How Much Do Housecleaners Cost, and What You Should Consider Before Signing Up

The post How Much Do Housecleaners Cost, and What You Should Consider Before Signing Up appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.

In a world that seems to go faster and faster every day, it makes sense to start asking, “How much do housecleaners cost, anyway?” Every moment is precious, and spending your free time with a mop in hand brings very few people joy (probably). Yet, you’re more likely to thrive and have a clearer mind in a clean home.

The reality is, though, that a lot of us are short on time and money, so getting the best deal, the best bang for your buck, is too important to just hire the first legit house cleaning company you see. 

The price will depend on how often you want your house cleaned by a pro, whether you’re okay with committing to multiple cleanings at once in order to save a little cash, the type of cleaning you need (standard or deep, for example?), and a slew of other things. There are a lot of moving pieces.

How Much Do Housecleaners Cost: What’s Factored In

There’s no real across-the-board cost for house cleaning. But for the sake of a general idea, you can expect to pay between about $120.00 and $250.00 per standard cleaning. 

There is flexibility, however. For example, you’ll pay more (or at least at the high end of that scale) if you have a large house and need a deep clean. If you live in a small home or apartment and need lighter cleaning, you may pay less than the estimated $120.00. 

Several factors can be involved when it comes to pricing:

Where you live (cost of living) Whether you need a one-time cleaning or want ongoing house cleaning services (you could buy multiple visits at one time or sign up for a membership) The size of your house How many bedrooms and bathrooms you have Whether you need light cleaning or a deep clean (or move-in/move-out, etc.) Where you hire from (Taskrabbit will be different from a business that trains their cleaners, for example, individual cleaners will have different pricing than agencies) Any extras you might want to add, like dishes, inside your cabinets or oven, or laundry–be sure to see what exactly you’re getting with a basic cleaning, and what you’ll have to pay extra for. Make sure you’re getting everything–or at least most of–what you want when you’re comparing prices. Whether they use their own supplies or yours

There are also pricing models, which can cross over with the factors above:

Per-hour Per cleaning (you may be able to buy several at once and save money) Per month (memberships)

If you’re looking to hire a house cleaning service for regular cleaning, a membership is usually the way to go. Just be sure you’re able to commit to their minimum number of months, and check what the price per cleaning is after any introductory price ends so there aren’t any surprises.

Getting the Most Out of Your House Cleaning Service

There are a few quick tips you can use for getting the most out of your cleaning service if you decide to go with one:

Schedule recurring visits, not just one-time visits, so you can save money (you’ll usually get a bit of a discount per visit or per hour when you schedule more than one or sign up for a membership). The first time you schedule, go with a deep clean, then all the others can be maintenance cleaning, which will take less time and cost less (just be sure to declutter before they get there if that’s not something your cleaner does!). Get clear about what’s included in your appointment and what counts as an add-on. This could be the difference between two good house cleaning options, as far as price goes. Find out if you’ll be responsible for supplying the cleaning products (you may want to because you have preferences, and that’s okay, but you’ll want to factor that into the cost–and make sure they’re willing to use what you have, if you will be providing them). Ideally, you’ll find a good deal, and they’ll bring supplies that you approve of. If you’re open to recurring visits for at least several months, shop around for vouchers and discounts to save on at least the first visit. Split the load with your house cleaning service. Instead of paying for weekly visits, for example, you could create a list of must-dos for yourself in the other weeks, things that keep your house feeling clean, but don’t require as much time and energy as being 100 percent in charge of making sure the house is always clean.

House Cleaning Options

Keep in mind, your cost per cleaning and/or hourly rate will be based on where you live, but here are some ranges to give you an idea of how the different types of house cleaning services compare:

Model	Average Cost	Pros	Cons
One-time visit (standard)	$118.00-$300.00	Flexible	More expensive per visit
Hourly	$25.00-$75.00 per cleaner per hour	Pay for what you get	Variable/unpredictable pricing
Recurring with no membership	$100-$250 per visit	Could save money	Prices may fluctuate
Membership or subscription	First visit: $19.00 for 3 hours, then subsequent cleanings start at $18/hr with the $59.00 monthly membership	Locked rate, discounts for being a loyal customer	You’ll have to commit or risk paying a fee if you break the agreement (sometimes up to $200.00)
Deep clean/spring clean	$200.00-$400.00	Extremely thorough, covers things that often get neglected in standard or DIY cleanings	Expensive
Move-in/move-out	$150.00-$600.00	Having someone else tackle this task is a major stress-reliever when you have a million moving-related things on your plate	Typically expensive

Here’s a comparison between house cleaning companies, based on pricing in a northwestern Atlanta suburb. Some quotes are based on home size and others are based on time, and we’re looking for a standard cleaning here (deep cleanings, move-in cleanings, move-out cleanings, and spring cleanings will typically cost more). 

Some prices will be quote-based and may vary, and, of course, if you live in a larger house, you might need to factor in another hour or two of cleaning costs:

Service	Pricing Model	Estimated Cost for a 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath Home (~3 Hours)	Estimated Cost for a 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Home (~4 Hours)	Estimated Cost for a 3 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom Home (~6 Hours)	Membership/Recurring Discount	Notes
Homeaglow	Hourly + membership	$59/month + $19 for the first 3-hr visit (other rates are available if you need more time), then ~$19/hour for subsequent cleanings (so $57 each, based on an estimated regular non-member price of $49/hr)	$59/month + $39 for the first 4-hr visit (other rates are available if you need more time), then ~$19/hour for subsequent cleanings (so $76 each, based on an estimated regular non-member price of $49/hr)	$59/month + $79 for the first 6-hr visit (other rates are available if you need more time), then ~$19/hour for subsequent cleanings (so $114 each, based on an estimated regular non-member price of $49/hr)	Yes. $59/month, then you save $30/hr per cleaning after the first visit	The more cleanings you need, the more the $59/mo is worth it. Early cancellation of the 6-month contract incurs a fee based on the cost of a regular cleaning with no discount
Handy	Hourly, quote-based	$99-$221.10 per cleaning (longer commitments–up to a year–and more frequent cleanings lower price per visit)	$132-$294.80 per cleaning (longer commitments–up to a year–and more frequent cleanings lower price per visit)	$165-$368.50 per cleaning (longer commitments–up to a year–and more frequent cleanings lower price per visit)	Yes. Discounts for recurring bookings	Requires a commitment of at least three months for their quoted prices, and cancellation results in a $99.00 fee
Merry Maids	Quote-based per visit	$83/visit (weekly) to $180/visit (one-time)	$108 (weekly) to $238 (one-time) per cleaning	$117 (weekly) to $259 (one-time) per cleaning	No formal membership option, but recurring visits lower the per-visit cost	Custom quote required, thorough questionnaire, with details about weekly, every other week, every four weeks, and one-time cleanings ( special occasion, move-in, and move-out rates are also supplied)
Molly Maid	Quote-based per visit	~$120 to $300 for a 2-3 hour cleaning*	$240-$400 for a 4-hour cleaning*	$360-$600 for a 6-hour cleaning*	No membership option, but recurring visits reduce per-visit cost	Custom quote required, and they want to do it in-person, which adds additional friction when you’re shopping around
Taskrabbit	Hourly, set by tasker	~$33/hr (depends on the Tasker), so estimate $66.00 to $132.00 per visit	$132-$280/visit, based on average of $33/hr	$165-$350/visit, based on average of $33/hr	Up to the Tasker, but you could save with them if you book several cleanings vs. just one	You’ll choose your cleaner and have flexible timing

*I was unable to get a specific quote here, and the online chat did not provide the information I was hoping for, so I did online research to find a price range for the area.

Is a House Cleaner Worth It?

The short answer: If you’re struggling to keep up or you resent the time you’re spending on cleaning your own house because there are other ways you could be spending your time for a more fulfilling life (time with friends and family, for example, or even a stroll through the local farmer’s market to calm you down after the work week), then yes. Even a monthly housecleaning visit could lighten your load. 

Costs can vary quite a bit, but that means you can hunt for the best introductory offers, or book more visits if you are comfortable committing to a membership or discounted rate for multiple visits.

When you’re looking at the prices for home cleaning services, don’t forget to factor in how much cleaning products cost you when you DIY it. Pay attention to how much you spend on keeping the house clean. Depending on what you use (and how long it lasts), that could take a not-insignificant chunk out of the sticker shock (if you had sticker shock). 

The post How Much Do Housecleaners Cost, and What You Should Consider Before Signing Up appeared first on Penny Pinchin' Mom.