaning session.

If you already have suitable cleaning products at home, they can be used during the session. Alternatively, you can add cleaning products to your Wecasa booking for an additional cost.

It’s worth checking this in advance so everything needed for the session is available when your cleaner arrives.

What tasks are outside a cleaner’s role?

A domestic cleaning session is focused on cleaning the home, rather than general household maintenance or personal assistance.

Tasks that fall outside the normal role of a domestic cleaner include:

• Repairs and DIY
• Electrical work
• Painting or decorating
• Gardening
• Moving heavy furniture
• Babysitting
• Meal preparation
• Shopping
• Large-scale organising or decluttering

If a task requires specialist tools, training or expertise outside domestic cleaning, it’s better to book the appropriate professional.

What can a cleaner do in 3 hours?

There’s no universal checklist of everything a cleaner can complete in three hours.

What can be achieved depends on several factors:

• The size of your home
• Its current condition
• The number of rooms
• The type of cleaning booked
• The tasks you want prioritised

For example, you might ask your cleaner to focus first on the kitchen and bathroom before moving on to floors and other living areas.

Rather than expecting every room and task to be completed, it’s usually more effective to give your cleaner a short list of priorities.

How much should I pay a cleaner per hour in the UK?

The cost of domestic cleaning varies depending on your location, the type of service and the provider you choose.

Rather than relying on one national average, check the price of the specific cleaning service you want to book.

With Wecasa, domestic cleaning starts from £17.90 per hour, with the price shown during the booking process.

The cost may differ depending on the service or optional extras you select.

How to get the most from your cleaning session

A little preparation can help your cleaner make better use of the time you book.

Before the session:

• Set your priorities: decide which rooms or tasks matter most.
• Reduce clutter: clearing floors and surfaces gives your cleaner easier access to the areas that need cleaning.
• Check cleaning products: make sure suitable products are available or add cleaning products to your Wecasa booking.
• Choose the right cleaning service: if you need oven cleaning or other intensive tasks, consider deep cleaning rather than expecting them within a standard session.
• Mention useful information: for example, let Wecasa know if you have pets at home when booking.
• Be realistic about time: larger homes or more intensive jobs naturally require longer sessions.

Is hiring a domestic cleaner right for you?

Hiring a cleaner can be useful whenever keeping up with household cleaning is taking more time than you’d like.

Some people choose regular cleaning to keep their home consistently maintained, while others prefer a one-off session when they need occasional help.

There’s no single right frequency. The best option is the one that matches your home, schedule and priorities.

Book domestic cleaning with Wecasa

Booking a cleaner with Wecasa is straightforward.

You can:

1. Enter your address to check availability in your area.
2. Choose the type of cleaning you need.
3. Select the duration of your session.
4. Add extras such as ironing or cleaning products if required.
5. Choose your preferred date and time.
6. Provide useful information, such as whether you have pets.
7. Confirm and pay for your booking.

Wecasa then connects you with an available professional cleaner in your area.

Cleaning sessions are covered by insurance, there’s no long-term contract, and bookings can be modified or cancelled up to six hours before the appointment.

FAQ

What are the main duties of a house cleaner?

A house cleaner typically dusts and wipes surfaces, vacuums and cleans floors, cleans kitchens and bathrooms, empties bins and carries out other routine cleaning tasks. The exact duties depend on the service booked and the priorities of the household.

What should be included in a house cleaning checklist?

A basic house cleaning checklist can include surface cleaning, vacuuming, floor cleaning, kitchen and bathroom cleaning, emptying bins, cleaning accessible windows and mirrors and changing bed linen.

What skills are important for a cleaning job?

Important cleaning skills include attention to detail, time management, reliability, organisation, knowledge of cleaning methods and clear communication with customers.

Can I ask my cleaner to clean the oven?

Oven cleaning is more intensive than standard household cleaning. With Wecasa, oven cleaning is part of the type of work that can be covered by a deep cleaning service.

Can a cleaner do ironing?

Yes. With Wecasa, ironing can be added as an extra to your cleaning booking.

Do cleaners bring cleaning products?

This varies between services. With Wecasa, you can either have suitable products available at home or add cleaning products to your booking for an additional cost.

Can a cleaner do repairs or other household jobs?

Domestic cleaners focus on cleaning. Repairs, DIY, gardening, childcare, meal preparation and other specialist household tasks are outside the scope of a normal domestic cleaning session.