So, I got into this whole thing about how much house cleaners actually make per hour. It wasn't just random curiosity, you know. My friend, let's call her Deb, was thinking of doing some cleaning on the side. Good for her, I thought. But then she hit me with, "How much should I even charge?" And I was like, huh, good question.

Honestly, I'd also wondered about it when I thought of getting my own place cleaned. You see these ads, or hear people talking, and the numbers are all over the map. So, I decided to do a bit of digging. Not like, super scientific, but I asked around. Talked to a few people who hire cleaners, and some who actually do the cleaning. I also spent some time just looking at what folks were saying online, in forums and local groups, trying to get a feel for it.

What I Dug Up

And let me tell you, it’s not simple. Not at all. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It’s a bit of a wild west out there. What one person makes can be totally different from another, even in the same town!

Here’s what seems to stir the pot, from what I gathered:

• Where you at? This is a big one. Cleaners in a big, expensive city? They're gonna charge more, and probably make more, than someone in a small, rural town. Just makes sense, cost of living and all that.
• Who do they work for? Are they their own boss, an independent cleaner? Or do they work for a big cleaning company? The company folks might have a set rate, but the company takes a cut, right? Independents set their own prices, so it can vary more.
• Supplies, supplies, supplies. Do they bring their own fancy eco-friendly stuff, or are they using your bottle of Windex and your vacuum? If they bring everything, expect the price to be a bit higher.
• How long they been doing this? Experience counts. Someone who’s been cleaning houses for 10 years and has amazing reviews will probably command a higher rate than someone just starting out.
• What exactly are you asking them to do? Just a basic tidy-up, a regular weekly clean? Or are we talking a deep clean after you moved out, or scrubbing an oven that’s seen better days? More work, more dirt, more money. Simple as that.

So, The Actual Numbers?

Okay, okay, you want numbers. From what I’ve seen and heard, it’s a real range.

On the super low end, maybe for someone just getting their feet wet, or in a really low-cost area, you might see something like $15 to $20 an hour. Sometimes even less if it's super informal.

More commonly, I kept seeing figures in the $25 to $45 per hour ballpark. This seems to be a pretty standard sort of range for experienced, independent cleaners or what you might end up paying through a service after their cut.

Then you get the higher end. If they're specialized, like doing eco-friendly cleaning, or post-construction cleaning, or if they have a rock-solid reputation in a wealthy area, I've heard of cleaners making $50, $60, or even more per hour. That’s serious money, but I guess they deliver serious results, or folks are willing to pay for the convenience and trust.

My Two Cents

So, yeah. Trying to pin down one number for what house cleaners make per hour? Good luck with that. It’s like asking how much a car costs. Which car? Where are you buying it? What features does it have?

For Deb, I told her to check out what others in her specific area were charging, think about her experience, and what she’d be offering. For anyone looking to hire, I’d say get a few quotes. Ask what’s included. Don’t just go for the cheapest, unless that’s literally your only option. Sometimes you really do get what you pay for. It’s a bit of a maze, but hopefully, this gives you a bit of a map to start with. I know it helped me get my head around it, at least a little bit.