Booking professional house cleaning in London for the first time? This guide explains what a regular clean usually covers, how often to book, when a deep clean makes more sense, and what to agree before the first visit. It ends with 9 practical tips that help any cleaner do a better job in the time you book.
If you already know what you need and live in West or South West London, you can go straight to our domestic cleaning service.
What professional house cleaning in London usually covers
A regular clean keeps a home that is already in good shape clean and tidy. Most disappointments come from different expectations, so ask for the scope in writing before the first visit and check each area below.
Living areas and bedrooms
- Vacuuming carpets and rugs
- Mopping hard floors
- Dusting reachable surfaces: shelves, skirting boards, windowsills and picture frames
- Wiping light switches, door handles and bannisters
- Emptying bins
- Making beds (changing linen is usually agreed separately)
Kitchen
- Wiping worktops and splashbacks, including behind the kettle and toaster
- Cleaning the hob and the outside of the oven door
- Wiping the outside of the microwave, fridge, dishwasher and washing machine
- Cleaning the sink, taps and draining board
- Wiping cupboard and drawer fronts
- Mopping the floor
Bathrooms
- Cleaning the toilet, including under the rim and the seat
- Cleaning the bath or shower tray and shower screen
- Wiping taps, showerhead and tiles
- Cleaning the mirror and basin
- Mopping the floor
What is usually not included
Inside the oven, inside the fridge or freezer, outside windows, washing walls, laundry and ironing are usually not part of a regular visit. They take more time or need different equipment, so agree them separately. Oven cleaning is available as part of a deep clean or end of tenancy clean. Please mention it when requesting your quote so we can confirm what is included.
How often to book a cleaner
There is no single right answer. It depends on the size of your home, how many people live there, whether you have pets and how much tidying you do between visits.
- Weekly suits busy family homes, homes with pets that shed and anyone who wants the home guest-ready most of the time.
- Fortnightly is a common middle ground for couples and small families.
- Monthly can work for one person in a smaller flat who keeps things tidy. Expect each visit to take longer, because more builds up in four weeks.
A sensible approach is to start with one frequency, see how the home looks before each visit, and adjust after the first few cleans.
Regular clean or deep clean first?
A regular clean maintains a standard. A deep clean brings a home back to that standard: built-up grease, limescale, grout and the corners that are easy to miss.
If your home has not been cleaned properly for a while, book a deep clean first. A regular visit is too short to remove months of build-up and keep everything else clean at the same time. Once the home is back to a good baseline, regular visits keep it there.
A deep clean also makes sense before moving into a new home, before guests or a family event, or after your regular cleaning has stopped for a few weeks.
Moving out is different. An end of tenancy clean follows what the agent or landlord will check at the end of the tenancy. In West and South West London, see our end of tenancy cleaning service.
How to choose a house cleaner in London
Before you book any company or individual, ask these five questions:
- What exactly is included? Ask for the list of tasks in writing.
- Who supplies the products and equipment? This varies between companies and between types of clean, so ask before the first visit.
- Are you insured? Ask what the insurance covers and what happens if something is damaged.
- What happens if something is missed? A good cleaner will tell you clearly how they put it right.
- Can I see independent reviews? Google reviews are a good place to start. Look at how the company replies to negative reviews too.
Agency or independent cleaner?
An independent cleaner can give a personal service, but there may be no cover if they are ill or away. A company can usually arrange things more flexibly. If you hire an individual directly, read the GOV.UK guidance on employing someone in your home, because you may have employer responsibilities.
9 tips for a better clean
The first six tips help on cleaning day. The last three keep your home looking good between visits.
- Clear the kitchen worktops. Move post, small appliances and anything loose so every surface can be wiped.
- Put clothes and laundry away. Floors and beds covered in clothes cannot be vacuumed or made properly.
- Empty the sink. The cleaner needs to reach the basin and taps.
- Plan for pets. Keep them in one room or out of the home, so the cleaner can move freely.
- Put away fragile or valuable items. Or leave a clear note about anything that should not be moved.
- Share access details in advance. Door codes, alarm details and where to park should be agreed before the day, not on the morning.
- Wipe the hob after cooking. Fresh splashes come off in seconds; baked-on grease takes much longer.
- Squeegee the shower screen. London water is hard, and a quick squeegee after each shower stops limescale building up.
- Dry bathroom taps. It keeps them shiny and free of water marks between cleans.
On the day
Most cleaners work from top to bottom and room by room, so dust falls onto surfaces that have not been cleaned yet. If you are at home when the clean finishes, walk round with the cleaner and point out anything you want done differently. With CheapCleans, if you are at home, you check the work before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much does professional house cleaning cost in London?
It depends on the size of the home, its condition, how often you book and any extras. We do not publish fixed prices. Tell us about your home and we will send you an individual quote.
What does a regular house clean include?
Usually floors, dusting, kitchen surfaces, the outside of appliances, bathrooms and bins. Inside the oven, inside the fridge, outside windows, laundry and ironing are normally agreed separately.
Who provides the cleaning products?
It depends on the company and the type of clean. At CheapCleans, for regular cleaning you provide the products and a vacuum cleaner. For deep, one-off and end of tenancy cleaning, we bring all the products and equipment.
Do I need to be at home during the clean?
Not always. The property owner provides the keys or arranges access. Please agree access arrangements with us before the visit. If you are at home, you can check the work before you pay.
What is the difference between a regular clean and a deep clean?
A regular clean keeps a clean home clean. A deep clean removes built-up dirt, grease and limescale and is often the best first step before regular visits begin.
Looking for a house cleaner in West or South West London?
We clean homes across West and South West London and Sunbury-on-Thames, including Richmond, Twickenham, Isleworth, Brentford, Feltham and Kingston. Tell us about your home and we will send you an individual quote, or call 07557 432952.