The real cost of Cleaning Services in Singapore: hidden expenses revealed

23 March 2025 4 min read
The real cost of Cleaning Services in Singapore: hidden expenses revealed

Sarah thought she'd found the perfect deal. A cleaning company quoted her $80 for a two-bedroom condo deep clean. Three hours later, the bill came to $247. The culprit? A laundry list of "additional services" she didn't know she needed—window tracks, inside the oven, behind the fridge. Sound familiar?

You're not alone. Thousands of Singaporeans get blindsided by cleaning bills that balloon beyond recognition. The advertised rate is just the opening act. What follows is a carefully orchestrated reveal of charges that somehow never made it into that Instagram ad or Google listing.

The Base Rate Illusion

Most cleaning companies in Singapore advertise rates between $25 to $40 per hour. Looks reasonable, right? Here's what they don't tell you upfront: that rate assumes you're providing all equipment, chemicals, and that your home is in "standard condition"—whatever that means.

The moment you need them to bring supplies, add $15-$30 to your bill. Got pets? That's another $20-$40 surcharge because of the "extra hair and dander." Live above the 10th floor without service lift access? Prepare for a $15-$25 accessibility fee. These aren't exceptions—they're the norm.

The Equipment and Chemical Markup

Let's talk about that innocent-looking "materials fee."

A bottle of multi-purpose cleaner costs about $4 at FairPrice. Cleaning companies charge you $12-$15 for the same product. Microfiber cloths they buy in bulk for $0.80 each? You're paying $5 per cloth on your invoice. One industry insider told me the markup on cleaning supplies alone can reach 200-300%.

"We call it the convenience tax," admits Marcus Chen, who ran a cleaning business for seven years before switching careers. "Clients don't want to buy and store all these products, so they pay premium. But most don't realize they're essentially paying retail prices times three."

The Real Numbers Behind Supply Costs

Time Manipulation: The Four-Hour Minimum Trap

Many companies enforce minimum booking hours that don't match the actual work required. Your studio apartment realistically needs 90 minutes of cleaning. But the minimum booking is four hours at $35/hour. Do the math—you're paying $140 for work that should cost $52.50.

Some cleaners stretch the job to fill the time (hello, watching them wipe the same counter three times). Others finish early but still charge you for the full block. A 2023 consumer survey found that 68% of respondents felt their cleaners unnecessarily prolonged tasks to justify the minimum hours.

The Hidden Post-Service Charges

Here's where it gets creative. Damage deposits that mysteriously don't get returned because of "minor scratches" nobody can quite locate. Rush fees for bookings made less than 48 hours in advance—sometimes 30-50% on top of the standard rate. Weekend and public holiday premiums that add another 20-40%.

And my personal favorite: the "deep clean differential." You booked regular cleaning, but the cleaner arrives and declares your home needs deep cleaning instead. Suddenly your $120 job becomes $280, and you're standing there in your pajamas, cornered into agreeing.

The Cancellation Penalty Racket

Life happens. You get sick, your in-laws cancel their visit, your renovation runs late. But cancellation policies in this industry are brutal. Cancel within 24 hours? That's typically 50% of the booking fee. Cancel within 12 hours or less? You're paying the full amount for services you never received.

One woman I spoke with paid $195 for a cleaning session that never happened because she was hospitalized the night before. The company refused to waive the fee or reschedule without charging again.

What Actually Goes Into Legitimate Pricing

Not everything is a scam. Legitimate costs do exist. Cleaners need to factor in CPF contributions, work injury compensation insurance, transport between jobs, training, and administrative overhead. The actual take-home for a cleaner is often 40-50% of what you pay, with the rest covering business operations.

But transparency matters. The problem isn't the costs themselves—it's the sneaky way they're revealed after you've already committed.

Key Takeaways

  • Always ask for an itemized quote that includes supplies, equipment, and potential surcharges
  • Question minimum hour requirements—studios and small apartments shouldn't need four-hour blocks
  • Read cancellation policies before booking; look for companies with reasonable 48-72 hour windows
  • Calculate the true hourly rate by dividing total cost by actual working hours, not quoted hours
  • Pet, high-floor, and weekend surcharges can add 40-60% to your base quote
  • Supply markups of 200-300% are common; consider providing your own materials

The cleaning industry in Singapore isn't going to reform itself. Companies have perfected the art of the low-ball quote followed by the fee avalanche. Your defense? Ask uncomfortable questions upfront. Get everything in writing. And remember: if a quote seems too good to be true, you're probably looking at the trailer, not the full movie.

That $80 cleaning job Sarah booked? It should have been $160-$180 all along. The company just knew that number wouldn't get clicks on their Facebook ad.