House Cleaning in Melbourne

Key-holding is standard for recurring cleans, but do it deliberately: use a lockbox or smart lock where possible, get key-holding terms in writing (companies usually have a policy), and check the cleaner or company carries insurance that covers key loss and lock replacement. Change codes when you change providers.

A 1-2 bedroom apartment usually takes 2-3 hours for one cleaner; a 3-bedroom home takes 3-4 hours. Deep cleans run 4-8 hours or use a two-person team. First visits always take longer than maintenance visits because the cleaner is working through accumulated grime and learning the layout.

Yes, and most providers accommodate it — either with their own green product line (sometimes a small surcharge) or by using products you supply. Flag allergies, babies, and pets when booking. Note that some jobs, like heavy limescale or mould, genuinely need stronger chemistry to work.

Commonly excluded: exterior windows, inside the oven and fridge, laundry and ironing, dishes, wet-wiping walls, mould remediation, cleaning up after pests, biohazards, and anything requiring a ladder. These are add-ons or specialist jobs. Always get the inclusion list in writing so the visit matches your expectations.

A standard clean covers surfaces you touch weekly: vacuuming, mopping, dusting, bathrooms, kitchen wipe-down and bins. A deep clean adds the build-up work — inside the oven and fridge, skirting boards, under furniture, limescale removal, grout scrubbing and window sills. Deep cleans typically cost 50-100% more and take roughly twice as long. Book a deep clean first if the home hasn't been professionally cleaned in 6+ months, then maintain with standard cleans.

Hourly suits open-ended or first-time jobs where scope is unknown, but you carry the risk of a slow cleaner. Flat-rate (per visit or per home size) makes budgeting predictable and puts the efficiency risk on the provider — but confirm exactly what the flat rate includes. For recurring cleans, flat per-visit pricing with a written task list is usually the cleanest arrangement.

A bond (end-of-lease) clean is a top-to-bottom clean of an empty property against the agent's inspection checklist — ovens, tracks, walls, sometimes carpets — and typically costs several times a regular visit. Good bond cleaners offer a re-clean guarantee if the agent flags items. Don't book a standard clean and expect your bond back.

Expect roughly $35-$60 per hour, with platform-booked independents from about $28-$45 and companies toward the top of the range. A basic 2-hour clean of a 3-bedroom home commonly lands between $70 and $140 depending on city and condition.