House cleaning: regular, deep and move-out cleaning costs
For Silicon Valley homes · Updated October 2026 · Sources below
A regular cleaning keeps a home tidy week to week; a deep cleaning goes further into baseboards, vents, fans and built-up grime, and usually costs more. Move-out cleanings get a home ready for the next people. If you hire a cleaner directly rather than through a company, California may treat you as a household employer.
The short version
- Regular cleaning: about $118-$238 a visit (national)
- Deep cleaning: about $200-$400 a visit (national)
- Move-out cleaning: about $120-$420 (national)
- Hiring a cleaner directly and paying $750+ in wages in a quarter means registering with California's EDD
- California landlords can only deduct cleaning to get a unit as clean as when you moved in
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What it costs
- Regular house cleaning (per visit)$118 - $238
- House cleaner hourly rate$25 - $80 an hour
- One-time deep cleaning$200 - $400
- Move-out cleaning$120 - $420
National figures - Bay Area cleaning usually costs more. Home size, how long since the last cleaning, pets and add-ons like windows, carpets or the inside of the fridge change the price.
Typical ranges from published cost guides - mostly national figures. Bay Area prices usually run higher. Your actual price depends on your home and the job, and a pro gives you the real number. Source: HomeAdvisor cost guide (national) (Jun 2026). Have a quote? Check it with the Quote Explainer
Regular, deep or move-out?
- Regular cleaning: kitchens, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming and floors on a weekly or every-other-week schedule.
- Deep cleaning: a first visit with a new cleaner, after a remodel, or once or twice a year - adds baseboards, vents, ceiling fans and built-up grime.
- Move-out cleaning: an empty home, inside cabinets and appliances, ready for a landlord's walk-through or new owners.
- Add-ons like carpets, windows, tile and grout, or upholstery are usually priced separately.
In Silicon Valley
- California EDD: if you hire a housekeeper or maid as your own employee and pay $750 or more in cash wages in a calendar quarter, you must register as a household employer within 15 days. Workers sent by an independent cleaning business aren't your household employees.
- California renters: a landlord can only deduct cleaning costs to make the unit as clean as when you moved in, and has 21 days after move-out to return the deposit or send an itemized statement.
- California renters can ask for a pre-move-out inspection after giving notice, which gives you a chance to fix cleaning or repair issues before you leave.
Questions homeowners ask
What's the difference between a regular and a deep cleaning?
A regular cleaning covers the basics - kitchen, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming and floors. A deep cleaning goes further, into baseboards, vents, ceiling fans and built-up grime, and takes longer. Many cleaners start with a deep clean, then switch to regular visits.
How much does a house cleaning cost?
National cost guides put a regular cleaning at about $118 to $238 a visit and a one-time deep clean at about $200 to $400. Bay Area prices usually run higher. Ask for a flat price after the cleaner sees your home.
How much does a move-out cleaning cost?
National cost guides put move-out cleaning at about $120 to $420, depending on the size and condition of the home. Ask whether the inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets is included.
Can my landlord charge me for cleaning when I move out in California?
Only to bring the unit back to the level of cleanliness it had when you moved in. The landlord has 21 days after you move out to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Photos before and after your move-out cleaning help if there's a dispute.
Do I have to pay payroll taxes for my house cleaner?
It depends on how you hire. If the cleaner works for a cleaning company, they aren't your household employee. If you hire someone directly as your employee and pay $750 or more in cash wages in a calendar quarter, California's EDD says you must register as a household employer.
How often should I get my house cleaned?
Most households choose weekly or every other week for regular cleaning, plus a deep clean once or twice a year. Homes with pets, kids or allergies often do better with more frequent visits.
Save with your neighbors
Deep cleaning is a job neighbors team up on: one pro, one trip down your street, a group price the pro sets. Three homes start it.
Start or join a Neighborhood Block DealQuestions to ask the pro
- Are your cleaners your employees, and do you carry liability insurance?
- What's included in a regular clean vs. a deep clean?
- Do you bring your own supplies, and can you use products I choose?
- Is it a flat price or hourly, and what are the add-ons?
- What happens if something is damaged or missed?
Before you sign, check the contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov. How to hire a contractor in California
Need a house cleaner?
Tell us about the job in 2 minutes - free. We send it to one local pro at a time, never a crowd.
Related answers
Sources
- California EDD - Household Employer
- California Courts Self-Help - Guide to security deposits in California
- HomeAdvisor - Deep cleaning cost guide (what a deep clean covers)
General information for Silicon Valley homeowners, not professional advice for your home. Rules and programs change - check the source, and have a licensed pro look at your situation.