FAQ: House Cleaning Service in New York City

How much does a house cleaning service in New York City cost?

Standard cleanings start at $150. Your real price depends on how many bedrooms and bathrooms you have, which cleaning type you pick, and any add-ons. You see the full flat rate on screen before you confirm - never a surprise number after we leave. Full detail lives on our pricing page.

How long does it take to book?

About 60 seconds. Pick your service, enter your address, choose a date and window, apply a code if you have one, and you're done. You can also call us if you'd rather talk it through with a person. Start your booking here.

Are there hidden fees, travel charges or walk-up surcharges?

No. The price you book is the price you pay. We dont add a fee because your building is a fifth-floor walk-up in Bushwick or because you're across a bridge. If you add something on the day - inside the fridge, interior windows - we tell you the cost first.

What discounts can I use?

Three live codes right now:

• NEW10 - 10% off your first clean
• FLEXIBLE - 5% off every visit with a wider arrival window
• MOVE30 - $30 off any move-in or move-out clean

Recurring plans carry there own ongoing discount, listed on the pricing page.

When do I pay, and how?

Payment is handled securely online through your booking account. Nobody on the team asks you for cash at the door. You'll recieve a confirmation with the scope and total before the visit, so there's nothing to sort out while you're standing in the hallway.

Can I cancel or reschedule?

Yes. Plans change, especially in this city. Give us as much notice as you can and we'll move you to another slot. Timing and any applicable fees are spelled out in our cancellation and rescheduling policy.

Do you clean small studio apartments?

All the time. A 400 square foot studio in Hell's Kitchen and a classic six on the Upper East Side get the same checklist, just different amounts of time. Small spaces actually get dirty faster because every surface works overtime and clutter has nowhere to hide.

Do you handle walk-ups?

Yes, and there's no extra charge for stairs. Our teams carry their own supplies up, whether that's one flight in Greenpoint or five in Astoria. Just tell us the floor when you book so we plan the load right.

My apartment is cluttered. Will you still clean it?

We clean around what's there and we do not judge. Clear surfaces get cleaned better though, so if you can move paperwork off the desk and clothes off the floor, you get more value. Read preparing for your cleaning for a two-minute prep list.

Do you do apartment cleaning for whole buildings or landlords?

Yes - we work with owners and managers on unit turnovers and repeat schedules. Start with our apartment cleaning service page, or look at rental property cleaning if you manage several units.

What's the difference between maid service and house cleaning?

Honestly, for most New Yorkers they're the same thing. People say "maid service" when they mean regular help around the home and "house cleaning" when they mean a single visit. Either way you get our maid service New York City team following the same room-by-room list.

Will I get the same cleaner every time?

Whenever possible, yes. Clients on recurring plans get consistency, which matters alot when someone already knows where you keep the vacuum and which shelf holds the good glassware. Sick days and schedules happen, but the checklist never changes.

Is your housekeeping service background-checked?

Every cleaner is background-checked and the company is insured. That's not marketing filler - it's the reason clients like Amelia hand us keys for a parent's apartment and go back to work.

Can housekeeping include laundry or dishes?

Light kitchen tidying is part of the visit. Laundry and other extras depend on the add-ons you choose at booking - add a note and we'll confirm what fits in your time block before the team arrives.

How long does a standard clean take?

A one-bedroom usually runs about two to three hours with one cleaner, less with a team of two. Bigger homes, more bathrooms, or a place that hasn't been touched in months will take longer - which is exactly when a deep clean makes more sense.

Is a standard clean enough the first time?

If your place has been kept up, definately. If it's been a while, book a deep clean first and then drop into a standard rhythm after. It's cheaper over the year than fighting build-up with a basic visit every time.

What counts as residential cleaning?

Anywhere people actually live: apartments, condos, co-ops, brownstone floors, lofts and townhouses across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.

Do you use products that are safe for kids and pets?

Yes. Ask for green products in your booking notes and we'll bring them. The American Cleaning Institute has good plain-English guidance on reading product labels if you want to go deeper.

Does cleaning help with allergies?

It helps a lot with dust, dander and the stuff that piles up in a sealed-up city apartment over winter. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends regular dusting and vacuuming as part of managing indoor triggers. Regular visits beat one heroic scrub.

Can you clean after a renovation?

Light post-renovation dust, yes - that's what David's team handled after his kitchen pipe burst on the Upper West Side. Heavy construction debris, mold or water damage needs licensed remediation, not a cleaning crew. Tell us the situation and we'll be straight with you about what's in scope.

How often should I deep clean?

Once or twice a year for most homes, plus before big life events - a baby, guests staying, a lease ending. Spring is the busiest window, which is why we run a seperate spring cleaning service.

Can you sanitize after illness?

Yes. We focus on high-touch surfaces - door handles, switches, faucets, remotes, bathroom fixtures. That's exactly what James booked in Astoria after the flu went through his whole household.

Does the apartment need to be empty?

Empty or close to it. We need to reach inside cabinets, the oven, the fridge and every corner a landlord looks at during the walkthrough. Furniture still in place means we clean around it. Move-out cleaning details here.

Will this get my security deposit back?

We clean to the standard that landlords check for, and we follow our move-out cleaning checklist. Deposit decisions are between you and your landlord - we can't promise an outcome, but we can hand you a spotless apartment. If you want to read up on tenant rights, the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development is the official source.

Should I book the clean before or after the movers?

Moving out: after the truck leaves. Moving in: before the boxes land, so your first night is in a genuinely clean place. Our move-in cleaning is built for that empty-apartment window.

Do you need an elevator reservation?

Sometimes. Lots of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn buildings require service elevator booking for anything that looks like a move. Tell us the rules when you book and use code MOVE30 for $30 off any move-in or move-out clean.

What schedules can I choose?

Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. Weekly suits families and pets. Bi-weekly is the sweet spot for most couples and roommates. Monthly works if you tidy as you go and just want the heavy stuff handled. See the options on recurring cleaning plans.

Am I locked into a contract?

No lock-in. Pause it, skip a week, change the frequency. Life in New York doesn't run on a fixed schedule and neither do we.

Do I need a deep clean before starting a plan?

If the home hasn't been professionally cleaned in a while, it's the smarter first step. After that, standard visits keep it there. Amelia set this up for her mother in Tribeca and it's been running ever since.

Is recurring cheaper?

Yes - recurring plans carry an ongoing discount, and stacking the FLEXIBLE code saves another 5% per visit. Numbers are on the pricing page.

Can I book a single visit?

Absolutely. Guests landing, a party to recover from, or you just got back from three weeks away like Robert did in Cobble Hill. Book a one-time cleaning and that's the end of it.

What about after a party?

Cake crumbs, sticky floors, glitter in the rug - Jessica's family birthday party in Fort Greene is a real example. Our after-party cleaning exists exactly for the morning after.

Can a one-time clean turn into a plan later?

Sure. A lot of clients start with one visit, like the result, and switch to bi-weekly. Just tell us and we'll set the schedule up.

Can I really get a cleaner today?

Often, yes - it depends on that day's schedule and your neighborhood. Call (646) 825-3550 and we'll tell you straight away what's open. More on the same-day cleaning service page. Booking a day or two ahead always gives you more time slots.

Do you clean AirBnB and short-term rentals?

Yes. Linens reset, bathrooms sanitized, kitchen wiped, floors done, and the place staged to look the way it does in your listing photos. Linda uses us for her Upper East Side unit between guests. See short-term rental cleaning and the rental cleaning checklist.

Can you work between a checkout and a check-in?

That's what turnover cleaning is for. Give us the window - say 11am checkout, 3pm check-in - and we build the visit around it.

Do you restock supplies for hosts?

We can put out what you leave for us - paper goods, coffee, toiletries. Leave them in one spot with a note and the team handles the rest.

Do I need to be home?

No. Most clients are at work. Doorman handoff, lockbox or a smart-lock code all work fine - just add the access instructions in your booking notes.

Do you bring supplies and a vacuum?

Yes, everything. You don't need to stock a thing. If you love a specific product for a specific surface - a marble counter, a sealed hardwood floor - leave it out with a note and we'll use it.

What if the doorman won't let the team up?

Add your cleaner to the building's guest list, or leave a note at the front desk. We coordinate with concierges every day, but front desks only follow the instructions the resident gives them. If we get turned away, we'll call you right away.

What if I'm not happy with the clean?

Tell us within 24 hours and we come back and re-clean the areas in question at no charge. That's the whole policy, in every borough. Details on our satisfaction guarantee.

Do you clean if there's a pest treatment happening?

We can do the cleaning that goes alongside a treatment - clearing shelves, wiping cabinets, cleaning behind heavy appliances - which is what Charles booked in Bay Ridge. We are not exterminators, so the treatment itself needs a licensed pro.

Can I gift a cleaning to someone else?

Yes, and it's one of the better gifts you can give a new parent or someone recovering from surgery. Grab a gift card or book directly to their address with their permission.