House Cleaning Service Contract Template (Free & Editable)

Cleaning is a trust business — you have keys to people’s homes and you’re there week after week — which is exactly why a signed contract matters more here than in most trades. It sets the scope, the schedule, the cancellation rules, and who supplies what, so a recurring client relationship doesn’t drift into “can you also…” and unpaid extras. Here’s a copy-paste template and the clauses cleaning businesses actually need.

The clauses a cleaning contract actually needs

1. Scope — what’s included (and what isn’t)

The single most important clause in cleaning. List the rooms and tasks covered in a standard visit, and explicitly name what’s not included: inside the oven, inside the fridge, windows, laundry, dishes, walls. “While you’re here, can you just…” is the cleaning industry’s version of scope creep, and exclusions are how you stop it without being the bad guy.

2. Schedule and frequency

Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or one-time. State the day, the arrival window, and what happens on holidays. For recurring service, note that the slot is reserved for them — which is what justifies your cancellation policy.

3. Pricing and payment

Price per visit, what’s billed for one-time deep cleans vs. recurring maintenance cleans, when payment is due, and the method. For recurring clients, auto-billing on the day of service removes the awkward monthly chase.

4. Cancellation and lockout policy

The clause cleaners skip and regret. A reserved slot you can’t fill is lost revenue. State the notice required (commonly 24–48 hours) and the fee for late cancellations or lockouts — when your team shows up and can’t get in. A typical policy: 50–100% of the visit price for a same-day cancel or lockout.

5. Access and keys

How your team gets in — key, lockbox code, garage code, or someone home — and your promise on how keys and codes are stored and handled. This is a trust clause; spelling it out reassures the client and protects you if access changes.

6. Supplies and equipment

Who provides cleaning products and equipment (usually you), and any client-specific products they want used — common with allergies, pets, or stone countertops. Note that specialty products the client requires may be billed separately.

7. Satisfaction guarantee and re-clean

A 24-hour re-clean guarantee is the cleaning industry standard and a genuine selling point: “If something’s missed, tell us within 24 hours and we’ll come back and make it right at no charge.” It builds trust and keeps small misses from becoming refund fights.

8. Liability and breakage

State that you carry insurance, how breakage is handled, and a reasonable cap. Ask clients to secure or flag irreplaceable and high-value items. The exact wording depends on your coverage and state — confirm it with your insurer.

Copy-paste cleaning service contract template

Keep it to one page. One clear page gets signed; a four-page legal document gets “I’ll read it later” and never comes back.

How to get it signed without slowing down the sale

Cleaning clients book fast and on their phones — don’t bottleneck the close with a printed form. Send the agreement as a one-page e-sign link right after the walkthrough or phone quote, while interest is high. The faster it’s in front of them, the higher your sign rate, and a signed agreement before the first clean sets the tone for the whole relationship.

FAQ

Do I need a contract for house cleaning?

For one-off cleans, a clear quote with terms is usually enough. For recurring clients — the heart of a cleaning business — a signed agreement is well worth it. It locks in scope, schedule, and the cancellation policy that protects your reserved slots, and it prevents the slow drift into unpaid extras.

What should a cleaning cancellation policy be?

Most cleaning businesses require 24–48 hours notice and charge 50–100% of the visit price for late cancellations or lockouts. Because you reserve the slot specifically for that client, a same-day cancel is lost income you usually can’t backfill. (More in our cancellation policy guide.)

Should the contract say who provides cleaning supplies?

Yes. Usually the provider supplies everything, but spell it out — and note that client-required specialty products (for allergies, pets, or delicate surfaces) may be billed separately. Ambiguity here causes friction on the very first visit.

Does a cleaning contract need to be notarized?

No. A service agreement between private parties doesn’t require notarization in any U.S. state — signatures and dates from both parties are sufficient, and an electronic signature carries the same legal weight under the federal E-SIGN Act.

How do I handle deposits for a first deep clean?

For larger one-time deep cleans, a deposit (commonly 25–50%) is reasonable and standard. It covers your scheduled time and filters out no-shows. (See how to ask for a deposit politely.)