What You Need to Know About House Cleaning Services Costs in Portland

If you live in Portland or are considering a move to the city, there’s at least one thing everyone needs but probably doesn’t ever want to think about: cleaning services. And, more importantly, how much does it really cost to have someone clean your Portland home or office? Whether you’re juggling work, kids and everything else, or simply don’t have the time or energy to spend on anything else, having a sense of what to expect in terms of price can be helpful when it comes to making the right choice.

Let’s break it down, so you can know for sure the next time you call or hit up a cleaning company’s website.

Why Does Cleaning Cost What It Costs?

It may sound simple: Someone comes to your home, cleans up and you give the person money. But, like all services, there’s plenty going on behind the scenes that affect cost as well.

The size of your space: The bigger the house or office, the more time it takes to clean and the greater the cost.

Type of cleaning: Standard cleaning is not the same as deep cleaning or a specialized cleaning such as move-out cleaning.

Frequency: Check to see how often the company will clean your home with a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly cleanup and be clear about what the services they provide at each level.

Add-ons and additional services: Other things you can pay extra for include cleaning inside the fridge, oven or windows.

Location and travel: A few Portland neighborhoods might be a touch more expensive if the company has to travel a long way or has overhead in the neighborhood.

Company quality and reputation: Highly rated, insured, experienced companies may charge more, but they can provide peace of mind.

Once you understand what goes into the service, it’s not surprising that its pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all.

The Average Cost of Cleaning Service in Portland‎

Numbers! Because ultimately, that’s what most people are really curious about.

Standard Cleaning

For a baseline cleaning — simply general tidying up, wiping down of surfaces, cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens — you can expect to pay about $90 to $140 for an apartment or a house with about 1,000 to 1,200 square feet.

Should your home be larger, closer to 1,800 to 2,500 square feet, the price can rise to anywhere between $150 and $250.

Deep Cleaning

Though in the marketing logic of many house-cleaning companies, deep cleaning is where the cleaners do the crab walk. They will scrub tile grout, clean behind appliances, dust your ceiling fans and pay extra attention to those hard-to-reach spots that you almost certainly don’t have time to tackle.

It’s more labor- and time-intensive, so it typically costs about 1.5 to 2 times as much as a standard cleaning. So, for that 1,000 square foot home, you could be paying somewhere between $150 and $300.

Move-Out or Move-In Cleaning

Moving is exhausting. Whether you are moving out of your old place and hoping to get your deposit back, or you’re prepping a new home to move into, you want it to be clean.

Move-out or move-in cleaning generally includes a deep clean of most 1-1/2 to 5 hours, plus other details, such as cleaning inside the cabinets and even light carpet cleaning.

The prices for this can vary widely dependent on the size and condition of the place, but in general, you can expect to pay $250 to $500 or more for larger homes.

Hourly Cleaning

The next group of pros includes workers from some Portland companies, who’ll offer you an hourly rate if you want to tweak the cleaning or just have them tackle some specific jobs.

Hourly costs per cleaner typically fall between $40 and $60. Remember, you may have more than one cleaner show up if you need them to get your house tidy faster.

How Come Portland Cleaning Services Cost This Much?

You might be asking yourself, “Why are Portland cleaning services so expensive when it’s something I could easily do myself?” And, well, the price is a little inflated by a few things.

Cost of living: Portland has a higher cost of living than many areas of the country, resulting in the need for companies to pay their employees a fair wage.

Eco-friendly practices: Many local companies are participants in the movement toward green cleaning and use environmentally friendly products — even if they are a little more expensive.

Insurance and training: “Quality, safety, and insurance all matter when it comes to pricing,” Gill says, as do insurance, worker training, and background checks, “and good companies invest in those things.”

Demand and competition: This is a bustling city with a plethora of cleaning options, but good, reliable cleaners are always in demand.

So when you pay a reliable cleaning service here, you’re not just paying for a look of elbow grease — you’re supporting ethical business and local workers.

How to Cut Costs on Cleaning Without Cutting Corners

Nobody wants to feel like they’re being overcharged. Here are some tips on how to get quality cleaning that does not break the bank:

Make sure regular cleanings: Weekly or biweekly appointments — many cleaning businesses offer these regimens at a discount — keep your home cleaner longer.

Set Expectations Communicate precisely what you expect from your cleaning company so they can adapt the offering and price accordingly.

Prepare your home: Making sure the house is clean and tidy before the cleaner arrives can shorten the time they have to spend at your place and bring down your expense.

Inquire about specials: A lot of services will have special deals for new customers or run seasonal promotions — feel free to ask!

Bundle services: If you need windows, carpet or other specialized cleaning, ask whether combining services saves money.

What do you ask before hiring a cleaning service?

If you’re going to turn over the keys to your home to a cleaning company, you have to be comfortable with the idea of inviting strangers into your personal space. It should make you feel comfortable and confident in your decision. Here are questions to ask before you sign on the dotted line:

What’s included in the service exactly?

Are you going to bring your own supplies or should I have anything on hand?

Do you background check and insure the cleaners?

What is your policy for cancellations or for rescheduling?

And how do you deal with complaints or sub-par work?

Are your cleaning products safe to use around children, pets or those with allergies?

Is it Worth It to Hire a Cleaning Service?

At the end of the day, it comes down to this: Is a cleaning service worth it for you?

If you’re super busy, if you want the weekend off or if your home needs deep cleaning, a maid service can be a game changer.

And beyond the aesthetic, a deep clean does good: it can enhance air quality, minimize allergens and maybe even lighten your mood.

Portlandians generally like a great work-life balance, and sometimes that means not having to do the cleaning yourself.

Final Thoughts About Portland Cleaning Prices

So there you have it: a glimpse at what cleaning services in Portland charge. Prices generally fall between $90 and $140 for basic cleanings of standard homes, while more in-depth projects can cost more.

Quality, reliability and eco-conscious practices generally have a price tag — but one many believe is worth it.

Before committing —Make sure to hear out and read up on reviews, and get with a company that sounds like a good fit for you and also within your budget.

When you’re ready to book cleaning service, Portland-honed folks who values hard work, dependability and a fresh home are available to help your space sparkle.