The Hometress Journal
Cleaning, handled — and everything around it.
Guides, checklists, and local home-care notes from the people who do the resets. 80 stories and counting.
What house cleaning costs: every cost guide
Cleaning Tips40-, 50-, 60-, and 70-Point Cleaning Checklists: What Each Tier Actually AddsOur Standard clean is a 40-task checklist, and Deep, Move and Dream Home each add exactly 10 more. Here is every task, word for word, with what each tier costs.
PhiladelphiaDo You Need to Be Home for Your House Cleaner? A Philadelphia Access Guide (Keys, Lockboxes, Rowhomes, Parking)No, you don't need to be home. How access works with Hometress in Philadelphia: the six entry options, what to write in Arrival notes, rowhome doors, pets, and block parking.
PhiladelphiaIndependent House Cleaner vs. Cleaning Company in Philadelphia: Who Carries WhatIndependent cleaner or cleaning company? Compare who carries insurance, supplies, pricing and cancellation risk in Philadelphia, plus 10 questions to ask anyone you hire.
PhiladelphiaWhat a House Cleaning Costs in Philadelphia, Line by Line (2026 Receipt Breakdown)As of September 25, 2026, one-time Hometress cleans of three example Philadelphia homes run $220 to $490 before tax. Here is each receipt, line by line, on all four tiers.
Cleaning TipsShould You Tip Your House Cleaner? One-Time, Recurring, Move-Out, and Holiday AnswersTipping your house cleaner is optional, and with Hometress it's never expected. What our price already covers, and when a tip or a thank-you makes sense.
Cleaning TipsHow to Prepare Your Seattle Home for Summer GuestsSeattle summer has a way of turning the house into a landing pad for everyone at once. Family comes in for a long weekend, friends plan a cruise out of the port, someone wants to see Pike Place before breakfast, and by evening the same group is talking about Alki, Golden Gardens, Lake Union, or […]
Cleaning TipsHouse Cleaning in Seattle’s Older Homes: A Local Guide to Damp Basements, Original Woodwork, Radiators, and Rainy-Season GrimeOlder Seattle homes have a character you cannot recreate in newer builds, but they also come with cleaning challenges that standard checklists often miss. From Ballard bungalows…
Cleaning TipsCleaning a Seattle Home Before Listing It for SaleCleaning a Seattle home before listing it for sale takes more than making the rooms look tidy. Seattle buyers move quickly online, but they are still careful when they walk…
Cleaning TipsAirbnb Cleaning Seattle: A Turnover Cleaning Guide for Hosts Who Can’t Afford Missed DetailsAirbnb cleaning in Seattle has to move faster than regular house cleaning because the next guest is often already on the way. A proper turnover clean does more than remove dust,…
Cleaning TipsSeattle Summer Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning Guide for Apartment RentersSummer apartment moves in Seattle have their own rhythm. Around July 31, late August, and the first rush of September, renters across the U-District, Capitol Hill, South Lake…