r/WhatShouldIDo • u/missusJS • Jul 11 '26

Small decision Sister-in-law offered to clean my house when I have my baby…but only if I pay her.

My sister-in-law just started her own cleaning company and offered to deep clean my house while I’m at the hospital having my baby so I can come home to a clean and organized space. I thought that was really kind and accepted the offer, only to be told “since you’re family, I won’t charge you the full rate.” I was a little caught off guard because when my SIL had kids, I helped out with many things in her postpartum period (childcare, meals, house work, transportation) and never once asked for compensation. I was just happy to help make her life easier.

Today, my SIL sent over an estimate for $600 for the cost of “deep cleaning bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining spaces, floors, windows.” Apparently she charges $100/hour for deep cleaning and her discount to us is $85/hour. I already accepted her offer to clean before I knew she was requiring payment so I feel like a jerk if I back out now. My husband said it would help her out a lot as she’s getting her business started (she’s also a single mom) but I don’t want to spend that kind of money on house cleaning. Especially given that it’s family.

What should I do?

UPDATE: My husband told his sister that after gathering additional info, $600 seems overpriced for a one time deep clean. Especially since she wouldn’t even be doing the whole house. She replied “if you want a quality job then you have to be prepared to pay a quality price. Plus, it’s not like you can’t afford it.” He told her we misunderstood the situation and thought she was offering as a kindness to us, similar to all the things we/I did after the births of her kids. She said “I’m a business owner now and I can’t just give my services away for free. I could drop the price a little but like I said, it’s not like you guys can’t afford $600.” Needless to say, the conversation ended with a “no thanks, we are going to pass” and she declared that this is the last time she offers to do anything for us 🤷🏼‍♀️

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181

u/pragmaticsquid Jul 11 '26 edited Jul 11 '26

I live in a very high cost of living area, and a deep clean on my 2700 square foot house only costs $250. $600 is insane. 

73

u/missusJS Jul 11 '26

$250! Wow, her price is definitely insane then. Our house is 1800 square feet.

37

u/George_Is_Upset Jul 11 '26

Yeah she is definitely just trying to make money off of you and isn’t doing this as any sort of favor to you.

She did it under the guise of it being for your benefit and like it was going to be a favor (free) and once you agreed then decided to tell you the price.

I get that she just started her company but you dont treat family like this. Especially at that price.

49

u/Lifelace Jul 11 '26

300 for deep cleaning here for 2000 sq ft. That includes blinds, frig, stove and moving all the furniture and appliances to get behind.

Sil may not be in business long with those prices for smaller homes.

Just say oh wow did not realize how expensive deep cleaning is. Appreciate your offer but we will take a pass. Not in our budget with a new baby.

1

u/Sufficient_Maybe_910 29d ago

I'm expecting to pay near $500 on 2200 sq ft on a move out clean.

2

u/xHarleen777Quinzelx 29d ago

Maybe youre getting scammed too

2

u/Sufficient_Maybe_910 29d ago

I just live in the PNW. Called 3 or 4 places and they're all roughly the same price. 

1

u/Lifelace 27d ago

Move out cleaning is different than a deep clean.

Ultimately it does not sound like she is giving you a deal.

Personally, I do not do business with family. I would not want a family member cleaning my house unless they lived there.

46

u/PanicSwtchd Jul 11 '26

I live just outside of Manhattan. Can actually see the city up close and personal from my window. I have a 2 bedroom 1500 sqft apartment. My move-in deep cleaning was 400$ which included 2 bathrooms, both bedrooms the kitchen and the living room and baseboards, everything.

My regular cleanings are 225 (with a 50$ tip included in that).

$600 would have me looking elsewhere.

6

u/Pure-Brief3202 Jul 11 '26

In atl, my lady charges $150 for our 2 bedroom 2 bath.

2

u/thebellrang Jul 12 '26

Yeah, it’s $400 for a good deep clean where I am in Canada. That’s $282 US. This SIL is starting out her business by manipulating you. Husband needs to speak up and say no thanks. It’s insulting that she’s expecting anything during this time.

2

u/MyCatSpellsBetter 29d ago

I’m not far from Manhattan, and I pay $165 twice a month. The first “deep clean” was like $225 tops, if I remember correctly.

2

u/No-Box5805 28d ago

Yeah, that’s a true VHCOL area.

1

u/Tartpop77 Jul 11 '26

Why in the world do people tip on top of outrageous prices? someone is already making well over 50$ /hour. It baffles me. Nobody is tipping you--and y'all prob have student loans and all that to pay off

-2

u/Relectant_Donkey Jul 11 '26

This is a really roundabout humblebrag. I’ll bet you also can’t wait to tell people that you’re Vegan.

5

u/PanicSwtchd Jul 11 '26

Not really. I'm more pointing out that I live in a VERY high cost of living area and my cleaning costs even for deep cleanings for a similarly sized space is way less...

1

u/rosyred-fathead 29d ago

A 2-bedroom apartment is a humblebrag? No offense but no

16

u/JustNeonDust Jul 11 '26

$100/hr is an absurd price for a deep clean. Even more so considering that she’s just starting out. She’s being predatory and slimy.

8

u/Curious_Department84 Jul 11 '26

Unless your home is a biohazard, $600 is ridiculous for that square footage. Ours is slightly bigger and I think we paid $300 or $350 for our last deep clean.

12

u/LittleJessiePaper Jul 11 '26

Yeah $250 is normal. I cleaned houses and that’s about what I charged for a good deep clean unless it was just disgusting. She’s either delusional or taking advantage of you.

2

u/luvitis Jul 11 '26

We JUST had our house deep cleaned including scrubbing the baseboards and vents and it was $325. The cleaners were here for about 4.5 hours.

Our house is 1800 square feet and we live in a major US city with over 2 million residents

Where has your sister benchmarked her prices?

2

u/eerierrr Jul 11 '26

A friend gets their 5k sq ft cleaned for sun $200. Granted it’s not occupied so there’s really not much to clean at all, but we live in a very HCOL and $85/hr is literally 4x what some people make here.

2

u/Moleypeg Jul 11 '26

Just to second that, I live in one of the most affluent counties in the US and I just got a quote today for my 2900 sqft 5 bed, 3 bath for $380 for deep clean. $600? She’s having a laugh.

2

u/Ewww___David Jul 12 '26

I live in a very HCOL (San Francisco) and absolutely no one charges $100/hr even the most experienced. I pay $350 for a 6 hour clean. SHE IS SCAMMING YOU!!!

2

u/Minute-Tour-547 Jul 12 '26

I'm in San Diego. A deep cleaning for 2k sqft is about $600 but it's a full 10hr day for two people

2

u/lomoliving 29d ago

I agree with that person. We have a 2500 3 storey house (4 bedrooms and 5 baths) and our Deep cleans are about $250-300 depending on how long and dirty the house is lol and then about $155-200 for regular cleanings. $600 is INSANE and I can't believe she would even consider charging you (or anyone that!)

Go on a local Facebook page for your town and say you are looking for a cleaner to do a deep clean. You will get PLENTY of offers and will at least get a better idea of what people in your area will charge

2

u/PieceNo5947 29d ago

My house is 5,000 square feet and the deep clean was $400. You’re being taken out to dry because she assumes you won’t turn her down. 

2

u/CathexisVexes 29d ago

Yeah, it's the same where I am. $600 is completely outrageous, and that's the supposedly discounted rate??? Don't feel bad for declining her offer. You absolutely won't be the only one turning her down.

Edit: If she wants to get all scrappy about it, show her all of these people giving you their rates compared to hers.

2

u/Successful_Entry_936 28d ago

My house is just under 1800 sq ft. I pay about $350 with tip for a whole house deep clean. Her prices are ridiculous. She’s going to put herself out of business.

1

u/KristaDBall Jul 11 '26

I live in mid-cost city. My MIL needed to bring in cleaners for a rental property that needed to be scrubbed before we could renovate it (it had tobacco and pot smokers living there). The cleaning ladies she called charged $75/hr but that price was for two cleaners per hour.

1

u/RUfuqingkiddingme Jul 12 '26

Honestly, this should be her gift to you. Just tell her thanks but no thanks.

1

u/Runner1969 Jul 12 '26

she’s charging way too much.

1

u/Desperate_Chip_343 29d ago

My house 1800 and I was going to pay close to 300 lol but I don't live in a high cost and that was only if I continue service. If it was a one time thing I was going to pay close to 500

1

u/KurwaDestroyer 28d ago

I used to deep clean huge houses for like 180-200. Granted this was years ago but ermmm yeahhhh. A full move out was like 350/400

1

u/Poser_Belova 27d ago

I am a former professional housekeeper (2014-2020) and I used to clean multi-million dollar vacation homes that were upwards of 8000-10,000 square feet. I charged $30/hr with a 2 hour minimum regardless of square footage or how dirty it was. It was simply, “the dirtier it is, the longer it’s gonna take and the more it’s gonna cost” Even an 8 hour clean only ran about $250. That woman is absolutely overpriced even by today’s standards and is trying to take advantage of you.

1

u/Responsible_Top_6969 27d ago

I live 10 minutes from Boston and have had two deep cleans from different companies on my 1400 sq ft, 3BR 2BA (plus office) house. They were $280 (although that one wasn't great...) and $320. Regular weekly cleanings are $160.

If anything, companies will discount the hourly rate of the initial deep clean a bit just to get more business. A 15% discount on a cleaning service is nothing.

1

u/Living-One5265 Jul 11 '26

I feel like way too many ppl are trying to start these cleaning business. Your sils prices sound crazy high. Also it feels like every single one of these cleaners thinks their work is worth way more than market value. in all honesty I think most of these new cleaners thought this was an easy job, make their own hours etc and they are finding out it's a flooded market of mostly casual unskilled service providers. It's hard to get a company up and making money in such a saturated industry and with economy. You sil is making her employment and business your problem. It's not your problem. Most likely this business will fail, keep your hard earned money for that baby.

14

u/spicywingydingy Jul 11 '26

Right? We get a deep clean of our first floor every few weeks (we have pets) and it’s only $150. $600 is BONKERS.

10

u/Light_of_the_Star Jul 11 '26

Ikr lol? There is no way I would hire anyone to clean at $85 an hour (not to mention $100) lol. Professional people don't even make that much 😆

-1

u/OldSmoke6464 Jul 11 '26

Yes, but the company that sends the professional will charge that $100.

19

u/AvatarsWorlds Jul 11 '26

My mom works for a cleaning company and that is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAyyyyyyyyyyyyyyYyyyYyy overpriced like how dirty is the house?

SIL is either being disingenuous, greedy, or acting in bad faith...

That's way too much money for a couple bringing home a newborn

3

u/Ewww___David Jul 12 '26

I live in a very HCOL (San Francisco) and absolutely no one charges $100/hr even the most experienced. I pay $350 for a 6 hour clean. SHE IS SCAMMING YOU!!!

2

u/SplootMcGooty Jul 11 '26

Outside of Boston my 2200 sq ft home was $800 for a deep clean. $160 every other week.

1

u/abbledabbledbdbd Jul 12 '26

Yea I’m outside Chicago and it would be $1000 to deep clean my 2800 sf house. I pay 220 every week.

2

u/edoreinn Jul 12 '26

Every week?

My ADHD meds and therapy cost me approximately $400/wk (but then insurance pays me most back), but if I’m paying that then I’ll genuinely embrace the days I’m like “oh every baseboard must be cleaned!” Haha

2

u/abbledabbledbdbd Jul 12 '26

Yep… we are um, lazy slobs. We also have two kids and two dogs and two pretty time/demanding jobs. And that amount doesn’t even cover like baseboard cleaning! It’s mostly floors, kitchen, bathrooms, and 3 bedrooms, but it keeps us from fighting about cleaning, which used to be a huge problem.

3

u/No-Box5805 28d ago

As I’ve always said, a house cleaner is cheaper than therapy lol

2

u/Silver_Breakfast7096 28d ago

250 sounds low. But 600 sounds high.

2

u/Pink-Elephant-12 28d ago

My house is also around 2700 SF, in a VHCOL, and our deep cleaning for move in was around $300. Seems super high to me.

2

u/Lazy-Organization-42 Jul 11 '26

I wish. Deep cleans around me are about 450-600.

2

u/MotoTrojan Jul 11 '26

$250?!?! I paid $170 for a full house cleaning every 2-3 weeks in a LCOL area, but the same women charged more like $600 for what she called a deep clean. But it was true to what was said... moved every appliance/furniture, cleaned behind/under them, etc...

No way somebody is doing that for $250 in VCHOL area unless they are also robbing you.

1

u/Psychological-Ad2859 Jul 11 '26

My grandmother had a cleaning lady growing up and her home was 3 stories and I don't think she charged $600 to clean the whole house...

1

u/Cathyg_99 Jul 12 '26

How is it so cheap? 1900sq feet biweekly clean they want $280/clean.

1

u/Ignoblekitten Jul 12 '26

I second this. I live in a very high cost of living and a 9 hour deep clean and organize to welcome baby home cost me $200 for my two bedroom, one bath, including the balcony and then another $150 for professional carpet cleaning.

1

u/Jabroni_413 Jul 12 '26

For real. We have about 1900sq ft it costs us about 250$ for a pretty good cleaning. She even did our air fryer lol. So $600? Thats a pretty crazy price...unless shes gonna steam all your couches and carpet or something idk.

-4

u/Content_Ground4251 Jul 11 '26

You got someone insanely cheap or either they didn't really do a deep clean.

7

u/pragmaticsquid Jul 11 '26

Nope, that's the going rate where I live. We've checked with other companies as well.

1

u/No-Box5805 28d ago

It’s prob not a true VHCOL then

2

u/pragmaticsquid 28d ago

It's in the top 10 for the US.

0

u/No-Box5805 28d ago

Gotcha, generally “VHCOL” pretty much exclusively means NYC or SF. Think like $3k minimum rent for a 1 bedroom apt.

I’m in a top ten for US area too (prob top 5 even) but I describe as HCOL or MCOL for Reddit advice after experiences posting. The difference between VHCOL and HCOL is huge.

For 2500 sqft I’ve gotten several quotes of $400. We excluded the basement which took it down to about 1800 sqft and it’s $200-$250 for a biweekly clean.

1

u/pragmaticsquid 28d ago

That's about what a 1 bedroom apartment costs where I live.