Daily Life
Housekeeping and Cleaning Services in China: A Guide for Foreign Residents
A practical English guide for foreign residents hiring housekeeping and cleaning services in China, including scope, pricing, supplies, apartment access, pets, records, and follow-up.
Rules and procedures can change. Check the linked official sources before acting on time-sensitive information.
Quick answer
What you need to know
Foreign residents can use housekeeping and cleaning services in China for regular cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in cleaning, appliance cleaning, and laundry help. The safest routine is to define the scope, confirm price and time, prepare supplies, manage access, and keep records.
- Define the cleaning scope clearly before the appointment.
- Confirm hourly or fixed pricing, supplies, travel fees, and overtime.
- Secure valuables, documents, pets, and landlord-owned items before in-home visits.
- Keep chat records, payment records, and before-and-after photos for larger jobs.
- Move-in and move-out cleaning should align with lease handover photos.
Housekeeping help can make long-term life in China easier, especially after moving, during busy work periods, or before a lease handover.
The key is to define the job clearly. Cleaning disputes usually come from unclear scope, unclear price, or different expectations about supplies.
1. Choose the right cleaning type
Common options include regular weekly cleaning, one-time deep cleaning, move-in cleaning, move-out cleaning, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, window cleaning, appliance cleaning, and laundry help.
For app booking habits, read Local Services Apps in China.
2. Confirm scope and price
Before the appointment, confirm rooms, tasks, estimated hours, hourly or fixed price, supplies, travel fee, overtime, and payment method.
Photos help the cleaner understand the real condition before arrival.
3. Prepare the apartment
Secure valuables, passports, bank cards, work documents, medicine, and fragile items. If you have pets, manage them safely before the cleaner arrives.
Renting with Pets in China covers pet-related apartment routines.
4. Keep records for bigger jobs
For deep cleaning, move-out cleaning, or landlord disputes, take before-and-after photos and keep chat records. This is especially useful before deposit return.
Practical checklist
- I defined the cleaning scope clearly.
- I confirmed price, time, supplies, and overtime.
- I secured valuables, documents, and pets.
- I kept booking and payment records.
- I took photos for deep cleaning or move-out cleaning.
- I gave clear instructions for rooms or items not to touch.
Official sources
- State Council: A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates
- Ministry of Commerce: Guide for Business Expatriates
Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Can foreigners hire cleaning services in China?
Yes. Foreign residents can book cleaning through local platforms, agencies, property management, referrals, or neighborhood service providers.
What should I confirm before hiring a cleaner?
Confirm scope, price, duration, supplies, arrival time, access, cancellation, overtime, and whether special tasks cost extra.
Should I provide cleaning supplies?
Some cleaners bring supplies and some expect the household to provide them. Confirm before the appointment.
How do I manage apartment access?
Stay available when possible, secure valuables and documents, manage pets, and give clear instructions about rooms or items that should not be touched.
What records should I keep?
Keep booking messages, payment records, photos, scope notes, and any follow-up agreement for deep cleaning or move-out cleaning.
