Hiring a house cleaning service can take a load off for busy professionals in Washington DC. But how much should you expect to budget for house cleaning in the DC area? Rates can vary significantly depending on the size of your home, frequency of cleaning, and level of service. This article will break down the average costs of house cleaning in Washington DC and the factors that impact pricing.
Average House Cleaning Rates in Washington DC
According to HomeAdvisor, the average hourly rate for house cleaning in Washington DC ranges from $25 to $50 per hour. Most cleaning companies have a minimum number of hours per cleaning visit, often ranging from 2-5 hours.
For a basic recurring service, expect to pay around $100-200 per visit for a 2,000 sq ft home. Rates can go up significantly for larger luxury homes or customized cleaning services.
According to UrbanSitter’s 2022 Housekeeper Rate Explorer tool, the average cost of a 4-hour house cleaning in Ward 3 (the affluent upper northwest section) is $154. The average cost is slightly lower in other parts of the city.
Factors Impacting the Cost of House Cleaning
Size of Home
The size of your home is one of the main factors determining the prices of house cleaning Washington DC. For a studio or 1-bedroom apartment under 1,000 sq ft, you may pay around $100-150 per cleaning. The rate can double or triple for a large 5+ bedroom luxury home over 3,500 sq ft (source: Amazon Home Services).
Be sure to let the cleaning company know the exact square footage to get an accurate estimate. Companies may also base rates on the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Frequency of Service
Booking recurring service (e.g. weekly, biweekly) generally comes out cheaper per cleaning compared to one-off visits. Most house cleaners offer discounts for repeat customers to incentivize bookings. You can save 10-20% off each cleaning compared to sporadic service.
Some cleaning companies charge slightly higher rates for first-time or one-off customers due to the administrative work of setting up each new client.
Type of Service
The level of service impacts rates too. A basic cleaning focusing on kitchens, bathrooms, vacuuming, floors, and surface dusting tends to cost less than a deep cleaning or specialty services. Here are the types of cleaning services with average price differences:
- Basic cleaning: $100-150
- Deep cleaning: $150-250 (includes appliances, windows, ceiling fans)
- Move-in/out cleaning: $200-350+
- Specialty cleaning (upholstery, garage, etc): $50/hr+
You can customize your service by adding specialty tasks like inside oven cleaning, fridge cleaning, laundry beyond bedding, pet cleanup, and more for an added fee.
Supplies & Materials
Most cleaning companies bring their supplies like vacuums, mops, dusters, and surface cleaners. However, some companies pass the cost of cleaning solutions and supplies on to clients for an additional fee per service or as part of a monthly invoice.
Find out upfront what is included in the base pricing and what would incur extra supply/material fees so your final invoice doesn’t end up higher than the quoted rate.
Number of Cleaners
For larger homes, cleaning companies may send 2-3 cleaners to complete the work within a set timeframe. The more cleaners are required, the more you can expect to pay. The price for 2 cleaners may be 1.5x the single cleaner rate. Confirm whether the quoted rate includes one cleaner or multiple.
Location
Like most services, location can impact house cleaning rates in the DC area. If you live downtown or in luxury buildings, cleaners often charge slightly higher rates due to parking challenges and building access constraints since most haul cleaning supplies with them. Premium neighborhoods like Dupont Circle and Georgetown also demand higher rates compared to further suburbs.
Tipping Expectations
For premium service, most customers tip their cleaners, usually an extra 10-20% of the service total. Confirm the company’s tipping policy ahead. Some companies prohibit tips while others have standard minimums. Plan for gratuity in your recurring budget for cleaning services to maintain good relationships with regular cleaners.
What Impacts the Quality of Service?
While cost is important, what matters most is thorough cleaning that maintains your home’s condition. Here are the top factors that impact overall quality:
Reputation & Reviews
Vet any potential cleaning company thoroughly through their website, Google reviews, Yelp, and Facebook ratings. Reputable insured companies with specialized training and experience tend to provide higher quality cleaning.
Supplies & Equipment Quality
Ask potential cleaners what type of supplies and equipment they use. High-quality commercial-grade supplies, HEPA vacuum filters, steam mops, and duster extender tools enable deeper cleaning results.
Thorough Pre-Cleaning Inspection
The best cleaning companies spend time doing an initial deep inspection of your entire home before providing quotes to customize their services room-by-room based on your home’s condition and cleaning needs.
Consistency & Communication
Consistent recurring service helps maintain cleaning quality over time rather than sporadic deep cleanings. Ongoing communication about your priorities and expectations also maintains quality.
How Can I Save Money on House Cleaning in Washington DC?
From choosing eco-friendly supplies to taking advantage of new client deals, you have several options to reduce house cleaning costs in the DC area:
New Customer Discounts
Take advantage of any move-in specials, referral rewards programs, or first-time booking deals. New customer discounts can reach 25-50% off your first 1-2 cleanings with some companies.
DIY Minor Tasks First
To reduce hours (and overall cost), take on minor maintenance yourself in between deep cleanings. This may include tasks like wiping surfaces, running your dishwasher, putting away clutter, stripping beds, or pre-treating heavily soiled areas.
Loyalty Discounts
If you find a cleaning company you love, stick with them long-term. Most professional cleaners offer monthly membership plans or loyalty programs with discounts of around 10-20% for ongoing bookings.
Schedule Sparingly
Consolidate cleaning tasks to every other week or once a month instead of weekly to maximize each visit while paying for fewer hours overall. Just stay on top of daily tidy-up yourself on off weeks.
Provide Your Eco-Friendly Supplies
Offer to provide your green cleaning or fragrance-free supplies to avoid any markup costs some companies add for premium commercial cleaning solutions.
Negotiate Prices After Initial Service
If a cleaning company does an exceptional job on your first visit, politely ask about any wiggle room on pricing for ongoing bookings. Most home service professionals aim to please repeat loyal customers.
Compare Multiple Bids
Rather than going with the first bid, get quotes from 3-4 local cleaning companies in DC for comparison. Competition from multiple bids drives providers to offer their best rates to win your business.
Consider DIY Alternatives (or Maids)
Apps like Amazon Home Services, TaskRabbit, and Takl offer lower hourly rates for independent cleaners compared to insured cleaning companies. Or you can hire affordable daily house cleaners (“maid services”). Keep in mind cheaper labor may translate to lower quality or lack of worker protections offered by professional cleaning businesses.
The Bottom Line
Now that you know the going rates and cost factors for house cleaning in DC, you can confidently budget for cleaning help and select a high-quality service matching your home size, preferences, frequency, and budget. Investing in regular professionals can provide peace of mind and maintain your home’s condition over the long run.
