How much for a 2 hour clean?

Asked by: Mrs. Claudine Schmitt III  |  Last update: February 12, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (28 votes)

A 2-hour house cleaning generally costs between $50 to $150, with average hourly rates for cleaners ranging from $25 to $75 per person, meaning a 2-hour job could be $50-$150 for one cleaner or $100-$300 for two cleaners, depending on location, cleaners' experience, and the home's condition. Expect to pay closer to the higher end for experienced, insured professionals or deep cleaning tasks.

How much to charge for 2 hours of cleaning?

For a 2-hour cleaning job, you can generally charge $40 to $150, with the national average falling around $50-$100, depending heavily on your location, experience, and whether you're independent or part of a company. Independent cleaners might charge $20-$40/hour ($40-$80 total), while companies often charge $25-$75+/hour ($50-$150+ total) for standard services, with deep cleans costing more. 

How much should a cleaner do in 2 hours?

In 2 hours, a cleaner can typically handle light cleaning for a small apartment or focus on specific areas like a kitchen/bathroom combo or floors in a larger home, covering tasks like dusting, vacuuming, mopping, wiping surfaces, and sanitizing toilets/sinks, but a full deep clean of multiple rooms or a large house is usually not feasible, requiring more time for clutter and deeper grime. 

How does $19 house cleaning work?

The $19 house cleaning deal, often from companies like Homeaglow, works as a "bait-and-switch" marketing tactic: you get a very limited initial cleaning (e.g., 3 hours for a 1-bed/1-bath home) for $19, but to unlock it, you must sign up for a monthly membership (around $49/month) and commit to recurring cleans, with early cancellation incurring fees, making the first actual service much costlier than advertised and locking you into a subscription. 

How much should cleaning be an hour?

Most house cleaners charge $50 per hour, or a flat rate of $200–$400 for a standard 2,000-square-foot home.

Two-Hour Minimum for House Cleaning

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Is $20 an hour good for house cleaning?

$20 an hour is a bit low for an independent house cleaner but might be fair if working for a company or in a low-cost area, as the national average is closer to $25-$30+, with rates varying significantly by location and job complexity; however, many cleaners suggest starting higher to cover costs and build a business. 

How much do you pay a cleaner per day?

You pay a cleaner per day by the hour ($25-$75), a flat fee per visit ($100-$250+), or sometimes based on the size of the home, with daily or frequent services costing more overall, often ranging from $300-$600+ weekly depending on home size, location, and the depth of cleaning required, but paying a fair hourly wage ($25-$30+) is recommended for consistent quality. 

What is the 80/20 rule house cleaning?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) for cleaning means focusing your effort on the 20% of tasks or areas that yield 80% of the visible cleanliness, achieving maximum impact with minimum time. This involves prioritizing high-traffic zones like entryways, kitchens, and bathrooms, decluttering frequently used items to create empty space (20% empty), and tackling high-impact surfaces for a home that feels cleaner quickly, rather than trying to deep clean everything at once. 

How much should a cleaning lady be paid?

Cleaning ladies' earnings vary widely, averaging around $14.66 to $20.85 per hour nationally, but can range from minimum wage up to $23-$35+/hour, or even more for specialized work, depending heavily on location, experience, whether they work for a company or independently, and the type of cleaning service. Independent cleaners often charge $25-$50 per hour or more, covering supplies and business costs, while company employees might earn less but get benefits. 

What should a cleaner do in 3 hours?

In 3 hours, a cleaner can typically do a standard clean of a small to medium home, focusing on high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms (dusting, wiping counters, sanitizing toilets/sinks, mopping/vacuuming floors) and common spaces (dusting surfaces, vacuuming/mopping), with potential for extras like changing bed linens or tackling light clutter, depending on the home's size and condition. Deep cleaning specific items (like inside appliances) or larger areas might be limited, requiring prioritization. 

How much should someone pay you to clean their house?

You'll typically pay a house cleaner $35–$75 per hour, or a flat rate of $120–$280 for a standard cleaning, with prices varying significantly by home size, location, and service needed (deep cleaning costs more). Factors like the number of bedrooms/bathrooms, square footage, recurring service, and extra services (windows, ovens) all impact the final price, so getting multiple quotes is key. 

What does 2 hours clean mean?

1.1 Whole Home Cleaning

In two hours, expect them to: Dust and wipe down surfaces, including shelves and baseboards. Clean kitchen appliances such as countertops, microwaves, and cabinets. Vacuum and mop floors throughout the house. Clean bathrooms thoroughly, including toilets, sinks, and showers.

What is the minimum hourly rate for a cleaner?

The Cleaning Award gives different rates depending on whether you're full-time, part-time or casual. An adult level 1 cleaner working for a contract cleaning company must be paid (per hour) at least: • $21.71 full-time • $24.97 part-time • $27.14 casual.

Is $40 an hour good for cleaning?

Yes, $40 an hour is generally considered a very good rate for house cleaning, often falling in the mid-to-upper range of typical hourly charges ($30-$75+) and reflecting good experience or location, though what's "good" depends heavily on your location, experience, the scope of work (deep clean vs. standard), and whether supplies are included. It's competitive, especially in areas with lower costs of living, but might be standard in high-cost-of-living cities, notes Quora users, Facebook users, and Reddit users. 

What do self-employed cleaners charge?

Independent cleaners typically charge £13–£20/hour, while cleaning agencies charge £18–£30/hour. The total cost depends on property size, cleaning requirements, and the type of cleaning service you need.

How do I quote a house cleaning job?

How do you quote a house cleaning job?

  1. Visit the home.
  2. Figure out how much time the job will take to complete.
  3. Calculate labor costs.
  4. Add in taxes.
  5. Include your in-supply expenses.
  6. Factor in overhead.
  7. Add your markup for profit.

Is 2 hours a week enough for a cleaner?

Yes, 2 hours a week can be enough for a cleaner, but it depends heavily on your home's size, how messy it gets, and your standards; it's great for maintaining a tidy space in smaller homes or for routine tasks but insufficient for deep cleaning or large family homes, which often need 4+ hours weekly for regular upkeep. For a 1-2 bedroom home, 2 hours might cover dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and bathrooms, but a 4+ bedroom house usually requires 4-7 hours or more for a thorough clean, with some families needing even more time for kids and pets. 

Do I tip a house cleaner?

You don't have to tip house cleaners, as it's not mandatory like in restaurants, but it's a common and appreciated gesture for good service, especially with independent cleaners or when they go above and beyond; tips (around 10-20%) are a great way to show appreciation for exceptional work, deep cleans, or busy times, but paying a fair wage covers it for some services.
 

What is reasonable to expect from a cleaning lady?

You can reasonably expect a cleaning lady to provide thorough cleaning of standard areas (kitchen, baths, floors, dusting, vacuuming), including sanitizing high-touch spots and handling trash, but extra tasks like laundry, dishes, organizing personal items, or deep cleaning inside appliances usually require a separate agreement and additional cost, as do things like window exteriors or wall washing. Clear communication about your specific needs, frequency (basic vs. deep clean), and boundaries (e.g., not touching valuables) is key for satisfaction. 

Are you supposed to leave the house when cleaners come?

Whether you choose to stay or leave your home while the cleaners work is entirely up to you. Your cleaners might have an easier time without anyone home, especially children. But if you're not comfortable having people in your home while you're not there, it's also acceptable to stay while they're cleaning.

What is the 5 5 5 rule for decluttering?

The 5-5-5 Decluttering Rule (also known as the 5x5 Method) is a quick, manageable system where you pick five zones/areas, set a five-minute timer for each, and tackle decluttering/organizing in those focused bursts, totaling 25 minutes, making it feel less overwhelming. It's a High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) approach to tidying, focusing on small, consistent actions rather than big, daunting tasks, often popularized by Steph of The Secret Slob. 

How long should it take to clean a 1800 sq ft house?

Let's say you have a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house that's 1,800 square feet. If you want to do light tidying up, then it shouldn't take you over 3 hours, whereas a standard clean will take up to 5 hours, and a deep clean will take up to 8 hours.

What will a cleaner do in 3 hours?

In 3 hours, a cleaner can typically do a standard clean of a small to medium home, focusing on high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms (dusting, wiping counters, sanitizing toilets/sinks, mopping/vacuuming floors) and common spaces (dusting surfaces, vacuuming/mopping), with potential for extras like changing bed linens or tackling light clutter, depending on the home's size and condition. Deep cleaning specific items (like inside appliances) or larger areas might be limited, requiring prioritization. 

How much should a house cleaner get per hour?

A house cleaner typically earns $25 to $75 per hour, but rates vary significantly by location, experience, and job complexity, with some areas and specialized services reaching $40 to over $100 per hour, while national averages hover around $20-$30/hour for employees. Factors like your city's cost of living, whether you're independent or work for a company, and if you offer deep cleaning or specialty services all impact your hourly rate. 

What should a cleaner be paid?

On average, you can expect to pay:

  • Apprentice - £7.55per hour.
  • Newly qualified - £12.21per hour.
  • Employed - £14.20per hour.
  • Sole trader - £25per hour.
  • Business owner (Ltd company) - £30per hour.