Floor cleaning: compare quotes and prices

Cleaning, maintenance or renovation?

Floor cleaning can mean regular vacuuming and mopping or a one-off intensive clean. Deep cleaning addresses adhered dirt and, where appropriate, old maintenance layers. It does not automatically include sanding or applying a new seal.

Different floors need different treatments

A wood effect does not tell you whether a floor is parquet, laminate or vinyl. Matt parquet can also be lacquered. Care instructions, an invoice or a product name help the contractor identify it. If these are unavailable, a broad description is enough for the initial request; the finish needs checking before intensive treatment.

Mention any cleaning and care products used so far, if you know them. It helps to say whether streaks appeared after a product change or whether a protective layer has already been applied. This information supports the assessment; you do not need to diagnose the problem yourself.

• Parquet and wood. Oiled, waxed and lacquered surfaces need compatible care. Water should not be allowed to penetrate joints unchecked. Intensive cleaning may need to be followed by maintenance, with the treatment determined by the existing finish.
• Laminate. Laminate cannot be sanded like parquet. Moisture resistance and approved cleaning methods depend on the product and installation. The existence of a water-resistant range does not make heavy wet cleaning suitable for every laminate floor.
• Tiles and natural stone. Consider ceramic, stone and grout separately. Calcareous stones such as marble and Jura limestone can be damaged by acid. Textured surfaces need an appropriate mechanical cleaning action, rather than simply more detergent.
• Vinyl, PVC and linoleum. These materials are not interchangeable. The covering and factory finish determine whether a care product or protective layer is suitable. Some factory-finished linoleum needs no additional initial protection, and applying it may impair the finish.
• Carpet and industrial floors. Carpet fibres and backing need different methods from hard floors. For concrete and resin, the finish and operational requirements matter. Where surfaces are mixed, methods and prices should remain identifiable by material.

What does professional floor cleaning cost?

A price per square metre only means something alongside its scope. A large clear area is different from small furnished rooms with many edges. Stain treatment, removal of old layers and subsequent maintenance may require additional operations.

One published Swiss example for deep floor cleaning, including corners and edges, is CHF 9.73 per m² including VAT. Travel and materials are charged separately. This is an individual published example for 2026, not a market average or a Quoti tariff.

At that rate, 50 m² gives CHF 486.50 for the area-based cleaning, before the additional charges. Other published offers cover different work or do not clearly state their VAT basis, so they do not establish a reliable single rate for all floors.

• Compare the total. Check travel, materials, machines, minimum charges and VAT. Ask which costs are already included in the quote.
• Itemise maintenance treatments. Oiling, coating and impregnation are not automatically included in cleaning. The quote should identify the suitable follow-up treatment and its price.
• For recurring work. Distinguish the price per visit from the number of visits. Without a defined frequency and scope, a monthly package cannot be compared with a one-off deep clean.

Specify the floor area that actually needs cleaning

An approximate size band is enough for the initial request. It should represent the floors concerned, not automatically the entire home or building. One room, several rooms and only the accessible walkways are different jobs.

For example, a room measuring 5 × 4 metres has a floor area of 20 m². Whether space beneath large furniture is counted and cleaned needs agreement. With mixed surfaces, a later breakdown helps, such as 30 m² of parquet and 12 m² of tiles. You do not need to measure every section to start your request.

Explicitly include stairs, skirting boards, edges and difficult recesses if they are part of the job. A floor-only quote does not automatically cover windows, kitchen cleaning or bathrooms.

An enquiry might read: “We would like a one-off deep clean of the living-room floor, about 30 m² of parquet, and the kitchen floor, about 12 m² of tiles. Streaks remain on the parquet; we do not know whether it is oiled or lacquered. There is adhered grease in front of the cooker. We will move the table and chairs, but the heavy cupboard will stay in place and does not need cleaning underneath. Please quote separately for the two surfaces and any necessary aftercare, and clarify in advance when we can use the rooms again.”

Plan around furniture and use of the rooms

Agree who moves light furniture and whether heavy or delicate items stay in place. Cleaning the clear areas is different from moving all furniture in stages. Sensitive belongings and cables should be removed from the work area as agreed.

For business premises, access and reopening may matter more than the working time alone. Clarify whether operations can continue in sections and when walkways must be usable again. Water, electricity and equipment access should be arranged before the job.

Drying after cleaning is different from the curing time of a new protective treatment. Ask when people can walk on the floor, furniture can return and trolleys can pass. A fixed waiting time for every type of floor would be misleading.

If rooms need to remain partly in use during the work, agree the sequence and which areas will temporarily be unavailable. Consider the routes needed by residents, staff or customers. The contractor should explain when each area can be reopened for the chosen treatment.

Agree on the result before work starts

For stubborn stains or an unidentified finish, the contractor should test a small area and assess it once dry. This helps distinguish removable deposits from discolouration or damage within the material.

Check the result once the surface is ready for inspection according to the contractor’s instructions: have the agreed walkways, edges and areas beneath moved furniture been cleaned? Review the stains discussed beforehand and compare with the dry test area where available. Discuss any remaining streaks, sticky patches or noticeable differences between treated areas. Record outstanding points with the room and exact location, and agree who will check them and by when.

1. Record the initial condition. Document existing scratches, open joints, loose areas and moisture before work begins. Cleaning does not automatically repair these defects.
2. Agree on the method and its limits. The covering, protective finish and manufacturer's instructions guide the choice. Removing every stain or restoring an as-new appearance cannot be promised in all cases.
3. Clarify aftercare and handover. At handover, review the result, remaining marks and future care. A new protective treatment should come with instructions for use and suitable maintenance products.

Keeping the floor in good condition

Entrance mats and regular removal of grit reduce tracked-in dirt. Furniture pads and suitable castors help prevent mechanical marks. Pick up spills promptly using a method compatible with the material.

Correct dosing matters more than a particularly strong cleaner. Excess or unsuitable care products can create fresh streaks and layers. Follow the instructions for the floor; steam and machine cleaning also need the appropriate product approval.

A fixed annual interval does not suit every use. Shop walkways and a rarely used guest room collect dirt differently. For recurring cleaning, agree which areas are treated, how often, and when more intensive maintenance should be considered.