How are you Hiring Reliable Employees in the Cleaning Industry?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently growing my cleaning business and getting to the point where I need to start bringing on employees. I want to build a solid, dependable team—not just people who show up, but people who actually care about the work and take pride in what they do.

For those of you who have already gone through the hiring process, I’d really appreciate your insight:

• Where are you finding your best employees? (Indeed, Facebook, referrals, etc.)
• What qualities do you look for when hiring cleaners?
• Do you require prior experience, or do you train from scratch?
• How do you handle background checks and trust/security in clients’ homes?
• What pay structure or incentives have helped you keep employees long-term?
• Any red flags you’ve learned to watch out for during interviews?

In my business, we don’t do quick surface cleans—we focus on deep, detailed, time-consuming work. Because of that, I want to make sure I’m hiring people who can handle that level of effort and consistency.

I’m also trying to build a positive, supportive work environment while still maintaining high standards. Any advice on balancing that would be helpful too.

Looking forward to hearing what’s worked (and what hasn’t) for you all!