For most people, the cost of having their house cleaned is paid for by an hourly rate. My neighbor pays this way and typically gets billed for six hours’ worth of work at a time when she’s not around to see what they’re doing. So, she asked me if this was reasonable.
In general, it takes around 3 hours to clean an average-sized house. The time it takes to clean a house will vary depending on its size, the thoroughness of the job, and how often the home is cleaned.
Are you curious about how long it takes to clean a house? In this post, we’ll break down the cleaning process and give you an estimate of how much time it will take. We’ll also share some tips for making the process go more quickly. Keep reading to learn more!
The time It Takes to Clean an Average-Sized House?
When it comes to cleaning the house, there are no miracles. We know that a thorough cleaning can last all day or even extend over two or three days. Of course, it all depends on the size of the residence in question and the cleaning method.
However, to clean an average-sized house all by yourself will take approximately 3-4 hours. This is an estimated time and depends on many other factors.
If you opt for a “deep cleaning,” for example, add a few more hours because a deep clean includes a “Basic Clean” with added duties such as wiping down baseboards and cleaning windows.
Factors that Affect the Time it Takes to Clean Your House
The amount of time it takes to clean a house is determined by several factors such as the amount of furniture and fixtures, carpeting, number of people living in it, and how often they’re at home.
Understanding these factors can help you optimize cleaning time and save costs. For example, if paying an hourly rate to have your house cleaned, divide work into deep cleaning once a month and surface-level tasks weekly.
On deep cleaning days, ensure no one is home and have them do all the complex, time-consuming jobs and on surface cleaning days, sweep, mop, and wipe down the appliances. Of course, customize the schedule for your home.
If you’re considering cleaning times for yourself, there are other factors that you need to consider because these, when combined with each other, will impact the cleaning time.
The factors that impact your cleaning time are action, chemicals, and temperature. Depending on the surface or dirt to be cleaned, hygiene, and the means available, different combinations of these factors will affect cleaning time.
To improve your cleaning and reduce the time it takes to complete a job, use effective products that suit different surfaces. Temperature affects how long it takes for items to dry after being wiped down or washed, which in turn plays a role in cleaning time.
Good housecleaners have a system to clean with one thing in mind: efficiency. They know how to clean effectively and quickly, without any wasted time. With experience, you will learn all the tricks of the trade. Here are some tips to get you started on the right foot.
Ten Tips for Cleaning Your House
Tip #1: Reduce clutter
Often what gets in the way when cleaning the house is the excess of items out of place. This brings the feeling that everything is even “dirtier” than it really is. Therefore, it would be best to maintain and organize daily, avoiding leaving objects scattered and out of place.
Tip #2: Select a time that suits you
Cleaning needs to be part of your routine, and it is essential that you plan for it, thinking about the appropriate time and that it fits into your schedule. Cleaning the house on a busy day can leave you feeling frustrated and disorganized.
I like to get up in the morning, clean the floors and make the beds before doing anything else. At night before I go to bed, I check that each room is straightened up and the kitchen is clean. This schedule works well for me.
Tip #3: Make Cleaning a Fun Activity
Making cleaning enjoyable is a practical way to avoid fatigue while working. Try to turn the time of cleaning the house into something fun. An alternative is to share the tasks with the other family members, putting on happy music, among other ideas.
I clean with my headphones on, often listening to books or podcasts; this helps me pass the time, and I learn something new in the process.
Tip #4: Start cleaning in the farthest corner of the room
Always start cleaning in the farthest corner of the room you are cleaning. This way, you avoid stepping on the newly sanitized floor and ensure that all the “corners” are adequately cleaned.
Tip #5: Start Cleaning from the Top Down
Don’t forget to always start your house cleaning from the top down. Start by cleaning the highest parts of cabinets, shelves, walls, and ceiling. This way, the accumulated dust will fall on the floor–which you will clean later.
Tip #6: Use the right products
Before using any cleaning product, it is essential to read the label and check if you can apply it to surfaces or if it is possible to mix it with other products.
To disinfect glass tables, cabinets, and kitchen countertops, it is possible to use alcohol, which can also be diluted in water to clean the window glass.
Degreasers are the most suitable for cleaning the stove, oven, cabinets, microwave, and kitchen countertops. It can also wash the bathroom shower. In the case of porcelain tiles, you can clean them by diluting neutral detergent in water.
Pay special attention to multipurpose products. Depending on the characteristics of the surfaces, they can end up spoiling wood and other surfaces if you’re not careful.
Tip #7: Don’t Forget Your Appliances
On the day of the heaviest cleaning, don’t forget to also clean the appliances, such as the oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Pull out the turntable of your microwave and wash it with warm water and soap.
For stovetops, I recommend spraying heavy-duty cleaners and wiping under each burner as soon as you notice a spill, do the same with ovens.
If you leave food on these hot surfaces for an extended period, they become tough to clean. I use a handheld steam cleaner to loosen the grime when this happens.
Tip #8: Pay attention to furniture cleanliness
Wooden furniture, such as MDF, lacquer, or high gloss, needs special care when cleaning. Use a clean white cloth, preferably cotton, to remove dirt. Finish by washing the cloth in running water and applying it to the furniture.
Matte textured panels should be cleaned horizontally or vertically, never circular. The glass and mirror doors can be cleaned with a glass cleaner and a clean cloth or paper towel.
Don’t forget to remove dust and grease from the hinges and slides. Clean these parts with a soft cloth–which can be damp or dry (but you need to dry afterward).
Tip #9: Change your mop water frequently
To clean the floor, don’t forget to change the water frequently. After all, it’s no use cleaning one room and using dirty water to clean another because you are likely spreading dirt.
Tip #10: Be careful with window cleaning
Regular cloth rags used to clean the windows, can leave lint and even fog them up and make them look worse than when you started. Instead, use microfiber cloths. If you want a more homemade solution, you can reuse old t-shirts or, even better, newspaper work really well to clean glass.
Create an Efficient Routine for Cleaning Your House
Household cleaning is something that has to be done regularly. It’s something you shouldn’t procrastinate; otherwise, you’ll accumulate tasks and have to spend your weekend cleaning up. So, plan ahead which tasks you will be performing each day.
– Day 1: Kitchen: Clean sink and countertop, stove, outside of the fridge, and wash the trash can.
– Day 2: Bathroom: Clean sink, toilet, shower, mirror, cupboard, trash, and floor.
– Day 3: Room: Dust off furniture, lamps, and decorative objects. Group magazines, newspapers, and catalogs. Vacuum sofa, chair, and rugs and clean the floor.
– Day 4: Bedroom: Change and wash bedding. Turn the mattress over and vacuum; clean or vacuum the headboard. Clean inside cabinets and drawers; wash makeup brushes with mild soap.
– Day 5: Service area. Clean the floor and put the clothes to wash.
Why Does Hoarding Get in the Way of Keeping Your House Clean?
Hoarding is a psychological syndrome and an unorganized behavior with a tendency to collect and clutter objects here and there. It consumes space and aesthetically diminishes the value of cleanliness.
Hoarders prefer disarray over cleanliness; they love their belongings (these may include anything from old furniture to modern gadgets depending upon the interest of the hoarder) and don’t let them go easily. It is impossible to clean a house with piles and piles of things strewn everywhere.
Professional cleaning services can clean fast.
Professional cleaning services have skills, products, and machines that help them be efficient. Plus, they know how to clean for the long term, preventing dust accumulation moldy upholstery, among other things.
In addition, professionals’ home cleaning helps keep the house in order for those who do not have time to perform it daily.
A professional cleaning service should not take over 1-2 hours to clean an average-sized house since it has the professional resources and special techniques to apply.
It is essential to check which type of cleaning the company specializes in, as glass, carpet, and upholstery may need a more specific service.
Additional Note: The average cost of Home Cleaning is $25-50 per hour per cleaner. The overall fee is subject to the size of the house, the nature of the cleaning, and the region you live.
Conclusion
A professional house cleaner with a good routine should be able to clean your entire house within about three hours. A professional service with two workers should complete the job in half the time.
If you’re trying to get a handle on how long it should take you to clean your own house, I hope these tips helped you out. Because cleaning the house is something that is always on the to-do list.
After all, it seems that housework never ends. There’s always something to tidy, clean, and organize, isn’t there? With the few tips in this article, it is possible to optimize your routine and clean the house without wasting time.
One of the most important tips is not to let the dirt accumulate because, when you do the cleaning, it will end up taking longer than usual. Try cleaning the basics every day, such as mopping the floor and dusting the furniture. This saves a lot of time and worries on the days of heavier cleaning.
If you can’t separate a day of the week for cleaning, dedicate yourself to cleaning a room more thoroughly each day. For example, on Saturday you clean the bathroom, on Sunday the kitchen, on Monday the floor of the house and so on. Leave the tasks and rooms that take the most time for those days when you have more free time.
FAQ
How long does it take to clean a hotel room?
In general, it takes a housekeeper forty-five minutes to clean a hotel room. However, if it is a deep cleaning it can take two to three hours or more.
