Q & A
Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.
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.
How do I choose the best house cleaning service?
When searching for the best house cleaning service near you, consider the depth of your cleaning needs, your budget and the size and condition of your home. Read reviews from verified customers of any cleaning service that you’re looking to hire. Also, check out the reviewers’ photos and do background checks on reviewers to ensure they’re not employed by established cleaning firms or maid agencies.
When viewing house cleaners on Thumbtack, you might see aTop Pro badge. This indicates that the service is one of the most popular and highly-rated professionals using the platform.
How do I prepare for a house cleaner?
There are several things you can do in preparation for a house cleaning to improve the efficiency and quality of the job. If you’re unfamiliar with a cleaning service, hiding and locking away any obvious valuables lying around can offer great peace of mind.
Depending on the preference of the cleaner, you may need to lock up your pets before the cleaners arrive. Washing dishes and decluttering the house allows a house cleaner to do their job more effectively. And leaving special notes for the cleaners about certain areas in your home that need attention is also helpful.
Ask house cleaners near you about their tips to help you prepare for their services.
How much should you tip maids or cleaning services?
Tipping between 15 and 20 percentis considered an appropriate tip for maids and house cleaners — just as it would with a barber, food delivery driver or taxi operator. During the holidays, you might want to consider tipping a bit more.
It’s important to note that some housekeeping and maid services might include a tip within the service fee, which should be explained to you in the service contract. Talk to house cleaners in your area to find out what's included in their fees.
How often should you have your house cleaned?
The frequency you should have your house cleaned depends on several factors, and the best professional house cleaner can give you a rough estimate of costs so you can budget how often you need someone to clean your home.
Daily house cleaning may be necessary if you have a home with a large number of bedrooms with young children and kids, although other homeowners may benefit from weekly house cleaning. A weekly cleaner can clean the bathroom, kitchen, do laundry, vacuum and mop. An occasional deep house cleaning is most beneficial for people who have recently renovated a home or are looking to do a spring clean.
What is the difference between a housekeeper and a house cleaner?
Although some house cleaning and housekeeping duties might overlap, a house cleaner is charged with the top-to-bottom cleaning of a home. House cleaner duties typically include basic and deep house cleaning, such as washing and sanitizing countertops, floors, tubs, toilets, kitchens and more.
Housekeepers or maids are hired to lightly clean and maintain certain aspects of the home. This might include dusting, washing dishes, changing sheets, doing some meal preparation and restocking the client’s groceries and personal care products.
It’s also worth noting that a housekeeper or maid is usually one individual employed to a home (sometimes hired as a live-in), while a house cleaner is oftentimes accompanied by a team of cleaners.
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.
How long does it take to clean a house professionally?
Generally, getting your house cleaned professionally can take several hours. The time it takes for house cleaners to complete their job depends on the size of your home, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you have, the type of service you require and the condition of your house. It also might depend on how many employees are cleaning and the supplies they are using. If you get recurring cleaning services, the first visit might take a bit longer than the subsequent visits.
When choosing the best house cleaner for you, ask for an estimate about how long their services will take.
Reviews for Phoenix launderers
Sarah N.
Such a wonderful job! I struggle with chronic illness and have been very sick recently and fell behind on cleaning and laundry folding. Grace’s team came and got the job done quickly and efficiently! Everything was so clean and tidy! And they folded my mountain of laundry so I only had to put it away. I’m so thankful! Very kind, communicative, and did the job well.
Melissa g.
How impressed was I with this cleaning crew. Not only did they do an excellent job they also took the initiative to reorganize my laundry shelf which looked amazing. They went above & beyond.
Kim D.
Regina is so great to work with! She did everything as requested, and left my home sparkling clean! She’s super responsive and I’m excited to work with her regularly. It’s such a huge stress off my shoulders to know my home will be clean, laundry done and put away and I can focus on my career while supporting her small business as well. I highly recommend her!
Louise L.
First let me say, he was a very likeable person and what he did clean was fine. The first issue was he was 15 minutes late and there was no communication or apology. The problem is It doesn't look like he moved anything OR wasn't paying attention to any detail. I was very disappointed cleaning wasn't done behind the laundry basket in the bathroom and no cleaning around the toilets. Seemed to clean the middle and not the edges didn't move anything. Unfortunately for what I paid I would not hire him again as there are less expensive that do a much better job.
Courtney R.
I have never used a house cleaner before but having a bum shoulder I thought that I would try one for a move in clean. When Julie arrived she was wearing her mask and was on time. She started with the master suite of the house. She cleaned the bedroom, bathroom, throne room AND the walk-in closet. She thoroughly cleaned every room, including the laundry room. I requested that the oven, refrigerator and windows be cleaned. She even clean the outside of the windows!!! When she arrived I told her if I liked her work that I will have her come back in a regular schedule. Julie has gotten herself a regular customer!!! I’m EXTREMELY impressed!!!
Heather D.
Paid for deep cleaning; however was disappointed with most cleaning. Did not align with thier version of deep clean. Stole dust brush (they admitted they took it and I asked for it to be returned and its now been a month). Doors and baseboards still have dust and markings. Toothpaste was still on knobs in bathroom. Dust above medicine cabinets and bathroom lights. Paid extra for fridge to be cleaned and it's somehow worse as stickiness is completely around bottom of shelf. Minimal sweeping and no moping. Does not do any dishes.Poor attention to detail. Lost screw for toilet paper holder. (Holder and screw sitting on top of toilet, they placed holder on wall which immediately fell off) Lost my dogs first baby tooth. Moved a broken makeup pallete sitting open and managed to get blush powder stains on new carpet installed 2020. Just random placement of items (one shoe found in master closet one shoe found buried in hamper in laundry room). There were a few things I was happy about, but the more I looked the more upset I was about spending money for a deep clean + fridge cleaning
Ready to find a pro?
See more reviews, compare prices, and hire your favorite pros all with Thumbtack.
