If you’ve ever googled “How much does residential cleaning cost?” you’ve probably seen everything from $50 per clean to $500+.
And if you’re confused, you’re not alone.
As the owner of Cincy Maid, I price cleanings every year across neighborhoods like Hyde Park, Oakley, Loveland, Mason, and Downtown Cincinnati. And while the internet loves giving “average” numbers, the truth is this:
Cleaning cost depends on the size and layout of your home—and the level of cleaning you choose.
Everything else is secondary.
This post breaks down, in plain English, how pricing really works, what influences the cost, and how to avoid overpaying while still getting reliable, professional service.
At Cincy Maid, we use a simple, transparent pricing structure:
Prices are based on the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and sometimes square footage.
Why? Because these elements determine:
A 1,500 sq ft 2-bed/2-bath condo downtown takes far less time than a 5-bed/4-bath home in Loveland—even if the “feel” of cleanliness is similar.
This structure ensures prices are fair, predictable, and consistent from home to home.
One thing I’ve learned over the years:
People often think they know what a “deep clean” or “standard clean” is… until we actually explain the difference.
Here’s how we break it down for clients:
This is what recurring clients usually get.
It includes:
It’s ideal for homes that are already decently maintained.
This is far more detailed and time-intensive.
We focus on:
This “resets” the home so recurring cleans stay consistent and affordable.
From experience, skipping this step often leads to dissatisfaction—not because the cleaners did a bad job, but because the home wasn’t prepped to be maintained.
Empty homes reveal everything.
This cleaning includes:
These take longer because there’s no furniture to hide buildup.
We consistently see clients shocked at what accumulates behind appliances and inside cabinets.
Beyond the base price, certain extras increase workload. These include:
I’ve seen jobs where just the kitchen oven added 45 minutes—because it hadn’t been cleaned in years. On the flip side, some clients request fridge cleaning and it’s already spotless… so we tell them to skip it (more on that below).
Here are simplified examples based on actual jobs we’ve done:
4 bed / 3 bath — First-Time Deep Clean
Older home, lots of trim, dust-prone built-ins.
Reason for higher cost:
Detailed surfaces, extra dusting, heavy kitchen buildup.
Deep clean resets the space, making biweekly maintenance predictable and cheaper.
6 bed / 5.5 bath — Deep Clean Focused on Kitchen + Bathrooms
Client only needed the main areas detailed.
Reason for cost structure:
The client wanted to save money, so instead of a full-home deep clean, we recommended:
This brought the price down while still solving their core problem.
2 bed / 2 bath — Standard Clean
Minimal buildup, small square footage.
Reason for lower cost:
Modern layout, easy surfaces, no extras required.
These examples highlight the real rule:
Pricing is always tied to workload—not guesswork.
This is something I’ve watched repeatedly:
People hire the cheapest cleaner they can find—often an unvetted individual—and a month later, they call us frustrated because:
Cheap cleaning is expensive in the long run.
Professional companies cost more because:
Reliability has value—especially for busy families and working professionals.
Clients tell us they’re willing to pay a bit more because we offer:
When you’re letting someone into your home, trust isn’t optional.
his happens more often than people expect.
Our goal isn’t to maximize the bill.
It’s to provide the right service at the right price.
One point of confusion:
We place a temporary authorization hold on your card 24 hours before the service.
This is not a charge.
The actual charge only happens after the cleaning is finished.
The hold simply ensures the appointment is reserved and reduces last-minute cancellations.
From experience, here’s the #1 thing that makes cleaning more affordable long-term:
Why?
Because it resets the home.
A clean baseline means:
Think of it like servicing a car before regular oil changes—the foundation matters
There is no one-size-fits-all number, but here’s the honest truth:
Cleaning cost is based on the size of your home and the level of cleaning you choose.
Extras, home condition, and layout all influence the final price.
If you want an accurate estimate for your home, the fastest way is to get an online quote:
