Set prices for your cleaning business by calculating your true hourly cost (including supplies, insurance, and taxes) and applying a flat-rate pricing model based on square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, and service type (standard, deep, or move-in/out). Never compete purely on price.
Square footage typically translates directly to cleaning time, with homes under 1,000 sq ft taking around 2-4 hours, while larger homes (e.g., 2,000-3,000 sq ft) can require 5-8 hours or more. A general guideline is to charge around $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot, depending on the level of detail required.
The 20/10 cleaning method is a productivity hack that involves cleaning or decluttering for 20 minutes, followed immediately by a 10-minute break. Popularized by organizer Rachel Hoffman in Unfck Your Habitat*, it prevents burnout by breaking daunting chores into manageable chunks and rewarding you with a dedicated rest period.
From this perspective, $50/hour is generally considered above average but not unreasonable for professional services. It reflects a market service rate rather than a worker's wage, making it fair in many areas, especially when hiring insured companies or premium cleaning providers.
The 80/20 rule (the Pareto Principle) in cleaning dictates that 20% of your cleaning efforts yield 80% of the visible results. By targeting high-impact tasks first—such as clearing flat surfaces, wiping high-traffic areas, and making beds—you create an instantly cleaner environment without obsessing over perfection.
This would include some of the following tasks: Vacuuming the entire house. Cleaning the bathrooms, including toilets, sinks, showers and baths. Cleaning the kitchen, including mopping the floor.
The cost of hiring a house cleaner in London depends on factors such as the type of service,location, experience and additional tasks. For basic cleaning you can expect to pay £16-£20 per hour or £16-£80 per visit for a flat or house. Prices are higher for one-off deep cleanings.
From our experience across hundreds of London homes, two hours is usually enough to cover a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom flat. A typical clean might include: Kitchen surfaces wiped and sanitised. Bathroom cleaned top to bottom.
Rule 1: Clean From Higher to Lower Surfaces
Cleaning from higher surfaces downwards keeps dust and debris from falling onto areas you've already cleaned. Start with ceiling fans, vents, light fixtures, and high shelves. Then move to windows, countertops, and furniture. Finish with the floors.
Pathogens can grow to unsafe levels in the food after four hours. If that happens, not even cooking will make it safe. To prevent these pathogens from making people sick, clean and sanitize utensils and equipment every four hours.
What Are the 7 Rules of Housekeeping?
To price your house cleaning services, consider home size, type of cleaning, labor, supplies, and overhead. You can charge hourly ($25–$75 per cleaner), a flat rate ($200–$400 for a standard home), per room, or per square foot. Make sure to factor in a profit margin to keep your business sustainable.
Average Time to Clean a 1,000 Sq Ft Office
Under standard commercial conditions, a 1,000 sq ft office generally requires 45 to 90 minutes to clean when serviced by certified commercial cleaning professionals. This range reflects routine maintenance cleaning rather than specialty or restorative services.
A DIY all-purpose cleaning formula can be easily mixed in a spray bottle using common household ingredients. A highly effective, multi-surface recipe requires:
One-Off and Deep Cleaning Costs
One-off or deep cleaning services typically cost £20 to £30+ per hour. A standard house visit for a deep clean costs between £80 and £150+ depending on property size and condition.
Day to Day Domestic Cleaning Prices
The average price is approximately R450. 00 per day or depending on the tasks and if the service includes more than one cleaner the price could be anywhere between R450. 00 and R2000. 00 per day.
This rule suggests that you set aside three 30-minute slots each day for household tasks of your choosing - totalling an hour and a half of manageable cleaning that won't take over your life, but still leave your home clean.
The 20-minute rule in cleaning (often combined with the 10-minute break as the 20/10 Rule) is a productivity method where you set a timer and clean as quickly and intensely as possible for 20 minutes. When the timer goes off, you immediately stop cleaning and take a mandatory 10-minute break.
The answer varies depending on the size of the bathroom and the level of cleanliness it requires. In general, it should take an average of 30 minutes to clean a small bathroom, 45-60 minutes for a medium-sized bathroom, and up to 90 minutes for a large one.
You don't need to spend hours cleaning every single day. Most households only require 15 to 30 minutes of daily maintenance to keep things tidy, combined with 1 to 3 hours total per week for deeper cleaning tasks like vacuuming and scrubbing surfaces.
Use this checklist every time you give a house cleaning estimate.
8 common decluttering mistakes, according to professionals