Cleaning Services: A Simple Guide to Different Types

Let’s talk about cleaning services. They’re not just about making things look pretty. Cleaning is about creating healthy, comfortable spaces that make a great impression. Whether it’s your home after a busy week or your office before a big client meeting, cleanliness matters.

That’s where professional cleaners come in. These cleaning wizards know all the tricks of the trade and have the right tools to make spaces shine in ways most of us just can’t match on our own.

If you’re thinking about starting a cleaning business, or just want to know what services to hire, this guide will help you understand the many types of cleaning services available today.

Popular Types of Cleaning Services 

For Homes

1. Regular Home Cleaning
This is your bread-and-butter house cleaning. The vacuuming, dusting, mopping, and bathroom scrubbing that keeps a home looking good week to week. Most people schedule these weekly or bi-weekly.

2. Deep Cleaning
Think of this as cleaning on steroids. It’s for those spots that don’t need attention every week. Like inside ovens, behind refrigerators, baseboards, ceiling fans, and those forgotten cabinet interiors. It costs more because it takes serious time and elbow grease.

3. Spring Cleaning
Maria in Denver has built her cleaning business around this annual tradition. Each March, her calendar fills with appointments from families wanting a fresh start after winter.

For the Johnson family, Maria’s team spent a full day transforming their 3-bedroom home. They washed windows, deep-cleaned the kitchen (including inside the oven and refrigerator), steam-cleaned carpets, dusted ceiling fans, and reorganized closets. The family was amazed at how much brighter their home felt afterward.

Maria charges $375 for this comprehensive service compared to her regular $150 rate, making spring cleaning one of her most profitable offerings.

4. Green Cleaning
This growing trend uses eco-friendly, non-toxic products. Many families with young children, pets, or health concerns specifically seek out these services, making it a great specialty if you’re starting a cleaning business.

5. Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning
When the Sanders family moved out of their apartment, they were worried about getting their security deposit back. The place needed serious attention after two years of living there. They hired a move-out cleaning service that knew exactly what landlords look for – spotless appliances, shining bathroom fixtures, dust-free vents, and pristine floors. The $250 service helped them recover their entire $1,500 deposit.

Beyond Basic Home Cleaning

1. Window Cleaning
Professional window cleaners make glass sparkle inside and out, with special tools for those hard-to-reach windows. No more climbing ladders or dealing with streaky results!

2. Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
The Coopers in Atlanta couldn’t figure out why their allergies were acting up until a professional carpet cleaner showed them what was living in their carpets. The steam cleaning extracted dirt, pet dander, and allergens their vacuum couldn’t touch. Within days, they were breathing easier.

3. Pressure Washing
That green tinge on your siding or the oil stains on your driveway? Pressure washing blasts them away with high-powered water. The transformation can make a home look years newer in just a few hours.

4. Gutter Cleaning
One of those unglamorous but essential services. After skipping gutter cleaning for two years, the Martins faced a $4,000 repair bill for water damage to their home’s foundation. Now they gladly pay $150 twice a year for professional gutter cleaning.

For Businesses

1. Office Cleaning
Clean workspaces boost employee morale and impress clients. These services typically happen after hours and include trash removal, vacuuming, dusting, and keeping break rooms sanitary.

2. Commercial Kitchen Cleaning
Restaurants need specialized cleaning to meet health department standards. This includes tackling cooking equipment, exhaust hoods, grease traps, and food prep areas.

3. Medical Facility Cleaning
Healthcare settings require extra attention to infection control protocols. The cleaning company that services Dr. Wilson’s dental practice uses hospital-grade disinfectants and follows strict procedures to ensure patient safety between appointments.

Specialized Cleaning Services

1. Airbnb Turnover Cleaning
Rachel manages three vacation rentals and says finding a reliable turnover cleaning service changed her life. Her cleaner not only gets the properties spotless between guests but also reports maintenance issues and restocks supplies. This service costs more than regular cleaning ($150 vs. $100) but is worth every penny for the quick turnarounds and attention to detail guests expect.

2. Post-Construction Cleanup
After the dust (literally) settles on a renovation project, these specialists remove construction debris, dust, paint splatters, and stickers from new fixtures.

3. Disaster Restoration Cleaning
When the Thompsons had a small kitchen fire, they were shocked to find smoke residue throughout their home. A specialized restoration cleaning service removed soot from walls, cleaned ductwork, and eliminated the smoke smell from furniture and carpets.

4. Hoarding Cleanup
These compassionate specialists help clear extremely cluttered homes, often working alongside mental health professionals to support clients through the process.

How to Price Your Cleaning Services

If you’re starting a cleaning business, pricing your services correctly is crucial for profitability. Here are some approaches to consider:

Hourly Rate

Charging by the hour works well for jobs where the time required is unpredictable. The average hourly rate for cleaning services ranges from $25 to $90 per hour, depending on your location, type of cleaning, experience, and supply costs.

Flat Rate

Many customers prefer knowing exactly what they’ll pay upfront. You can create flat rates based on home size, type of service, and special requirements.

Square Footage Rate

For commercial spaces or large homes, charging by square foot makes sense. Typical rates range from $0.05 to $0.20 per square foot for regular cleaning and $0.10 to $0.30 per square foot for deep cleaning.

Room Rate

Some cleaners charge by the number of rooms. This works well for residential cleaning where houses have a similar layout but different room counts.

Understanding the average salary for cleaning professionals in your area can also help you set competitive rates while ensuring your business remains profitable.

How to Increase Profits on Cleaning Services

Once you’ve established your cleaning business, these proven strategies can help you maximize revenue without working more hours:

Create Service Bundles

Transform your offerings into irresistible packages that solve multiple problems at once:

• “New Home Fresh Start”: Deep cleaning plus carpet cleaning for movers (saves clients 15% versus booking separately)

• “Spring Revival Package”: Regular cleaning plus window washing—perfect for brightening homes after winter

• “Business Impression Package”: Complete office cleaning with extra attention to reception areas and restrooms

Offer Clear Service Tiers

Smart tiering creates options for every budget while encouraging upgrades:

• Basic Clean ($25/hr): Essential services that maintain basic cleanliness

• Standard Clean ($35/hr): Everything in Basic plus inside cabinets and appliance exteriors

• Premium Clean ($45/hr): Comprehensive service including baseboards, ceiling fans, and detailed kitchen attention

Develop a Signature Specialty

The riches are in the niches! Specializing brings higher rates and more loyal clients:

• The Allergy-Friendly Clean: Using specialized HEPA equipment for asthma/allergy sufferers (commands 25% premium)

• Medical Suite Sanitizing: Meeting strict healthcare facility requirements

• Vacation Rental Excellence: 24-hour turnarounds with staging and supply management

Master the Business Fundamentals

Build a professional foundation that protects your growth:

• Check whether you need a cleaning business license in your area
• Secure proper cleaning business insurance
• Use technology like Invoice Fly to handle booking and billing

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re looking to hire cleaners or start your own cleaning business, understanding the various options helps you make smart choices. The cleaning industry offers countless opportunities to find or provide exactly the right service for specific needs.

For business owners, success comes from offering quality service, reliability, and great customer care. For customers, knowing what specialized services exist helps you find the perfect pro to make your space shine.

After all, there’s nothing quite like walking into a professionally cleaned space. That fresh smell, the gleaming surfaces, and the satisfaction of knowing even the hidden corners are spotless. It’s one of those small luxuries that makes everyday life just a little bit better.