Overview: House Cleaning Services
A one-off clean usually lands at a turning point: moving out, moving in, after a renovation, or after a winter of salt and sand tracked across the front hall. It goes further than a weekly visit. Think inside the oven and fridge, baseboards, window tracks, and the scale on taps and shower glass.
For renters, the rules on deposits vary by province. Ontario doesn't allow damage deposits, only a last month's rent deposit and a refundable key deposit. Quebec landlords can't demand a security deposit at all. In those provinces, a move-out clean won't win back a deposit. It can still head off a claim later.
Before a crew comes in, ask whether the cleaners are employees or subcontractors, whether the company carries liability insurance, and whether its workers have workers' compensation coverage. An injured worker without it can turn into your problem.
Our listings show what each cleaning company states on its own website: the cleans it offers, whether estimates are free, its hours, and public reviews. Start with the province list, then open the city page closest to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can my landlord charge me for cleaning after I move out?
Not just by keeping your money. In British Columbia, a landlord needs your written agreement or a Residential Tenancy Branch order to keep any of your deposit. In Ontario there's no damage deposit, so a landlord who wants cleaning costs usually has to take the claim to the Landlord and Tenant Board. Date-stamped photos and a cleaning receipt are your strongest defence.
Am I the employer if I hire a cleaner myself?
You can be. The CRA says a household that hires a domestic worker may be that worker's employer, which brings payroll deductions and a tax slip at year end. A cleaner who runs a real business makes you a customer instead. In Ontario, a household has to register with the WSIB once its own housekeeper works more than a set number of hours a week for it. Booking through a company keeps that paperwork on its side.
Can a cleaning crew deal with mould in the basement?
A small patch on a hard surface, often yes. Health Canada says small amounts can be scrubbed off with unscented soap and water, and it says not to use bleach. Large patches, mould that keeps coming back, or anything after a sewage backup call for a professional. Mouldy carpet usually has to go. Ask first, because plenty of cleaning companies won't touch mould, and none of them can fix the leak behind it.
Why ask about insurance and bonding?
Because the crew works in your home, often while you're out. Liability insurance pays for damage the cleaners cause. A bond covers theft by the company's own staff. Workers' compensation is the piece people forget. In British Columbia, a free WorkSafeBC clearance letter shows whether a company is up to date on its premiums. Elsewhere, ask for proof of coverage from the provincial board.
Can they clean up after building work?
Many can, but price it as its own job. Drywall dust keeps settling for days, so the work runs in passes: debris out, damp wiping of every ledge, then floors and vents last. Ask whether the furnace filter gets changed and the return grilles vacuumed, because a furnace running through the job spreads dust into every room. Paint splatter and grout haze may need another trade.
