Let’s be real — Singapore is one of the most multilingual and multicultural places on Earth.
From hawker centres to homes, you’ll hear English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, Burmese, Tagalog, and more — sometimes all in the same day!
And yes — this diversity extends to home cleaning services too. When your household helper or part-time maid doesn’t share your first language, things can get… interesting. But don’t worry — MEIDE’s got you covered.
At MEIDE, we understand that communication is just as important as cleanliness. Whether your home helper speaks fluent English, basic Mandarin, or only Burmese, we make sure your instructions are understood clearly — and your home ends up sparkling ✨.
1️) Languages Used During Singapore Home Cleaning Services
Singapore is a beautiful mix of people, languages, and cleaning traditions. Let’s explore how these languages shape home cleaning services across our island!
🏠 English (Majority)
English is still king — used by about 80% of Singapore residents at home or work. Most home cleaning services run in English, and many part-time maids and household helpers can communicate comfortably with simple, direct terms like “vacuum here” or “wipe there.”
Especially for busy working families, English helps everyone stay on the same page. Still, some helpers may prefer light Singlish — “Can clean now lah?” — which adds that familiar local touch 😉.
Therefore, you can have a peace of mind as all MEIDE cleaners and babysitters use English primarily!
🏮 Mandarin
Secondly, Mandarin is the second most common language in Singapore. It is widely spoken among Chinese families in Singapore. Thus, many clients prefer Mandarin-speaking home helpers. This is particularly when there are elderly at home and there may not be anyone else at home to help translate and give the cleaner instructions. On top of this, some clients prefer cleaners who can understand cleaning habits tied to feng shui, cleanliness, and festivals like Chinese New Year 🧧.
For example, homeowners may require cleaners to understand “擦地板” (wipe floor) or “拖地” (mop floor). Thankfully, at MEIDE, we always run this basic mandarin course through our home helpers before they start work.
Therefore, we have a slew of helpers who can speak basic mandarin, and a select few who are even more proficient as they have worked years before in Chinese-speaking households and spoken mandarin for years.
Good to know too: During the Lunar New Year period, Mandarin-speaking home cleaning services are in huge demand — because cleaning before CNY symbolizes sweeping away bad luck!
🕉️ Tamil
Thirdly, Tamil is cherished in Indian households, and some household helpers from India or Sri Lanka are more comfortable speaking it.
Again, tamil-speaking cleaners are in high demand amongst households who may have elderly around and who only speak that language.
Furthermore, the quality of cleaning is often overseen by the seniors at home. Thus, even if the client booking the cleaning may converse in English – MEIDE understands that the client may not be around all the time at home. Hence, we definitely understand when you request cleaning with a specific language requirement!
Specifically during Deepavali 🪔, cleanliness holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning — clearing negative energy and welcoming light. From experience, a Tamil-speaking (or any other common mother tongue) part-time maid can even enhance the home cleaning services experience with heightened cultural awareness and mutual understanding.
🌸 Burmese
Fourthly, the Burmese community is growing quickly in Singapore. Many Burmese home helpers are known for their gentle, meticulous cleaning style. While not all are fluent in English, MEIDE helps bridge the gap with clear instructions, demonstrations, and patience.
During Thingyan (Myanmar New Year), Burmese helpers also perform cleansing rituals — they understand that cleaning isn’t just about dust, but renewal 🌿.
If you are new to this, give it a try and be amazed at the burmese quality of cleaning!
🌺 Malay
As the national language of Singapore, Malay holds a special place 🇸🇬. Malay-speaking household helpers are often well-versed in daily cleanliness routines that align with Islamic practices — keeping spaces pure and welcoming.
This is a less common requirement as most Malay families in Singapore speak English too. Nonetheless, MEIDE has served families who come from Indonesia, or parts of Malaysia and require specific Bahasa or Melayu communication during the home cleaning services.
Fret not, we can handle it too! (Details below)
On top of this, we are also aware from experience that during Ramadan and Hari Raya, home cleaning services get extra busy as families prepare to host guests. Rest assured we are prepared for every festival when it comes!
🌏 Others (Tagalog, Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese, Thai, European Languages)
From Tagalog to Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese to French, we can provide it as Singapore’s top-rated home cleaning services!
Even if they start with limited English, experience and a smile go a long way 😄. At MEIDE, our coordinators assist with translation if needed — because clear communication always comes first.
2️) How Non-English Home Cleaning Services Are Done
Next, let’s talk about how non-English home cleaning services actually work — smoothly and effectively.
There are a variety of methods used by MEIDE to enhance cleaning experiences:
✅ Match you with a home helper or part-time maid who speaks your preferred language.
✅ Facilitate to use Google Translate or picture-based cards for key terms (like “polish mirror” or “clean sofa”).
✅ Arrange, in conjunction with client to have a bilingual family member or friend around for the first session or two.
✅ Engage MEIDE coordinators — we can help translate or clarify your cleaning preferences! We can even prepare the part time maids beforehand so that when they reach your place, minimal instructions are required as they already know where to find the cleaning tools and supplies and where and what to clean!
Subsequently, familiarity builds trust. Even if your household helper doesn’t speak English perfectly, body language, routines, and consistency make communication seamless over time 💬.
3️) Fees for our Home Helpers💰
Importantly, let’s clear the air about costs.
Indeed, some cleaning companies in Singapore may charge extra for non-English home cleaning services. Not us!
At MEIDE, we do not impose surcharges for language requirements. Whether your household helper speaks English, Mandarin, Tamil, or Burmese, our rates stay the same.
Translation support and communication coordination are part of our service — because every home deserves fair, inclusive cleaning services.
4️) Availability (or lack thereof)
Yet, it is vital too to realize the slots may be more limited for such cases.
Most home helpers in Singapore can speak basic English. However, if you strictly need a non-English-speaking part-time maid, your preferred slot might be harder to secure. Although this may not sound like a good selling point – we prefer to make it transparent and not hide anything from homeowners.
However, don’t worry — MEIDE’s wide network means we’ll do our best to accommodate your request.
So, just tell us your preferred language early, and we’ll give it our all to make the match happen 🪄!
5️) How to Book Non-English Home Cleaning Services
Finally, ready to book? Here’s how to do it:
1️⃣ Visit clean.meide.sg/book
2️⃣ Fill up the booking form and specify your preferred language(s) and reasons.
3️⃣ Our coordinator will reach out to confirm a suitable household helper or part-time maid.
Simple, clear, and no extra charges — that’s how we like it.
🌟 Final Thoughts on Non-English Cleaning Services in Singapore
Language shouldn’t be a barrier to having a clean, happy home 🏡.
Why? Because Singapore’s diversity is something to celebrate — not to struggle with.
Hence, at MEIDE, we take pride in connecting you with home cleaning services that speak your language, literally and figuratively. Whether English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, Burmese, or Tagalog — we’ve got someone who understands you.
So go ahead — book your next session with confidence.
Communication, connection, and cleanliness can all shine together ✨.
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