The Ranking
Our top 5 cleaning companies in Calgary
Hiring a house cleaner in Calgary is mostly a question of trust. You are handing a stranger a key or a lockbox code, and Alberta does not run a licensing program for house cleaners, so the checking falls to you. This list was built to do some of that work for you.
What a clean costs depends first on the size of the home and how long since it was last cleaned properly. A first deep clean takes far longer than a regular visit, because baseboards, inside the oven, cabinet fronts and built-up bathroom scale all get attention once and then stay manageable. Most companies price the first visit higher and then drop the rate for weekly, bi-weekly or monthly service. Hellamaid, for example, posts packages from $188 for a one-bedroom home and hourly work at $59 per cleaner, while AspenClean bills by the time its crew spends in your home. Ask whether a quote is flat or hourly, and what happens if the job runs long.
Ask next whether the cleaners are employees or contractors. An employee is on the company's payroll and insurance, and the company is responsible for workplace injury coverage through WCB Alberta and for source deductions. A contractor sent through an app may carry none of that, which leaves you with more risk if someone is hurt in your home or something goes missing. AspenClean and MaidPro Calgary both say every cleaner is an employee, and Hellamaid is a certified Alberta Living Wage Employer. Whoever you hire, ask for proof of liability insurance and bonding, and ask whether the people who come to your door have had a background check.
Supplies and pets are the next practical questions. All five companies here bring their own products and equipment. If you want a particular product used, or none at all on certain surfaces, say so when you book. AspenClean uses its own plant-based products, which suits homes with babies or pets. Tell the company about dogs, cats and any room that should stay closed.
Read the guarantee before the first visit. A good company will come back to fix anything missed if you report it quickly, usually within 24 hours. AspenClean and MopSpot both put that promise in writing, and Banana Breeze offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. Ask also about cancellation and lockout fees: many services charge if you cancel on short notice or if the crew cannot get in. Hellamaid allows free rescheduling with 24 hours notice.
Tipping is optional in Calgary. If you tip, ask whether the full amount reaches the cleaner. Hellamaid says 100 percent of tips go to the person who cleaned.
For access, most clients are not home during the visit. A lockbox or a smart-lock code you can change later is safer than handing out a spare key. Condo owners should add concierge, fob, elevator and visitor parking details to the booking so the crew does not lose paid time in the lobby.
Renters booking a move-out clean should know the rules. Under Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord has 10 days after you give up possession to return the security deposit or send a statement of account, cannot deduct for normal wear and tear, and can only deduct for damage if the move-in and move-out inspection reports were done. A thorough move-out clean, with photos, is the simplest way to avoid an argument over dirt.
We found many more Calgary cleaners than the five on this list. Most failed because they are run from a home, a condo, a mailbox or a virtual office, or because they had fewer than 50 Google reviews. That is common in this trade and does not mean those cleaners do poor work; it means we could not confirm a real business base for them.
