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The 8 Best Cleaning Services of 2023
- Best Overall: Tidy
- Best Budget: MaidPro
- Most Efficient: The Maids
- Best Eco-Friendly: Maid Brigade
- Best for Deep Cleaning: The Cleaning Authority
- Best for Customer Service: Molly Maid
- Most Flexible: Merry Maids
- Best for Carpeting: USA Clean Master
Best Overall : Tidy
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Tidy
With Tidy, it's simple: You create the to-do checklist for the cleaners, or you can choose a pre-made one. Then, choose the length of time (four hours with one cleaner is the most popular, while four hours with two cleaners is the deepest clean), and they’ll get to work.
Just choose the date and time for your first cleaning, and fill out a form that will ask you a few questions, like how many bedrooms you have and how they will get into your home. Tidy will automatically estimate the time it will take to clean your home, and they will let you know in advance if they can accomplish getting everything in order.
Tidy is available in most major cities throughout the United States and will also service Airbnbs. This company is incredibly easy to schedule, and you can do it all through their simple, easy-to-use website or app. You can cancel at any time.
While their website and app are very useful, clients have complained that it’s difficult to get in touch with a real person in customer service if you have an issue. Cleaning prices vary depending on location.
Best Budget : MaidPro
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MaidPro
If you're looking for a thorough cleaning for a great price, MaidPro is the service for you. The company has a 49-point checklist that the employees must get through before they leave your home. And, all the products used are aimed to be eco-friendly.
Choose between a one-time clean, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly service, and they’ll work with your budget to determine what they can do. For example, if you have a small budget, but want your kitchen and bathrooms cleaned, they can make it work. MaidPro's employees come in groups of one or two, and they don’t hold you to a contract, so you can skip days, or cancel whenever you want.
If you aren’t happy with your experience, MaidPro will re-clean your home if you let them know within 24 hours. Prices vary by location, but they tend to bundle costs.
Most Efficient : The Maids
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The Maids
Looking for a service that's both efficient and effective? The Maids might just be what you're looking for. The company is super organized: Each group of cleaners that comes to your house includes a team leader who acts as the supervisor.
During the cleaning, a field manager will be present to occasionally inspect the cleaning to make sure it’s up to par. The service is 100% guaranteed, and most people are very pleased with their work. But something to keep in mind: Some previous users have complained that The Maids underestimate the initial cost of cleaning your home, so you may want to add on another hundred or so to their estimate to be realistic.
If you want to pay extra, you can have The Maids deep clean your windows and the interiors of your oven and refrigerator. Other services that may be available include carpet cleaning and outside patio cleaning.
Best Eco-Friendly : Maid Brigade
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Maid Brigade
Available throughout the country, Maid Brigade focuses on green cleaning. All of their products are certified by Green Seal, their equipment has been recognized by the American Lung Association to improve indoor air quality, and they try to use microfiber cloths rather than paper towels and cleaning solutions.
Maid Brigade offers regular cleanings, one-time tidying sessions, and deep cleanings. Deep cleanings are at an additional cost and include polishing silver, tidying under area rugs, spot cleaning the walls, and wiping down woodwork and baseboards.
The reliability and thoroughness of this company also varies by location, with some customers singing their praises, and others quitting after the first visit due to homes not being clean enough by the end of their service.
Best for Deep Cleaning : The Cleaning Authority
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The Cleaning Authority
If you’re focused on eco-friendly cleaning, turn to The Cleaning Authority, who only used eco-friendly products. The Cleaning Authority does a deep clean of your bedrooms, kitchen, and bathrooms on rotating weeks. And, the company will do a basic cleaning each week. The Cleaning Authority also has a fancy, incredibly-detailed checklist of what you can expect to be tidied up on a rotating basis. By the end of the month, everything should be sparkling.
While not available throughout the world, the service is in the United States and in Canada. Plenty of people have been happy with The Cleaning Authority, but like any service, it depends on who was assigned to their homes.
Best for Customer Service : Molly Maid
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Molly Maid
Not to be confused with Merry Maids, a competing service, Molly Maid has been in business for more than 35 years.
Molly Maids also has packages depending on your location, which can make guessing your total fee much easier. What really sets this company apart is that they don’t have contracts, so if you aren’t satisfied, you can stop your service without any repercussions. They are fully insured and provide all the cleaning equipment and supplies. When they’re done cleaning, you can do a walkthrough to see what was accomplished. If you are unhappy with anything, they will fix any issues.
Most Flexible : Merry Maids
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Merry Maids
Merry Maids has been a go-to cleaning company for plenty of households since 1979. Since then, it's become a massive franchise, with more than 500 corporate locations in North America. Now, Merry Maids cleans more than 120,000 homes in the United States and Canada.
So how does it work? They typically send the same person or group to your home so they get to know your house. You may schedule as many cleaning sessions that fit your needs, including simply coming right before you’re having a party. Merry Maids brings their own products, including a line of supplies that are green-friendly and meet independently, established EPA guidelines.
Merry Maids prices and services are completely individualized. Because pricing is based on many factors, Merry Maid asks you to contact them for an estimate. Many employees will offer a deal for your first time when you sign a contract with them. You can ask Merry Maids to focus specific areas, like the kitchen, primary bathroom, family room, and an additional room of your choice (this would be the least expensive option). Or, you can splurge on a deep clean of the entire house.
Many real estate associations, including the National Association of Home Builders, have classified the term "Master Bedroom" (or "Master Bathroom") as discriminatory. "Primary Bedroom" is the name now widely used among the real estate community and better reflects the purpose of the room.
Read more about our Diversity and Inclusion Pledge to make The Spruce a site where all feel welcome.
Best for Carpeting : USA Clean Master
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USA Clean Master
USA Clean Master specializes in carpets and upholstery. They’ve been in business since 2003, and you should hire them if you need to deep clean your upholstery, area rugs, wood floors, air ducts, or tiles.
Yes, they will literally get down on the ground and scrub the grout between your tiles. They’ll focus on pet stains, or help restore your home to its previous condition if there was water or fire damage.
While the company is effective, there have been complaints about a bait and switch when it comes to pricing, so make sure you call for an estimate before using their service. In addition to focusing on carpets, you can also hire USA Clean Master to do regular weekly or bi-monthly cleanings.
USA Clean Master is available throughout the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What’s the Average Cost to Hire a Cleaning Service?
Cleaning services generally cost more than independent cleaners and gig workers, but they’re usually more efficient. Some companies charge by the hour and others charge by square footage, and prices may also vary depending on your location.
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Is Hiring a Cleaning Service Worth It?
Hiring a cleaning service will ensure that your home gets a thorough, professional clean on a regular basis. In addition, your furniture, floors, surfaces, and appliances will be cleaned with professional-grade tools and appropriate cleaning products, so they’ll be better maintained. You may even find that you end up saving money on replacement items because the shelf-life of some of your belongings is extended.
Using a cleaning service also takes a huge item off your chore list, so it can give you more free time to get other tasks done or just relax and do something you enjoy. For some busy people, it’s worth the investment to spend money on a clean home, rather than cleaning during their free time.
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How Much Should You Tip a House Cleaner?
If you hire someone for a one-time or infrequent cleaning, it’s appropriate to tip them $10 to $20 per cleaning. If you use a year-round cleaning service, it’s probably not necessary to tip each time. Instead, you can give a cash bonus at the end of the year, around the holiday season. In the case of an annual tip, most homeowners tip the cost of one full cleaning.
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