How Much Does House Cleaning Cost?
Did you know that paying for a house cleaning service makes you happy? Spending money on domestic services – even those outside of housekeeping – buys you time. And what’s more precious than that?
One of the most common questions we get has to do with house cleaning costs. Lots of people wonder how most house cleaning companies like Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning determine our house cleaning rates. You may be surprised to learn that it doesn’t cost as much as you might think. Plus, once you realize how much time you save by having someone else take care of the household chores for you, the investment pays for itself.
House Cleaning Pricing Guide
At Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning Services, we provide our clients with individualized quotes based on their particular needs. For example, if you don’t need your entire home cleaned, we won’t charge you based on the size of your home. Likewise, we’re okay if you want your kids to clean their rooms. This house cleaning price guide is based on national averages to help you estimate your total cleaning cost.
House Cleaning Services: Average Cost Per Hour
The average national hourly rate for cleaning services ranges from $40 to $65 per hour per person cleaning. That means you’ll pay more if you have a multi-person team. However, when you consider that two people can clean together and get more done faster than a single person, it evens out.
The average house cleaning cost ranges from $150 to $185, according to Thumbtack.
House Cleaning Prices By Property Size
Some cleaning services charge per square foot rather than by the hour. Here’s what you can expect:
- One-Bedroom Apartment (Less than 1,000 square feet): $150-$200 with an average cleaning time of two to three hours.
- 2-Bedroom Home (Between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet): $175-$225 with an average cleaning time of two to four hours.
- 3-4 Bedroom Home (Between 1,500 square feet and 1,800 square feet): $200-$250 with an average cleaning time of three to five hours.
- 5 Bedroom Home (Between 1,800 and 2,250 square feet): $275-$325 with an average cleaning time of five to seven hours.
- 6 Bedroom Home (Between 2,250 and 3,000 square feet): $300-$350 with an average cleaning time of five to eight hours.
It’s worth noting that square footage isn’t the only factor in pricing. For example, if your home is only 800 square feet, a studio apartment will be priced differently than a two-bedroom apartment of the same size. Why? Because the additional bedroom means there are more doors, windows, nooks, and crannies to clean. More effort = Higher cost.
Factors That Influence House Cleaning Prices
Many things influence your overall cleaning cost, regardless of the size of your home. However, since many house cleaning services provide their own cleaning supplies, you won’t necessarily be able to save money on cleaning services by offering up your cleaning products. Most home cleaning services include the use of eco-friendly cleaning supplies in their free estimates.
Where You Live
Cleaning costs in places like Los Angeles and New York will be much higher than in other parts of the country. If you live in one of Chicago’s suburbs, you’ll pay less than in these major cities. Our rates are in line with what others charge.
Independent Cleaner vs. Larger Business
You’ll get cheaper cleaning service prices if you work with an independent cleaner. This is because they are more likely to charge an hourly rate and expect a tip. Think of it as working with a freelancer. They have business expenses but aren’t paying the overhead of a major national chain.
The problem with working with an independent cleaner is that often, they aren’t insured. Though you’ll save money on professional house cleaning, it could still cost you. If something happens to them while they’re working in your home, you could end up liable.
Working with a major national chain means that you’ll have higher costs to cover their overhead. But, that’s where working with a small business like Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning provides benefits. You’ll get the same high-quality, trusted house cleaning services and the protection of an insured company. But, you won’t pay those corporate maid service chain prices.
Type of Cleaning
Many house cleaning services offer multiple types of services. Beyond the square footage of your home, you’ll only pay for what you need. For example, if your home has four bedrooms, but you only want the master cleaned, you won’t be charged for the other three, even if you have a 3,000 square foot home.
Standard Cleaning
Standard cleaning services are often the most affordable. A standard clean covers the basics, such as:
- Cleaning the bathroom: Sink, toilet, shower/tub, wiping down surfaces, dusting, floors
- Cleaning the kitchen: Wiping all surfaces, dusting, emptying the garbage, floor
- Cleaning the bedrooms: Wiping all surfaces, dusting, emptying the garbage, floors
- Cleaning the living room: Wiping down all surfaces, dusting, vacuuming the curtains and the couch, floor
Deep Cleaning
A deep cleaning goes beyond basic cleaning services to include things like:
- Walls and windowsills
- Wiping light fixtures
- Cleaning the inside of the oven
- Degreasing your range hood
- Cleaning the inside of the refrigerator
Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning
This is essentially a one-time deep cleaning. The difference is that this is usually vacant house cleaning. Many house cleaning companies come in after the residents have already moved everything out. With furniture and belongings out the way, it’s much easier to tackle. As a result, you can expect a move out cleaning cost to be in line with deep house cleaning pricing.
It pays to give notice and schedule your house cleaners in advance of your move, though. With too short notice, many professional house cleaners won’t be able to accommodate your chosen cleaning dates.
After Event Cleaning
This is a one-time cleaning after a party or other gathering. You schedule with us for the same-day cleaning service or a later time in the week. This typically includes handling dishes and cleaning up the living spaces after the event is over.
House Cleaning Cost – Additional Services
Adding services to your cleaning will increase the cost. Things like:
- Cleaning inside the fridge
- Cleaning the inside of the microwave
- Cleaning inside the oven
- Window cleaning
- Laundry wash/dry/fold
- Changing bed linens
are often add-ons you can request as part of your cleaning package. We provide these services at your request. If you want these services included in your cleaning job, whether one-time or recurring, the cost of house cleaning will reflect that.
Cleaning Frequency
The more often you hire a cleaning service, the lower the cleaning costs of each visit. You may opt for a one-time deep clean to get things started. Then, have a standard clean once a week or every two weeks. The first clean, whether deep or not, will always take longer.
Once the initial cleaning is done, the weekly cleaning service moves quickly. It’s much easier for a professional cleaner to maintain their work after that first visit. Many cleaning companies offer a discount for weekly or monthly basis cleaning, but you can still capture a discount if you opt for a routine cleaning every two weeks or once a month.
Choosing the Right Cleaning Services for Your Needs
It’s common to have different cleaning needs at different times. That’s why many people book a deep cleaning service for spring cleaning or after they’ve finished a home remodeling project.
It’s also a good option if you want to get your home sparkling clean before or after an event. Hosting family for the holidays? Let a house cleaner take care of it for you – so you don’t have to stress.
Invest in move-out cleaning to make sure you have the best chance of getting your deposit back.
As a general rule, the less intensive the work is for the cleaning service, the less expensive it will be. As you shop around, though, be sure you understand what is included at each service level.
Many cleaning companies categorize their service offerings differently, so that’s why it’s important to go over the details of what you want when you ask for your quote. If you have any specifics or special requests, most companies will work with you to accommodate them.
Benefits of Hiring a Cleaning Service
When you hire a professional house cleaning company, you’ll:
- Stressless because your home is clean when you get home from work
- Have more free time to spend however you choose
- Improve your indoor air quality. Regularly cleaning your floors and furniture removes dust, pet dander, and dirt that can aggravate allergies.
- Have the flexibility to customize your cleaning to meet your needs
What You Get When You Hire Us
When you spend money on house cleaning with Upstairs Downstairs Cleaning Services, you’ll get a fair price. We’re a top cleaning company in the Northwest Chicago area. We take pride in what we do.
We provide our own cleaning products. The only thing you need to have is a vacuum. We offer a variety of cleaning services to meet your needs. When you book a recurring cleaning service, you’ll always have the same crew who get to know you and your preferences.
We’re not your average cleaning company. We’ll always be upfront about the cleaning costs in your home. If you ever need to change services, let us know, and we’ll adjust accordingly. We’re not happy unless you’re happy.
