Cleaning Rates and Expectations
On average it takes ONE person ONE hour to clean 2000 – 2500 square feet. If more sanitation is required, the area cleaned per hour drops below 2000 square feet.
Deep cleaning services might include:
- Cleaning under furniture
For general office cleaning (3 – 5 days a week) it usually takes ONE person ONE hour to clean 3000 – 4000 square feet. Deep cleaning goes further to remove dirt and grime.
For a house:
- Allow 8 hours for a three bedroom house with one bathroom
- Add one hour for each extra bedroom and bathroom
Apartments are typically smaller than homes. A four person crew takes 60 minutes per 1000 square feet for an initial deep clean.
How Long for House Cleaning?
A general rule is 1,000 square feet of the house should take 90 minutes to clean. So a 3,000 square foot home should take 4.5 hours to clean.
- Add 30 minutes for each extra bedroom and bathroom.
Quick Cleans
What can a cleaner accomplish in two or three hours?
- In two hours: vacuum, mop the kitchen floor, wipe kitchen counters, clean one bathroom
- In three hours: dust furniture, clean the oven, scrub tile floors
Evaluating Your Housekeeper
How do you know if your housekeeper did a good job? Speak up if you are not happy so the service can address any issues. Consider tipping 15-20% for good service and exceptional work.
Cleaning time calculation:
Cleaning time = square footage ÷ rate per hour x 60 minutes
An experienced cleaner can do two average bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a kitchen per day. More rooms or bigger rooms take more days.