House cleaning services
Compare local house cleaners and maid services in your city. 50,030 pros listed in 6,110 cities across 51 states.
Reviewed and updated by the Fixerlane editorial team · How we research
House Cleaning by city
Types of house cleaning
- Standard (or recurring) cleaning: kitchens and bathrooms wiped and disinfected, floors vacuumed and mopped, dusting, beds made, bins emptied. Weekly, every two weeks or monthly.
- Deep cleaning: everything in a standard clean plus the build-up — baseboards, door frames, light switches, inside the microwave, scale on shower glass, behind and under what can be moved. Usually a first visit, or a few times a year.
- Move-in and move-out cleaning: an empty home, cleaned inside cabinets, drawers and appliances (below).
- One-off cleans: before a party, after guests, after a renovation (post-construction dust is its own job — say so when booking).
- Bathroom-only or kitchen-only cleans: plenty of cleaners will take a single room; ask, as many have a minimum visit.
Inside the oven and fridge, interior windows, laundry and dishes are usually extras. Ask for the checklist so you know what “standard” means to that company.
Move-in and move-out cleaning
A move-out clean is about getting the place back to how it was when you moved in. In an empty home that means inside every cabinet and drawer, inside the oven, fridge and dishwasher, baseboards, doors and frames, light fixtures, window sills and tracks, and the bathrooms descaled. A move-in clean is the same job before you unpack, when every surface is reachable.
If you rent, the clean is tied to your deposit, and the rules are state law. In California, for example, the deposit can cover cleaning needed to return the unit to “the same level of cleanliness it was in at the inception of the tenancy”, and the landlord has 21 calendar days after you move out to return it with an itemised statement. Landlords there must also photograph the unit at move-out before any cleaning or repairs, and, for tenancies starting on or after July 1, 2025, at move-in (Cal. Civ. Code §1950.5). Other states set their own rules and deadlines; check yours.
- Ask your landlord for their move-out checklist and give it to the cleaner.
- Photograph every room after the clean, with dates — and keep your move-in photos.
- Book the clean after the movers, before you hand back the keys; arrange access if you will not be there.
- Carpet shampooing is usually a separate service. Check your lease for whether it is required.
Company or independent cleaner?
A cleaning company sends whoever is scheduled, covers sick days, usually brings its own supplies, and should carry liability insurance and often a bond. An independent cleaner is often cheaper and you get the same person every time, but ask directly about insurance, and what happens when they are ill or on holiday.
Either way, someone is working alone in your home. Ask whether the company runs background checks on its staff, and how it handles breakage and complaints.
How to choose a house cleaner
- Ask for the checklist for each type of clean, and what costs extra.
- Ask whether they bring supplies and equipment, or use yours. If anyone in the house has allergies or sensitivities, ask what products they use.
- Ask about insurance and bonding, and how damage is handled.
- Ask how they price: flat per visit, by the hour per cleaner, or by size.
- For recurring cleans, ask whether you will get the same cleaner or team.
- Start with one deep clean before committing to a recurring schedule.
What affects the cost
- Size: square footage, bedrooms and especially bathrooms.
- Type of clean: a deep or move-out clean takes much longer than a standard one.
- Frequency: recurring cleans are usually cheaper per visit than one-offs.
- Condition: pets, clutter, and how long since the last professional clean.
- Extras: inside the oven or fridge, interior windows, laundry, carpet cleaning.
Cleaning products: one rule worth knowing
Never mix bleach with ammonia or with other cleaners such as toilet-bowl cleaner. Poison Control warns that bleach and ammonia together create poisonous chloramine gas (Poison Control), and CDC’s advice is simply “Do not mix household cleaners!” (CDC). That applies whether you clean yourself or not: if you leave products out for a cleaner, leave them in their original containers.
Common questions
- What is the difference between standard and deep cleaning?
- A standard clean keeps a home clean; a deep clean removes the build-up — baseboards, scale, grease, inside appliances. A first visit is often a deep clean.
- How long does a house cleaning take?
- It depends on the size of the home, its condition and how many cleaners come. Ask for an estimate when booking; deep and move-out cleans take considerably longer than a standard visit.
- Do cleaners bring their own supplies?
- Most companies do; independent cleaners vary. Ask, and say if you want particular products used.
- What is included in a move-out cleaning?
- An empty-home clean including inside cabinets, drawers and appliances, baseboards, fixtures, sills and tracks, and descaled bathrooms. Carpet cleaning is usually extra.
- Can my landlord charge me for cleaning?
- Often, yes, within limits set by state law. California, for example, allows deductions for cleaning needed to return the unit to its move-in level of cleanliness. Check your state’s rules and your lease.
- Do I need to be there?
- Not usually. Many cleaners work from a key, lockbox or door code; agree access and who to call if something comes up.
- Can I hire someone just to clean bathrooms?
- Many cleaners will do a single-room clean, often with a minimum charge. Ask when you enquire.
- Should I hire a company or an independent cleaner?
- A company gives cover, supplies and usually insurance; an independent often gives you the same person every time at a lower price. Ask either about insurance.
Related services
Guides
Sources
Safety and standards advice on this page comes from these publishers. Dates are the ones each page shows.
- California Legislative Information, Civil Code §1950.5 (security deposits) (as amended effective January 1, 2026)
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center), What Is Bleach? (read October 2026)
- CDC, Chlorine fact sheet (last updated June 10, 2026)
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