Here's the number everyone dances around: in Alabama, our regular cleaning starts at $200 — the same real starting price whether you're in Huntsville, the Shoals, or Mountain Brook.
Your exact price depends on two things: your square footage and the type of cleaning. That means one phone call gets you the number, and the number we quote is the number we bill. It changes in exactly two cases, both yours — you add work, or the home turns out to be a different job than the one we talked about — and you'll hear from us before anything changes, not after. Our starting prices are on the pricing page, or browse house cleaning and recurring maid service.
Quick Answer: Across Alabama, regular cleaning starts at $200, deep cleaning at $276, and move-out cleaning at $351. Square footage and cleaning type set the price, so one call gets you your exact number.
Most cost guides stop at "it depends." Here's what it actually depends on, plus the questions worth asking any company before they walk into your house — including us.
The Four Factors That Determine Your Price
1. Type of Cleaning Service
This is the biggest factor. Different services require different amounts of time, effort, and expertise.
Standard/Regular Cleaning
Price Range: $125 - $200 per visit
This is maintenance cleaning for homes that are already in decent shape. Dusting, vacuuming, mopping, bathroom cleaning, kitchen cleaning. The basics done well.
Best for: Recurring weekly or bi-weekly service to maintain a clean home.
Deep Cleaning
Price Range: $200 - $400+ per visit
Everything in regular cleaning plus: inside appliances, baseboards, ceiling fans, behind furniture, window tracks, grout scrubbing, cabinet exteriors. This is the reset button for your home.
Best for: First-time cleanings, seasonal deep cleans, pre-event preparation.
Move-Out Cleaning
Price Range: $250 - $450+ per visit
Deep cleaning plus: inside all cabinets and drawers, inside oven and refrigerator, window cleaning, light fixtures. The goal is to get your deposit back or prepare for new tenants.
Best for: Renters moving out, landlords between tenants, sellers preparing for showing.
Post-Construction Cleaning
Price Range: $400 - $800+ per job
This is specialized work. Construction dust gets everywhere—inside cabinets, in HVAC vents, on every surface. Requires multiple passes, specialized equipment, and more time than any other cleaning type.
Best for: New construction, major renovations, additions.
2. Home Size
Bigger homes take more time. Simple math. Here's roughly how home size affects pricing for regular cleaning in Alabama:
| Home Size | Regular Cleaning | Deep Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 BR / Under 1,200 sq ft | $100 - $150 | $175 - $250 |
| 3 BR / 1,200 - 2,000 sq ft | $125 - $200 | $200 - $350 |
| 4 BR / 2,000 - 3,000 sq ft | $175 - $275 | $300 - $450 |
| 5+ BR / 3,000+ sq ft | $250 - $400+ | $400 - $600+ |
3. Current Condition
A home that's been maintained weekly cleans faster than one that hasn't been touched in six months. If your home needs significant catch-up work, expect a higher first-time cleaning cost.
Be honest when getting quotes. Cleaners can tell within minutes if the home condition was misrepresented. It's better to be upfront about the situation.
4. Location in Alabama
Prices vary somewhat by market. Here's what we see across our service areas:
- Huntsville/Madison County: Slightly higher due to cost of living and demand from aerospace/tech professionals
- Mountain Brook: Similar to Huntsville, with premium pricing in affluent areas like Mountain Brook
- Florence/Muscle Shoals: Generally 10-15% lower than Huntsville
- Nashville (our TN market): Highest prices due to Metro Nashville cost of living
Recurring Service Discounts
Most cleaning companies (including us) offer discounts for recurring service. Here's the typical structure:
- Weekly service: up to 30% discount off one-time pricing
- Bi-weekly service: 10-15% discount
- Monthly service: 5-10% discount
- One-time service: Full price
The discount makes sense for both parties. Recurring clients are predictable revenue. Their homes stay cleaner between visits, so each cleaning takes less time. It's a win-win.
Start recurring service — lock in your discount
Weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Cancel anytime.
Red Flags: Prices That Are Too Low
If someone quotes you $49 to clean your 3-bedroom house, run.
Here's the math: A thorough cleaning takes 2-4 hours minimum. At $49, that's $12-25 per hour—before supplies, insurance, travel time, and overhead. Nobody good works for that little.
Suspiciously low prices mean:
- They'll rush through in 45 minutes and call it done
- They don't carry insurance (huge liability for you)
- They're cutting corners on quality products
- They won't be in business long
What You're Actually Paying For
When you hire a professional cleaning service, you're not just paying for labor. You're paying for:
- Professional-grade products that actually work
- Liability insurance ($2M in our case) to protect your property
- Background-checked employees you can trust in your home
- Training and quality systems that ensure consistent results
- Time—yours, to spend on what actually matters to you
- Peace of mind knowing the job is done right
Our Pricing at The Valley Clean Team
We believe in transparency. Here's what we typically charge across Alabama and Middle Tennessee:
- Regular Cleaning: Starting at $200
- Deep Cleaning: Starting at $276
- Move-Out Cleaning: Starting at $351
- Post-Construction: Starting at $526
- Airbnb Cleaning & Turnover: Starting at $125
Your actual quote depends on your specific home—size, condition, what you need done. But these starting points give you a realistic expectation.
Know your home size? Get an exact quote.
We respond within 2 hours. The number we quote is the number we bill.
"I was nervous about the price but they were completely upfront — quoted me $165 for my 3-bed house and that's exactly what I paid. The team was thorough, professional, and I've already booked them again."
— Sarah M., Huntsville AL · ★★★★★
Is It Worth It?
That's a question only you can answer. But here's how to think about it:
If cleaning a 3-bedroom home takes you 4 hours and costs you $150 to outsource, you're essentially paying $37.50 per hour to get those 4 hours back.
What would you do with those 4 hours? More billable work? Time with family? Rest? Exercise? A hobby you've neglected?
For many people—especially busy professionals, families with young kids, or anyone dealing with health issues—that $37.50/hour is one of the best investments they can make.
For others, it's a luxury that doesn't make sense right now. Both answers are valid.
See Exactly What It Would Cost for Your Home
Serving Huntsville, Birmingham, Athens, Florence, Mountain Brook, and across North Alabama.
Veteran-owned · $2M insured · Flat-rate pricing · Response within 2 hours