The examples described herein relate to methods and apparatus for cleanup prediction and monitoring. A disclosed method of predicting cleanup of a sample fluid obtained by a downhole tool includes drawing the sample fluid into the downhole tool via a probe assembly; measuring optical densities of the sample fluid at a plurality of different respective times; selecting at least some of the measured optical densities as fitting points; identifying one or more inversion parameters; and performing, via a processor, an inversion using the fitting points, the inversion parameters and simulation data to generate data associated with a predicted cleanup of the sample fluid.