How to Choose a Commercial Cleaner on the Gold Coast: 8 Questions to Ask

Short answer: Pick a cleaner who can prove they're insured, whose people are police-checked, who pays their staff properly, who brings their own equipment and products, and who will follow your access and alarm procedures. Then get them to show you, not just tell you. At F&L Cleaning Solutions your first clean is free, so you can judge the standard yourself before you pay a cent.

Most office managers only hire a cleaner every few years, so it's easy to forget what to ask. Here are eight questions that sort out the reliable operators from the rest.

1. Are you insured, and can I see proof?

Public liability insurance covers injury to people or damage to property caused by a business's negligence^[1]. Your cleaner will be alone in your space with your equipment, so this matters. Ask to see a current certificate of currency, not just a "yes". If the cleaner employs staff, it's also fair to ask how their workers are covered, because workers' compensation is compulsory for employers in Queensland and NSW^[2][3].

2. Are your cleaners police-checked?

A cleaner usually holds your keys and your alarm code and works when nobody else is there. A National Police Check shows whether a person has disclosable court outcomes recorded in Australian police records^[4]. Ask whether every person who will enter your premises has one.

3. Do you pay your staff properly?

Employed cleaners must be paid at least the minimum rates in the Cleaning Services Award, and early morning, evening, weekend and public holiday shifts attract higher penalty rates^[5]. A quote that seems too low to cover after-hours award wages is a warning sign. It may mean corners will be cut somewhere, whether on time spent, on products or on pay.

4. Who supplies the equipment and products?

Some cleaners expect you to buy chemicals and equipment. Others include them. Ask which, so you're comparing like with like. It's also reasonable to ask how they store and handle chemicals. Under work health and safety law, hazardous chemicals must be managed safely, with safety data sheets available^[6]. We bring our own equipment and products, and they're part of the monthly price.

5. Exactly what's included on every visit?

Ask for a plain list. A typical recurring office clean covers bins, kitchens and kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilets, desks and touch points, hard floors mopped and soft floors vacuumed. If something matters to you, check it's on the list. Vague answers lead to disappointment later.

Employers have a duty to keep toilets, washing and eating facilities clean, taking into account the number of workers and the nature of the workplace^[7][8]. A good cleaner should understand that kitchens and bathrooms need attention every visit.

6. How do you handle access, keys and alarms?

After-hours cleaning only works if the cleaner treats your security seriously. Ask how they'll store keys and codes, and whether they'll follow your procedures for entry, arming the alarm and leaving. We follow your access and alarm procedures every visit.

7. How is the price set?

Some cleaners charge by the hour, which can make your bill hard to predict. Others quote a fixed amount. Ask how the price is worked out and whether anyone will see your space first. A fair quote is based on a walkthrough, not a guess over the phone. We do a quick walkthrough and then quote one flat monthly price.

8. Can I see your work before I commit?

Talk is cheap. The best test of a cleaner is coming in the next morning to a clean office. That's why we offer your first clean free. You see the result, and then decide.

Some red flags

• No proof of insurance. "We're covered" isn't the same as a certificate.
• No walkthrough. If they quote without seeing your space, the price or the clean may change later.
• A price that can't cover award wages. See question 3.
• No clear list of what's included.
• No clear plan for keys and alarm codes.

Check the business is real

It takes a minute to look up a business's ABN on the Australian Business Register and confirm the name and status match what you've been told^[9]. It's a simple way to check you're dealing with a genuine, registered business.

Why local and owner-run helps

A local cleaner who covers your area regularly can get to you reliably, and an owner-run business means the person you speak to is the person responsible for the result. F&L Cleaning Solutions is a local commercial cleaner for Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads. We focus only on regular after-hours cleaning, weekly or more often, for offices, medical and allied health clinics, dental practices, gyms and professional offices.

FAQs

What should I ask a cleaner first? Start with insurance and police checks. If they can't answer those clearly, move on.

Should I choose the cheapest quote? Not automatically. Check that the price can realistically cover award wages for after-hours work, products and enough time to do the job^[5].

Do I need to supply cleaning products? Not with us. We bring our own equipment and products.

Do you do one-off cleans? No. We focus on regular cleaning, weekly or more often.

How do I know you're any good? Your first clean is free. Judge the result yourself.

Try us before you decide

If you're comparing commercial cleaners, give Felipe a call on 0412 073 637. We'll do a quick walkthrough, your first clean is free, and after that it's one flat monthly price. We're fully insured and police-checked.