How Much Do You Pay for a Cleaner?

Sharon S on 27/06/2025 - 21:45
Last edited 02/07/2025 - 09:23 by 1 other user

I pay $140 for a husband and wife team to clean my house.

They come fortnightly and each clean takes roughly one hour and a half, sometimes a bit more. They clean 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 powder room, 1 laundry, 1 main living, 1 smaller living, 1 dining, kitchen, plus corridor and stairs. They also dust our window shutters/ curtains.

They are going to increase their price to $160 per fortnightly clean, that's an increase of $20 or 14%. Not whinging here…just would love to know how much others pay for their regular house clean please, so I understand what the market going rate is. Just like when my home insurer increases my premium by more 10% I would want to know how much others are paying. I am in Brisbane.

Home & Garden Cleaner

Comments

  • Far Cough on 27/06/2025 - 21:46
    +100

    i pay $0
    i do it myself.
    take 1 hour

    • jv on 27/06/2025 - 23:52
      +106

      i pay $0
      my wife does it…

      A cleaner would be cheaper.

      • Guybrush57 on 28/06/2025 - 10:29
        -7

        Why don't you clean too and let your wife rest?

      • bradstud92 on 28/06/2025 - 11:26

        Oh man comment of the year 🤣

      • Omarko on 30/06/2025 - 19:23

        Sad reading comments like this if posted with genuine intent.

      • Dreamcast on 30/06/2025 - 19:36

        You have a wife??

        • jv on 30/06/2025 - 21:21
          +2

          Only one.

        • Cheap Gamer on 02/07/2025 - 09:06
          -1

          Been married fifteen years. Whatsa matter, JV not good-looking enough for woman?

      • movieman on 30/06/2025 - 22:22
        -2

        How would a cleaner be cheaper than $0?!?

        • jv on 30/06/2025 - 22:23
          +4

          You are obviously not married…

          • movieman on 30/06/2025 - 22:30

            @jv: Actually, on the contrary.

            But we share cleaning and household chores.

        • illusion99 on 01/07/2025 - 08:13
          +2

          Because then the wife is tired and doesn’t want sex so he has to go and hire a call girl which is probably more expensive than $0

      • shoppe on 03/07/2025 - 09:04

        I pay $0
        Jv's wife does it

    • 87percent on 28/06/2025 - 10:28
      +7

      And specifically I do it between the hours of 11-2 to take advantage of OVO free power!

      • movieman on 30/06/2025 - 22:31
        -1

        That's the way.

        Wondering if there's an affordable battery solution to recharge during these free hours 😁

    • vid_ghost on 30/06/2025 - 09:27
      +1

      Save $140 doing it yourself

    • noideaa on 10/07/2025 - 23:46

      1 hour seems long unless if you leave them messy for a week

  • AustriaBargain on 27/06/2025 - 21:57
    +54

    If they properly clean your house and you trust them, $160 a fortnight probably is a good deal.

      • El cheepo on 28/06/2025 - 00:54
        +10

        Depends what you earn and what your time is worth.

        Assuming op would be doing that work alone without a cleaner, thats 3-4 hours house work.

        If it’s in their budget and they’re happy with the quality, it probably is a good deal.

        Fwiw op… $140-160 is a bargain.
        Imagine running a business and only earning $35/40 an hour per person as sole contractors… they have travel expenses, equipment, insurances, super etc to pay out of that too…

        • jv on 29/06/2025 - 00:22
          -1

          Depends what you earn and what your time is worth.

          just do it during the time you would otherwise be sleeping, so it doesn't affect your earning.

          • El cheepo on 29/06/2025 - 01:17
            +1

            @jv:

            just do it during the time you would otherwise be sleeping, so it doesn't affect your earning.

            As i said in the second part.

            It depends…

            what your time is worth.

            If your sleep time is worth less, go for it.

        • AlbiesDad on 30/06/2025 - 10:07
          +3

          $35/40 an hour cash is more like $57 an hour PAYG. OP mentioned it's cash in hand - what do you think the odds are that the cleaners are fully disclosing their income to the ATO?

          • El cheepo on 30/06/2025 - 14:37

            @AlbiesDad: Never saw them mention cash in hand in the OP.

            Thats a different ball game.

            • AlbiesDad on 30/06/2025 - 14:40
              +1

              @El cheepo: Yeah OP mentioned it a couple comments down to be fair.

    • Dr Phil on 28/06/2025 - 22:45
      -3

      Going rate is $40-$60 per hour.
      Of course the price is no reflection of quality.

      Given 2 people cleaning for 1.5 hours that works out to $120-$180.
      So OP, you be the judge.

      You can always try someone else who charges less
      But if they dont do as good as job, dont start complaining.

      I would suggest YOU do the cleaning, see how long it takes YOU, then work out how much you are willing to pay someone else to do the job.
      .

      • AustriaBargain on 28/06/2025 - 22:54
        -3

        There's people sitting in prison right now because they murdered their spouse over disputes over cleaning. $160 a fortnight to avoid that is worth it.

        • tenpercent on 29/06/2025 - 09:53
          -4

          There's people sitting in prison right now because they murdered their spouse over disputes over cleaning

          Citation please. Law and Order episodes don't count.

          • AustriaBargain on 29/06/2025 - 13:03
            +4

            @tenpercent: The Australian Institute of Criminology reported that domestic arguments were the most prevalent motive in family homicides, accounting for 23% of cases . These disputes can encompass a range of issues, including disagreements over household chores https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi255

            Moreover, the “Pathways to Intimate Partner Homicide” project highlights that conflicts over household roles and responsibilities can contribute to the deterioration of relationships, potentially leading to lethal outcomes https://www.anrows.org.au/publication/the-pathways-to-intima…

            Starlene Roth (Marysville, Washington): In 2016, Starlene Roth was arrested for attempting to shoot her husband of 30 years during an argument over household chores. She was charged with attempted murder and held on a $250,000 bail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAMWnyPGIzQ

            In June 2023, Jordan Henning, a former U.S. Army servicemember, was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for the shooting death of his wife, Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Henning. The incident occurred during an argument over cleaning up after a birthday party at their home. Home security footage revealed that the dispute escalated when Jordan shot Ashley multiple times, reloaded his weapon, and shot her again. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison https://www.courttv.com/news/ky-v-jordan-henning-military-wi…

            In 1998, Finnish man Tommi Nakari murdered his mother during an argument over cleaning. The altercation escalated, leading Nakari to fatally stab his mother multiple times. He was sentenced to over 10 years in prison for this crime https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommi_Nakari

            • tenpercent on 29/06/2025 - 14:01
              +2

              @AustriaBargain: Thanks for that, AustriaBargainGPT.

              And yikes. These people really are "clean freaks".

              • congo on 29/06/2025 - 19:16

                @tenpercent: Cleaning up blood is pretty hard.

                • tenpercent on 30/06/2025 - 07:04

                  @congo: Depends what you're cleaning the blood from and how long you have. Salt water is great to get blood out of clothing.

                • Muppet Detector on 30/06/2025 - 21:24

                  @congo: You should try disposing of the body…

  • contrafibularities on 27/06/2025 - 21:59
    +6

    Similar size house $160 a week.

  • jizmo on 27/06/2025 - 22:01
    +5

    If you stay in hotels a lot, you will see a pattern how they work. They only clean certain things and want to get out ASP. One day you are going to find yellow stained crap over everything they never cleaned, and it will cost you.

    • Bruceflix on 27/06/2025 - 22:55
      +8

      They clean as little as they can get away with. In my experience the poor cleaners were the good ones. The ones that went above and beyond were also the thieves.

    • Guybrush57 on 28/06/2025 - 10:31
      +6

      yellow stained crap over everything they never cleaned

      What does this mean?

      • BartholemewH on 29/06/2025 - 09:20
        +6

        Jizmo's user name checks out.

        • jackspratt on 29/06/2025 - 11:07

          Please keep up at the back!

    • outlander on 28/06/2025 - 14:48

      Wouldn't you do the same thing in their position?

      "Cleaner" isn't really a job that pays so well that you can spend as much time as it takes to do the job to the highest standards

    • jackspratt on 28/06/2025 - 19:42
      +2

      Username seems appropriate.

      • Nugs on 28/06/2025 - 20:18

        White stains
        .

    • brendanm on 28/06/2025 - 14:52
      +9

      TIL $47 an hour for unskilled labour is a "slave wage". The more you know.

      • BartholemewH on 29/06/2025 - 09:27
        +8

        Taking out supplies, travel, insurance etc it may quite a bit less. Most sole trader commercial cleaners are min $60/hr.

      • burns13 on 29/06/2025 - 11:35
        +1

        You're not just paying for labour….

    • johnno07 on 29/06/2025 - 07:32

      You seem very angry. Are you a cleaner?

      • Protractor on 29/06/2025 - 10:01
        -7

        Yes, I think you're right. Justified anger. I think it's ironic that ppl on bargain site are defending somebody lucky enough to employ cleaners, and go on to decry a $20 impost. Maybe they should scratch the powder room from the schedule? The same ppl probably blow $20x 4 times a day on a avo caviar smoothy. (Gold.) The fickle finger of who's worthy, and who's not rides again.
        The negs and criticism just confirms the ever growing entitled,privileged section of our community. They are not out of touch by accident, but by choice. There but for the grace of (insert deity of choice) go…..

        • johnno07 on 29/06/2025 - 15:51
          +2

          I don't disagree that complaining about a $20/fortnight increase for cleaning is a bit tone-deaf, however you might want to also apply a little introspection. Being able to justify outsourcing cleaning at ~$40/hr is hardly the realm of Bruneian sultans.

          They are not out of touch by accident, but by choice.

          Indeed.

  • Bruceflix on 27/06/2025 - 22:53
    +1

    I am the cleaner for myself and 2 children. Costs me nothing. Before coming to Australia I did employ a number of cleaners for USD$30-USD$70 per month. Different economy of course.

  • Benoffie on 27/06/2025 - 23:03
    +1

    Talking about this at work atm.

    FIL currently pays cash $90 a fortnight - 1 person. She takes 2 hours or so. Mainly wet areas, vacuum, mop.

    Woman at work just canned her claeners. 6 weekly, 5 ppl, $270. Faaaark! Ok, quick turn around but 5 people? Really? Is it a school?

    I think $50 an hour is reasonable. But if I still have to clean where theyve been - cya later.

  • JIMB0 on 27/06/2025 - 23:52
    +22

    I saved both time and money by not bothering with frequent cleaning.

    • Kongzi on 28/06/2025 - 10:25
      +4

      That's dirty

      • Protractor on 28/06/2025 - 10:30
        +10

        Yeah, but it's his dirt.

    • carlJack on 29/06/2025 - 11:22
      +2

      This is the way

  • kaybrr on 28/06/2025 - 01:47
    -7

    $140 is a great deal.

    We were paying $180 for similar but the cleaners left because my wife noticed a can of salmon was missing and immediately assumed the cleaner had taken it, …didn’t ask, just quietly replaced it and marked the new one to see if it too would disappear. Nothing ever came of it, but the suspicion hung in the air, unspoken and ugly, especially because they were immigrants. The cleaner eventually stopped coming.

    • GachaGamer on 28/06/2025 - 16:48
      +9

      Damn my guy over here just outing his wife like this…

      • juki on 28/06/2025 - 23:09
        +10

        plot twist the husband, he stole the salmon and accused them, making the wife do his dirty work, both cleaning and getting rid of the cleaners

    • nikey2k27 on 28/06/2025 - 20:41

      that how you take care of cleaner get wife to do her job

    • Boioioioi on 30/06/2025 - 09:42
      +5

      Why on earth would cleaners steal a can of salmon of all things

      • kaybrr on 30/06/2025 - 14:49
        +2

        They wouldn’t. That’s the subtext.

        The fact that my wife assumed they might have taken it, despite their years of growing familiarity and impeccable behavior, reveal her deeply ingrained, possibly unconscious prejudice. The salmon is a stand-in for suspicion that doesn’t need logic to exist. It’s not about value; it’s about power and mistrust.

    • sauce2k on 30/06/2025 - 12:19

      you and your wife, get some help.

      • kaybrr on 30/06/2025 - 14:45
        +1

        What for? I knew it was wrong, I just go with it because 'Happy Wife = Happy Life'.

        • Muppet Detector on 30/06/2025 - 21:27

          But who took the salmon?

        • Flowerbomb on 01/07/2025 - 03:53

          Better to stand up for what you believe in, than let someone dictate your beliefs, just because they can’t handle a difference in opinion.

          I’ve seen my dad caved to my mum for this “happy wife happy life BS”, it’s terrible communication, lacks empathy and just one sided, which will be ultimately reflected in their parenting.

    • heal on 05/07/2025 - 15:33

      Was it pink or red salmon? Small or large can? From Alaska or Thailand?

      • kaybrr on 10/07/2025 - 12:40

        John West red salmon - large can. Not sure where it is from as the cleaners stole it, but they are Cambodian

        • heal on 10/07/2025 - 13:40

          Sorry for your loss, they tk the good stuff

          • kaybrr on 10/07/2025 - 20:21

            @heal: You could say they cleaned me out

  • geekcohen on 28/06/2025 - 06:54
    +3

    $140 is a steal!

    I pay $250 cash price for a fortneightly clean of kitchen, 2 Living Rooms, 2 Bedrooms, Office Space, Bathroom, and Single Toilet.

    • Tambani on 28/06/2025 - 23:29
      +3

      You're being ripped off.

      • geekcohen on 29/06/2025 - 12:05

        Sounds like it!

      • Muppet Detector on 30/06/2025 - 08:30
        +3

        Maybe they're taking him to the cleaners.

  • apsilon on 28/06/2025 - 06:56
    +2

    So currently you're paying about $93 per hour based upon the 1.5 hour time so you obviously value your own time higher than this. The new price will be about $106 per hour so the question, that only you can answer, is do you value your time at more than this new rate?

    • Jolakot on 28/06/2025 - 06:59
      +15

      Halve that, there are two people, so 3 total hours of cleaning.

      • apsilon on 28/06/2025 - 08:11

        I assume given it's a 4 bedroom house there's at least 2 persons living there capable of basic cleaning.

        • Protractor on 28/06/2025 - 10:18
          -2

          I assume it's 'beneath' them.

        • Jolakot on 28/06/2025 - 19:41

          More so, there are two cleaners, so the people living there value their time at minimum $46.5/hour. If it was one cleaner, it would take 3 hours. Both people in their house would value their time at $46.5/hour averaged out.

  • randomusername2017 on 28/06/2025 - 07:38
    +8

    They clean 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 powder room, 1 laundry, 1 main living, 1 smaller living, 1 dining, kitchen, plus corridor and stairs

    Negotiate to include the butlers pantry in the new rate ..win/win

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 28/06/2025 - 07:47

    Are you talking upfront cash payment? Equipment and materials included by cleaner?

    • Sharon S on 28/06/2025 - 09:50
      +1

      Yep cash in their hands. They provide everything.

  • Lurk Hartog on 28/06/2025 - 08:11
    +3

    $205 for a team of 2 in Sydney. Once a fortnight, it takes them 1.5-2 hours generally. Money well spent when you have young kids IMO.

  • Benno007 on 28/06/2025 - 08:53
    +3

    It seems to vary depending where you live, it was about $90/hr in cbd but 1hr out of city i got a cleaner for $40-$50.

    The main issue is the quality… sometimes you pay heaps and get very poor quality job. If you’ve found a good quality cleaning group that don’t damage your property, are reliable, and supply their own equipment, they’re worth the money…

    It costs me $130 for a physio session after I start cleaning and don’t pace myself… which I can’t cos I don’t have self control 😅.

    My cleaner would: vacuum, mop, wipe surfaces, tidy, clean both bathrooms/toilets, all with different cloths per room, socks off on carpets and on hard floor to avoid walking water around or leaving footprints, microwave, oven glass, dust skirting boards in 2h for a 2 bed unit. Occasionally I’d ask for window clean, door tracks, oven degrease, ceiling fan clean etc… that would mean other things get skipped that fortnight.

  • Triceratops on 28/06/2025 - 08:54

    We pay $175 for something similar to yours

  • ForkSnorter on 28/06/2025 - 08:59
    +3

    So basically about $35/hour per person? I'd say that's reasonable in Australia now, considering cleaning is hard work, and considering the cost of living and what most people charge for freelance work.

    If a tradie comes to your house, he'll charge $150 per hour in addition to the callout fee and materials.

    • Downvoter on 28/06/2025 - 09:58
      -4

      One has done an apprenticeship and the other requires a pulse and zero skills.

      • ForkSnorter on 28/06/2025 - 10:03

        Yeah I know, but an entry-level engineer has done 4-7 years of unpaid study and doesn't get $150/hour.

      • GachaGamer on 28/06/2025 - 16:51

        An unskilled cleaner isn't going 2 get repeat calls. This is just being dismissive.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join