How do you pay a cleaner?

Author: Prof. Luis Deckow Sr.  |  Last update: Thursday, June 12, 2025

Some cleaners prefer a flat fee for cleaning a house or apartment, while others prefer to charge by the hour to account for different levels of messiness each visit. Either way, pay a living wage, which in metropolitan areas is at least $25-30 an hour. Pay for at least three hours per cleaning, too.

Do you pay cleaners before or after?

Pay upon completion of the cleaning. Most cleaners prefer that you not be there while they're cleaning, so if you're paying by check, make sure to leave a check in an obvious place, such as on the breakfast bar. And recently, someone told me they tip their house cleaner.

What do most cleaners charge per hour?

Hourly: $30 to $50 per hour, per cleaner on-site. Flat fee: $400 to $800 depending on the size of the job. Per room: $125 to $175 for an average single-family home. Per square foot: $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.

How much should I charge for 3 hours of cleaning?

Hourly: $30 to $50 per hour, per cleaner on-site. Flat fee: $400 to $800 depending on the size of the job. Per room: $125 to $175 for an average single-family home. Per square foot: $0.10 to $0.50 per square foot.

How do you bill for cleaning?

The following information should be included when creating an invoice template for house cleaning services:
  1. A unique invoice number.
  2. The date the cleaning service was performed.
  3. A description of the areas cleaned and the type of cleaning done.
  4. The date of the invoice.
  5. The amount payable.
  6. The payment due date.

How To Paying Your Cleaners: Hourly vs. Per Job

How do I pay my cleaners?

Agree the number of hours your cleaner will spend on each visit, or which tasks they will complete – and how much you will pay for the work. Talk to your cleaner about whether monthly or weekly payment is best. Agree how you will pay your cleaner (cash, cheque, or via your bank) and stick to it.

How do you charge someone for cleaning?

First, take the square footage of your client's home and divide it by your rate of square feet cleaned per hour. Then, multiply it by your hourly rate. The total number is how much you'll charge for a single job in that client's home.

What is a normal cleaning fee?

Current posted house cleaning rates in top U.S. cities*

CIty, State. Hourly House Cleaning Rate. Los Angeles, California. $22.97.

How do I quote a cleaning job?

To calculate the price, you need to multiply the home size by how much you'll charge per square foot. For example, basic cleaning for a 2,500-square-foot home will cost between $200 to $250. Meanwhile, the prices for one-time deep cleaning can range from $0.10 to $0.30 per square foot.

What should a cleaner get done in 3 hours?

What can be achieved in 3 hours?
  • Vacuuming the entire house.
  • Cleaning the bathrooms, including toilets, sinks, showers and baths.
  • Cleaning the kitchen, including mopping the floor.
  • Wiping surfaces down, emptying bins, clean mirrors etc.

How do you calculate cleaning costs?

Estimate Breakdown
  1. Base Cleaning Rate (2,000 sq ft): $0.10 per sq ft × 2,000 sq ft = $200.
  2. Room Charges: Bedrooms: $25 each × 3 = $75. ...
  3. Add-On Services: Carpet Cleaning (3 rooms): $25 per room × 3 = $75. ...
  4. Supplies: Cleaner-provided eco-friendly supplies: $15.
  5. Overhead Costs: Travel Fee (10 miles): $10.

How much can a cleaner do in 1 hour?

A high spec client who demands the highest of standards may require a productivity of 1,500 sq ft per hour. A cost-conscious client who wants the basics done could expect the whole 5,000 sq ft in one hour only. We would say that on average the cleaning productivity rate is around 2,500 sq ft per hour (230 sq m).

Should you leave when cleaners come?

If you fall into this category, you may be wondering if it is better to leave when the maid arrives or stay and oversee the cleaning. There is no right or wrong answer to this question. It ultimately comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer to leave and allow the maid to do her job without interruption.

Do you tip your cleaners?

$15-$20 per service is often considered appropriate, but it never hurts to ask. The company may allow their employees to accept cash tips, or you may be able to provide a tip online. Each cleaning company has its own tipping policies and procedures, so don't be afraid to ask.

Can I pay my housekeeper in cash?

If you pay cash wages of $2,800 or more for 2025 (this threshold can change from year to year) to any one household employee, you generally must withhold 6.2% for Social Security tax and 1.45% for Medicare tax (for a total of 7.65%) from all cash wages you pay to that employee, unless you prefer to pay your employee's ...

How do you bid on a cleaning job?

High-quality bids should be tailored specifically to each customer and provide details that include the following:
  1. A complete description of the cleaning services you'll perform.
  2. The estimated time required.
  3. Your proposed cleaning schedule (if applicable)
  4. The total cost, ideally itemized.

What are examples of cleaning expenses?

Examples of office cleaning expenses

Cleaning supplies: Purchases of cleaning products like detergents, disinfectants, and paper towels. Janitorial staff wages: Salaries or wages paid to in-house cleaning staff. Equipment purchases: Buying cleaning equipment such as vacuum cleaners or floor polishers.

What is a good cleaning quote?

Cleaning is not about perfection, it's about progress. Cleaning your house is a never-ending task, but the joy of a clean space is timeless. Cleaning is not a punishment; it's an act of self-respect. Cleaning is an investment in your physical and mental well-being.

How often should a house cleaner come?

A benefit of bi-weekly cleaning is you'll get more help. They will finish high-quality cleaning, so you won't need to worry about a deep clean later in the month. Hiring someone to come clean every two weeks will help you save money. The fewer times your cleaning professional comes means not a high price.

How much does Molly Maid charge for house cleaning?

Average Molly Maid prices

House cleaning by Molly Maid costs $60 to $100 per hour for a 2- to 3-person team, depending on your home size and needs. Most people pay about $120 to $300 per visit for a standard cleaning service that lasts 2 to 3 hours. Initial visits and deep cleans cost $300 to $500.

How do you price a cleaning job?

Pricing by the hour: Based on the specialization or the complexity of cleaning, you can charge between $50 to $100 for every hour. Pricing per square foot: General cleaning rates range between $0.07 to $0.15 per square foot but can increase depending on the type of cleaning.

How much an hour is it for a cleaner?

Standard Cleaning: Basic cleaning tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, and mopping usually fall within the lower end of the price range, around £15 to £20 per hour.

What does standard cleaning include?

Regular cleaning usually involves cleaning tasks such as sweeping floors, cleaning and mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, wiping the dust from surfaces, appliances, and fixtures, cleaning and disinfecting the bathroom, cleaning kitchen appliances, cooking pots and floors as well as cleaning doors, window frames, ...

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