Get Quotes from Top Cleaning Services in Houston, TX

Are You Licensed to Practice as a Cleaning Service in Houston?

Houston does not issue any general or specific occupational or business licenses to cleaning contractors. Nonetheless, cleaning and janitorial companies that wish to operate in the city legally need to meet certain requirements before they can do so. These requirements include registering their business entities and filing a Doing Business As (DBA) Certificate locally, and obtaining a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Office.

Cleaning companies that are structured as sole proprietorships or general businesses are typically required to file a DBA certificate with the county clerk's office of each county where they maintain a business premise or conduct business. On the other hand, cleaning companies that are structured as corporations, limited partnerships, or limited liability companies are typically required to file only the DBA certificate in the county where they have their principal office. Note that cleaning companies that fall under this category may also be required to file a separate DBA certificate with the Texas Secretary of State. County clerk offices for Houston can be contacted at the following locations:

Likewise, applications for state-issued sales and use tax permits can be submitted to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Office online via its eSystems platform. First-time applicants must create a user profile on this platform before they can begin the application process. You can direct queries concerning Texas sales and use tax permits to the state's Comptroller of Public Accounts Office at (800) 252-5555.

It should be noted that Houston cleaning contractors and companies may need to meet additional local, state, and federal business registration requirements before conducting business in Houston. Queries concerning these business registration requirements can be directed to the city's Office of Business Opportunity Solutions Center (OBOSC) at:

You can also contact the OBOSC via the information provided above to find out if your intended cleaning contractor has met all necessary regulatory requirements for operating in Houston. Queries concerning this subject can also be directed to the city's Office of Economic Development at (832) 393-0937 or (832) 393-0981.

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

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that cleaners in Houston earn an average wage of $28,130 annually. Nevertheless, the rates that cleaning contractors in the city will charge you for their services are largely dependent on some factors, such as:

• The type of cleaning service that you need
• The type of building or facility that needs cleaning
• The frequency of these cleaning services
• The size of the building or facility
• The current state of the building or facility
• The type and cost of cleaning supplies that will be used for the job
• The labor intensity of the cleaning job

To this end, getting cost estimates from several cleaning contractors in the city is always a good idea before deciding on one to hire. Compare these estimates and select one that is best suited to your budget. However, note that you should not automatically select the contractor that provides the lowest estimate, especially if their quote is markedly different from those of the other contractors. In many cases, this is usually a sign of fraudulent behavior, as unscrupulous contractors typically provide low-cost estimates to get unsuspecting clients to retain their services, only to hike up prices once the job commences.

Houston's building and grounds cleaning workers earn an average wage of $28,130 annually. A comparison of the average hourly wages of workers in Houston'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:

What Types of Cleaning Services Do You Offer?

Finding out the exact nature of services that a cleaning company offers and ensuring that these services fit your specific needs helps you avoid misunderstandings with your cleaning contractor. Professional cleaning companies offer interested parties a wide variety of residential and commercial cleaning options, which include but are not limited to regular cleaning, deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, office cleaning, and apartment cleaning. Some of these companies also offer specialized services like enhanced disinfection, live-in housekeeper and maid services, special event cleaning, green cleaning, and after-death cleaning services. Therefore, before finalizing hiring arrangements with any cleaning contractor in the city, make sure that they confirm that they not only provide your required cleaning service but also have the right supplies and tools necessary to ensure satisfactory service delivery.

Finally, make sure that you are given a clear idea of how much these services will cost you. Listed below are average cost ranges for some cleaning services that are frequently requested in Houston:

Do You Comply with Houston's COVID-19 Regulations?

As of February 2022, over seven million COVID-19 vaccination doses had been administered in Houston and across Harris County and approximately 71.8 percent of residents of the area had received at least one dose. Positive COVID-19 cases in the Greater Houston Area have also continued to drop, with an average of 1,743 new cases reported in the week of February 14, 2022, compared to a seven-day average of 2,305 recorded the week before that.

Nonetheless, it is essential to make sure that any cleaning company you contract within Houston still complies with relevant local guidance during the execution of their cleaning services, particularly the Harris County Public Health Department's Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Facilities. This guidance provides recommendations aimed at ensuring the proper cleaning and disinfecting of residential and commercial premises and ultimately curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the city. These recommendations include using soap and water to clean dirty surfaces before disinfecting them, waiting at least 24 hours before cleaning and disinfecting buildings with a confirmed COVID-19 case, and ensuring that there is proper air circulation during cleaning and disinfection activities.

Inquiries related to Houston COVID-19 general public guidance and recommendations can be directed to the Houston Health Department at (832) 393-4220 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, and 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays. Queries can also be directed to the Harris County Public Health Department at (832) 927-7575 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays, and the Fort Bend County Health and Human Services Department at (281) 633-7795 from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

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

While many professional cleaning companies in Houston typically offer residential and commercial cleaning services to interested parties in the city, some may specialize in solely handling residential or commercial cleaning. Cleaning companies that focus on cleaning commercial facilities like offices, medical and healthcare facilities, and industrial facilities generally require specialized tools and cleaning supplies that are better suited to these types of spaces than residential dwellings. These commercial cleaning services typically cost an average of $10 - $20 per hour, per person. Note that these rates may be influenced by factors like the size of the facility and the type of cleaning service that will be required.

Also, there is no separate business licensing requirement for commercial cleaning contractors or companies in Houston, and both residential and commercial cleaning contractors must undergo the same business registration process. However, per Title 5, Subtitle B of the Texas Health and Safety Code, commercial cleaning companies that are involved in the removal or disposal of medical, industrial, or hazardous waste may be required to obtain a permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Information on these state-issued permits and the requirements for obtaining them can be obtained by contacting the Waste Permits Division of the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality at (512) 239-2335. Queries can also be directed to the Region 12 location of this office at:

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

Over 6,000 janitors and cleaners in the Greater Houston Area belong to SEIU Texas, which is a local union dedicated to securing better wages, benefits, and working conditions for these individuals. Many commercial building owners and facility managers in Houston typically favor hiring union-affiliated cleaning services, as they usually have well-trained and adequately insured cleaners. Union-affiliated cleaning services also typically have a low turnover of employees, thereby ensuring that you have a steady supply of professional cleaners who are familiar with your facility's layout and can expertly handle its cleaning needs. It should be noted that no local or state mandates require you to hire a union-affiliated cleaning service in Houston.

Nonetheless, unions typically exert a measure of influence on cleaners and other service workers in the area, and working with a non-union service can lead to pressure from these unions to get you to terminate the contract. Sometimes, this pressure may be exerted through picketing outside your office building and drawing negative attention to your facility.

Do You Offer Covid-19 Disinfecting Services in Houston?

Per the recommendations of the Harris County Public Health Department's Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Facilities, homes or facilities with a confirmed COVID-19 positive case or cases should be properly cleaned and disinfected to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus. However, not every cleaning contractor in Houston offers COVID-19 cleaning and disinfecting services. Therefore, you should always inform any cleaning company of the specific reason you require their services and confirm that they not only offer COVID-19 cleaning but also have the right tools and equipment for the job.

In addition, make sure that the cleaners strictly adhere to the Harris County Public Health Department's cleaning guidance, and the CDC's cleaning and disinfection guidance as well, during the job. Key areas of this guidance that should strictly be adhered to are:

• Closing off areas that were used by the sick individual
• Cleaning dirty surfaces with soap and water or with detergent before disinfecting these surfaces
• Ensuring that high-touch surfaces, like tables, doorknobs, phones, toilets, sinks, and faucets, are properly cleaned and disinfected
• Using EPA-registered disinfectants that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2
• Opening doors and windows during the cleaning to increase air circulation
• Using face masks, gloves, and other Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during the job
• Waiting until rooms or spaces are empty before vacuuming them
• Turning off fans and central HVAC systems during the cleaning job to ensure that particles do not circulate throughout the building or facility
• Following the label instructions for all cleaners and disinfectants that will be used for the job
• Placing all used face masks, gloves, and contaminated PPE in lined containers before disposing of them

You should never hire any cleaning contractor or company that downplays the importance of these local and federal cleaning and disinfecting guidances. It is also a good idea to find out the types of cleaners and disinfectants that will be used for the job before it commences, especially if you are prone to asthma attacks or allergic reactions.

What Cleaning Supplies Do You Use?

Using the right cleaning supplies and equipment ensures the proper cleaning and disinfection of your residence or commercial facility. However, the right cleaning supply for a job is usually dependent on the type of surface being cleaned. Factors like the environment and the method of cleaning also affect the efficacy of these cleaning supplies. As such, while using soap and water to clean surfaces in a home may be okay, an industrial kitchen may require stronger agents like abrasives and degreasers.

Likewise, healthcare facilities will typically require cleaning agents that are not only easy to use and non-toxic, but also easily soluble, odorless, and environmentally friendly. There are several types of cleaning agents that are available for use in Houston, and these cleaning agents can be grouped into four categories:

• Detergents: these are the most common types of cleaning agents. They come in liquid, powder, gel, or crystal form, are good in removing soil and dirt, and are suitable for a wide variety of surfaces in both residential and commercial buildings and facilities.
• Degreasers: degreasers are typically used in residential and industrial kitchens to remove stubborn grease stains that cannot be properly cleaned by detergents
• Abrasives: abrasives are cleaning agents that utilize scouring action to remove dirt and stains. These types of cleaning agents are typically only used on hard surfaces like floors, porcelain sinks, and toilets, as they tend to leave scratches on much softer surfaces
• Acids: acids are very powerful cleaning agents that are mostly used to remove mineral deposits from stubborn places. These types of cleaning agents are rarely used for regular cleaning due to their corrosive and harmful nature, and they must be properly diluted before use

Always find out the types of cleaning agents that your intended cleaning company plan to use when executing your cleaning job and make sure that they are appropriate for the situation at hand. In addition to these cleaning agents, other supplies like vacuum cleaners, cleaning rags, mops, and scrubbing brushes will likely be used for the job. Also, depending on the nature of the job, cleaning products like stain removers, disinfectants, and sanitizers may be required to ensure optimal service delivery. Make sure that you find out the types of sanitizers and disinfectants that will be used and confirm that they have been approved by the EPA and that they do not contain any components that you may be allergic to.

Do You Carry the Necessary Insurance Policy for Cleaners in Houston?

There are no mandatory local or state insurance requirements for cleaning contractors in Houston. However, considering that more than 20 work-related fatalities were recorded amongst building cleaning workers across Texas in 2020 alone, working with duly insured cleaners is prudent. This is because hiring an uninsured cleaning contractor leaves you open to lawsuits if cleaners get injured on the job, as well as out-of-pocket expenses to cover any property damage that may be caused by these cleaners. Therefore, always confirm that your intended cleaning contractor has adequate insurance coverage before retaining their services. You can do this by requesting copies of their insurance certificates and contacting the organization that issued the certificates to authenticate them.

Make sure that the cleaning contractor's coverage includes commercial general liability and workers' compensation insurance to cover the cost of third-party injuries and property damage, as well as legal claims that may be filed against you. It is also a good idea to hire a cleaning contractor that maintains janitorial bonds, which cover the cost of employee theft during cleaning jobs.