Quick answer: To hire a housekeeper in Orlando: list the tasks, set days and hours, offer pay at or above the Florida minimum wage ($15.00/hour), call references, pay a trial day, put the agreement in writing, decide who buys supplies, and check your insurance. On Famyle you post the job free and hire directly.
Before you post
- List the tasks. Kitchen and bathrooms, floors, dusting, laundry, ironing, changing beds, organizing, inside the fridge or oven, windows. Say which rooms and which tasks are weekly versus occasional.
- Choose the type of help. A house cleaner usually comes for a few hours every week or two. A housekeeper works more regular hours and may also do laundry, organizing and errands.
- Set days and hours. Fixed days help both sides. Be realistic: a large home in Windermere or Horizon West takes longer than an apartment.
- Set the pay. In the Orlando metro area, maids and housekeeping cleaners earn a median $16.90 an hour (mean $17.84; BLS, May 2025). If she's your employee, pay at least the Florida minimum wage, $15.00/hour since September 30, 2026. Experience, a car, references and a larger home justify more. See house cleaning cost in Orlando.
Choosing the person
- Post your job on Famyle. Post it for free with the tasks, hours, area and pay. Local professionals apply and you talk to them directly.
- Interview. Ask about homes like yours (size, pets, kids), which tasks they do and don't do, availability, transportation and preferred products.
- Call references. Ask at least two families: how long she worked there, reliability, care with belongings, and why it ended. Famyle doesn't have reviews in the U.S. yet, so references are your best signal.
- Do a paid trial day. Pay for the trial at the agreed rate. Walk through the house together at the start and at the end.
- Decide about a background check. If you want one, you need the candidate's written permission. See background checks in Florida. Famyle does not run background checks.
Putting it in writing
- Written agreement. Days and hours, tasks, hourly rate or flat rate, how and when you pay, overtime, paid holidays or time off, what happens if either side cancels, notice to end the arrangement, and house rules (keys, alarm code, pets, privacy).
- Supplies. Agree on who buys products and equipment. If you supply them, keep them stocked; if she brings her own, agree on whether that's in the rate.
- Insurance. Ask your homeowner's insurance agent whether your policy covers injuries to someone working in your home, or whether you need more coverage. If she runs her own cleaning business, ask whether she carries her own insurance.
- Taxes. A housekeeper on your schedule is usually your household employee. In 2026, paying her $3,000 or more in cash wages in the year means Social Security and Medicare taxes. Read household employer taxes in Florida.
After the first month
Sit down for 10 minutes, review what's working and adjust the task list. Clear expectations are the main reason good housekeepers stay.
Find a housekeeper in Orlando Find a house cleaner
Sources
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a housekeeper in Orlando?
Maids and housekeeping cleaners in the Orlando metro area earn a median $16.90 an hour (BLS, May 2025). An employee must earn at least the Florida minimum wage, $15.00/hour since September 30, 2026.
Should I pay for a trial day?
Yes. Pay the trial at the agreed rate. It's fair to the professional and shows you how she works in your home.
Who buys the cleaning supplies?
Either side can; just agree upfront. If the cleaner brings her own products and equipment, that is usually reflected in the rate.
Is a housekeeper the same as a house cleaner?
Not quite. A house cleaner usually comes for a few hours every week or two; a housekeeper works more regular hours and may also handle laundry, organizing and errands.
Last updated 2026-11-07. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice.