What are the different types of services house cleaners typically offer?
House cleaners typically offer:
Regular cleaning: Standard cleaning services such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, cleaning countertops and other surfaces, cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms and taking out the trash.
Deep cleaning: More thorough than a regular cleaning, tackling hard-to-reach areas and issues like soap scum removal, cleaning under and behind appliances and moving furniture.
Detailed cleaning: A detailed cleaning often provides a more focused approach to cleaning and polishing visible surfaces. Sometimes, detailed house cleanings are a level above deep cleanings, but you should ask your house cleaner how they differentiate the two.
Residential cleaning: Residential cleaners typically work in houses, apartments and condominiums, but not businesses.
Commercial cleaning: Commercial cleaners offer services to businesses of all types and sizes.
House cleaners don't typically offer services like:
Pressure washing or exterior cleaning
Lawn or yard debris cleanup
Laundry or dishes
Decluttering or organizing
Interior oven cleaning or degreasing
Mold treatment or removal
Pet cleanup, including dog waste pickup or litter box cleaning
How much is a professional house cleaning service?
The national average cost of a cleaning service ranges from around $155 to $290* per visit, according to Thumbtack data. Several factors could impact house cleaning prices, including:
The size and layout of your home: Large homes, or homes with a lot of bathrooms, stairs, interior balconies or hard-to-reach locations, may cost extra to clean.
How often you want your house cleaned: You should expect to pay more overall for frequent cleaning due to the extra time the cleaner will spend in your home. Some cleaning services offer packages with discounted per-visit rates. Ask your house cleaner how much it would cost for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleanings.
You want a deep house cleaning. Your price will likely be higher if you want deeper or detailed cleaning, which may involve appliance cleaning, window cleaning, polishing fixtures, etc.
You might be able to save money on a cleaning service if you:
Declutter before the cleaner arrives: If you pick up items and declutter your space, your cleaner will be able to work more efficiently and possibly in less time.
Only have essential rooms (such as the kitchen and bathrooms) cleaned professionally: Reducing the scope of work your cleaner needs to do is a great way to spend less and have a cleaner home.
Compare prices (but don't sacrifice quality): Shopping around for cleaners in your area can help you find the right one for your needs — and at your price point.
*Data on file at Thumbtack. For a personalized cost estimate, request a quote from a professional.
How do I ensure I'm hiring a good and legitimate house cleaning service?
When looking for a professional to clean your home, follow these steps to find someone you can trust:
Verify their license and insurance: Depending on your location, your house cleaner may have a state or city business license — or both. They should also have general liability insurance to protect you if they damage something in your home. Requirements depend on your local area so be sure to do your research.
Get several estimates: Be sure to get precise estimates that detail the scope of the cleaning. Understand what’s included (dusting, mopping, etc.) and what may cost more (deep cleaning, window cleaning, etc.) to establish clear expectations.
Read their reviews: Reviews can help you understand others' experiences and give insight into a house cleaner's methods, punctuality, trustworthiness, thoroughness and general professionalism.
Look at their portfolios: Before-and-after pictures help you see how careful and detailed a house cleaner is so you can decide if they suit your needs. Pay special attention to how they treat areas that are prone to messiness and grime, like kitchens, bathrooms, floors and baseboards.
Find out if they have warranties or guarantees: Most house cleaners don't have official warranties, but cleaners with good reputations generally offer to re-clean areas that don't meet your standards.
Ask important questions: Ask your cleaner about their rates, availability, whether they background-check their employees and how long they've been cleaning.
For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.
How long should it take a professional to clean my home?
A professional typically takes 1 to 3 hours to complete a standard home cleaning, but this can vary significantly. There are a few factors that may impact how long it takes, including:
The size of your home: Bigger homes take longer to clean even if you have frequent cleanings and keep up with clutter. For example, it should take around 3 to 4 hours to professionally clean a 2,000-square-foot home and between 2.5 and 4 hours for a three-bedroom home, depending on the square footage.
How much clutter you have: Decluttering before a cleaner arrives is an excellent way to reduce the time needed to clean your home.
The level of cleaning you request: Standard cleanings are not as thorough as deep cleanings and will take less time. A standard cleaning can take as little as 1 to 2 hours, while a deep cleaning could take as long as 6 to 8 hours, especially for a larger home.
The specific details of your home: Homes with built-ins, textured walls, architectural detail or hard-to-reach areas may take longer to clean.
How many people are cleaning: A team of cleaners will be in and out of your home faster than a single cleaner.
How many bathrooms you have: Cleaning bathrooms is time-consuming, and it will take longer if you have multiple.
Remember: The timeline for your project will vary depending on many factors. Always ask your pro to provide an estimate.
What can I expect when I hire a professional to clean my home?
In most cases, a professional will take the following steps when doing a standard cleaning:
Thoroughly clean all surfaces, including appliances and countertops: Professional cleaners focus on general cleaning of all the accessible areas of your home, including flat surfaces like counters and tabletops. They might also clean the walls, baseboards and trim.
Sanitize the kitchen and bathrooms: Kitchen and bathroom sanitation is essential to professional cleaning, reducing the risk of germs and illnesses. The pro should tackle toilets, showers, tubs, sinks and faucets.
Dust, vacuum and mop: Cleaners will vacuum carpets, mop floors and dust bookcases, coffee tables and other areas where dust and dirt collect.
Remove trash and replace trash can liners: Trash removal is a standard part of most professional cleaning.
Other cleaning tasks on an individual basis: Depending on your needs, you can ask your cleaner about specific services to help keep your home looking great.
Why should I hire a professional house cleaner?
Here are some of the most significant benefits of that come with hiring a cleaning service:
Saving time: When you hire a professional house cleaner, you can spend your time on work, hobbies or other activities instead of cleaning.
Improving your home’s hygiene: A clean home is safer and healthier, meaning fewer illnesses, better air quality and a more comfortable environment.
Avoiding physical exertion or possible injury: Bending down to scrub toilets, bathtubs and baseboards can irritate your back, and climbing up ladders to clean walls and trim can be dangerous. Consider hiring a professional with the skills and expertise to do these tasks safely.
Cleaners have access to better tools and supplies: Professional house cleaners typically have top-notch supplies, such as vacuums with hose attachments, dusters with extendable poles, pumice stones, steam mops and more.
Ensuring that your house is always clean: Whether you want to spend a cozy weekend alone or have company coming over, you won't have to worry about cleaning your space when you hire local cleaning services.
How much does it cost to deep clean a house?
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.
What should I ask a house cleaner or maid before hiring them?
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.
What is included in a deep house cleaning vs. a basic house cleaning?
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.
Should I hire a move-out cleaning service or do it myself?
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.