How Much Does Deep Cleaning a House Cost? (2024 Guide)
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Deep cleaning is hard work, and many homeowners simply don’t have time. Hiring a professional to perform a deep clean can be surprisingly affordable, with the average cost of a house deep clean coming in at $200 to $400.
Highlights
- The average cost to deep clean a home ranges from $200 to $400.
- Some of the factors that affect the exact cost include the size and type of home, the number of rooms to be cleaned, and the extent of cleaning required.
- A deep clean can help remove excessive dust, eradicate unpleasant odors, remove leftover germs from a recent illness, and remove mold from a home.
- While some residents may choose to do their own deep cleaning, a professional can save time and stress by providing fast, efficient, and effective cleaning services.
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Cleaning can often fall by the wayside thanks to work, school, and the various other activities that keep most households busy. Homeowners and renters might feel that if they could just catch up, it would be easy to maintain a clean home, but the task of “catching up” can seem insurmountable. Professional cleaners can help. A single visit by a small team of cleaners can right the ship and reset a home, cleaning, disinfecting, and shining it up so its residents can start fresh and either maintain the cleaning on their own or hire regular standard house cleaning services every few weeks. According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost to deep clean a house falls between $200 and $400 depending on the types of services chosen.
What’s involved in a deep clean house service? While regular house cleaning consists of dusting and wiping surfaces, vacuuming and mopping, and cleaning the surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, deep cleaning goes several steps further. Customers can expect dusting and cobweb removal from surfaces, walls, corners, and cabinets along with baseboards and behind appliances. Trim, doors, and walls will be wiped down. Floors and carpets will be vacuumed and mopped, and the house cleaners will make every effort to remove dirt spots and stains from walls, carpets, and upholstery. The bathrooms will be cleaned and sanitized, as will the kitchen surfaces. Not included in the base price of a deep cleaning are carpet cleaning, scrubbing of whole wall surfaces, window and grout cleaning, and interior appliance cleaning, though those services can often be added on at an additional cost.
Deep cleaning is most often accomplished by a team of cleaners, as this level of cleaning would take a single worker much too long to be practical. Most cleaning services assess deep cleaning costs per hour of work per cleaner—so a team of four will be more expensive per hour than a team of two, but the team of four will complete the work faster and make the job easier to schedule into the resident’s day. The total cost is established based on some fixed considerations, like the size and design of the house, and some variables, such as add-on services and the condition of the home when the cleaners arrive. Understanding how these elements affect the cost will make budgeting this job more straightforward for homeowners and renters.
Factors in Calculating Deep Cleaning House Cost
Every home is different. Size, layout, and the unique needs of the residents make the cleaning challenges different in each situation, so the question “How much does a deep clean of a house cost?” has many answers. That said, most professional cleaners have seen it all, from homes that barely need a touch-up to homes that require a tremendous amount of work just to clear away the surface debris. Deep cleaning prices vary for this reason.
Home Size and Type
The size of the home correlates to the length of time it takes to deep clean it at a rate ranging from $25 to $50 per hour, so smaller houses will cost less to clean than larger ones. Many companies do have a minimum charge, however, to ensure that their cleaners make enough money cleaning a very small house or apartment to make it worth their time. Typically, a home less than 1,000 square feet will cost between $100 and $200 to meet the minimum cost, while a home larger than 3,000 square feet can cost anywhere from $300 to $1,500 simply based on the size.
The style and layout of a home also affect the cost of a deep cleaning. Condos are generally the least expensive type of home to clean because of their simple layout and smaller size. Tiny houses and cottages, along with some duplexes, make up the next average price point because of their slightly more complex layouts (more walls equal more rooms to work through) and compact spaces, which can limit the cleaning appliances that will fit inside and may require more hand cleaning. Apartments vary widely in terms of size and layout, so while some may be at the lower end of the cost spectrum if they have just one bedroom and one bathroom, others may have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a luxury kitchen, which would cost more to clean than in other houses. Town houses are deceptive; while their footprint and square footage may be small, they’re often spread out over three floors, and stairs add time and labor. Chalets and lofts add high ceilings, which can be difficult to clean and require extension poles on cleaning tools, bumping the cost higher. Traditional houses are built in so many configurations and varieties that they can be quite simple or very complex to clean, so the cost will vary accordingly.
Room Type and Number
Each room requires a cleaning team member to work through it, so the more rooms a home has, the longer the cleaning will take and the more the job will cost. In addition, some rooms take longer than others because they require a different level of cleaning.
- Laundry rooms are quick and easy: A thorough dust, wipe-down of surfaces, and mop will get the job done.
- Home offices are pretty straightforward: Dusting, emptying the trash, vacuuming, and wiping down the trim and walls are simple and don’t require much in the way of scrubbing.
- Bedrooms are a little more complex, as they may involve moving furniture to clean behind as well as vacuuming and cleaning the mattress, which can be heavy work depending on the size of the bed.
- Living rooms and dining rooms also require extended vacuuming and upholstery spot cleaning, along with some furniture movement to access the walls and baseboards behind them.
- Kitchens and bathrooms are the most labor-intensive rooms to clean because of the variety of surfaces and angles and the likelihood that vertical surfaces need more attention.
- Basements and attics may or may not be part of the base deep cleaning package; instead, they may be listed as add-on services, because the time and effort components depend so much on how crowded the spaces are and whether or not they’re primarily storage or finished living areas. As a result, these spaces tend to cost the most.
Home Condition
Is the house empty and ready for sale, or is it full of furniture and belongings? Professionals can work effectively in either case, but a home that is empty is a lot faster to clean—there’s no need to move furniture or possessions out of the way, and no furniture or mattresses to vacuum. Because of this, empty houses are less expensive to clean.
Houses that are full of belongings may require an estimate or quote before a deep cleaning is scheduled. Why? If a house is reasonably tidy, the cleaners have faster access to the surfaces that need to be cleaned; on the other hand, if the cleaners arrive and the floor is full of toys and stacked books and papers, and the counters are cluttered with dishes in the kitchen and makeup in the bathroom, extra charges may be applied because the cleaners have to tidy before they can clean (this is a different standard than what regular weekly cleaners use, which may include general tidying as part of the job). Also, the degree of dirt and buildup that needs to be scrubbed off will affect the cost: Walls that need a quick dusting and wipe down will likely be included in the cost of a deep cleaning, but walls that are stained and need significant scrubbing and other attention may be charged as a separate service. Carpets that need spot cleaning may be included, but whole-carpet shampooing is not. An estimate can help determine the cost if it’s been a long time since any cleaning was done.
Type of Cleaning Task
Every cleaning service has its own schedule or checklist of what is included in its base rate for a deep clean. Other services that may not be on this list are available for a separate cost. With this itemization, customers can choose the higher-ticket tasks that they want to have completed and avoid paying for those they don’t. These tasks can add up quickly, but it’s because they’re time-consuming that many customers choose to hire professionals in the first place, so choosing the ones that are necessary is a good idea for customers even if doing so increases the overall house deep cleaning service cost.
- Grout and tile cleaning is a frequently selected option by customers who hire deep-cleaning professionals. This service adds between $290 and $660.
- Inside appliance cleaning is included by some companies in their service; others will charge between $10 and $50 to clean the interior of a fridge or oven.
- Carpetingdeep clean price per square foot is between $1.25 and $5, with the exception of delicate rugs that need to be hand-washed. Those can run up to $8 per square foot.
- Drape and shutter cleaning averages between $150 and $360, depending on type, size, and weight.
- Walls and baseboard cleaning (beyond a dust and wipe down) averages between $170 and $480.
- Upholstery cleaning costs range from $119 to $231, although large sectionals can cost more.
- General disinfection, to clean after an illness or to remove bacteria or allergens, can add between $15 and $400 to the total cost.
Labor and Geographic Location
Because full-house deep cleaning services are based at least partly on time, the local cost of labor can have a significant impact on the cost of cleaning services. This isn’t something that the customer has any real control over, but it’s worth noting that it’s part of the budgeting. Most cleaning services will offer different packages based on the number of cleaners on the team, balanced against how long they’ll need to work to complete the job. Additional cleaners add more hourly fees but will likely complete the job much faster.
Metropolitan and suburban areas generally have quite a few cleaning services (both chain and independent) to choose from. Outlying and rural areas may have fewer options, which can lead to higher prices, or the cleaners may have to travel significant distances to reach the job site. This can add extra transportation costs to the package.
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Additional Costs and Considerations
Beyond the physical basics of the home to be cleaned, there are some other considerations when homeowners or renters are pricing the cost of a deep cleaning service and budgeting for extras. They’re important costs to factor in so the budget is reasonable and the customer can get the services done that are most important to them.
Independent Cleaner vs. Cleaning Company
For some people, inviting strangers into their home and paying them to clean the living space is a deeply personal choice. For others, it’s less so—it’s simply hiring a contractor. Either way, it’s important for the customer to be comfortable with the people who will be working in the home, just as it is with any contractor, and most especially if the cleaning will be done while the residents aren’t home. An independent cleaner will usually be less expensive and more flexible than a larger cleaning company, and many people develop long-term relationships with independent cleaning contractors. They’ll set their own rates, and their fees will go toward their own income and their own insurance, not toward a company’s overhead or group insurance. As a result, customers can often negotiate a lower rate and a schedule that works for both themselves and the cleaner. When homeowners or renters are hiring an individual, it’s important for customers to ask if they’re insured and to check references and perhaps request a background check, as the cleaner won’t have a company guaranteeing their work.
Cleaning companies, whether local or national, provide guarantees, backing, and support, along with set routines and teams. They are efficient and usually require a signed contract before they’ll begin working at a home. Because the rates cover the administration of the company and the overhead as well as the cleaners’ paychecks, the rates are usually higher than those of an independent cleaner. And because there is a central schedule that’s fixed in place, these companies may or may not be able to accommodate last-minute changes or requests. However, many established companies have great reputations for a reason: They handle the vetting of the individual cleaners so customers don’t have to, and they get the job done and done well to protect their reputation.
Onetime Cleaning vs. Recurring Cleaning
For customers who choose to schedule regular cleaning with a professional service weekly, biweekly, or monthly, that company will often offer a discount on the annual or semiannual deep cleaning. Even if deals aren’t available, a home that is professionally cleaned regularly will have less dirt buildup and thus will take less effort to deep clean, so the job will cost less.
On the other hand, for customers who have never had their home deep cleaned and are hiring the company to provide a single appointment, the onetime deep cleaning cost may be higher simply because there’s more to do and there’s no guarantee of additional work down the road.
Move-In or Move-Out Cleaning
Move-in or move-out cleaning costs about $360 but can go much higher if the space is still full of leftover moving debris or is very dirty. Add-on services may be required, because once the furniture is out, it may become apparent that the carpets must be fully cleaned or that the blinds must be fully cleaned. The cost of deep cleaning houses and apartments after moving out is worth it for renters, because the return of the security deposit is often contingent on the home being fully cleaned.
After-Event Cleaning
The cost for this type of cleaning depends on what the customer is looking for. It may entail washing dishes, collecting trash, decluttering, and then cleaning in general, or if the event was particularly festive, it may include cleaning carpets, washing floors, and scrubbing the kitchen. The deep house cleaning costs for this service will vary based on the services requested.
Sanitizing and Disinfecting
After the flu, COVID-19, or other viruses have swept through a house, it can feel like the illness just hangs in the air, even if that’s not the case. Sometimes a family can continually pass the same illnesses around just by living in the same house. When that happens, it’s worth considering a full disinfection or sanitization of the whole home. This can be expensive, because asking cleaners to enter a home that requires this treatment places them at risk of becoming ill as well, so often there will be an additional charge for protective equipment that is then discarded. Disinfection services can range from $15 to $400, while UV-light sanitizing services can range as high as $500 or more. Customers will want to check with local companies that deep clean houses for specifics, because every company will have its own pricing for this service.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning Product Usage
Some people are physically affected by the fumes generated by traditional cleaning chemicals, while others are concerned about the effects of harsh chemicals on the environment, both inside and outside the home. Using eco-friendly products can lessen both of these concerns. However, eco-friendly cleaning solutions are generally more expensive than traditional cleaners, so most cleaning services will add a small surcharge.
Tipping
Customers may wonder how much to tip house cleaners for deep cleaning, but there’s no set amount. House cleaners and house cleaning services do not require tips: They have set the cost of their service. However, rewarding cleaners (especially if the same person or team cleans the home regularly) for excellent work is always appreciated. A tip of 15 to 20 percent for a job well done will be appreciated by the cleaners.
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Deep Cleaning House Cost by Room Type
Each room in the home has different cleaning requirements and specific trouble spots. Some rooms take less time, simply because there are fewer surfaces to clean, while others have lots of areas that will require special attention and will