We checked public prices from more than a dozen cleaning companies, booking apps, agencies and franchises serving Irvine and South Orange County in November 2026. We used their own quote tools and pricing pages where we could, and published starting prices or cost guides where we couldn't.
One note up front: we run Back to Clean, a cleaning membership in Orange County, so we've included our own prices and marked them clearly. Weigh that however you like.
Prices by type of cleaner
The example: a 1 to 2 bedroom home (about 1,000 square feet) in Irvine, cleaned weekly, which works out to about 4.33 visits a month. Prices include every required fee but not tips.
| Type of cleaner | Typical monthly cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Hiring a cleaner directly through a caregiver site | about $420 ($250 to $630) | You become the employer: payroll taxes, buying supplies, and no backup if they're sick |
| Independent cleaner paid directly | about $560 ($390 to $750) | Often uninsured; price and availability vary a lot |
| Booking apps and marketplaces | about $560 to $670 | Service or processing fees of 5 to 15%, sometimes a membership or lock-in; tips on top; cleaners change |
| Referral agencies | about $560 to $660 | Service fees of about 3%; late-cancel and lockout fees; first clean about $185 to $220 |
| Local cleaning companies | about $520 to $935 | Many require a first deep clean or "refresh" of $250 to $435 |
| National franchises | from about $735 | Usually quote only, often after an in-home walk-through |
| Back to Clean (us) | $519 | Flat monthly price; supplies, travel and card fees included; $99 first deep clean; no tips |
Your price will depend on your home, how long each visit takes and who you hire. Treat these as ranges, not quotes.
The costs that don't show up in the hourly rate
- Service and processing fees. Booking apps and agencies often add 3 to 15% on top of the cleaner's rate.
- Memberships and lock-ins. Some apps charge a monthly membership just to get member rates, with a minimum commitment of several months.
- Tips. If you tip $15 a visit on a weekly schedule, that's about $65 a month on top of the price.
- First visit charges. Many companies require a first deep clean or "refresh" before regular service starts. In OC we saw $185 to $435.
- Cancellation and lockout fees. Some agencies charge $75 to $99 if you cancel late or the cleaner can't get in.
- Supplies and taxes if you hire directly. You buy the supplies, and as the employer you may owe payroll taxes.
Weekly vs every 2 weeks vs every 4 weeks
Less frequent cleaning costs less per month, but each visit usually takes longer because there's more to catch up on. That's why the price per visit goes up as the schedule spreads out. Here's how our own monthly prices compare by home size:
| Home | Weekly | Every 2 weeks | Every 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $389 | $259 | $179 |
| 1-2 bed | $519 | $319 | $229 |
| 3 bed | $649 | $419 | $289 |
| 4 bed | $909 | $579 | $389 |
Back to Clean monthly prices. Supplies, travel and card fees included. First visit is a $99 deep clean. No tips needed.
If you want the house to feel clean most of the time, weekly or every 2 weeks is the sweet spot. Every 4 weeks works well as a monthly reset if you keep up with things in between.
How to compare quotes
Before you pick a cleaner, ask these six questions. The answers change the real price more than the hourly rate does.
- What's my total per month, with every fee included?
- Can the price change after the first visit or after a walk-through?
- Who cleans my home? An employee of the company, or an independent contractor? Are they insured?
- Will it be the same person or team every time?
- What does canceling or skipping cost, and is there a minimum commitment?
- What's included, and what costs extra (inside the fridge or oven, laundry, beds)?
The bottom line
In Orange County, the cheapest option on paper is usually hiring someone directly, but you take on the employer's job and the risk. Apps and agencies look cheap per hour until fees and tips are added. Established local companies and franchises often run $650 a month or more for weekly cleaning, plus a first deep clean.
We built Back to Clean to sit in the middle: a company with insured, background-checked cleaners and the same team every visit, at one flat monthly price with nothing added at the door.
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