How to Become an Independent House Cleaner and find cleaning jobs fast: Complete 2025 Guide [+ Apps, Templates and 48-Hour Plan]

Looking for houses to clean on your own in the United States and don’t know where to start?

If you just typed into Google “I’m looking for houses to clean on my own,” you’ve come to the right place. Not only will I tell you how to get houses to clean, but I’ll give you the exact plan, the apps that are working in 2025, and proven strategies for getting house cleaning clients.

Why this guide is different

❌ I am not a job board that sends you to apply for jobs.
✅ I teach you how to be INDEPENDENT and work for yourself.
✅ UPDATED 2025 strategies (not from 5 years ago).
✅ Apps and platforms that Latinos in the USA are using TODAY.
✅ Templates ready to copy and paste.
✅ 48-Hour Action Plan

What you will learn in this guide

– 9 ways to get homes to clean (apps + traditional methods)
– Which apps work best in 2025 (according to TikTok and cleaning groups)
– 48h plan for your first client
– 7 downloadable templates
– Real rates per city
– Mistakes that make you lose clients

What does “Find Houses to Clean on My Own” mean?

When you look for houses to clean on your own, it means that you are working as a freelancer, not as an employee of a cleaning company.

✅ Working on your own means:

• You choose your clients – You do not get assigned jobs
• You set your rates – You decide how much to charge
• You keep 100% (or pay small commissions to apps)
• Flexible hours – You work when you can
• You pay your own taxes – You are an independent contractor

❌ NO means:

• Working for a cleaning company as a cleaning employee
• Receive a fixed weekly salary
• Schedule imposed by others
• Employee benefits (health insurance, paid vacations)

Why self-employment is profitable

Potential income:

• Part-time (15h/week): $900-$1,500/month
• Full-time (35h/week): $2,800-$5,500/month
• With team (3-4 persons): $8,000-$15,000/month net

Additional advantages:

• You pay less commission than working for apps
• You build your own customer base
• You can raise prices with experience
• Total schedule flexibility

The 9 Ways to Get Houses to Clean Yourself (From Fastest to Most Profitable)

📊 Quick Comparison Table

Method	Speed	Cost	Profitability	Best For
Apps(Thumbtack, Care.com)	24-48h	$1-5/lead	Media	Beginners
Nextdoor	2-7 days	Free	High	Neighborhoods
Facebook Groups	1-3 days	Free	Medium-High	All
Flyers	1-2 weeks	$50-100	High	Local
Google My Business	2-4 weeks	Free	Very High	Long term
References	Variable	Free	Very High	With customers
Real Estate Alliances	2-4 weeks	Free	High	Advanced
Facebook Marketplace	1-3 days	Free	Media	All
Angie/Yelp	1-2 weeks	Variable	Media	Professionals

Method 1: Apps and Digital Platforms (Faster: 24-48h)

Cleaning apps are the fastest way to get houses to clean. Here are the top 5 apps that Latinos in the U.S. will be using in 2025:

1. Thumbtack ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Cost: ~$1.50-$5 per lead
• Speed: Answers in 24h
• Best for: Beginners
• ✅ Advantage: Many leads, easy to get started
• ❌ Disadvantage: You pay for each contact .
• Read our guide to Thumbtack

2. Care.com ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Cost: Monthly subscription
• Speed: 48-72h
• Best for: Recurring work
• ✅ Advantage: Families are looking for long term
• ❌ Disadvantage: Requires background check
• Read our guide to Care.com

3. Nextdoor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

• Cost: FREE
• Speed: 24-48h
• Best for: Local labor/neighbors
• ✅ Advantage: Customers close to you, trust.
• ❌ Disadvantage: Only works in your area .
• Read our guide to Nextdoor

4. TaskRabbit ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Cost: Commission 15-30%.
• Speed: Same day possible
• Best for: One-time jobs
• ✅ Advantage: Total flexibility
• ❌ Disadvantage: High commissions .
• Read our guide to TaskRabbit

5. Shift (Specialized Airbnb) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Cost: Variable commission
• Speed: 1-3 days
• Best for: Airbnb cleaning
• Advantage: Constant work
• ❌ Disadvantage: Airbnb only.
• Read our guide about Shift

💡 Want to see the 40+ apps available? Check out our complete guide to apps to get houses to clean with detailed analysis of each.

Method 2: Nextdoor (The Hidden Jewel) 🔥

Why Nextdoor is SO effective:

• It is the social network of neighbors
• People trust more(they are your neighbors)
• FREE and commission free
• Jobs close to your home
• Very popular among Latinos in the USA

How to use Nextdoor step by step:

1. Download the app or go to Nextdoor.com
2. Verify your address(required to join your neighborhood)
3. Create your professional profile(Business profile free)
4. Post in “Recommendations” using the template below
5. Respond to requests in the “For Sale & Free” section.
6. Participate in conversations(don’t just sell, help neighbors).

Expected result: 2-5 messages in first week

Visit Nextdoor

Method 3: Facebook Groups + Marketplace

The Most Active Groups (Look for these names):

• “CLEANING HOUSES USA”
• “House cleaning [your city]”
• “Latinos in [your city]”
• “Hispanics [your city]”
• “[Your city] Buy/Sell/Trade”.

Publication strategy:

📅 Frequency: 2 times per week
⏰ Best time: Sundays 7-9pm, Wednesdays 12-2pm
📝 Format: photo + short text + price

Tip: Use emojis to stand out (🏠 🧹 ✨).

Method 4: Google My Business (Free and Powerful)

Why you need a Google profile:

When someone searches for “house cleaning near me,” you show up on the map.

Steps to create your profile:

1. Go to google.com/business
2. Create profile (name + phone + address)
3. Verify (code sent to you by mail)
4. Upload 5-10 before/after photos
5. Ask each customer for reviews

Time to see results: 2-4 weeks
Cost: $0
Long term value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Method 5: Flyers and Local Marketing

Effective flyer design:

[LOGO O NOMBRE]

🏠 ¿BUSCAS LIMPIEZA DE CASAS PROFESIONAL?

✅ Limpieza profunda y regular
✅ Productos ecológicos incluidos
✅ [TU CIUDAD] y alrededores
✅ Referencias disponibles

📞 [TU TELÉFONO]
💬 WhatsApp: [NÚMERO]

PROMOCIÓN: Primera limpieza 15% OFF
Menciona este volante

Where to distribute (500 flyers = $30-50):

• Latin Supermarkets
• Laundromats
• Churches
• Community centers
• Neighborhood mailboxes (where legal)
• In-store bulletin boards

Method 6: Angie (Formerly Angie’s List)

Angie is a popular platform where families search for trusted professionals.

• Cost: Pay per lead
• Advantage: Quality customers willing to pay more
• Disadvantage: Competition with established professionals

Method 7: OfferUp

OfferUp is not just for selling stuff. Many Latinos use the“Services” section to offer cleaning services.

• Cost: Free
• Advantage: Publishing is super easy
• Tip: Include 3-4 photos and respond quickly

Method 8: Alliances with Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents constantly need to clean houses that they are going to sell or have just sold.

How to do it:

1. Search for Zillow agents in your area
2. Contact by email or call
3. Offers volume discount
4. Ask to be added to their supplier list

Potential: 2-5 houses per month per agent

Method 9: Referrals and Word of Mouth

The most profitable method(free) but requires that you already have customers.

System:

• Offers $20 discount for each referral
• Referral also receives 15% off
• Ask for references upon completion of each job
• Give cards with your name and phone number

🛠️ Tool: Find the Best Apps For YOUR Profile You already know the 9 ways to get houses to clean. Now use this tool to find out which apps are the BEST for your specific situation.

Want more detailed information on these platforms? > Visit our [complete guide with 40+ applications] where we analyze costs, commissions and specific strategies.

48-Hour Plan: Get Your First Home to Clean

🎯 Target: 1-2 jobs confirmed in 48 hours

DAY 1 – Preparation (3 hours total)

Time 1: Registration (9:00-10:00 AM)

□ Thumbtack – basic profile
□ Nextdoor – verify address
□ Care.com – full profile
□ 3 Facebook groups in your city

Hour 2: Optimized Profile (10:00-11:30 AM)

Title: Professional House Cleaning – [Your City] – References Available

Description (100 words):

Ofrezco servicios de limpieza de casas en [Ciudad]. 
Soy [tu nombre], latina con [X años] de experiencia. 

Servicios:
✅ Limpieza regular (semanal/quincenal)
✅ Limpieza profunda
✅ Mudanzas/Post-construcción

Incluyo:
• Productos de limpieza ecológicos
• Seguro de responsabilidad
• Fotos antes/después
• Garantía de satisfacción

Tarifa introductoria: $15-18/hora
Primera limpieza: 10% descuento

📞 [Teléfono]
💬 WhatsApp: [Número]

Hour 3: Photos (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)

If you do NOT have photos of jobs:

• Clean your own house very well
• Take 10 before/after photos
• Focus on: kitchen, bathroom, glossy floors

DAY 2 – Massive Application (4 hours)

Goal: 30 applications/contacts

9:00-11:00 AM – Apps (20 applications)

• Thumbtack: Applies to 10 leads
• TaskRabbit: 5 tasks
• Care.com: Contact 5 families

11:00 AM-12:00 PM – Social Networking (5 posts)

• 3 Facebook groups
• 1 post Nextdoor
• 1 Facebook Marketplace

12:00-1:00 PM – Local Marketing (5 contacts)

• 50 flyers in the neighborhood
• 5 cards in supermarkets
• Post in WhatsApp status

EXPECTED RESULTS (48 Hours):

• ✅ 5-10 total responses
• ✅ 2-4 serious conversations
• 1-2 jobs CONFIRMED

📝 7 Ready to Copy and Paste Templates

💰 How Much to Charge: Rates 2025 (Updated)

By Experience Level

No Experience (0-6 months):

• Hourly: $12-16/h
• Per house (average): $80-120
• Strategy: Charge low to gain experience and reviews

Experienced (6 months – 2 years):

• Hourly: $18-25/h
• Per house: $120-200
• Strategy: Gradually raise prices with each review

Expert (2+ years):

• Hourly: $25-35/h
• Per house: $200-350
• Strategy: Offer premium packages and services

By City (Top 10 – 2025)

City	Rate/h	Full House	Competition
Houston, TX	$15-20	$100-150	Media
Los Angeles, CA	$20-30	$150-250	High
Miami, FL	$16-22	$110-180	High
New York, NY	$25-35	$200-300	Very High
Chicago, IL	$18-25	$120-200	Media
Dallas, TX	$15-22	$100-170	Media
Phoenix, AZ	$14-20	$90-140	Download
San Antonio, TX	$14-18	$85-130	Download
Atlanta, GA	$16-23	$110-180	Media
Orlando, FL	$15-20	$100-150	Media

Tips by city:

Houston: Medium competition, large Latino market. Starts at $15/h, goes up to $20/h in 6 months.

Los Angeles: High competition. Differentiate yourself with specialization (eco-friendly, pet-friendly).

New York: Charge per apartment, not per hour. Studio: $100-150, 1BR: $150-200, 2BR: $200-280.

Per Hour vs Per Project

When to charge PER HOUR:

✅ First time with the customer
✅ You don’t know how long it will take
✅ Very messy house
✅ Includes extra services

When to charge PER PROJECT:

✅ Repeat customer
✅ You already know the house
✅ Standard work
✅ More profitable for you

Example of Packages per Project:

BASIC – $100 – 2-3 hours – 1 bathroom, kitchen, living rooms – Vacuuming and mopping

STANDARD – $150 – 3-4 hours – 2 bathrooms, kitchen, 3 bedrooms – Full housekeeping

DEEP – $250 – 5-6 hours – Whole House – Windows, Cabinets, Refrigerator

❌ 10 Mistakes That Cause You to Lose Customers (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake 1: Charging TOO cheap at the beginning

❌ Wrong: “$10/hour to gain experience”.
✅ Good: “$15/hour + 10% discount first time”.

Why: Cheap customers = more problems. Low value = perceived poor service.

Mistake 2: Not asking for references IMMEDIATELY

❌ Bad: Waiting weeks to ask for a review.
✅ Good: Ask for it AT THE END of the job.

Script: “Were you happy with the service, would you please leave me a review on [app]? It only takes 1 minute and it helps me a lot.”

Mistake 3: Registering only in 1 app

❌ Wrong: “I’m going to try Thumbtack only.”
✅ Good: Be on 3-5 platforms at the same time.

Why: Diversification = more opportunities

Mistake 4: Not having photos of jobs

❌ Bad: Profile without photos
✅ Good: 10+ before/after photos.

Hack: If you don’t have client photos, clean your own house and take photos.

Mistake 5: Responding LATE to messages

❌ Wrong: Respond in 6-12 hours
✅ Good: Respond in less than 1 hour.

Statistics: 78% of clients hire the first responder.

Mistake 6: Not having a written contract/agreement

❌ Bad: All verbal
✅ Good: Text message confirming details.

Minimum include:

• Date and time
• Specific services
• Agreed price
• Form of payment

Mistake 7: Arriving without materials

❌ Wrong: “Do you have a mop?”
✅ Good: Carry ALL your equipment.

Basic kit:

• Vacuum cleaner
• Mop + bucket
• Microfibers (10+)
• Multipurpose products
• Gloves
• Garbage bags

Mistake 8: Not offering warranty

❌ Wrong: No warranty
✅ Good: “If you don’t like something, I’ll fix it for free”.

Increases confidence: Customers are less hesitant.

Mistake 9: Not following the system

❌ Bad: Clean “as it comes out”.
✅ Good: Same order as always (rooms → bathrooms → kitchen).

Why: Faster, you don’t forget anything.

Mistake 10: Not asking for referrals

❌ Wrong: Waiting for referrals.
✅ Good: Actively ASK.

Upon completion of work: “If you know someone who needs cleaning, I will give you 10% off their next cleaning for each referral.”

From Occasional Jobs to Permanent Customers: 4-Step System

Objective: Convert 80% of one-time jobs into monthly clients.

STEP 1: The PERFECT First Job

Before arriving:

□ Confirm by message 1 day before
□ Message “Leaving for your home” 30 min. before
□ Arrive 10 minutes EARLY

During:

□ Ask preferences (“Any areas you want me to pay extra attention to?”).
□ Takes pictures before (with permission)
□ Cleans up in the order you agreed upon.
□ Show finished areas as you go along

Upon completion:

□ Tour of the house showing everything.
□ Photos after
□ Ask: “Is there anything you want me to change?”

STEP 2: Request on-the-Spot Review

DO NOT say: “When you can, leave me a review”.

DI: “Were you satisfied with the service? Perfect, would you do me a favor and leave me a review on [app] now? It takes 1 minute, I’ll help you if you want.”

Result: 70% of customers leave a review IMMEDIATELY vs 10% if you ask later.

STEP 3: Offer Monthly Plan AT A DISCOUNT

When you say goodbye:

“[Name], I loved cleaning your house, would you like me to come regularly? I offer you a plan:

Monthly Plan:

• 1 time per week: $[X] ($[X] discount)
• 2 times per month: $[X] ($[X] discount)
• 1 time per month: $[X]

Which one would work best for you?”

Conversion: 60-70% accept some plan.

STEP 4: Automatic Referral Program

On the second or third service:

“[Name], I am offering my best customers a referral program:

For every friend/family member you refer and hire, I give you:

• $20 off your next cleaning
• Your friend also receives 15% off

Do you know anyone who might need?”

Deliver: Cards with discount code

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

✅ Final Checklist: Before You Start Looking for Houses to Clean

Profile and Online Presence:

□ Thumbtack profile complete
□ Verified Nextdoor profile
□ Care.com account active
□ 3 Facebook groups joined
□ Google My Business created (optional)
□ WhatsApp Business set up

Marketing Materials:

□ 3+ before/after photos
□ Description of services (100 words)
□ Rate defined according to experience
□ Saved message templates
□ Flyers designed (if you will use)
□ Business cards (optional)

Operations:

□ Active U.S. phone
□ Venmo/Zelle/PayPal account
□ Basic cleaning kit ready
□ Transportation confirmed
□ Availability schedule defined

Legal and Security:

□ References prepared(if you have them)
□ Background check done(if apps require it)
□ Insurance considered(not mandatory at the beginning)

Mentality:

□ Clear goal(how many customers/week?)
□ Marketing budget($50-100)
□ Commitment to 2-4 weeks of effort.
□ Plan B if it doesn’t work immediately

Start Getting Homes to Clean TODAY

You now have everything you need to get houses to clean on your own.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for 1-2 houses to clean per week or if you want to build an entire business – the strategies in this guide work.

Quick recap:

✅ 9 ways to get customers(apps + traditional)
✅ 48-hour plan for your first job.
✅ 7 ready to copy/paste templates.
✅ 20 25 rates by city and experience
✅ Conversion system to regular customers

Your next steps (TODAY):

1. Choose your main strategy:

• Apps? → Register in Thumbtack + Nextdoor
• Local? → Design flyers + join Facebook groups
• Both? → Follow the full 48-hour plan

2. Use the templates: Copy/paste the templates from this article. They are already tested and work.

3. Check out specific apps: Visit our complete guide of 40+ apps for detailed analysis of each platform.

4. Start NOW: Don’t wait for Monday. Don’t wait to “be ready”. Start today with 1 app and 1 Facebook group.

Remember:

The 90% of people who read this guide will do nothing. The 10% who do act get their first customer in 1-2 weeks.

What group will you be in?

Related Resources

📚 Read also:

→ Apps to Get Homes to Clean – Complete guide with 40+ platforms reviewed.

→ How to Start a Cleaning Business from Scrubbing from Scrubbing Zero

→ How much to charge for cleaning a house in the USA (2025)

→ Best Apps in the Collaborative Economy.

Did you already get your first house to clean using this guide? Which strategy worked best for you?

Tell us in the comments to help others. 👇

Conoce mas sobre todas aplicaciones para conseguir casas para limpiar por tu cuenta lee nuestra guía al respecto.