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Should I pay for house cleaning?

Calculate if hiring a house cleaner makes financial sense when you factor in the value of your time and what you could be doing instead.

By ShouldICalc Team

Updated January 2025 · See our methodology

Your Numbers

1,500
500 4,000
$150
$80 $300

Per visit cost for your home size

3
1 8

How long does a thorough cleaning take you?

$40
$15 $150

What could you earn or what's your free time worth?

Your Results

Annual Savings

$0 – $0

per year

5-Year Savings

$0 – $0

Break Even

— months

💡 Calculating...

Enter your numbers above to see personalized results.

Trade-offs to Consider

Every decision has pros and cons. Here's what to weigh:

  • Money

    Professional cleaning costs $100-200+ per visit, but your time has value too. If you earn more per hour than the cleaner charges, outsourcing may make financial sense.

  • Time

    A professional team cleans faster than you can alone. Those 3-4 hours back could go toward work, family, hobbies, or rest.

  • Quality

    Professional cleaners are thorough and experienced. They often catch things you miss. However, they may not organize or clean exactly how you prefer.

  • Convenience

    No more spending weekends cleaning. But you need to be home or provide access, and some people feel uncomfortable with strangers in their space.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does house cleaning typically cost?
Professional house cleaning typically costs $100-200 for a standard 2-3 bedroom home, depending on your location, home size, and cleaning frequency. Recurring clients usually get 10-20% discounts. Deep cleaning or first-time visits cost 50-100% more.
Is it cheaper to clean myself?
In direct dollars, yes. But when you factor in your time's value, it often isn't. If cleaning takes you 3 hours and your time is worth $40/hour, that's $120 of your time—potentially more than hiring someone.
How often should I have my house professionally cleaned?
Most households find bi-weekly cleaning strikes the right balance between cost and cleanliness. Weekly is ideal for large families, pet owners, or those who entertain often. Monthly works for small spaces or as a supplement to light daily tidying.
What's included in a standard house cleaning?
Standard cleaning typically includes vacuuming, mopping, dusting surfaces, cleaning bathrooms, wiping kitchen counters and appliances, and tidying. Deep cleaning adds baseboards, inside appliances, windows, and detailed scrubbing.

The Real Cost of Cleaning Your Own Home

When you think about whether to hire a house cleaner, the immediate reaction is often “I can do it myself for free.” But that overlooks something important: your time has value.

Understanding Your Time’s True Value

Your time value isn’t just your hourly wage. Consider what you could actually do with those 3-4 hours:

If you could work: Many professionals can pick up extra hours, freelance work, or side projects. If you bill at $50-100/hour, spending 3 hours cleaning costs you $150-300 in potential earnings.

If you value rest: After a demanding work week, those cleaning hours might be the difference between burnout and recovery. What’s that worth to you?

If you have family: Three hours cleaning is three hours not spent with your kids, partner, or aging parents. Some moments can’t be recovered.

Breaking Down the Math

Let’s look at a typical scenario:

DIY Cleaning Costs:

  • Your time: 3 hours × $40/hour = $120
  • Cleaning supplies: ~$5 per clean
  • Physical effort and energy
  • Total real cost: $125+

Professional Cleaning Costs:

  • Service fee: $120-180
  • Your time: 0 hours
  • Zero physical effort
  • Total cost: $120-180

For many people, these numbers are surprisingly close. And that’s before considering the quality difference.

Who Benefits Most from Hiring Cleaners

High earners and entrepreneurs: If your time directly converts to money, outsourcing low-skill tasks is almost always worth it. A consultant billing $200/hour shouldn’t be scrubbing toilets.

Dual-income families: When both partners work full-time, evenings and weekends become precious. Hiring a cleaner buys back quality family time.

People with physical limitations: Chronic pain, injuries, or health conditions make cleaning exhausting or impossible. Professional help isn’t a luxury—it’s necessary.

Those who hate cleaning: If cleaning puts you in a bad mood for hours, that negativity affects your whole household. Sometimes paying for peace is worth it.

Who Might Skip the Service

Tight budgets: If $150/month is a real stretch, prioritize essentials. A clean house is nice but not mandatory.

Those who enjoy it: Some people find cleaning meditative or satisfying. If you genuinely enjoy it, there’s no reason to outsource.

Very small spaces: A studio apartment takes 45 minutes to clean. The service cost isn’t justified.

Control preferences: If you’re particular about how things are done and will re-clean anyway, save the money.

Making the Decision

Ask yourself these questions:

  1. What would I actually do with those 3-4 hours?
  2. Does cleaning create stress or conflict in my household?
  3. Can I comfortably afford the service without sacrificing priorities?
  4. Am I physically able to maintain my home to my standards?

If you answered positively to most of these, hiring a cleaner likely makes sense for your situation.

Getting the Best Value

If you decide to hire, maximize your investment:

  • Start bi-weekly to see if it works for your household
  • Tidy before they arrive so they clean rather than organize
  • Be consistent with the same cleaner to build trust and efficiency
  • Communicate clearly about priorities and problem areas
  • Tip appropriately (15-20%) to retain good cleaners

The right cleaning service can transform your home life. It’s not about being lazy—it’s about being strategic with your most limited resource: time.