10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a House Cleaner in the Bay Area

Hiring a house cleaner means letting someone into your home — into your kitchen, your bedrooms, around your belongings, and often while you are at work. That is a level of trust that deserves more than a quick Yelp search and a price comparison.

The Bay Area cleaning industry includes everything from solo operators working for cash to fully licensed, bonded, and insured companies with trained W-2 employees. The price difference between them can be as little as $20 per visit — but the difference in accountability, legal protection, and quality can be enormous. Before you book a recurring cleaning service, these are the ten questions you should ask.

1. Are Your Cleaners W-2 Employees or Independent Contractors?

This is the single most important question you can ask, and most people don't think to ask it. The distinction between W-2 employees and 1099 independent contractors isn't just paperwork — it determines your legal protection, the company's accountability, and the quality of the service.

When a company uses W-2 employees, they control the training, the cleaning methods, the products, and the quality standards. They are required to carry workers compensation insurance, withhold payroll taxes, and take responsibility for the work their employees do in your home. With independent contractors, the company is essentially a referral service with limited legal responsibility.

California AB5 Law: Since January 2020, California's AB5 law uses the strict "ABC Test" for worker classification. Most house cleaners working for a cleaning company fail this test — meaning they should legally be classified as W-2 employees. Willful misclassification carries penalties of $5,000 to $25,000 per violation.

2. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

This is the trifecta of protection. A legitimate cleaning company should have all three — and they should be willing to show you proof. Licensed means the company is legally registered to operate in your city and state. Bonded means a surety bond provides financial protection if a cleaner steals from your home. Insured means general liability insurance covers damage to your property, and workers compensation insurance covers the cleaner if they are injured in your home. Without workers comp, you could be liable if a cleaner gets hurt on your property.

3. Do You Run Background Checks on Your Cleaners?

According to industry data, 95% of employers conduct some form of background screening — it is nearly universal among professional organizations. But in the cleaning industry, enforcement varies widely. A legitimate company should run criminal background checks, verify employment history, and check references for every person they send into homes.

4. What Products Do You Use? Are They Eco-Friendly?

The products used in your home directly affect your indoor air quality. According to the EPA, indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air — and cleaning products are a major contributor. Ask what specific products the company uses and whether they carry EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, or other third-party environmental certifications. Also ask about equipment: do they use HEPA-filtered vacuums? HEPA vacuums capture 99.97% of particles — a significant difference for families with allergies, asthma, or young children.

5. How Do You Handle Pricing? Any Hidden Fees?

Cleaning service pricing in the Bay Area ranges widely — from individual cleaners at $30–$60 per hour to professional companies in San Francisco averaging around $92 per hour. Get clear answers on: Is the price hourly or flat-rate? What is the minimum booking? Are there extra charges for deep cleaning, oven cleaning, inside refrigerators, or window interiors?

6. What is Your Satisfaction Guarantee?

Things sometimes get missed. A professional company should have a clear policy for handling situations where you are not satisfied. The best companies offer a 24–48 hour window to report issues and will return to re-clean the missed areas at no charge. If a company doesn't have a clear satisfaction guarantee, that tells you something about their confidence in their own work.

7. Will the Same Team Clean My Home Each Time?

Consistency matters. When the same team cleans your home repeatedly, they learn your preferences, your home's quirks, and what needs extra attention. A rotating cast of different cleaners means starting from scratch every time. Ask: Do you assign consistent teams? What happens when my regular cleaner is sick or on vacation?

8. How Do You Train Your Staff?

Training is what separates a professional cleaning service from someone who cleans. Ask about their onboarding process: How long does training take? Is there a certification or quality standard they must meet? Green Planet uses the ColoredClean system — color-coded microfiber cloths that prevent cross-contamination between rooms and surfaces. Yellow cloths for general surfaces, blue for bathrooms.

9. What Happens If Something Gets Damaged?

Accidents happen. The question is what happens next. Ask: Do you carry general liability insurance? What is the claims process? Is there a deductible? A company with proper insurance will have a clear, documented claims process. A company without it will give you vague answers — or tell you to file a claim with your homeowner's insurance.

10. Can I See Your Reviews and References?

Reviews are the closest thing to a reference check for a cleaning company. Look for: volume (100+ reviews is meaningful), recency (reviews from the last 6 months), specificity (reviews that mention specific cleaners or situations), and how the company responds to negative reviews. Don't rely solely on reviews on the company's own website — check Google, Yelp, and Nextdoor independently.

The Green Planet Scorecard

Here is how Green Planet Cleaning Services answers each of the 10 questions — and what you should watch for when evaluating any company: