Professional housekeepers or maid services charge $25 to $70 per hour or $140 to $330 for a one-time basic cleaning visit. The cost greatly depends on the size of your home or apartment and the level of cleaning you need. Basic housekeeping typically includes vacuuming, dusting, mopping, sanitizing, and removing trash. Some housekeepers also offer more detailed services like making beds, doing laundry or dishes, and preparing meals.

Many housekeepers reduce their rates if you schedule ongoing service:

• Weekly housekeeping costs $75 to $250 per visit.
• Monthly housekeeping service costs $120 to $300 per visit.
• A one-time deep cleaning service costs $200 to $550. Most housekeepers recommend an initial deep cleaning to remove built-up dirt and grime.

Tipping your housekeeper is not required but tipping 10% to 20% or $10 to $20 per cleaning is common. Consider tipping more if your housekeeper exceeds your expectations or goes above and beyond in some way. For ongoing housekeeping service, consider giving a large tip at the end of the year to show your appreciation instead of tipping a small amount after each cleaning.

Regular house cleaning involves common household upkeep cleaning like vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, general dusting, sanitizing the kitchen and bathrooms, and taking out the trash.

Deep cleaning involves giving in-depth attention to the parts of the home that are not taken care of with regular cleaning or areas that have been neglected. This often includes:

• Cleaning hard-to-reach areas that require moving furniture or appliances
• Dusting surfaces that require a stool or ladder to reach
• Cleaning doors, windows, and baseboards
• Disinfecting knobs and handles.
• Removing soap scum and hard water stains in the bathroom
• Cleaning blinds or curtains
• Cleaning and disinfecting interior cabinets
• Cleaning and sanitizing trash cans

While many companies use the terms "housekeeper" and "maid" interchangeably, housekeepers typically provide a broader range of services than most maid services. Maid services typically include cleaning tasks like dusting, wiping down surfaces, vacuuming, mopping, sanitizing the kitchen and bathrooms, and removing trash. A housekeeper usually does all these tasks but may also offer other household management duties like doing the laundry, ironing, making the beds, caring for pets, preparing meals, and even childcare.

Most professional house cleaning visits are 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the home, the level of cleaning needed, and the number of cleaners doing the work. A typical three-bedroom, two-bathroom house takes about 3 to 4 hours if one housekeeper is doing a basic cleaning.

Many people schedule professional house cleaning once per month, or at least once every few months. Individuals with allergies may need more frequent cleaning. Most housekeepers offer weekly or monthly services at a reduced rate, and this schedule helps prevent your home from building up dirt, dust, and grime.

To prepare your home for a housekeeping visit:

• Put away fragile or sentimental items.
• Secure jewelry, cash, electronics, and any valuable items.
• Put away pets if your housekeeper is not handling pet care.
• Hide any important documents.
• Confirm the housekeeper can get into the home. Consider using an electronic lock with a one-time security code.
• Schedule a walkthrough prior to the initial cleaning visit to discuss what is and is not included in the cleaning service.

In most cases, you do not need to be home when a housekeeper is cleaning, though some customers prefer to be home for safety and security reasons. Most housekeeping companies have standard daytime hours and allow you to provide a spare key or entry code so the cleaners can enter and clean while you are away.

Follow these guidelines when researching housekeepers near you to ensure your find the best fit for your needs and budget:

• Get at least three estimates to compare.
• Look for excellent reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Choose a company that is licensed, insured, and has been in business for 5+ years.
• Confirm exactly what the housekeeping service includes.
• Discuss any add-on services you need.
• Get a written contract listing all services included in each visit.

Consider asking these questions when choosing a housekeeper or housekeeping company:

• How long have you been in business?
• Are you insured and bonded? Do you carry worker's compensation insurance?
• What kind of training do your housekeepers have?
• Do you charge hourly, flat rate, or per square foot?
• Do you offer package deals for ongoing service?
• What is your payment process?
• Do you bring your own supplies and equipment?
• What kind of cleaning chemicals do you use?
• How will you get into my home?
• Do you conduct a background check on all your housekeepers?
• Will you always send the same housekeeper?
• How do you handle damage or theft?
• Can you work with children and pets in the home?
• Is there anything specific I should do to prepare my home for your visit?
• Who do I contact if I need to reschedule?
• Do you offer a guarantee?