Hiring a Cleaning Service in NYC

Start here: how ServHom is different

Most platforms for finding cleaners either pass your details to a list of companies or rank whoever pays the most. ServHom does neither. We surface cleaning services with verified information and never let anyone pay to rank higher.

Use this guide to hire confidently, then compare local cleaning services and what people actually paid using the links throughout.

What to check before you book

Cleaning is not a licensed trade in NYC like electrical or plumbing work, so there is no license number to look up. That does not mean every cleaning business has the same setup. If a company says it is licensed or certified, ask what the specific credential is and which agency issued it.

• General liability insurance: can help protect against certain accidental property damage, depending on the policy. Ask for a certificate of insurance, especially if your building requires one.
• Workers' compensation: if the company has employees, ask whether it carries workers' compensation coverage as required by New York law. A general liability policy does not automatically cover the workers themselves.
• Bonding: some companies carry a fidelity bond that may cover certain employee theft. It is a useful secondary signal, not a standard requirement, and coverage varies by bond. Ask what it actually covers rather than treating "bonded" as a blanket guarantee.
• Employees vs. independent contractors: ask which model the company uses. It affects consistency (the same person each visit or not), backup coverage if someone is out, and who is accountable if something goes wrong.
• Background checks: ask whether cleaners are screened, and how.
• Building approval: some co-ops and condos maintain an approved-vendor list or require proof of insurance before any outside service can enter. Check your house rules before booking, not after.
• Reviews: look at volume, recency, and patterns, not just the star rating. A large number of recent reviews is generally more informative than a perfect rating based on a handful of them. Recurring complaints about cancellations, damage, or unexpected charges matter more than one bad review.

How much does a cleaning service cost in NYC?

Most NYC apartment cleaning falls somewhere between about $90 and $300 per visit for a standard recurring clean, depending on apartment size, with deep and move-out cleans running more. Treat these as planning ranges, not guaranteed quotes; apartment condition can matter as much as square footage.

• Standard recurring clean: roughly $90 to $300 per visit, or about $40 to $80 an hour. See the dedicated house cleaning cost guide for the full breakdown by apartment size.
• Deep clean: typically 30 to 50 percent more than a standard clean, since it covers baseboards, buildup, and areas a recurring visit usually skips.
• Move-in or move-out clean: typically 50 to 80 percent more than a standard clean, commonly landing around $150 to $700 depending on apartment size. See the dedicated move-out cleaning cost guide, which also covers the specific NY law on when a landlord can deduct cleaning costs from a security deposit.
• Post-construction clean: priced separately from normal house cleaning, since it deals with construction dust and debris rather than everyday buildup.

What actually drives the price

• Apartment size and number of bathrooms: bathrooms can take disproportionate time relative to their size.
• Condition and time since the last professional cleaning: a first-time clean on a place that has not been professionally cleaned in a while usually takes longer.
• Frequency: weekly and biweekly service usually costs less per visit than a one-time booking.
• Whether supplies and equipment are included, or the cleaner expects you to provide them.
• Add-ons: oven interior, refrigerator interior, interior windows, cabinets, and wall washing are commonly priced as extras, not included by default.
• Building access: difficult parking, a long walk from the entrance, or elevator restrictions can affect both scheduling and price.
• Urgency: same-day or short-notice bookings can carry a premium.

Know what type of clean you need

These have very different scopes and prices. Being clear upfront prevents misunderstandings and surprise charges.

• Recurring maintenance clean: a regular visit (weekly, biweekly, monthly) to keep a clean home clean. Fastest and cheapest per session once established.
• Deep clean: a thorough top-to-bottom clean that may include baseboards, buildup, cabinet interiors, or appliance interiors depending on the company's checklist, not automatically all of it. Usually recommended for the first visit or after a long gap.
• Move-in or move-out clean: intensive cleaning for a vacant apartment, often including the oven, fridge, and cabinet interiors, though the exact scope still varies by company. Priced higher because the apartment is usually dirtier and every surface gets attention.
• Post-construction clean: for a home after a renovation. Deals with construction dust, drywall residue, and debris, a materially different job from routine cleaning and usually a separate, higher price.

Cleaning company vs. independent cleaner

Neither option is automatically better. A cleaning company usually makes insurance easier to verify and has backup coverage if your regular cleaner is out, but may send different people each visit and often costs more. An independent cleaner is often less expensive and can mean the same person every time, but you need to ask directly about insurance and what happens if they are unavailable. The real question is what you are actually getting for the price: insurance, consistency, communication, scope, supplies, and a clear policy for damage or missed work.

What a standard cleaning usually does not include

Scope confusion is one of the biggest sources of cleaning-service disputes. Unless specifically quoted, do not assume a standard cleaning includes:

• Inside the oven, refrigerator, or cabinets.
• Interior or exterior windows.
• Heavy wall washing or carpet shampooing.
• Mold remediation, hoarding cleanup, biohazard cleanup, or pest removal.
• Moving heavy furniture or post-construction debris removal.

Before the cleaner arrives: check your building rules

In many NYC buildings, especially co-ops and condos, this can matter as much as picking the right cleaner. Ask your super or managing agent:

• Does the cleaner need to be registered with the building, or is there an approved-vendor list?
• Is a certificate of insurance required before the cleaner can enter?
• Does the service elevator need to be reserved, and are there permitted service hours?
• Does the building require photo ID, and are cleaners allowed in when you are not home?

Special surfaces, pets, and sensitivities

Small apartments with poor ventilation can hold onto strong chemical smells longer than a house would. Before the first visit, tell the cleaner about pets, hardwood or prewar finishes, natural stone, allergies, fragrance preferences, and any surface that needs a specific product. Do not assume every cleaner uses the same products on marble, wood, or other specialty surfaces; ask about eco-friendly options if anyone in the home has sensitivities.

If you are a renter

Hiring a cleaner is not always your responsibility. NYC landlords are responsible for keeping the building safe, clean, and well maintained, in both common areas and individual apartments, and for complying with the NYC Housing Maintenance Code. If the issue is building conditions, vermin, garbage, or leaks, contact your landlord or 311 rather than assuming you need to pay for private cleaning to fix it.

Ask what happens if something goes wrong

Before booking, find out:

• Is there a satisfaction or re-clean policy if you are not happy?
• How quickly do you need to report damage, and who pays for it?
• Who do you contact if the cleaner does not show up?

Cleaning services by borough

Availability and pricing differ across the city. The listings below pull real, verified NYC cleaning services so you can compare who is actually available near you.

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