Specialist cleaning: compare quotes and prices

When is ordinary cleaning not enough?

Some residues resist routine cleaning. In other cases, a delicate surface, difficult access or contamination requiring assessment calls for particular expertise. Specialist cleaning therefore includes much more than severely soiled homes and damage after an incident.

Describe what you can observe: sticky residue, hardened deposits, soot or unusual smells. You do not need a technical diagnosis to request a quote. These details are more useful than specifying a particularly powerful chemical.

Separate the services you need

Several operations may be necessary without being included in the same price. A clear scope helps you compare quotes for equivalent work.

The material determines the method

Before work begins, clarify the surface material, previous treatments and visible damage. A small trial on a delicate surface can establish what is achievable without avoidable harm. More pressure or stronger chemicals do not automatically mean better cleaning.

After fire or water damage, the visibly affected area may not show the full extent of the problem. Ask what will be assessed and where cleaning reaches its limits. Repair, replacement and cleaning should remain distinct decisions.

Agree a realistic outcome: removing deposits, preparing rooms for reuse or treating a particular surface. Discolouration, burn marks and materials already deteriorating cannot always be returned to their original condition.

Access, privacy and preparation

After a fire, requesting a quote does not authorise entry. Coordinate access with the emergency services; permission to enter does not mean all residual hazards have disappeared. Any official access restriction must be clarified before work starts.

You do not need to move waste, take samples or investigate inaccessible areas to obtain a quote. An assessment visit may be the most useful first service. Establish beforehand whether it carries a charge.

Before clearance, identify documents, keepsakes and items to retain, and agree who decides what may be discarded. The initial request can remain practical: medical information or personal details concerning a death are unnecessary.

What does specialist cleaning cost?

A Swiss tariff checked in October 2026 lists intensive kitchen/bathroom cleaning at CHF 55–65 per hour excluding VAT, minimum two hours: CHF 110–130 before tax and unconfirmed extras. This is not a universal specialist or damage-cleaning rate.

Check whether rates apply per worker, whether minimum hours apply, and whether preparation, materials, travel and disposal are included. Two people working for one hour may represent two labour hours.

A site visit can make a quote more definite when the scope is uncertain. Agree which additional work needs approval. A low starting price is difficult to compare if the main costs remain open.

• Work required. Affected area or items, type of soiling and intended result.
• Constraints. Access, protective measures, clearance and interruption of normal use.
• Billing. Fixed price or time spent, VAT, expenses and approval of additional work.

Recognising a suitable quote

Look for experience with your particular case. The quote should identify the areas to be treated, what remains in place and what is excluded. A visit is especially helpful when the nature or depth of the contamination is unclear.

For an insured incident, clarify cover, cost approval and documentation with the insurer. A cleaning company cannot promise that every policy will pay. Necessary immediate measures to limit damage should be coordinated with the responsible parties.

A final inspection and a short record of remaining marks or damage help distinguish completed cleaning from any further repairs needed.