HOW TO HIRE · CLEANING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a domestic cleaner in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A regular domestic cleaning in Ireland costs €15–€30 per hour, typically around €22. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
TWO WAYS TO BUY THIS
Which do you need?
An individual, by the hour
You book a person for a set number of hours and they do what you ask. There is no scope and no quote: you are buying time. Best where the work is routine, you can say what you want done, and you would rather pay for two hours than for a job.
A company, for the job
You describe the job and they price it. There is a scope, a written quote, a team and somebody supervising it. Best where the work is one big push, where it needs equipment, or where you want one party answerable for the result.
What changes between them
The rate per hour against a price for the job; one person against a team; your own instructions against a written scope; and VAT, which an individual under the registration threshold does not charge at all.
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a domestic cleaner in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers domestic cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — kitchen Cleaning — regular cleaning in the kitchen includes wiping down appliances, cleaning the sink, and removing rubbish.
- How does level of cleaning required change the price?Better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does frequency of visits change the price?It changes what has to be brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does condition of your home change the price?A well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Floor Care — this service typically encompasses vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a domestic cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
By the hour
No register applies
No licence or register applies to cleaners in Ireland. Anyone may trade as one, so the checks that matter are trader status, insurance, references and what is written down.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
That they are a trader, not a favour — a business name, an invoice, a VAT or tax reference if registered; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether the person who quoted is the person who comes; References from two current customers, not testimonials on a page; What is in scope in writing, because 'a clean' means different things.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
Insurance
Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness. You are booking an individual for a set number of hours, so ask whether the ID has been checked and what the rating is from people who booked the same way — there is no company behind them to carry either.
A company
No register applies
No licence or register applies to cleaners in Ireland. Anyone may trade as one, so the checks that matter are trader status, insurance, references and what is written down.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
That they are a trader, not a favour — a business name, an invoice, a VAT or tax reference if registered; Public liability insurance, and who the insurer is; Whether the person who quoted is the person who comes; References from two current customers, not testimonials on a page; What is in scope in writing, because 'a clean' means different things.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
Insurance
Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
A good answer: No register covers domestic cleaner work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — kitchen Cleaning — regular cleaning in the kitchen includes wiping down appliances, cleaning the sink, and removing rubbish.
A good answer: Better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It changes what has to be brought to site. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Floor Care — this service typically encompasses vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a domestic cleaner job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability; an agency also carries employer's liability and covers sickness — dusting and Wiping — regular domestic cleaning includes thorough dusting of surfaces such as shelves, furniture, and baseboards.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the domestic cleaner starts, and an itemised invoice after — one-Off Cleaning — A flexible cleaning option for those who need a thorough clean without committing to a regular schedule.
Getting the quote right, or booking by the hour
By the hour
- The rate per hour, and whether it changes in the evening or at a weekend
- The minimum booking, and what happens if the job finishes early
- What they bring and what you supply
- Whether the ID has been checked, and the rating from people who booked the same way
- Insurance, where the work can damage something or somebody
- The hours and the list of what is to be done, agreed before the first one
- Level of cleaning required — better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care.
- Frequency of visits — it changes what has to be brought to site.
- Condition of your home — a well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is.
- Dusting and Wiping — it determines how long the finished work will last.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
A company
- Level of cleaning required — better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care.
- Frequency of visits — it changes what has to be brought to site.
- Condition of your home — a well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is.
- Dusting and Wiping — it determines how long the finished work will last.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: level of cleaning required — better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care
- They will not talk about it: frequency of visits — it changes what has to be brought to site
- They will not talk about it: condition of your home — a well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is
- A price for the domestic cleaner before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the domestic cleaner has begun
What a domestic cleaner costs: €15–€30 per hour
Most domestic cleaners quote the job rather than the hour; the hourly rate is what the small jobs are priced from. Deep cleaning and End of tenancy cleaning each carry their own band. Regular Domestic Cleaning price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Domestic cleaners near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you, or book by the hour.
- Look firstLevel of cleaning required — better finishes need more coats, more passes or more care — that is what the domestic cleaner is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneFrequency of visits — it changes what has to be brought to site — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfCondition of your home — a well-kept job is quick; a neglected one rarely is — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherDusting and Wiping — it determines how long the finished work will last — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the domestic cleaner is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, discuss any allergies or sensitivities to cleaning products with your cleaner.
- Dusting and Wiping
- Regular domestic cleaning includes thorough dusting of surfaces such as shelves, furniture, and baseboards.
- Floor Care
- This service typically encompasses vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors.
- Kitchen Cleaning
- Regular cleaning in the kitchen includes wiping down appliances, cleaning the sink, and removing rubbish.
- Deep Cleaning
- A thorough cleaning service that goes beyond regular tasks, focusing on areas often overlooked, such as behind appliances and inside cupboards.
- Post-Party Cleaning
- A service designed to restore your home to its original state after hosting events, addressing mess and spills.
- Spring Cleaning
- An intensive seasonal clean that typically includes decluttering, deep cleaning carpets, and window washing.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a domestic cleaner: questions people ask
The cost of regular domestic cleaning can be influenced by factors such as the size of your home, the level of cleaning required, and the frequency of visits. Additional services, like deep cleaning or specific tasks, may also affect the overall price.
A typical domestic cleaning session can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the size of your home and the specific tasks required. A larger home with more rooms may take longer to clean thoroughly.
For standard domestic cleaning, you generally do not need a qualified specialist, as these tasks do not involve regulated work. However, for specialised tasks like electrical or plumbing work, a qualified professional is necessary.
Many cleaning services offer emergency or same-day cleaning options, but availability can vary. It's best to check in advance with your chosen provider to see if they can accommodate your request.
Yes, many cleaning companies allow you to book multiple related services, such as regular cleaning combined with deep cleaning or window cleaning. This can often lead to discounts or bundled pricing.
Tasks that are usually out of scope for regular domestic cleaning include heavy-duty deep cleaning, carpet shampooing, and external window cleaning. These may require separate arrangements or specialised services.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in cleaning
Domestic cleaners near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — VAT rates
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — CLEANING - CONTRACT (Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only