Most house cleaners don't move heavy furniture or appliances, work on tall ladders, clean outside windows, handle biohazards, pest droppings or mould remediation, or do laundry, dishes piles and organizing unless agreed in advance. The reasons are safety, insurance and specialist equipment. Knowing the list before you book avoids surprises on the day.
Booking a cleaner goes best when everyone agrees on what's included before the day. Most cleaning companies — Good Maid included — have a short list of jobs they don't do. It isn't about effort. It's about safety, insurance and having the right equipment.
What most house cleaners don't do
| Job | Why it's usually excluded |
|---|---|
| Moving heavy furniture or appliances | Injury risk, and the risk of damaging floors, walls or the item. Cleaners clean around and under what they can safely reach |
| Work on tall ladders or at height | Falls are a leading cause of serious workplace injury. Cleaners stick to what's reachable with a step stool or extension tool |
| Outside windows | Needs ladders, lifts or water-fed poles, and specific insurance |
| Biohazards and bodily fluids | Needs protective equipment, training and safe disposal |
| Pest droppings and infestations | Health risk, and the pest problem needs treating first |
| Mould remediation | Large or recurring mould needs a remediation specialist and the moisture source fixed |
| Heavy construction dust | A specialized post-construction clean with different tools and time |
| Carpet shampooing and upholstery steam cleaning | Needs extraction machines — a carpet cleaning company |
At Good Maid, these are the same things listed on our What to Expect page. We clean interior glass and surfaces within safe reach, and we'll leave anything you point out alone.
Why the limits exist
- Safety. A cleaner who hurts their back moving a dresser can't work for weeks. A fall from a ladder can be far worse.
- Your home. Dragging a fridge or sofa can gouge hardwood, tear vinyl or damage the appliance's lines.
- Insurance. Cleaning insurance covers cleaning. Work at height, hazardous materials or specialist jobs often need different cover.
- Doing it right. Mould, pests and biohazards come back if they're wiped instead of properly treated.
Things that depend on the booking
Some jobs aren't excluded — they just belong to a different service:
- Inside the oven, fridge, cabinets and drawers; baseboards and door frames — part of a deep clean, not a standard clean.
- Inside the dishwasher and microwave, window sills and tracks, and closets — part of our move in/out clean, designed for empty homes.
- Dishes, laundry and organizing — many cleaners will do a little if there's time and you ask, but they're not part of a standard checklist. Clearing dishes and clutter before your cleaner arrives means the visit goes to cleaning.
- Pet waste — most cleaners won't pick up litter boxes or yard waste. Mention pets in your notes so your cleaner knows what to expect.
Not sure which service fits? Our guide to deep vs. standard cleaning has a side-by-side checklist.
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- Outside and high windows: a window-cleaning company.
- Carpets and upholstery: a carpet and upholstery cleaner with extraction equipment.
- Mould beyond small surface spots: a mould remediation company, plus whoever can fix the moisture source. Small spots can often be handled yourself — see our condensation and mould guide.
- Pests: a licensed pest control company first, then a clean.
- Biohazards: a trauma or biohazard cleaning company.
- Moving furniture: movers or a junk removal service, then book the clean once the room is clear.
How to ask for extras
- Put it in your booking notes. Be specific: "Please start with the main bathroom" or "Skip the office."
- Ask before you book if it's unusual. A quick call or text to (778) 720-6791 gets you a straight answer.
- Prepare the space. Our guide to preparing for a house cleaner covers what helps most.
Frequently asked questions
Do house cleaners move furniture?
Most don't move heavy furniture or appliances, for safety and to avoid damaging floors. They clean around and under what they can safely reach.
Do house cleaners clean outside windows?
Usually not. Outside and high windows need ladders or special equipment and insurance — book a window-cleaning company.
Will a cleaner clean mould?
Small surface spots in a bathroom are often cleaned as part of regular cleaning, but larger or recurring mould needs a remediation specialist and the moisture source fixed.
Do house cleaners do dishes and laundry?
They're not part of most standard checklists. Some cleaners will help if there's time and you ask, but clearing dishes beforehand means more of the visit goes to cleaning.
What happens if my cleaner misses something?
At Good Maid, tell us within 24 hours — photos help — and we'll come back and fix missed areas free.
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