Many cleaners provide related services such as laundry, ironing, tidying, cleaning windows and making beds.

Domestic cleaners primarily carry out work for individual householders (who are regarded as consumers and have specific legal rights), although some also provide cleaning services to small commercial customers such as buy-to-let landlords, bed and breakfasts and guest houses. The domestic cleaning sector is highly competitive and reportedly includes around 25,000 domestic cleaning services in the UK.

This profile provides information about starting up and running a domestic cleaning service. It describes the skills required, the training available, the current market trends and the key trading issues. It also explains the legislation that must be complied with and provides sources of further information and support.