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 baseboards, window tracks and the scale on taps and shower glass. The inside of the oven, fridge and cupboards is included in some packages and extra in others.
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.
What does house cleaning cost in Canada?
Choose the cleaning type first. Size, condition and the task checklist matter more than the headline hourly rate.
| Service | Planning budget | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| One-time standard cleaning | C$140–C$260per visit | Occupied two-bedroom, one-bath home; agreed floor area and normal maintenance condition.Confirm floor area and the checklist; appliance interiors and heavy buildup are separate unless expressly included.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Kitchen and bathroom surfaces; Floors and dusting Budget separately or confirm: Appliance interiors; Heavy buildup |
| Deep cleaning | C$200–C$360per visit | Same home, with detailed cleaning tasks and initial condition agreed from photos or inspection.Deep cleaning is not a standardised package. Confirm appliance interiors, baseboards and the other extra tasks in writing.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Detailed agreed checklist; Supplies and equipment Budget separately or confirm: Restoration work; Hazardous cleanup |
| Move-out cleaning | C$270–C$420per visit | Empty two-bedroom, one-bath home; cupboard and appliance interiors expressly included.These estimates assume oven, fridge and cupboard interiors are included; compare the same empty-home checklist.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Agreed interior cleaning; Floors and bathrooms Budget separately or confirm: Carpet extraction; Wall repainting |
| Post-renovation dust cleaning | C$0.20–C$0.50per cleaned floor sq ft | Ordinary post-renovation dust and surface cleaning after the trades finish; floor area and checklist agreed.Confirm the minimum project charge and number of cleaning passes. Paint, adhesive and other residue removal may need a separate allowance.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Agreed dust removal; Surface and floor cleaning Budget separately or confirm: Construction debris hauling; Hazardous dust remediation |
| Cleaning booked by the hour | C$45–C$70per cleaner-hour | One cleaner completing an agreed checklist; minimum hours, supplies and travel confirmed.Confirm the minimum billable cleaner-hours and team size. An hourly booking is an alternative to a fixed cleaning package. This is an alternative way to price or book the work. Do not add it to another complete package for the same work.What this estimate coversIncludes in this budget: Labour; Standard supplies if specified Budget separately or confirm: Unapproved work; Specialist equipment |
What changes the price
- Floor area, bathrooms, clutter, pets and existing buildup.
- Included checklist, appliance interiors, windows and carpet extraction.
- Cleaner count, minimum booking, parking and additional authorised time.
Ask before accepting a quote
- What exactly distinguishes your standard and deep-cleaning checklists?
- Is this a fixed total or a time estimate, and how are overruns approved?
- Are supplies, parking and appliance interiors included in this price?
Use the same cleaning checklist
- Send the same photos and task list to each company for comparable quotes.
- Two cleaners for two hours means four cleaner-hours, not two.
Canadian context
For condo appointments, confirm access, elevator rules and parking charges in the quoted total.
Planning amounts in Canadian dollars. Published tax treatment varies; confirm applicable taxes and the final total in your written quote. Rows can be different services, alternative packages or separately priced extras. Add only work that is needed and not already included in your quote.
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.
