As a professional house cleaner, you might find yourself in a fix when determining the correct house cleaning prices to charge. The average cost of a deep clean keeps fluctuating from time to time. In 2024, house cleaning costs should be affordable, or else you might not be able to attract business. Luckily for you, here we will share some tips for cleaning companies to set their per-hour and per-square-foot rates properly.
Factors Affecting Professional Cleaning Prices
As a professional house cleaning service, you need to be mindful of the factors that affect the cost of home cleaning. Once you have a clear idea of the cost involved in the task, you can set your pricing accordingly. For instance, you have to price regular cleaning and commercial cleaning differently. Moreover, you can charge a higher hourly rate for a deep clean. Let’s glance over the factors that affect the overall cost of house cleaning:
Square Footage of the House
As a house cleaner, you can consider charging per room. Some cleaning businesses also charge per cleaner, depending on how many people you need to deploy for the task. The larger the house, the more time and effort you invest. For instance, a 3-bedroom house can have a square footage of up to 2,000. Hence, the resources and labor required would be greater than for a smaller home.
Type of Cleaning Service Required
Clients can call you in for different types of house cleaning jobs. As a cleaner, you should be ready for any type of cleaning task. House cleaning companies must offer the following services:
Move-Out Cleaning
Your client might be leaving their current home and opting for standard cleaning. This holds for renters who have to return the home to their landlord in good condition or risk losing their deposit. A move-out cleaning can involve cleaning every part of the house, from the windows to the carpets. You can create a cleaning checklist depending on the number of tasks involved. This step will also enable you to determine suitable move-out cleaning costs.
Carpet Cleaning
As a rule, people opt for professional carpet cleaning once every six months. Generally, people do not take good care of their carpets, and require a deep clean occasionally. In fact, as a professional house cleaner, you will find many people who want their dirty carpets restored as good as new.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning
As a professional house cleaner, you can charge extra for eco-friendly cleaning. Clients who are mindful about minimizing their carbon footprint, and therefore, might opt for greener cleaning options. You should add this service to increase your earnings.
You should list your services with their prices, to make managing things easier. Mention the prices for:
- Standard house cleaning
- Weekly cleaning service
- Window cleaning
Also, mention any cleaning package you offer to enable your clients to save money on house cleaning.
Location of Your Business
The location where you operate also determines the cleaning rates you can charge. For instance, prices are higher in urban areas due to the higher cost of living and the average cost of labor and resources, and you can charge accordingly.
Condition of the House
You can charge a higher hourly rate for a house that requires a deep clean. You should inspect the condition of the house before you quote a price. You need a clear idea of the volume of cleaning supplies required for the task. Cleaning products are integral to any cleaning job and can add to the overall cost. These variables make determining the average cost of house cleaning difficult.
The level of cleaning required can also affect the total price you may charge. For instance, a spring cleaning might require considerable time and effort since a client would opt for it once a year. Hence, cleaning companies charge more for this service than simple window cleaning.
Monthly Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning a House
As mentioned above, the condition of the house you are working on will affect the house cleaning price range. This is why you should be mindful of the frequency of the cleaning job, especially when you factor in all the costs involved. For example, a deep cleaning costs more than a regular cleaning service.
Cleaning a 3-Bedroom House: Pricing Guide
Hiring a house cleaning service for a house with 3 bedrooms generally costs $150 to $250. A cleaner usually charges $150 for a basic cleaning job, which involves dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning all the common areas of the house. A standard cleaning job can cost $200, including the basic cleaning and cleaning of the kitchen and bathrooms. Remember that you must clean every bedroom regardless of the job’s complexity.
A thorough, deep clean will cost every part of the house, including appliances. You can charge extra for additional services, such as cleaning carpets and windows. When providing a quote to the client, you can set the cleaning cost per bedroom. Some house cleaners prefer a per-square-foot rate. Regardless, you should analyze the extent of the job and the fact that you need to clean three bedrooms.
Cost of Cleaning Bathrooms
As with the house, the size and condition of the bathrooms are major determining factors in calculating the price. Typically, there are three types of bathrooms you might have to clean, including:
- Master bathrooms are large and often include a separate bathtub and double sinks. You can charge up to $70 for a master bathroom
- A standard full-size bathroom has the usual sink, toilet, shower, and bathtub, but the surface and storage area is generally greater. You can charge up to $50 for a standard bathroom
- A small bathroom, which might not include a shower or bathtub, is easier to clean and takes less time. You can charge up to $35 for a small bathroom.
Factors to Consider for Bathroom Cleaning Costs
As a professional cleaner, you must price your services perfectly to increase profits. The factors to consider when determining the price for cleaning a bathroom are similar to the ones you should consider when pricing a bedroom cleaning. Regardless, bathrooms are an integral part of any house cleaning project, and no cleaner should ignore this fact.
- We briefly covered the different sizes of bathrooms that you will find. People generally hire a house cleaner to clean their bathrooms once every few months. You can inspect the bathrooms in advance and determine their condition. Depending on the condition, you can price your services accordingly. This is important as a dirty bathroom will require a deep cleaning service.
- The average house has one master bathroom and a few other standard or small bathrooms. To simplify pricing, you can charge per square foot for deep cleaning a bathroom. Otherwise, you can set a standard price for each type of bathroom and charge accordingly.
- Many house cleaning companies charge less for cleaning bathrooms in good condition. You can ask your clients how frequently they clean their bathrooms, look at the condition of the bathroom, and determine how much to charge for house cleaning.
- Your client might have a luxury bathroom or two in their home. These bathrooms feature accessories that might require specialized cleaning techniques and equipment. In this case, you can charge a higher price for the job.
Additional House Cleaning Services
Some clients might ask you for extra services when you are cleaning their bathrooms. You can upgrade your house cleaning package to provide:
- Cabinet cleaning, where you wipe down and clean all the cabinets in the bathrooms
- Shower cleaning, where you clean not just the shower area but also remove scum from the shower door
- Tile and grout cleaning, where you clean the floor of the bathroom to remove any visible stains and mildew
All these considerations are important before you begin any house cleaning project. The most suitable option is to charge per square foot by measuring the bathrooms. This step can make deciding the price much easier.
Typical Charges for Cleaning a 1-bedroom, 1-bath Space
When it comes to a house cleaning job, a 1-bedroom and 1-bath space would be among the smallest spaces you get to clean. Place yourself in your client’s shoes: wouldn’t you rather clean your home when the space is small? The answer would be yes, but still, people hire a cleaning service for this job, especially if they don’t have the time or energy to go DIY. Here are some tips for determining the price of house cleaning for a 1-bedroom, 1-bath space:
Breakdown of the Services
- You will dust and vacuum every room of the house
- You must wipe down the cabinets and drawers as well as any other storage space
- You need to clean the kitchen and bathrooms thoroughly, where deep cleaning could take longer than the common areas of the house
You might have to use eco-friendly cleaning supplies depending on your client’s requirements. Since you must provide your cleaning supplies, you must factor them into the price. There are some add-ons that your clients might ask for, including:
- Believe it or not, some clients also ask their cleaners to do the laundry and the dishes. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to offer these services. In this situation, you can opt for a cleaning cost per hour to price your services perfectly.
- You might have to reduce your price for a studio apartment. The square footage of a studio apartment is smaller than that of a house or an apartment, even if it has one bedroom and one bathroom. A studio apartment cleaning would cost 30% less than a bigger house.
While you can set your deep cleaning cost per hour for smaller homes, cleaning companies may offer a discount for a weekly package. If your client requires regular house cleaning, you must offer a discount.
How Much for Cleaning 6 Bathrooms?
The size of a house that has six bathrooms would be huge, right? Your cleaning cost calculator might go off the rails when calculating the price per square foot. Even if you charge by the hour, the price can add up. However, as a professional cleaner, you must offer a bulk discount. For instance, if a house has 6 bathrooms, including two luxury bathrooms and four standard bathrooms, you can charge a flat $300 to complete the project.
Pricing Guide for Cleaning a 4-Bedroom House
We provided a detailed house cleaning pricing guide that you can follow to price any project. When working on a specific type of house, you can determine the price accordingly. This section will cover a 4-bedroom house and how to set your budget.
Special Considerations for House Cleaning
When calculating the total cost of house cleaning for a 4-bedroom property, you should account for any special considerations. Some of the common ones include:
- It will take longer to clean if the house was recently renovated or newly constructed. The scale and scope of the project would be greater since you have to deal with excessive debris and dust. You can easily charge more than $350 to clean the house.
- If your client is moving in or out of their home, you can charge more for deep house cleaning. They want the house to be in top condition. Therefore, a professional cleaning service would charge more for cleaning a house whether the client is moving in or not.
- Some clients opt for event cleaning services when they want their house cleaned for a special occasion. For instance, if they expect guests to come over, they might hire commercial cleaning services.
Conclusion
The average house cleaning job can take several hours and involve multiple cleaning professionals. This is why you need to determine the house cleaning services cost depending on the nature of the job. We hope this pricing guide will enable you to set the price perfectly to attract more clients. On average, deep cleaning a house costs up to $500, but you can charge more if add-ons exist. The bottom line is that you need to set your hourly rate for house cleaning after considering all the factors mentioned here.