Apartment cleaners near you

Yes, you can hire a maid or a cleaning service for your apartment. When looking for a professional, be sure to:

• Verify their license and insurance: Ask for proof of business licenses or certifications, and confirm they carry general liability insurance and workers' comp. Also, check if they're bonded to cover mishaps like theft or property damage.

• Get several estimates: Ask for itemized quotes from at least two or three pros. 

• Read their reviews. Look for comments about punctuality, thoroughness, organizational skills, reliability and overall satisfaction with the quality of the cleaning.

• Look at their portfolios: Review before-and-after photos of properties and projects similar to yours.

• Find out if they have warranties: Look for pros with satisfaction guarantees.

• Ask important questions: Ask about pricing, cleaning methods and whether they'll bring their own cleaning equipment and supplies.

For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.

How often you should clean your apartment depends on factors like household size, pets and how quickly messes pile up. Here are some schedules that might work for you, depending on your circumstances: 

• Daily: Ideal for busy households with shared living spaces and anyone who wants a consistently clean, presentable home.

• Twice a week: A popular choice for enhancing general upkeep, pros may even have time for extra tasks like cleaning windows or ironing.

• Weekly: A good option for maintaining essential cleanliness, especially if you have pets, kids or a busy schedule.

• Monthly: Best if you handle the day-to-day cleaning but need help with larger tasks like scrubbing bathrooms or dusting hard-to-reach areas.

• Seasonally (every 3 to 4 months): Perfect if you periodically want to refresh your home with a deep clean and declutter — including carpets, wardrobes, kitchen cabinets, etc.

• Annually: A lot of people choose spring for their deep-cleaning reset, but other good times include before a life change or after hosting an event.

Whether you need help with routine maintenance or the occasional deep clean, hiring a professional cleaning service will free up your time and ensure your apartment stays clean and tidy.

The national average cost of a cleaning service is around $152 to $287* per cleaning, according to Thumbtack data. There are several factors that might impact the cost of this project, including: 

• Frequency of service: Recurring cleanings often cost less than one-off deep cleans.

• Scope of cleaning: Routine maintenance, deep cleaning and specialized tasks vary in price.

• Size and layout: Bigger and more complex spaces may take longer to clean. For example, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment will generally take longer to clean than a studio.

You might be able to save money on your project with these tips: 

• Schedule maintenance cleanings: Regular weekly or monthly cleanings can prevent buildup and make each cleaning session faster and less intensive for the pro. Plus, keeping your space consistently clean can reduce the need for costly deep cleans. 

• Compare estimates: Get a few quotes and do your research before choosing your pro.

• Book during off-peak times: Everyone knows about spring cleaning. Consider scheduling yours in a different season. Work with your pro to see if they offer lower rates during less popular times. 

*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.

Typically, it will take a couple of hours for a professional to clean an apartment. Here are a few factors that may impact how long it takes:

• Size and layout: Larger, more complex spaces take longer to clean. For example, a studio apartment with one bathroom will take less time to clean than a three-bedroom apartment with multiple bathrooms.

• Type of cleaning: Deep or move-out cleaning sessions can take twice as long as regular maintenance cleaning sessions. More comprehensive and labor-intensive tasks like cleaning appliances, shampooing carpets and scrubbing grime off the walls require additional time and effort.

• Extra services: Tasks like washing windows and cleaning carpets generally extend the process.

• Apartment condition: More clutter and dirt buildup typically require more cleaning time.

• Number of cleaners: Hiring more than one cleaner gets the job done faster.

Remember: The timeline for your project will vary depending on many factors. Always ask your pro to provide an estimate.

Many cleaning pros offer standard and deep cleaning services for apartments.

In most cases, standard apartment cleanings entail the following tasks:

• Dust and wipe surfaces: Dust and wipe down furniture, shelves and countertops.

• Clean floors: Vacuum carpets and mop floors to keep them free of dirt, pet hair and more.

• Disinfect bathrooms: Clean mirrors, sinks, showers, bathtubs and toilets to maintain hygiene.

• Tidy the kitchen: Wipe down counters, stovetops and appliance exteriors to keep your space fresh and organized.

For apartment deep cleaning, pros typically tackle areas that are not included in a standard cleaning:

• Appliances: Scrubbing the insides of appliances like fridges, microwaves and ovens to remove buildup and grime.

• Tiles and grout: Cleaning backsplashes, bathroom tiles and grout lines to remove stains and mold.

• Around and under furniture: Removing dust and debris beneath furniture and other hard-to-reach areas.

• Baseboards, door frames and handles: Dirt, scuffs and smudges can accumulate on these often-neglected areas of your home.

• Light fixtures and ceiling fans: Removing dust and grime from these fixtures will improve both lighting and air circulation.

Deep cleaning may require more time, but it leaves you with a much fresher living space. You can maintain healthy day-to-day living conditions while preventing built-up grime.

Some of the biggest benefits of getting your apartment professionally cleaned include:

• Saving time and energy: Professional cleaners efficiently handle cleaning tasks, freeing up your time and energy for other tasks.

• Expertise and specialized equipment: Pros often use advanced or industrial tools such as steam cleaners, carpet cleaning machines or HEPA-filtered vacuums to ensure the best results.

• Customized cleaning plans: You can tailor professional cleaning services to suit your schedule and cleaning preferences.

• Healthier living environment: Professional cleaners can rid your home of dust, allergens and pathogens, making it a healthier space.

• Extend longevity of your household items: Routine and thorough cleaning and upkeep of items like carpets and appliances can prolong their lifespan.

Deep cleaning a house goes beyond the surface level to clear out the dust, grime and gunk that’s collecting on the fan blades, hiding in the blinds, and built up inside the refrigerator drawers. Deep cleaning of a home or apartment costs more than regular house cleaning because it takes more time, effort, and cleaning products. You may choose to have a deep cleaning once or several times a year in addition to your standard cleaning services. You may have a one-time deep cleaning to prepare for company or to clean after a house party. Companies may charge an hourly rate or a price per square foot, or may offer you a flat rate after they have visited your home and estimated work time. The national average house cleaning price is $110-$150, with rates ranging higher for deep-cleaning services. Here are some examples of how a company may calculate their deep-cleaning prices:

• 10 cents per square foot (compared with 5 cents per square foot for standard house cleaning).
• $300 for a 3,000-square-foot home.
• $25 per hour per worker for deep-cleaning services.

There are many questions to ask a cleaning service before you hire them to make sure they’re the right fit. These questions might include:

• How much do you charge?
• How do you set your prices -- per hour or per square foot? Or, do you charge a flat rate?
• What is your past work experience? Can I see a list of references?
• Are you accustomed to working with different home or apartment types and sizes?
• Can you work with children or pets in the house?
• What types of cleaning products do you use?
• Do you bring your own cleaning supplies and products?
• How often can you clean my home?
• Is there anything you recommend I do (or don't do) to my home before you arrive?

For more tips on how to hire the best maid or house cleaning service, read our smart hiring guide.

A basic house cleaning typically includes tasks like carpet cleaning, wiping countertops, taking out the trash, doing the laundry and washing dishes. A deep house cleaning is a much more involved process, where all aspects of the home are given full attention for a cleanout. In a deep house cleaning, the cleaners will wet-wipe everything from door frames to light switch plates, making sure to also clean walls, windows, air vents, ceiling fans, furniture and more.

You may benefit from hiring a professional move-out cleaning service, depending on your budget, time frame and whether you will be getting a deposit back. Hiring a cleaning service takes the stress out of your move. But if you’ve had your house regularly deep-cleaned, or if your landlord will charge you for cleaning anyway, you can save costs by DIY-ing it.