I am trying to start a house cleaning service in the local area in order to bring in some extra income while I am at home with the children. I am only going to be able to clean houses in the evenings and on weekends.

I don't know where to start, what to charge for which jobs, etc.

If anyone has ANY advice or tips to offer, I would be thrilled! TIA

By Andi on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 06:37 pm:

I have a lady come every 2 weeks and I pay her $60. (I just started using her) She stays for about 31/2 hours and she comes with her husband so there are two people cleaning.
She uses my cleaning supplies but brings some of her own incase she needs them. They even moved all the furniture to clean under it and vacuumed the couch cushions. They even cleaned my Fireplace tools...LOL.
Good Luck getting your business going.

By Jann on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 06:43 pm:

I have a cleaning lady who comes every two weeks, 8-1. I pay her $50 a day. Here is a list that I wrote out for her. If you are willing to iron, you can probably make more.

Kitchen
Countertops
Sink
Cabinets/Appliances (fingerprints or smudges)
Stove
Sweep/Mop floor

Den/Dining room/Study
Dust
Vacuum
Damp mop hardwoods with Holloway House cleaner (top of refrigerator)
Windex French door windows/wipe fingerprints off woodwork

Entry
Dust
Mop
Baseboards/Walls for fingerprints/smudges
Windex front door windows

Bedrooms
Change sheets (not in playroom)
Wash and put up old sheets
Dust
Vacuum

Bathrooms
Clean shower/tub/counters/toilets
Mirrors
Baseboards
Cabinets
Mop
Empty waste baskets (under sink)

By Crystal915 on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 06:47 pm:

Usually house cleaners are bonded, in case someone accuses you of stealing or breaking something. If you were just going to do it for friends I wouldn't bother. Good luck with it!

By Cybermommyx4 on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 07:04 pm:

Jann,
How on earth does your housekeeper get all that done in 5 hours? Including washing sheets, etc.? I wish *I* could get that much done that fast, LOL!

By Jann on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 07:10 pm:

Crystal, mine isn't bonded...just trust her from word of mouth.
No joke, Cybermommy! I think it's cause she doesn't have any distractions of dealing with the kids. As to the sheets, she is just tossing them in the washer while she is doing other stuff, then folding them up. I do have two sets of sheets. ;) She is amazing. She will also move furniture, clean out the fridge and polish silver when needed.

By Andi on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 07:14 pm:

Wow Jann....I want your cleaning lady!!!!

Maybe the price differs depending on where you live???

By Jann on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 08:03 pm:

$10 an hour is pretty good round here. Heck, I have been looking to get a part time job and can't get that much!

By Boxzgrl on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 08:40 pm:

Andi, is that the going rate around here? It's cheaper than I thought. I told DH that when we buy a house that I would pay $100 every 2 weeks for someone to come clean it.

Amy, i'd hire you in a minute. I hate mopping and laundry and what do you know, it NEVER gets done. (Or atleast not enough!) Why don't you do something like cleaning houses on post when people move out and need them cleaned for inspections? Do they do that in the Army? I know when we move and hire somebody it costs about $250 and takes them 2-3 days. They do it independently. You just have the pass the inspection to be qualified to do that.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 08:02 am:

Amy, my good friend had her own cleaning business before she went to nursing school. I'll check with her. I know her prices depended on how much was done.

By Feona on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 10:31 am:

Around here they usually charge $10-12 a hour and $10 bucks more for laundry. (so about $50 bucks for 4 hours and 10$ bucks more for laundry) I think that is what it is....

By Andi on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 11:06 am:

No that is not the going rate...she charges me that much because I have her coming every two weeks. If you only get it here or there it will cost more.

$100 every two weeks...did you win the lottery??? LOL

By Amy~moderator on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 08:52 pm:

Thanks everyone for the advice on rates. I have done some research online as well. Although...I'm beginning to think this may not be for me....I have to think about it awhile.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, July 2, 2005 - 11:43 am:

Ames, I just want to mention, when my friend did that, it ruined her hands - she developed carpal tunnel in both hands. It was hard work. When she got to a point where she could hire someone to help, she was burned out on it. She was trying to get new construction business, but it was *politically* locked up around here.....

By Reds9298 on Saturday, July 2, 2005 - 12:31 pm:

I dont' know how much you're trying to make each month, but my friend just started doing this for her family and friends. She cleans her fil's house, her cousin's, and another friend. She stopped there. Maybe you could just do one or two houses? It IS hard work. Also, there are always ads around here for people to clean offices in the evenings. I know a few people who do this and it's great extra money.

By Amy~moderator on Sunday, July 3, 2005 - 01:20 am:

I'm going to *try* it out with one house. I've met this girl a few times through Freecycle, and she seems like a great person. If I don't like it, I won't do it anymore! LOL

By Andi on Sunday, July 3, 2005 - 11:03 am:

Good Luck, I hope it works out for you. It's always noce to find an extra way to earn some money.

By Amy~moderator on Sunday, July 3, 2005 - 08:07 pm:

Andi, that's what I'm trying to do. I babysit a little girl full-time over the summer and after school during the school year. I couldn't handle any more children, having 3 kids of my own already. So, I thought cleaning houses in the evenings and on weekends would help us out a little.

By Conni on Friday, July 22, 2005 - 08:54 am:

I was searching through old posts and thought I would reply to this. Did you start cleaning for your friend yet? How do you like it?

I finally hired another lady. (have been through 2 cleaning ladies already that were awful) The new lady starts next week. She only has time to come bi-weekly right now until she hires some help. At that point she can come weekly. For now she will be coming around 11:30 am- until early evening hours. She is charging me $90 to do my house from top to bottom every other week. I am SO ready for some help. She left me a list of supplies to go buy, for her to use and keep at my house. So I do have to provide supplies.

Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes.