Google Business Profile categories for house cleaners
Your primary category tells Google what kind of business you are. For cleaning businesses it's easy to over-add categories ("carpet", "window", "janitorial"…) hoping to show up for more searches. Google's guidelines say not to, and it can make your profile less clear.
Google's rules in plain English
- Use as few categories as possible to describe your core business.
- Pick categories that complete "This business IS a ___", not "this business HAS a ___" or "offers a ___".
- Choose the most specific category that still describes the whole business.
- Don't use categories as keywords or to describe attributes.
Source: Google: Guidelines for representing your business (Categories section).
Categories to look for (type them into the category box)
Category names can change, so use what Google's picker actually shows. Pick only what's true:
- House cleaning service: the usual primary for residential cleaners and maid services.
- Commercial cleaning service or Janitorial service: for businesses that mainly clean offices, shops or buildings.
- Carpet cleaning service: only if carpet cleaning with your own equipment is a core line, not an occasional add-on.
- Window cleaning service: only if window cleaning is a real part of what your business is.
What goes in Services instead
Most of what customers search for is a service, not a category. Add each one to your Services list with a short, plain description:
- Standard / recurring house cleaning (weekly, biweekly, monthly)
- Deep cleaning
- Move-in / move-out cleaning
- Vacation rental turnover cleaning
- Post-construction cleaning
- Inside oven, inside fridge, interior windows
Pricing those jobs? Our sister site has free guides: how to price a move-out cleaning and how much to charge for deep cleaning.
A 5-minute decision process
- List the 3 kinds of jobs that bring in most of your revenue.
- Pick the single category that best describes a business doing those jobs. That's your primary.
- Add a secondary only if a customer would describe you that way too.
- Put everything else in Services.
- Write a description that names your main services and the towns you serve (how to write it).
Working from home?
Most cleaners travel to customers. If customers don't come to your address, Google says to hide it and set a service area instead. See how to hide your home address and set a service area.
Want it written for you? The
MapReady Fix-Up Pack ($99, one-time) gives you a paste-ready description, services list, category suggestions, Q&A drafts, 8 posts and a prioritized checklist within 2 business days.
See a sample. Or start with the
free checklist.
FAQ
What primary category should a house cleaner use?
Most residential cleaners pick the category that best describes the whole business, often 'House cleaning service'. Use the most specific category Google's picker offers that is true for your core work.
Should I add 'Commercial cleaning service' if I do a few offices?
Only if commercial work is a real core part of your business. Occasional jobs belong in your Services list, not your categories.
Can I add 'Move-out cleaning' or 'Deep cleaning' as a category?
Treat those as services. Categories describe what your business is; services describe the jobs you do.
How many categories should a cleaning business use?
Google says to use as few as possible to describe your core business. One accurate primary plus a couple of truly relevant secondaries is typical.
MapReady is an independent service, not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. Google's rules change — always check the linked Google help pages before editing your profile. No one can guarantee rankings, and this page doesn't promise any.