How many hours a week do you think you spend cleaning?
It’s estimated we spend half an hour a week scrubbing the bathroom, another half an hour vacuuming, and nearly five and a half hours doing the dishes.
If only there was a way to keep that time every week and spend it on more enjoyable activities. You can, by hiring house cleaning services.
Wondering what is the rate for house cleaning in Santa Cruz? Check out this guide to learn about the factors that affect house cleaning rates.
General Rate
According to Investopedia, the average cost for cleaning services is about $37.50 or between $25 and $50 an hour.
The rate for cleaning a small apartment can range from $80 to $110 while a larger house can range from $150 to $250.
However, these numbers are just averages, and the true price depends on a variety of factors such as where you live, the size of your home, or whether you choose to hire a full-service cleaning company, an independent and licensed cleaner, or an individual. A full-service company is typically the most expense because of the overhead required, such as uniform, office manager, marketing, etc. An individual is usually the least expensive for the same reasons. An independent house cleaner who is also an established business with a license usually costs somewhere around the middle.
First Cleaning Might Cost More
Another consideration is that you might pay more for the first cleaning. If a home is messy, the cleaning service may want to do a deep clean so that future cleanings are easier.
A deep cleaning may include services such as wiping down the baseboards, cleaning kitchen appliances, cleaning window blinds, or wiping down interior windows. The services depend on the state of your home and what needs cleaning.
A deep cleaning is going to cost more than a regular cleaning, because it’ll take more time to finish or more work.
Schedule of Cleanings
How much you will spend on cleaning services also depends on how often you will have your home cleaned. This is going to depend on your budget and personal preferences.
Can’t stand seeing your home messy or dirty? Do you have kids or pets that are constantly making a mess? Maybe a once a week cleaning is best to keep your home in tiptop shape.
Or if you’re usually not home and don’t make too much of a mess, a cleaning every two weeks or even once a month may be enough for you. Some service providers discount their rates if you can commit to a regular schedule with them.
It may be easier for you to have regular, consistent cleaning service. This means less housework and tidying up for you after work or on weekends. It’s also less stressful to have a regular cleaning schedule rather than waiting until the house is so messy that it needs a deep clean.
Additional Cleaning Services
You may also want to budget for extra cleaning services. For example, you might want to do a deep cleaning once every quarter.
How about an annual spring cleaning? Nearly 77% of households did a spring cleaning in 2019. However, it took on average nearly six days to complete this cleaning project.
What’s more, nearly 49% of the people surveyed said their priority was cleaning the windows. Consider all the time you can save in the spring by scheduling a professional deep cleaning instead.
There may be other specialty cleaning services you may need that you don’t have the time to do yourself such as cleaning the porch or cleaning the inside and outside of kitchen cabinets. We recommend that you look for professionals who specialize in cleaning porch or deck separately because they require different tools and supplies and can end up taking a house cleaner more time than is necessary to complete the job.
Your Home
The size of your home is going to be a major factor in determining the cost of cleaning services. The more square footage, the more time it’s going to take to clean your home.
Another factor is the state of your home. A messy and cluttered home is going to take much longer to clean.
However, you also have the option to close off rooms that you don’t need cleaned. Maybe you already keep your office in good shape. Or maybe the guest bedroom is rarely used and doesn’t require weekly cleaning.
You can tell the cleaning professional or crew that you don’t need those rooms cleaned.
Where You Live
Where you live is also going to affect how much you pay for house cleaning services. Generally, you’re going to pay more if you live in a city compared to a rural town.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the hourly mean wage for maids and housekeeping cleaners is $16.19 in Massachusetts, $18.48 in New York, and $17.10 in California. These are among the top paying states for cleaning services. In Santa Cruz County, hourly mean wage is $17.07. Keep in mind, these are wages paid to employees, not cost for cleaning services. A cleaning company, even independent professionals, have to pay for other costs of doing business such as supplies, equipment, gas, permits, insurance, gas, etc.
Compare this to a nonmetropolitan area in Kansas or Northwest Colorado, where it’s $10.55 and $15.94, respectively.
Expect to pay more if you live in a state or metro area where the cost of living is higher.
Full-Service Company vs Licensed Professional vs Individual
Another factor for how much you pay for house cleaning in Santa Cruz is who you hire.
Generally, a full-service cleaning company is going to cost more than a licensed professional and an individual house cleaner. A company has more business expenses such as paying for all their employees, supplies, equipment, gas, marketing, insurance, etc.
However, they are more likely to send more than one person to clean your home, which can make the job done faster. And, if you are concerned about worker injuries or property damage, a cleaning company has insurance that usually covers them.
With a company, it is also easier to read reviews and learn more about them. You’ll probably be able to check out their website for services and specials.
Companies are also more likely to do background checks on their employees, so you can have peace of mind with who is entering and cleaning your home.
Licensed cleaning professionals are sole proprietors who either run his or her cleaning as a one-person shop, or with just one or two assistants. They normally build their business through word-of-mouth and referrals with the help of agencies like Anita’s Housekeeping Referral Agency.
Some of these licensed professionals carry insurance, but most do not. As licensed business owners, they are responsible for any damages or injuries as a result of their work.
They also charge more than individual cleaners who do not operate with a license or have the same level of professional experience. But, these licensed cleaning professionals normally charge less than a full-service cleaning company.
Schedule Services for House Cleaning in Santa Cruz
When considering Santa Cruz house cleaning rates, take into consideration how much time you’ll save for yourself.
Maybe you need those several hours a week where you’d rather be at the beach, reading your favorite book, or cooking a meal. Or maybe you’re already busy enough, and you can’t find the time each day to keep your house clean.
Get matched with a professional cleaning company or licensed cleaning professional through our online booking system. See how much their rates are and what their clients say about their work. You can browse and select a company or professional you want to help you with house cleaning in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Aptos, Watsonville, Felton, or Scotts Valley.
Schedule a service today at a convenient time for you.
