Apartment cleaning in Montreal is a different challenge than cleaning a single-family home — less square footage but more shared walls, tighter access, condo association rules, and (for renters) the constant pressure of leaving the unit in inspection-ready condition between tenants. This guide covers everything Montreal apartment dwellers need to know: what professional apartment cleaning actually includes, typical 2026 prices by unit size and neighborhood, how to schedule around condo rules, and the four mistakes that get renters charged for cleaning at move-out.
Quick reference — Montreal apartment cleaning prices 2026
| Apartment size | Standard clean | Deep clean | Move-out clean | |---|---|---|---| | Studio / bachelor (≤500 sq ft) | $90 – $120 | $220 – $300 | $200 – $290 | | 1-bedroom (500–800 sq ft) | $110 – $160 | $260 – $360 | $260 – $370 | | 1-bed + den / large 1BR | $130 – $180 | $300 – $400 | $310 – $420 | | 2-bedroom (800–1100 sq ft) | $140 – $200 | $320 – $450 | $350 – $500 | | 2-bed + den / 3-bedroom | $170 – $240 | $420 – $580 | $420 – $620 |
These ranges reflect typical Montreal apartments in buildings from 1970–2020. Newer Griffintown, Old Port, and downtown condos at the lower end of the range; older Plateau, Mile End, NDG, Saint-Henri walk-ups at the higher end because of accumulated grime and older finishes.
What apartment cleaning actually covers in Montreal
A standard apartment cleaning (the recurring service most condo owners book bi-weekly) covers the visible, high-touch surfaces:
Kitchen
- All countertops wiped and sanitized
- Stovetop and range hood exterior
- Sink scrubbed, faucet polished
- Cabinet faces wiped (no opening cabinets unless requested)
- Microwave exterior + interior wipe
- Refrigerator exterior wipe (full interior is an add-on)
- Floor swept and mopped
- Trash emptied + recycling sorted to bin
Bathrooms
- Toilet (bowl, seat, base, behind)
- Bathtub or shower interior + door tracks (light scrub)
- Sink + vanity countertop
- Mirror
- Floor mopped
- Bath mat shaken out
- Trash emptied
Living area + bedrooms
- All accessible surfaces dusted (TV stands, side tables, dressers)
- Vacuum all carpeted areas, mop hard floors
- Beds made (if linens already on)
- Throw cushions arranged
- Light switches and door handles wiped
Common signature touches
- Top of fridge (gathers grease + dust in apartments fast)
- Window sills (especially in older walk-ups)
- Behind doors (often missed in DIY cleaning)
- Apartment entrance mat shaken out
This typically takes a 2-person team 1.5 to 2.5 hours for a 1BR, 2 to 3 hours for a 2BR. If you've been quoted significantly less, confirm exactly what's covered.
How apartment cleaning differs from a house
If you've moved from a house to a condo or vice versa, your cleaning routine will change. Here's what's different:
1. Vertical space + light fixtures. Many Montreal condos have higher ceilings or pot lights that gather dust differently. Single-family homes have more horizontal surface area but less vertical reach needed.
2. Shared corridors and elevators. Cleaners working in your building need to coordinate with the elevator + parking. This is why some condo associations require advance notice of cleaners visiting (more on this below).
3. Less square footage, more concentration. A 700 sq ft 1BR has all the same fixtures as a 2,000 sq ft house (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom) — just in less space. Per-square-foot, condo cleaning is more time-intensive than house cleaning.
4. Floor type variability. Newer Montreal condos often have hardwood or engineered wood floors throughout, including the bedroom. Older apartments may have a mix of original hardwood, vinyl tile, and area rugs. Each requires different treatment.
5. Balconies. Many Montreal condos have a balcony — often forgotten in standard cleaning. Most cleaning companies offer balcony cleaning as a $25–$50 add-on, including sweeping, wiping the railing, and cleaning the glass door.
Condo association rules to be aware of
If you live in a Montreal condo, your association may have specific rules about hiring cleaners:
- Advance notice. Some buildings require you to register your cleaner with the concierge or building manager 24–48 hours in advance.
- Service elevator. Larger downtown buildings often require cleaners to use the service elevator rather than the residential one.
- Insurance certificate. Higher-end buildings increasingly ask for a Certificate of Insurance from the cleaning company. Reputable Montreal cleaning companies (Sparkling Stays included) can provide this on request.
- Quiet hours. Some condos prohibit cleaning during certain hours (typically before 9 AM or after 5 PM on weekdays, and not at all on Sundays).
- Cleaning supplies. A few condos require cleaners to use non-toxic, eco-friendly products only — to prevent overspray in shared HVAC systems. We use eco-friendly products by default.
Check your condo's rules and pass them on to your cleaner at booking. Most reputable companies are flexible — they'd rather know your building's rules than show up and get turned away.
Pricing factors specific to Montreal apartments
Here's what makes one quote $130 and another $200 for the same-size unit:
Building floor
Higher floors require service elevator access, sometimes a longer wait. Some companies add $5–$15 for buildings above the 20th floor.
Building age
- Original hardwood with cracks that hold dirt
- Painted radiator covers that gather dust
- Older windows with grimy tracks
- Tin or pressed-tin ceilings that need delicate dusting
Pre-1980 walk-ups in Plateau, Mile End, Saint-Henri, Verdun often have:
Newer condos (Griffintown, Old Port, downtown post-2010) typically have: - Easy-clean finishes throughout - Closed-system HVAC (less dust) - Modern appliances with smooth, wipeable surfaces
The difference is roughly 15–25% in cleaning time.
Pets
Montreal apartments increasingly allow pets. Pet hair adds $20–$40 to a standard clean. If your cat or dog sheds heavily, mention it at booking — pros bring extra microfiber cloths and a stronger vacuum.
Parking access
Mile End, the Plateau, and downtown often have no on-street parking available. Some companies pass parking fees ($5–$15) to you. Sparkling Stays absorbs this when possible.
Time of week
Weekday morning slots tend to be cheaper than weekend afternoon premium slots. If schedule flexibility matters, ask about off-peak pricing.
Move-out apartment cleaning — what landlords actually check
If you're moving out of a Montreal rental, your landlord (or property manager) will inspect against a specific checklist. Failing this inspection costs you part of your last month's rent or security deposit. A professional move-out clean covers everything on this list:
Kitchen — the deposit risk zone
- Inside the oven (baked-on grease, drip pan)
- Underneath stovetop / above oven hood
- Inside the refrigerator (every shelf, drawer, gasket)
- Behind the fridge (a frequent failure point)
- Inside the microwave (turntable + interior)
- Inside all cabinets and drawers (vacuum + wipe)
- Cabinet doors (degreased, fingerprint-free)
- Backsplash and grout
- Sink + faucet aerator descaled
- Garbage disposal flushed (if applicable)
Bathrooms
- Grout scrubbed (mildew removal)
- Inside shower track + door rails
- Behind toilet + floor edge
- Exhaust fan grille cleaned of dust
- Inside vanity drawers
- Mirror frame + edges
Floors + walls
- Baseboards washed
- Door frames + tops of doors
- Wall scuff marks removed where possible
- Inside all closets (vacuum + wipe shelves)
- Light switch plates + outlets wiped
- Window sills + tracks
- Air vent covers
The four mistakes that get renters charged
1. Forgetting behind the appliances. Landlords often pull out the fridge or stove to check. Cleaners doing a "standard" clean don't move appliances. A move-out clean must include behind them. 2. Skipping the oven interior. This is the single most common deposit deduction in Montreal. Baked-on grease takes time to remove — DIY rarely succeeds. 3. Light scrub on the bathroom grout. Grout that looks clean to you may show mildew under bathroom lighting during the landlord inspection. Move-out cleaning includes scrub-with-bleach treatment. 4. Leaving cleaning supplies behind. Landlords sometimes deduct for "removal of left-behind items." Take all your supplies with you, even cheap stuff.
Recurring apartment cleaning — what frequency to choose
A few rules of thumb for Montreal apartment dwellers:
Weekly: Best for households with kids, pets, or work-from-home schedules where the kitchen sees heavy daily use. Per-visit price is the lowest, total monthly cost the highest.
Bi-weekly: The Montreal sweet spot. Two professional cleanings per month is enough to keep a 1BR or 2BR in consistently good shape without the cost of weekly. Most common choice for working professionals.
Monthly: Best for single occupants who keep the place tidy day-to-day. You get a thorough reset once a month at a per-visit rate roughly 15% higher than bi-weekly.
One-time deep: When you've fallen behind or are hosting an event. A one-time deep before launching a bi-weekly schedule is the most common starting point.
How Sparkling Stays handles Montreal apartments
Our apartment cleaning service is structured for the realities of condo living:
- Building coordination. We provide a Certificate of Insurance, register with concierges as needed, and work around service elevator schedules.
- Same team each visit. With recurring service, we assign the same 1–2 cleaners to your apartment so they learn your preferences (which surfaces are sensitive, where you store the recycling, etc.).
- Eco-friendly products by default. Important for shared HVAC, allergies, and pet households. We can use your products on request at no charge.
- Real-time online booking. See your exact price in 60 seconds based on your unit size and postal code.
- 24-hour cancellation policy. Life happens — you can reschedule any recurring visit with 24 hours notice, no fee.
- Re-clean guarantee. Anything missed gets re-cleaned at no charge if reported within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How long does apartment cleaning typically take in Montreal? A: A standard 1BR clean takes 1.5 to 2.5 hours with a 2-person team. A 2BR is 2 to 3 hours. Deep cleans take roughly double. Move-out cleans for a 1BR typically run 4 to 6 hours due to the inside-appliance and inside-cabinet work.
Q: Do you clean balconies? A: Yes, as a $25–$50 add-on depending on balcony size. We sweep the floor, wipe the railing, and clean the patio door glass interior + exterior.
Q: Can I have the same cleaner each visit? A: Yes, on all recurring plans. We assign a preferred team to your apartment. Substitutes only fill in when your primary team is on leave.
Q: My condo requires Certificate of Insurance. Can you provide it? A: Yes — we carry full liability insurance and can email a Certificate of Insurance directly to your building manager. Request it at booking and we'll handle it before your first visit.
Q: Do you bring all supplies? A: Yes. Vacuum, mop, microfiber cloths, eco-friendly products, brushes — everything. You don't need to provide anything. If you have allergies or preferences for specific products, we'll use yours at no extra charge.
Q: What neighborhoods do you serve? A: All of Greater Montreal — the Plateau, Mile End, NDG, Westmount, Outremont, Griffintown, Old Port, Downtown, Saint-Henri, Verdun, Hochelaga, Rosemont, Côte-des-Neiges, Saint-Laurent — plus the West Island (Pointe-Claire, DDO, Kirkland, Pierrefonds), South Shore (Brossard, Longueuil), and Laval. Enter your postal code at booking to confirm coverage.
Q: How much notice do you need for first booking? A: Most appointments are bookable within 3–5 days. Some same-week slots are available. Move-out cleanings during peak season (late June through July 1st) book up 2–3 weeks in advance — book early if you have a July 1st handover.
Q: Do you offer Airbnb turnover cleaning? A: Yes — we provide same-day Airbnb turnovers with full linen change, restocking, and detailed cleaning. Booked separately from residential service. See [Airbnb cleaning](/en/services/airbnb-cleaning) for details.
Related guides and services
- [Deep Cleaning Cost in Montreal — 2026 Price Guide](/en/blog/deep-cleaning-cost-montreal-2026-price-guide)
- [How to Choose a Move-Out Cleaner in Montreal](/en/blog/how-to-choose-move-out-cleaner-montreal)
- [Montreal Condo Cleaning Guide](/en/blog/montreal-condo-cleaning-guide)
- [Home Cleaning Service](/en/services/home-cleaning)
- [Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning](/en/services/move-in-out-cleaning)
- [Recurring Cleaning](/en/services/recurring-cleaning)
