If life gets busy and you canโt keep on top of household chores, call in a residential cleaning team. They have everything they need to get the job done when youโre short on time. And the benefits are you get a fresher and healthier home. But before you schedule a service, itโs a good idea to understand what youโre paying for and how to choose the best provider for your needs.
About Residential Cleaning
You only have to look at the statistics to see the big demand for household cleaners. In 2025, the US household cleaner market is expected to generate $8.13 billion. Moreover, it continues to show steady growth to 2029. So, there is a lot of choice out there. The key is to pick wisely. Here is what you need to know.
How to Choose the Right Cleaning Service
This checklist will ensure you cover the key points before hiring someone to clean your home:
- Research and read reviews.
- Ask for recommendations.
- Check licensing, insurance, and background checks.
- Ask about pricing and service packages.
- Do you provide the cleaning supplies or do they?
- Any eco-friendly cleaning options?
Residential Cleaning vs Commercial Cleaning
The difference between residential and commercial cleaning services is basically the type of space that needs to be cleaned and whatโs involved. Residential cleaning focuses on homes. This type of service involves dusting, vacuuming, cleaning kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. In contrast, commercial cleaning is more about the upkeep of offices, schools, hospitals and other big commercial buildings. Although home cleaning isnโt something that DetailXPerts does, here are the services it offers:
What Does Home Cleaning Include
Services offered vary between cleaning companies. However, they typically offer the following:
Cleaning the Kitchen
Your cleaner will vacuum and wash the kitchen floor. Theyโll also clean the sink, countertops and other surfaces and appliance exteriors. Loading and/or unloading the dishwasher depends on your cleaning service provider, so it is worth asking in advance. You can also request the following, although it may cost extra:
- Hand-washing dishes and cutlery.
- Cleaning the inside of your fridge.
- Defrosting and cleaning the freezer.
- Cleaning inside the oven. This is usually charged as a specialist service, see below.
Oven Cleaning Services
Even though most modern ovens have a self-cleaning option, many service providers offer a specialized oven cleaning package. Deep cleaning typically occurs once or twice a year. In between this service, clean up spills as they happen with hot, soapy water to help prevent any food buildup.
Living Areas
Basic cleaning packages included vacuuming your living room, hallways and stairs. The cleaner will also clean surfaces, including windowsills. General dusting focuses on lampshades, picture frames, ornaments, etc. Vacuuming furniture and upholstery may go in the basic cleaning package, although some companies provide this service on a rotating basis every other week. You can also ask for additional services:
- Deep-cleaning carpets.
- Deep-cleaning blinds.
- Cleaning baseboards.
Removing stubborn stains from carpets and upholstery may require specialist commercial cleaning supplies. The same goes for a lot of mold or mildew. Donโt forget to ask what deep cleaning methods companies use. Where possible, choose eco-friendly products that are better for indoor use and the planet.
Cleaning Bathrooms
Standard home cleaning includes cleaning your bathroom from top to bottom. The toilet, sink, tub and shower will be scrubbed and disinfected. Also, vacuumed floors, sanitized countertops, and polished mirrors and chrome will leave your bathroom gleaming. Additional bathrooms will increase the price of your cleaning package.
Bedrooms
As with all the other rooms in the house, you should remove general clutter before the cleaner arrives. The bedrooms will be vacuumed and dusted. Most cleaning companies will make beds as routine. You can also request the following at an extra cost:
- Picking up clothes and putting them away.
- Washing laundry.
- Ironing clothes.
- Changing bed linen.
Not Included in Standard Home Cleaning
Exterior cleaning usually isnโt part of the deal. For example, if you want your exterior windows cleaned, youโll have to ask another service provider. Also not part of a standard cleaning package:
- Cleaning outdoor furniture.
- Tidying the garage.
- Mowing the lawn. Ask about outdoor cleaning.
- Roof and gutter cleaning.
- Home maintenance and repairs.
- Chimney or fireplace cleaning.
Different Types
Home cleaning comes in various forms, each designed to meet different household needs. Whether youโre looking for routine upkeep, a deep refresh, or specialized care, thereโs a service to match your requirements.
Priority Clean
What if you just want your kitchen and bathroom cleaned? Some cleaning companies offer a โpriorityโ clean. So it is worth asking about this service. It makes sense if you have spare rooms in the house that are not in daily use. If you want to make the kitchen and bathroom a priority, ask about hourly cleaning rates for special requests.
Enhanced Cleaning and Sanitization
Home cleaning services charge more for a deeper clean. This usually involves disinfecting high-touch areas around your home using specialized solutions. This will include doorknobs, light switches, hand railings and so on. Hiring a team of two employees for an enhanced clean is around $90 per hour. This sanitized clean helps to kill bacteria and viruses.
Your basic cleaning package may incur extra charges if you own pets. As a rough guide, expect to pay around $10 extra for one pet. Multiple pets, $20 extra. If the professionals useย commercial cleaning equipmentย such as a powerful vacuum cleaner, it should make short work of pet hair.
Occasional Cleaning
If you donโt want to employ the help of professional cleaners once or twice a week, you may still want to use them for occasional cleaning. For example, spring cleaning the home is a popular request. This involves thoroughly cleaning every room in the house, from the kitchen to the bedrooms.
Eco-Friendly Cleaning
Green cleaning is better for the environment. This type of service uses non-toxic, biodegradable, and plant-based cleaning products instead of harsh chemicals, making it safer for children, pets, and those with allergies or sensitivities.
Many eco-conscious cleaning companies also try to use water-saving methods wherever possible. DetailXPerts doesnโt offer residential cleaning. However, it is an industry leader when it comes to green cleaning. It uses steam to deep clean and sanitize larger commercial spaces without wasting water.
Costs
Price plans vary according to the size of your house. As youโd expect, it takes more time to clean a 5-bedroom house than a 2-bedroom apartment. Typically, you have the option to request a one-time house clean or weekly/bi-weekly packages to suit your budget and requirements. Additional services or extra rooms come at a premium. Some points that affect costs:
- Deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning, and specialty services (window washing, upholstery cleaning) cost more than routine cleaning.
- Urban areas often have higher rates due to demand and cost of living.
- Some companies provide their own products, while others charge extra or offer discounts if clients supply their own.
- Regular cleanings (weekly or bi-weekly) often come at a lower per-visit rate than one-time cleanings.
- As a rough guide, cleaning a 2-bedroom home with five rooms costs around $70-$125.
- A seven-room home will range from $80-$150. Cleaning nine rooms typically costs $110-$180.
- Cleaning work can also go into bundled packages. For example, there may be a set cost for 2, 5, or 7 hoursโ work, ranging from $70 to $300.
- Or you may prefer a flat rate per room (from $30) or per square foot.
- The hourly rate for a cleaner is around $15-$25.
Conclusion
To sum up, finding out all you can about residential cleaning helps you hire the best person or team for the job. This includes reading reviews, asking about prices and ensuring that the cleaners are qualified for the job. Bear in mind that the prices in this article are a rough guide only. Rates vary across the country. To stay within your budget, always request a free estimate to work out the total cost of cleaning your home before officially hiring a professional cleaning team.
If you need a commercial cleaning company instead of a residential one, call DetailXPerts. Our powerful steam-cleaning technology is perfect for larger spaces that need a high-quality clean.
