Financial House Cleaning Cost

1. House Cleaning Cost for Popular Commercial Chemical Methods

This looks like a very long list, but if you're not interested in the details, just scroll to the bottom of each of the four sections for 'the bottom line'. You may be surprised at what you discover!

Consumable Products (things that you buy and then 'use up')

paper towels - 2 rolls - $1.50

disinfectant cleaner - 1/2 bottle - $1.50

disposable wipes - 28 - $1.5

Swiffer wet-jet solution - 1/2 bottle - $4.50

Swiffer pads - 16 pads (4 pads each week for 4 weeks) - $10

toilet bowl cleaner - 1/2 bottle - $2.50

J-cloths or equivalent - 4 - $.50

bathroom tub and tile cleaner - 1 bottle - $3.00

abrasive cleaner such as dutch cleanser or Vim - 1 bottle cream cleanser or 1/2 container of dutch cleanser - $1 - $1.99

Magic Eraser - 1 - $1

bleach - 1/8 bottle - $.50

window cleaner - 1/8 bottle - .25

vacuum cleaner bag - 1/2 - $1

Total costs for 4 weeks - $29.25

Total costs for 1 year - $380.25

Non-consumable items (things that you buy to use over and over again, and that have at least a two-year lifespan)

not counting a vacuum cleaner...

broom and dustpan - $10

scrub brush - $4

Swiffer machine - $20

Total cost for two years - $34

Total cost for 1 year - $17

Total house-cleaning cost for 1 year - $397.25

2. House Cleaning Cost for Commercial Eco-friendly Methods

Consumable Products

paper towels - 2 rolls - $1.50

window cleaner - 1/8 bottle - $2.25

all-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle - $4.50

disinfectant cleaner - 1 bottle - $5.00

bathroom tub and tile cleaner - 1 bottle - $4.50

toilet bowl cleaner - 1/2 bottle - 2.50

abrasive cleaner - $1.99

eco-friendly wipes - 28 pkg - $2

vacuum cleaner bag - 1/2 - $1

Total costs for 4 weeks - $25.25

Total costs for 1 year - $328.12

Non-consumable items

broom and dustpan - $10

scrub brush - $4

mop - $15

good quality microfiber cloths - $30(these are machine-washer and dryer safe, and may clean without chemicals, but do not disinfect without chemicals)

Total cost for two years - $59

Total cost for 1 year - $29.50

Total house-cleaning cost for 1 year - $357.62

Although the cleaning products are more expensive and generally you use a little more to get the same job done, the overall financial cost is lower because a commitment to eco-friendly cleaning products usually means using fewer 'convenience' type products; which tend to be expensive.

3. House Cleaning Costs for Low-chemical Home-Made Cleaning Products

These cleaning chemicals are made from products that most of us have in our homes. They are very low in toxicity, and low in cost. Because they are less effective than commercial chemical cleaners, the 'assistance' of high quality microfiber will significantly improve their performance.

paper towels - 1 roll - .75

white vinegar - 4l (1 gal) - $2.5

hydrogen peroxide - 500 ml (2 cups) - $2

baking soda - 1l (4 cups) - $2

washing soda or borax - 250 ml (1 cup) - $1

non-sudsing ammonia - 500 ml (2 cups) - $2

olive oil - 30 ml (1/8 cup) - $.5

dish detergent - 500 ml (2 cups) - .75

lemon juice - 125 ml (1/2 c) - $50

vacuum cleaner bag - 1/2 - $1

Total costs for 4 weeks - $13.00

Total costs for 1 year - $169.00

Non-consumable items

broom and dustpan - $10

scrub brush - $4

good quality microfiber mop - $35

high quality microfiber cloths - $80(these are safe for both machine washing and drying, and will both clean and disinfect effectively without chemical assistance)

Total cost for two years - $ 129

Total cost for 1 year - $ 64.50

Total house cleaning cost for 1 year - $233.50

4. House cleaning Costs for Chemical-free Cleaning Methods

Non-chemical cleaning harnesses the power of physics rather than chemistry to clean and disinfect, and does so as effectively as chemicals if you invest in the right high-quality products.

paper towels - 1 roll - .75

bleach/chemical free abrasive cleanser - $2.00

white vinegar - 2l (1/2 gal) - $2.00

baking soda - 500 ml (1 cup) - $.50

vacuum cleaner bag - 1/2 - $1

Total costs for 4 weeks - $6.25

Total costs for 1 year - $81.25

Non-consumable items

broom and dustpan - $10

high quality microfiber mop - $100

high quality microfiber cloths - $80

Total cost for two years - $ 190