When people search for a cheap cleaner or cleaning company, the hourly rate is usually the first thing they compare. It matters, but on its own it says little about what you are getting. A lower rate can be good value, and a higher one can be worth it. The useful question is what each price includes. Our current prices are published, so you can set them against any other quote you get.
What the price difference usually pays for
A cleaning company’s rate tends to cover more than the hours of cleaning. Depending on the business, it may include:
- Insurance: public liability cover if something is damaged or someone is hurt in your home.
- Cover when your cleaner is away: holidays and sickness do not have to mean missed weeks.
- Vetting: background checks before someone is given a key.
- Supervision and a point of contact: someone to call if a clean falls short, who can put it right.
- Admin and travel: booking, rescheduling and getting a cleaner to your door.
A private cleaner may offer some of these and not others. That is not a reason to rule one out; it is a reason to ask.
When a private cleaner can be the right choice
An independent cleaner can suit a small regular job, especially one recommended by someone you trust. If they are insured, reliable and happy with the work, the lower rate may well be the better deal. The risks show up when they cannot come for a few weeks, when something is broken, or when the relationship goes wrong and there is nobody else to talk to.
Questions to ask either option
- Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?
- Who brings the products and equipment, and are they included in the price?
- What happens if you are ill or on holiday?
- How do I raise a problem, and what do you do about it?
- How much notice do I need to give to change or cancel?
Our own answers are short: we are fully insured, our cleaners are DBS-checked, and there are no hidden charges.
Signs a price is too low for the job
- An hourly rate that only works if the clean is rushed.
- No estimate of how long the job will take.
- Vague answers about what is included and what costs extra.
- No way to reach anyone if the cleaner does not turn up.
A quote that looks cheap and then grows with extras, or a clean that has to be redone, can cost more than a fair price would have done in the first place.
Comparing quotes fairly
To compare like with like, put the same four things side by side:
- Time: how many hours each quote assumes.
- Scope: which rooms and tasks are included, and which are extras.
- Products: whether detergents and equipment are in the price.
- Minimum visit: many services charge a minimum per visit, so a short clean can cost more per hour than it seems.
For the reasons one home costs more to clean than another, see what affects the cost of a cleaner. For the wider choice beyond price, read professional company or private cleaner: the full comparison, and before you hand over a key, how to check a cleaning company before you hire.
For a quote for regular domestic cleaning or a one-off job, call 01483 773531 or send us a message. Rates for every service are on our prices page.