How long does it take to become a professional cleaner?

Most cleaners learn the trade in 1–3 weeks of on-the-job training. There's no licensing requirement in most countries. Becoming efficient takes 1–6 months of practice. To start your own cleaning business, plan 1–3 months for skill-building, supplies acquisition, insurance, and initial marketing. ISSA CIMS certification (for commercial cleaning operations) takes 6–12 months.

How much do cleaners earn?

U.S. cleaning workers earn a median of $30,890 per year as employees. Self-employed cleaners charge $25–$50 per hour and earn $40,000–$70,000+. Cleaning company owners with 3–5 employees regularly clear $80,000–$200,000+. Top 10% individual cleaners: $42,610. Polish cleaners: PLN 3,000–5,500/month; Netherlands: €2,200–€3,200/month.

Do cleaners need any certifications?

Individual cleaners don't need certifications in most jurisdictions. Commercial cleaning often requires OSHA training and product safety knowledge. Specialty cleaning (post-construction, biohazard, mold) requires additional certifications. Self-employed cleaners should carry liability insurance ($50–$100/month) and bond ($100–$300/year) to win residential clients.

Is cleaning a good side hustle or full-time career?

Both. Side hustle: weekend cleanings can add $200–$800/week. Full-time individual: $40,000–$70,000 with steady clients. Business owner: scaling to 3–5 employees can clear $100,000+ in 2–3 years. The barrier to entry is the lowest of any service business — $500–$2,000 in supplies and you're operational.

What's the best way to start a cleaning business?

Start by cleaning friends' and family homes for testimonials. Set up a simple website and Google Business Profile. Use Yelp, Nextdoor, and Facebook Marketplace for early clients. Charge $25–$40/hour starting, raising rates 10–20% per year. Once at $40,000+ revenue, hire your first employee and scale. Most successful owners pivot to managing within 2–4 years.

De complete gids: zo word je schoonmaker aan huis

Zo word je professioneel schoonmaker: opleiding, certificaten, je bedrijf opzetten en carrièrepaden in de VS, Polen en Nederland.

Laatst bijgewerkt: 2026-03-16Tom Reilly

Overzicht

Landen

1 week (no certifications) to 3 months (with Certificado de Profesionalidad)

Tijd tot erkenning

Leerwerktraject + examens

€11,000 - €18,000 per year for empleadas de hogar; €18,000 - €30,000 for limpieza turística on the coast

Gebruikelijk salaris

Gezellenniveau

Hoog

Baanperspectief

Verwachte groei · BLS 2024

Professioneel schoonmaken is een van de snelst op te zetten bedrijven en een van de meest crisisbestendige — mensen hebben altijd schone ruimtes nodig. Het mediane uurloon in de VS is zo'n $14,50, maar zelfstandige schoonmakers en ondernemers bepalen hun eigen tarief en verdienen doorgaans $25–$50 of meer per uur[1]. De schoonmaakbranche in de VS alleen al is meer dan $90 miljard waard en groeit, gevoed door drukke tweeverdieners en een vergrijzende bevolking die hulp nodig heeft bij het onderhoud van hun huis. Commerciële schoonmaakbedrijven die professionele accreditatie zoeken, kiezen meestal voor de CIMS-norm van ISSA[2].

Kerngegevens

Hoe je wordt opgeleid	Betaald leerwerktraject — verdien terwijl je leert, geen diploma vereist
Tijd tot kwalificatie	1 week (no certifications) to 3 months (with Certificado de Profesionalidad)
Kosten om je te kwalificeren	Near-zero to start as autónomo; €100-€300 for the optional PRL or Certificado de Profesionalidad
Gebruikelijk loon (VS, gezel)	$28,000–$48,000
Baanperspectief	Hoog · verwachte groei

Loon en perspectief: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024 (gecontroleerd May 2026). Tijd en kosten: erkenningseisen, steekproef VS. Schat je salaris →

Repareer het zelf

Wat dit vak elke week repareert

Alle doe-het-zelf gidsen →

Een dag uit het leven

Een werkdag als schoonmaker

Hoe het vak er uur na uur echt uitziet — niet alleen de lijst met vaardigheden.

8:30 AM

Walkthrough + caddy prep

Walk every room with the homeowner once, note priorities and any special-care items. Pack the caddy with eco-friendly solutions, microfibre cloths, and the vacuum.

9:30 AM

Top-down, bathrooms first

Pros work top-down (dust falls onto surfaces below). Bathrooms first — let cleaners dwell on tile and grout while you handle bedrooms.

12:00 PM

Kitchen detail

Degrease the range hood, wipe inside the microwave, polish stainless. Kitchen is where customers see results most — it's worth the extra 20 minutes.

2:30 PM

Inspection + the photo

Walk the home again with fresh eyes, fix anything you missed. Take a before/after photo for your portfolio — referrals are how the business compounds.

Route

Stappen om schoonmaker te worden

1
Geen formele opleiding vereist — leergierigheid is de sleutel
2
Leer schoonmaakmiddelen, apparatuur en technieken kennen
3
Beheers timemanagement en efficiënte schoonmaaksystemen
4
Overweeg een IICRC- of ander branchecertificaat
5
Regel een inschrijving en aansprakelijkheidsverzekering
6
Bouw een klantenkring op via mond-tot-mondreclame en online beoordelingen

Kies je land voor de exacte erkenningsroute

Spanje

1 week (no certifications) to 3 months (with Certificado de Profesionalidad) · €11,000 - €18,000 per year for empleadas de hogar; €18,000 - €30,000 for limpieza turística on the coast

Certificaten, geen vergunning

Dagelijks werk

Wat een schoonmaker dagelijks doet

Huis schoonmaken Dieptereiniging

Gereedschap

Welk gereedschap je nodig hebt

Handgereedschap

Microfiber cloths (assorted), Spray bottles, Scrub brushes (various sizes)…

Elektrisch gereedschap

Vacuum cleaner (commercial upright or backpack), Steam cleaner, Carpet extractor…

Beschermingsmiddelen

Rubber gloves, Safety glasses (for chemical use), Non-slip shoes

Geschatte startkosten: $200–$800 for supplies, vacuum, and basic equipment

Bekijk de volledige gereedschapsgids

FAQ

Veelgestelde vragen

How long does it take to become a professional cleaner?
Most cleaners learn the trade in 1–3 weeks of on-the-job training. There's no licensing requirement in most countries. Becoming efficient takes 1–6 months of practice. To start your own cleaning business, plan 1–3 months for skill-building, supplies acquisition, insurance, and initial marketing. ISSA CIMS certification (for commercial cleaning operations) takes 6–12 months.
How much do cleaners earn?
U.S. cleaning workers earn a median of $30,890 per year as employees. Self-employed cleaners charge $25–$50 per hour and earn $40,000–$70,000+. Cleaning company owners with 3–5 employees regularly clear $80,000–$200,000+. Top 10% individual cleaners: $42,610. Polish cleaners: PLN 3,000–5,500/month; Netherlands: €2,200–€3,200/month.
Do cleaners need any certifications?
Individual cleaners don't need certifications in most jurisdictions. Commercial cleaning often requires OSHA training and product safety knowledge. Specialty cleaning (post-construction, biohazard, mold) requires additional certifications. Self-employed cleaners should carry liability insurance ($50–$100/month) and bond ($100–$300/year) to win residential clients.
Is cleaning a good side hustle or full-time career?
Both. Side hustle: weekend cleanings can add $200–$800/week. Full-time individual: $40,000–$70,000 with steady clients. Business owner: scaling to 3–5 employees can clear $100,000+ in 2–3 years. The barrier to entry is the lowest of any service business — $500–$2,000 in supplies and you're operational.
What's the best way to start a cleaning business?
Start by cleaning friends' and family homes for testimonials. Set up a simple website and Google Business Profile. Use Yelp, Nextdoor, and Facebook Marketplace for early clients. Charge $25–$40/hour starting, raising rates 10–20% per year. Once at $40,000+ revenue, hire your first employee and scale. Most successful owners pivot to managing within 2–4 years.

Begrippen

Begrippen om te kennen

Move-out cleaning
Cleaning a rental or home when moving out to meet lease requirements or prepare for sale. Often includes appliances, floors, walls, and sometimes carpet cleaning.
Post-construction cleaning
Cleaning after construction or renovation: dust, debris, adhesive residue, window and floor care. Often requires special equipment and techniques.
Green cleaning
Cleaning using products and methods that minimize environmental and health impact. Green cleaners may use EPA Safer Choice or similar certified products.

Blader door de hele begrippenlijst

Van vak wisselen

Overstappen naar Schoonmaker

Hospitality / Housekeeping

“I cleaned 14 hotel rooms a day for seven years. When I started my own residential cleaning business, I was shocked — I make more in four houses than I did in a full hotel shift. The hotel taught me speed and consistency; now I use those skills on my own terms.”— Maria L., Former Hotel Housekeeper, now Cleaning Business Owner

Lees het hele verhaal

Food Service / Restaurant

“After six years working doubles in a kitchen, I was exhausted and my knees were shot. A friend suggested I try house cleaning. Within three months, I had 15 regular clients. I already knew how to clean fast and thoroughly — commercial kitchens demand it. Now I pick my own hours, I'm home by 4 PM, and I actually earn more per hour than I did as a line cook.”— Maria L., Former Line Cook, now Owner of a cleaning business

Lees het hele verhaal

IT / Tech

Samenvatting van de redactie

De overstap van IT / Tech naar Schoonmaker is realistisch. Hieronder de vaardigheden die je meeneemt en de gebruikelijke hobbels.

Neem je mee

Logical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis
Reading specs, schematics, and technical documentation
Methodical problem-solving

Let op

The physical day takes adjusting to after years at a screen
Tool, code, and regulatory knowledge needs deliberate study
Apprenticeship pay is below knowledge-worker salary for 1–2 years

Office / Knowledge work

Samenvatting van de redactie

De overstap van Office / Knowledge work naar Schoonmaker is realistisch. Hieronder de vaardigheden die je meeneemt en de gebruikelijke hobbels.

Neem je mee

Project management and scheduling
Customer communication and expectation-setting
Estimating, quoting, and invoicing

Let op

Hands and back have to build up — physical conditioning takes months
Tool kits and safety gear are an upfront investment
Customer relationships in trades are face-to-face and immediate

Dieptereiniging vs klusjesman Huis schoonmaken vs verhuisbedrijf Huis schoonmaken vs klusjesman Dieptereiniging vs verhuisbedrijf Huis schoonmaken vs gazononderhoud Dieptereiniging vs huis schoonmaken Dieptereiniging vs gazononderhoud Binnenschilderwerk vs dieptereiniging: welke opfrisbeurt eerst?Gazononderhoud vs dieptereiniging: prioriteiten in het voorjaarsonderhoud Verhuizers vs dieptereiniging: een soepele verhuizing plannen Dieptereiniging vs binnenschilderwerk: wat frist je huis meer op?Huis schoonmaken vs binnenschilderwerk: snelle opfrisser of complete transformatie?Gazononderhoud vs huis schoonmaken Schoonmaakbedrijf vs zelfstandige schoonmaker Hogedrukreiniging vs dieptereiniging Tapijtreiniging vs dieptereiniging Tapijtreiniging vs huis schoonmaken Afvalverwijdering vs dieptereiniging Hogedrukreiniging vs huis schoonmaken Dieptereiniging vs gewone schoonmaak Afvalverwijdering vs schoonmaakdienst Dieptereiniging vs Airbnb-wissel schoonmaak Huis schoonmaken vs dieptereiniging How Much Does House Cleaning Cost?How Much Does Deep Cleaning Cost?

Vind een opleiding

Find an apprenticeship

Real programs with paid training and licensing pathways — official government portals and the unions / vocational schools that actually place people.

CountryTrade

apprenticeship.govOfficial portal
U.S. Department of Labor's Registered Apprenticeship finder — filter by trade, state, and ZIP for paid, registered programs nationwide.
Open

Listings are curated by the HireLocal editorial team — opening a program takes you to the program's own site. We don't take a cut on placements.

Salariscalculator

Salary calculator

Estimate what you'd earn with your specific trade, region, experience level, and any regulated specialty certs.

TradeCountryStateExperience

Specialty / certifications

Estimated pay

$35.000–$60.000/ year

Country base × region 1.25 × experience 1.00 × specialty 1.00 = total 1.25× the country journeyman range.

Estimate only. Real pay depends on employer, hours, and local market. Multipliers calibrated from BLS / GUS / CBS / INE 2024 — see methodology on the salary comparison page.

How to become schoonmaker See full salary table

Salarisvergelijking

Zie hoe het loon van een schoonmaker zich verhoudt tot andere vakken, per land.

Bekijk de salarisvergelijking

Lokale vraag naar schoonmakers

Zie hoe groot het tekort aan schoonmakers nu is, stad voor stad — een score van 0–100 op basis van lokale vraag versus beschikbare vakmensen.

Warsaw New York Los Angeles Krakow Miami Amsterdam

Open de vraagzoeker

Bronnen

Bronnen en referenties

Salariscijfers, werkgelegenheidsprognoses en erkenningseisen komen uit de volgende officiële bronnen.

1
Occupational Outlook Handbook: Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · geraadpleegd 2026-04-26
2
ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS)
ISSA — The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association · geraadpleegd 2026-04-26
3
OSHA — Cleaning Industry Hazards
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration · geraadpleegd 2026-04-26
4
Safer Choice Certified Cleaning Products
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · geraadpleegd 2026-04-26
5
Schoonmaakbranche — CAO en kwaliteitseisen
OSB — Ondernemersorganisatie Schoonmaak- en Bedrijfsdiensten · geraadpleegd 2026-04-26