Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in El Paso, TX

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Cleaner in El Paso

Infectious and parasitic diseases are responsible for over seven million physician office and three million emergency room visits across the United States every year. Locally in El Paso, infectious diseases like the coronavirus have led to more than 3,300 deaths since 2020, with approximately 33 percent of the cases recorded in the area caused by close contact. Retaining the services of a professional cleaning company can go a long way in reducing the microbe levels in your home or workplace, thereby providing you with a strong line of defense against these infectious diseases. However, in order to make sure that you hire a cleaning company that is properly equipped to provide your required cleaning service, you should always ask the following questions:

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in El Paso?

Individuals, companies, or businesses that provide cleaning services in El Paso do not require a business license or an occupational license for these activities. However, these companies are typically required to register their businesses at the county level with the El Paso County Clerk's Office. Parties that wish to undergo this business registration process will be required to complete either a Certificate of Ownership for Incorporated Business or Profession Form or a Certificate of Ownership for Unincorporated Business or Profession Form. The completed forms can be submitted in person or via mail to:

El Paso County Clerk's Office
Attention: Recording Division
500 E. San Antonio
Suite 105
El Paso, TX 79901

In-person submissions can also be made to the following El Paso County Clerk's Office annex locations:

Ysleta Annex
9521 Socorro Road
Suite A-1
El Paso, TX 79927
Northeast Annex
4641 Cohen Avenue
Suite B
El Paso, TX 79924

Note that all owners of the business in question must be present for in-person submissions, and they will be required to provide valid government-issued IDs. Similarly, mail-in submissions must be notarized, must contain original signatures, and must be sent with a cashier's check, business check, or money order for the stipulated fees made payable to "El Paso County Clerk, County of El Paso, El Paso County, or County Clerk." Queries concerning the current business registration fees and other registration requirements can be directed to the county clerk's Recording Division via email or by calling (915) 546-2071.

It is important to note that, in addition to completing the county-level business registration process, cleaning companies in El Paso may have to meet certain other state and federal level requirements before they can legally operate in the city. These include filing tax obligations with the IRS and obtaining a sales and use tax permit from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Office.

To this end, it is advisable to contact the El Paso Planning and Inspections Department to get information on any additional regulatory requirements that have to be met by cleaning companies that wish to operate in the city. This department can be contacted via email, by calling (915) 212-0104 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 5: p.m., Mondays to Thursdays, and 7:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Fridays, or in person at:

One Stop Shop
811 Texas Avenue
El Paso, TX 79901
Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Fridays

Queries on business regulatory requirements for El Paso cleaning companies can also be directed to the state's Economic Development Department at (512) 936-0100 or via an online contact form.

How Much Do You Charge Compared to Other Cleaning Services in El Paso?

The cost of cleaning services in El Paso is influenced by certain factors, some of which are:

  • The condition of the home, office, or facility that needs cleaning
  • The size of the home, office, or facility
  • The number of rooms that require cleaning
  • The specific type of cleaning service that you require
  • The frequency of the required cleaning services
  • The number of cleaners that will be involved in the job

It is always a good idea to get quotes or estimates for your required cleaning service from several cleaning companies in the city and compare these quotes to figure out the company that best suits your budget. Getting and comparing quotes from multiple cleaning companies is also a good way to avoid being scammed by fraudulent cleaners.

Building and grounds cleaning workers in El Paso earn an average wage of $23,230 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in El Paso's building and grounds cleaning and maintenance industry against those of workers in the rest of Texas and five other major cities in the country is provided below:

El Paso Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$11.17
Texas Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$13.77
Houston Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$13.53
Dallas Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$15.18
New York City Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$19.09
Los Angeles Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$18.32
Chicago Cleaning Contractors Average Hourly Wage
$16.44
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

What Types of Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

Professional cleaning companies in El Paso typically provide extensive cleaning services, such as recurring cleaning, one-time cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, apartment cleaning, commercial cleaning, vacation rental cleaning, post-construction cleaning, green cleaning, and enhanced disinfection services. When searching for cleaning companies in the city, it is necessary to make sure that they are equipped to tackle your home or workplace's unique set of cleaning requirements. To this end, you should always ensure that any cleaning company you intend to contract in El Paso provides the specific types of cleaning services you require and has well-trained cleaners who can satisfactorily deliver these services.

Cost estimates for some cleaning services commonly requested by homeowners and building managers in El Paso are listed below:

Couch cleaning
$61.45 - $65.10
Cleaning a typical four-bedroom home (per visit)
$81.35 - $90.40
Graffiti removal and protection (per square foot)
$1.35 - $2.30
Janitorial services (per square foot)
$0.10 - $0.20
Maid services/home cleaning (per hour)
$15 - $45
Medical office & healthcare facility cleaning services (per square foot)
$0.13 - $0.25

Do You Comply with El Paso's COVID-19 Regulations?

Over 236,900 confirmed cases and 3,300 fatalities have been reported in El Paso since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. As of February 2022, about 110 COVID-positive patients in the area were still hospitalized, and more than 30 percent of these hospitalized patients were in the ICU. On the other hand, the area also has a relatively high vaccination rate. Per data provided by city officials, more than 79 percent of residents aged five and above and over 94 percent of residents aged 65 and above have been fully vaccinated.

Nonetheless, it is necessary to make sure that the cleaning company you hire is familiar with the city's COVID-19 guidance and health orders and implements these regulations when carrying out their cleaning and disinfecting activities. Doing this reduces the chances of the pandemic resurging in the city, thereby protecting the health and safety of you and your loved ones and other members of the public.

Recommendations of these regulations that pertain to cleaning and disinfection activities include the use of masks, gloves, and EPA-approved cleaners and disinfectants during these activities. The city's guidance also provides recommendations on cleaning and disinfecting methods and frequencies, as well as guidelines for the proper disposal of used or contaminated items. You can get more information on El Paso COVID-19 guidance and regulations by contacting city officials via phone number (915) 212-6843 between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays.

Do You Provide Commercial Cleaning Services for Non-Residential Buildings in El Paso?

El Paso does not require cleaning companies to obtain business licenses for their activities, regardless of whether these companies solely provide either residential cleaning services or business cleaning services. Residential cleaning services generally involve cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting single-family houses and other residential buildings, and it does not typically require specialized tools or equipment.

On the other hand, business or commercial cleaning generally involves cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting commercial buildings and industrial and medical facilities. Examples of these types of buildings and facilities include hospitals, apartment complexes, offices, and schools. Cleaning companies that provide commercial cleaning services typically utilize specialized tools and equipment when performing their cleaning activities.

Note that, even though cleaning companies in El Paso do not require business licenses to provide their services to interested parties in the city, they may have to meet other regulatory requirements. For example, these companies are statutorily required to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) if their services involve removing or disposing of medical, industrial, or hazardous waste. Queries concerning these waste-related permits as well as the requirements and procedures for obtaining them, can be directed to the TCEQ's Waste Permits Division by calling (512) 239-2335 or to its El Paso regional office at:

401 E. Franklin Avenue
Suite 560
El Paso, TX 79901-1212
Phone: (915) 834-4949

Inquiries concerning regulatory requirements for cleaning companies in El Paso can also be directed to the city's Planning and Inspections Department at (915) 212-0104 or via email.

Do You Engage Unionized Cleaners for Non-Residential Buildings in El Paso?

When searching for a suitable cleaning company in El Paso to handle cleaning your commercial building or facility, you should consider looking out for union cleaning companies. Union cleaning companies refer to cleaning companies with cleaners that belong to labor unions, such as the SEIU Texas, which currently represents more than 6,000 janitors in El Paso and other parts of the state. These unions typically ensure that their members receive fair wages for their services and strive to promote better working conditions.

Note that you may pay higher hourly rates for union cleaners than you would for non-union cleaners. However, these union cleaners generally have certain advantages over non-union cleaners, such as job security, which results in low employee turnover, better work-related training and certifications, and adequate insurance. Regardless, it is advisable to look up the union that the cleaning company you intend to hire belongs to and ensure that they are not currently involved in any situations that can lead to a disruption of cleaning services or other business activities in your building or facility.

Do You Offer Covid-19 Disinfecting Services in El Paso?

Proper cleaning and disinfection after a COVID outbreak in your home or facility is essential in mitigating the spread of the virus and preventing exposure to non-infected individuals. When looking to undertake cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection activities to protect against the coronavirus in your home or workplace, the first step to take is being open with the cleaning company that you contact about the situation at hand. Let them know that you specifically require COVID-19 cleaning and disinfection, and confirm that they offer these enhanced disinfection services. You should also make sure that the cleaning company utilizes EPA N List disinfectants for the job, as these have been proven to be effective against the coronavirus.

It is equally important to confirm that your preferred cleaning company is familiar with local El Paso COVID-19 guidance and health orders, as well as federal CDC cleaning and disinfecting guidelines and that these regulations will be implemented during the enhanced disinfection service. Key aspects of these regulations that should strictly be adhered to include:

  • Using face coverings, gloves, and adequate PPE
  • Making sure that special attention is given to high-touch surfaces, like light switches and doorknobs, and also to any areas that may have body fluids on them
  • Following the instructions on the labels of any cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants used for the job
  • Ensuring that the area being cleaned is properly ventilated, especially when disinfectants and any other supplies that can trigger asthma attacks are being used
  • Ensuring that all used face coverings, gloves, and non-reusable PPE are properly disposed of after the job. Reusable PPE should also be properly decontaminated

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

The proper cleaning and disinfection of your home or commercial building is largely dependent on the type of cleaning supplies used for the job, and the appropriate use of these supplies. For example, while supplies like soap, detergents, and disposable rags are typically enough to provide standard residential cleaning services, they would be inadequate for cleaning industrial kitchens or medical facilities. Cleaning supplies are typically grouped into cleaners or cleaning agents, sanitizers, disinfectants, and cleaning tools and equipment. Cleaning agents are further classified into detergents, degreasers, abrasives, and acids.

Detergents are the most common type of cleaners and they are used for the removal of dirt and stains in both residential and commercial buildings. Degreasers are used to break down and remove grease, fats, and organic statins, and they are commonly used in kitchens. Abrasives are relatively harsh cleaning agents that are used to scratch off dirt from hard surfaces. As such, they are typically used on floors, porcelain sinks, toilets, wall tiles, and other non-easily scratched surfaces. Finally, acids are potent cleaning agents that are used to descale surfaces. Acid cleaning agents require proper dilution before use and can be dangerous if handled incorrectly.

Likewise, supplies like sanitizers and disinfectants are used to rid surfaces of germs, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes, and they are typically more effective when applied after the surface has been properly cleaned. Finally, cleaning tools and equipment refer to items like disposable rages, vacuum cleaners, mops, brooms, and other similar items that are used during cleaning and disinfection activities. Before retaining the services of a cleaning company in El Paso, it is a good idea to find out the types of cleaning supplies that will be used for the task and ensure that they are appropriate for the job. You should also make sure that the cleaning company uses only EPA-approved cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in El Paso?

The cleaning industry is rife with several work-related risks, which include, but are not limited to slips, falls, and exposure to dangerous microbes, hazardous chemicals, and toxic substances. Retaining the services of a cleaning company that does not carry adequate insurance makes you liable for any accidents and bodily injuries that occur during the provision of your requested cleaning service. According to data published by the Texas Department of Insurance, 469 fatal occupational injuries were reported across the State of Texas in 2020, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all work-related injuries that occurred in the United States during this period.

To this end, even though El Paso does not have any mandatory insurance requirements for companies that provide cleaning services within its jurisdiction, you should only hire duly insured cleaning companies. This insurance should include general liability and workers' compensation insurance to cover the cost of work-related injuries and damages to your property that may occur during the job. It is also a good idea to find out if the cleaning company has janitorial bonds or employee dishonesty insurance to compensate you in the event of theft by their employees. Always request proof of insurance and validate this proof with the necessary insurance provider before finalizing hiring agreements with any cleaning company that you intend to hire.

How to File a Complaint Against a Bad Cleaner in El Paso

Con artists and fraudulent contractors typically try to defraud unsuspecting homeowners looking to undertake cleaning and other home improvement projects in El Paso through various means. These include luring consumers with low rates and subsequently increasing their charges after they have been hired or requesting upfront payment for jobs, and then not providing the required service or doing the job poorly. A report published by the Better Business Bureau suggests that home improvement-related scams resulted in the highest monetary loss for consumers in Texas in 2021, with affected homeowners losing approximately $2,781 per reported scam. In February 2022, local news station KFOX 14 reported that an El Paso homeowner had lost $30,000 to a home remodeling and improvement company that had disappeared without completing an already commenced home renovation job.

You can take certain precautions when searching for cleaning companies in El Paso to avoid falling victim to cleaning or home improvement scams. These precautions are:

  • Never hire unsolicited cleaners. Get referrals to cleaning companies in the city from trusted sources like close friends and relatives or reputable online directories like the Better Business Bureau when you need residential or commercial cleaning services.
  • Always get and compare estimates for your required service from several cleaning companies before making your hiring decision.
  • Always request local verifiable references from your preferred cleaning company. Consider it a red flag if the company cannot provide this information. Note that you should contact the provided references to get reviews on the cleaning company. You can equally lookup reviews on cleaning companies in El Paso online via platforms like Google Review and the Better Business Bureau website.
  • Find out if the cleaning company properly vets its employees. Also, make sure the cleaning company has valid insurance coverage for these employees.
  • Do not pay the full cost of the service upfront. If you have to make advance payments, ensure that these payments do not exceed one-third of the project's total cost.
  • Avoid cash payments and be wary of any cleaning company that insists on this form of payment.
  • Make sure that the cleaning company provides a written contract for their services, which should include a description of the cleaning service, its cost, the types of supplies to be used, and the cleaning company's contact details. Review this contract properly and make sure that you understand its terms and clauses before signing it.
  • Inspect the cleaning job and make sure that it was done satisfactorily before making final payments.

You can file complaints concerning cleaning scams, home improvement scams, and other forms of deceptive or fraudulent business practices by cleaning companies in El Paso to the Texas Attorney General's Office by calling (800) 621-0508. Consumer complaints can also be filed online or by mailing a completed pdf consumer complaint form, along with any relevant additional documents, to:

Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
P.O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548