Hourly rate for housecleaning. (Syracuse: house, live, price) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

kjc77 · 09-12-2010, 11:03 PM

I've been cleaning for a few years now and have only cleaned for people I know or have met through someone that I know but never have cleaned for a total stranger. I started out charging hourly and have changed to charging by the job. Every person/household requires different amounts of time, muscle, and patience. I clean for both the bachelor in the bachelor pad who has little dusting as well as the woman who drinks enough soda that the cans cover her entire counter space of a very ritzy high rise apartment and likes to save up several bags of garbage which have to be taken down three floors in the elevator and out to a dumpster (in a cart with a bum wheel). I wouldn't feel compensated charging her and the bachelor the same amount even if they took exactly the same amount of time. I have one job that is a very short time in the kitchen and bathroom and then 3 full hours of dusting knick-knacks and collectables and mirrors galore! That takes less muscle but so much more time and care. I like to do something "extra" for each of my people. For the very unorganized I sort mail from junk mail and for the bachelor I change his bedding and wash the used set. The ever so long dusting job is nerve-wracking and fear of breaking something always sets in. I have been brave and taken down light covers and such. I also have a Dyson! Every person who cleans deserves to have a Dyson and hopefully is willing to bring it along with them. I have cleaned for the person owning the Kirby and I beg you not to do that to anyone! I hope you all can find someone who will be respectful with your things and gives you a solid and fair deal. I've swayed a few of my clients away from harsh cleaning supplies and on to vinegar, baking soda, Comet, and more body friendly cleaning supplies as well as saving them money on them. I average $20 an hour. If you aren't sure what kind of a job your person is really doing you can always leave the cleaning person check this and that....A coin under a lamp or something under the rug or in a corner to be sure you are really getting the vacuuming you deserve.
Good Luck!!

kjc77 · 09-12-2010, 11:06 PM

I bet they notice more than you think so. They may not feel comfortable saying thanks or maybe they don't recognize it as extra? I think your rate is just right :-) I charge the same and always try to do the extra..I'm going to say again that I bet they notice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterWL

I charge $20.00 per hour and my clients supply most of the supplies. A 3 bed 3 bath place takes me three hours plus. I move every thing and get into the corners. I do an extra for my clients on each visit and most of them don’t notice. The extras can be something like cleaning out under the kitchen sink washing out the garbage cans, cleaning all the door knobs and washing a wall that is stained. (I do the whole wall as not to leave streaks.) I think 60 -70 $ is not bad for three hours.

PeterWL

Calgary Canada

rh71 · 09-12-2010, 11:39 PM

would they charge more or less for a vacant place that has typical house bugs as its only inhabitants? No furniture, only appliances, 2 floors (3 bed 3 bath). Kind of like if a landlord wanted it fresh for the next tenant.

duran_fan · 09-21-2010, 08:42 AM

I clean houses/one church as my living. I do a good job and always have positive feedback. I charge $40 a basic cleaning which includes light pick-up, mopping, vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms, sweeping, etc. These homes are generally homes that only need a light maintenance cleaning every few weeks or month. They take around 2-3 hours to do.

I have larger, more detailed/cluttered or dirtier homes that I charge $60 for. Generally this is my fee for any multi-level home due to the lugging of heavy vacuum up and down stairs. This includes all the above but also dusting window sills, baseboards, ceiling fans and knick knacks; sweeping porches/decks./garage; cleaning after pets, stripping beds, laundry if needed, dusting blinds, washing doors/light switches/baseboards, cleaning out fridge, sorting kid's rooms, or anything extra the owner needs done. Some of the extras get rotated on a schedule. I can't do all that in one day without being in a home more than 6 hours, so one time I do ceiling fans and base boards, next time doors and fridge, etc.

Its a hard job physically and owners expect the best, but it pays well compared to other jobs in my area and I can set my own hours. My clients are all very nice people. The more I clean the same houses, the routine gets easier and they seem to be staying cleaner, longer now. I like the pride I feel when I leave a home that shines and smells fresh and I know I'm helping that busy wife/mom to come home to an easier evening. I like being paid at each home--instant payday! My only complaint is hoarding....it is very hard to make a difference in homes where stacks of papers and toys and everything else are everywhere. Just dusting/vacuuming these homes takes longer and doesn't look much better when done.

mongoose65 · 09-21-2010, 01:38 PM

Lots of nice sounding cleaning folks on here. Anyone in the Levittown/North Wantagh area? I have been looking for a while and haven't felt good about the craigslist ads. 4bd/2ba. Please feel free to PM me with info. Thanks.

Blurryeuphoria · 10-01-2010, 04:18 PM

I agree with the post above regarding "motel clean". I just got done reading "Nickel and Dimed" where the author takes various low paying jobs to "research" how difficult it is to live at or near minimum wage. One place she worked was for a large cleaning service. NONE of the training they received mentioned germs or bacteria. It was all about appearances. She was instructed to use the same three rags for the duration of the day (hopefully you're not the last stop of the day!!!), and they were only allowed to use half a bucket of luke warm water for the floors, which any biologist will tell you does not kill germs but moves them around. Not saying that ALL cleaning companies are the same, but definitely do some research before you pay that kind of money. Also, large cleaning companies generally pay their staff members pretty terribly, so it's best to cut out the "middle man" and possibly find someone running their own small business.

hotkarl · 10-01-2010, 05:54 PM

People should just clean their own house.
If not, hope that you're not the last stop of the day for the 3 rag crew...

Bamagirl7392 · 02-09-2011, 10:00 PM

I do private cleaning. I try to work with my clients. I do not go to a house and quote it. I base everything on a 3 bed 2 bath house. If its bigger I go a little more, if its smaller I go less. I have a first time clean fee because I spend 6-8 hours the first time. Then I drop to 60 a week, 125 biweekly, and 200 for a monthly. And my mentality is this, if I am there weekly then I maintain the first time clean, if I am there every other week I have to do a little more deep cleaning to maintain, and if I am there once a month I am doing deep cleaning on every room so that is all I can schedule in one day. Now, I dont know what the rest of you get for the money you pay but let me give you an example of what I did today: washed bed sheets on 3 beds, organized a toy closet, cleaned baseboards and area where the carpet meets the wall, dust all furniture, cleaned 2 toilets, 2 bathtubs,2 sinks, 2 mirrors, and did partial hand mop on floor, cleaned oven, washed two loads of laundry. dusted mini blinds. so I think she more than got her $50 worth.

Bamagirl7392 · 02-09-2011, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blurryeuphoria

I agree with the post above regarding "motel clean". I just got done reading "Nickel and Dimed" where the author takes various low paying jobs to "research" how difficult it is to live at or near minimum wage. One place she worked was for a large cleaning service. NONE of the training they received mentioned germs or bacteria. It was all about appearances. She was instructed to use the same three rags for the duration of the day (hopefully you're not the last stop of the day!!!), and they were only allowed to use half a bucket of luke warm water for the floors, which any biologist will tell you does not kill germs but moves them around. Not saying that ALL cleaning companies are the same, but definitely do some research before you pay that kind of money. Also, large cleaning companies generally pay their staff members pretty terribly, so it's best to cut out the "middle man" and possibly find someone running their own small business.

Oh my. I use a steam mop that kills the germs and gets you a totally clean floor with no harsh chemical smells. I wipe down all counters and handles and baseboads with chlorox wipes. and some days I go through every rag I own cleaning. I use chlorox clean up for my regular cleaning. so I try to kill as many germs as possible.

babyannacleaning · 05-11-2011, 02:22 PM

How many bedrooms/baths? how often do they come? Do you have a lot of hard surface floors? Do they do windows. I am the owner/operator of a cleaning company, based n you saying you pay $70 I'm assuming you have a one bedroom one bath apartment. If its any bigger then that and they are only charging you $70 you either got really really lucky with pricing or you should really look around and make sure nothing is missing. I hate to say it but theft is a BIG issue in this industry which is why I do not hire anyone to do cleanings for my clients I do them all myself, I dont have to worry that I hired someone with less then desirable morals.