Cleaning lady in Genève: a professional service tailored to life in Genève

The canton of Genève is one of the most dynamic territories in Switzerland. With over 500,000 residents spread across 45 communes, one of the highest population densities in the country, and a pace of life shaped by numerous international organisations, banks, multinationals and diplomatic institutions, Genève is a city where time is a rare and precious resource.

For households in Genève — whether busy families, professional couples, expatriate executives or retirees wishing to maintain their comfort — hiring a professional cleaning lady has become a sensible choice. SOS Nettoyage is your home cleaning specialist in the canton of Genève, with staff who are fully registered, qualified and insured. We are not a middleman: we are your direct partner for an impeccable home.

Request your free, no-obligation quote now and discover a professional cleaning service that simplifies your daily life in Genève.

Why hire a cleaning lady in Genève?

The cost of living in Genève and the value of time

Genève consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in the world. The cost of living is significantly higher than in the rest of Switzerland, meaning most households have two full-time earners. In this context, time spent on household chores represents a considerable opportunity cost. The Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO) estimates that domestic tasks take an average of over 15 hours per week per household. By delegating cleaning to a professional, you reclaim precious time for your family life, leisure or career.

An international city with high standards

The strong presence of the international community in Genève (over 40% foreign residents) has helped establish particularly demanding standards of cleanliness and service. Expats, accustomed to professional domestic services in their home countries, expect an irreproachable level of quality. At SOS Nettoyage, we meet these expectations with staff trained to international cleanliness standards, able to communicate in French and other languages as needed.

Legal compliance: an essential requirement

The canton of Genève is particularly vigilant regarding undeclared work. The Genève labour inspectorate regularly carries out checks, and penalties for undeclared employment are severe. By using SOS Nettoyage, you can be certain that your cleaning lady is registered with AHV/IV (AVS/AI), covered by occupational accident insurance (LAA) and professional liability insurance. You are legally protected and contributing to a healthy local economy.

The cross-border worker question

Genève is a border canton that welcomes over 100,000 cross-border workers daily from neighbouring France. In the cleaning sector, the temptation to use undeclared workers is unfortunately common. SOS Nettoyage exclusively employs staff with the required work permits (B, C, G or L permits), registered in accordance with Swiss federal and Genève cantonal law.

Our home cleaning services in Genève

SOS Nettoyage offers a comprehensive range of home cleaning services, tailored to the specifics of housing in Genève — whether a studio in the Vieille-Ville, a large apartment in Eaux-Vives, a villa in Cologny or a family home in Onex.

Regular cleaning

Regular cleaning is our flagship service. It involves scheduled maintenance of your home at a frequency you choose: weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Each visit includes:

Complete dusting of all surfaces (furniture, shelves, light fixtures, frames)
Vacuuming and mopping floors adapted to the surface (parquet, tiles, carpet, vinyl)
Kitchen cleaning: worktops, hob, sink, appliance surfaces
Bathroom maintenance: basin, shower, bath, toilet, mirrors, taps
Emptying bins and replacing bags according to the Genève waste sorting system
Light tidying of living areas

Deep cleaning

Our deep cleaning service is recommended for the first visit, after a long absence, or as a complement to a spring clean. It includes:

Interior cleaning of cupboards and wardrobes
Thorough descaling of sanitary fittings (limescale is particularly prevalent in Genève water)
Cleaning of oven, fridge and microwave (inside and out)
Interior window cleaning
Cleaning of skirting boards, light switches and door handles
Scrubbing tile grout

Ironing and laundry care

Ironing is one of the most time-consuming household tasks. Our cleaning ladies take care of:

Ironing shirts, trousers, dresses, household linen
Folding and putting away clean laundry
Managing washing machines (loading, hanging out)
Sorting laundry by colour and fabric type

One-off cleaning

For a special event, a move, post-renovation cleaning or any exceptional situation, our one-off cleaning service is available with no commitment. This service is particularly in demand in Genève during moving periods (end of quarterly contracts, typical of the Genève rental market).

Additional services

Interior window cleaning
Terrace and balcony maintenance
Dusting blinds and curtains
Watering plants in your absence
Preparing the property before an end-of-lease clean

Cleaning lady rates in Genève

Prices in the canton

Genève is the canton where home cleaning rates are the highest in French-speaking Switzerland. This is explained by the higher cost of living, rents that impact business overheads, and the minimum wage in force in the canton.

Since 2020, Genève has had a cantonal minimum wage of 24.32 CHF/h gross (regularly indexed), the highest in Switzerland. This minimum wage applies to all sectors, including cleaning. Rates charged by professional companies reflect this reality.

Type of service	Indicative rate
Regular cleaning (weekly)	40 – 48 CHF/h
Regular cleaning (fortnightly)	42 – 50 CHF/h
One-off cleaning	45 – 55 CHF/h
Deep cleaning	48 – 55 CHF/h
Ironing	40 – 50 CHF/h

These rates include social charges, insurance, professional cleaning supplies and VAT. They are noticeably higher than in neighbouring cantons such as Vaud (35-50 CHF/h) due to the Genève-specific factors mentioned above.

What is included in our rates

At SOS Nettoyage, our rates are transparent and all-inclusive. They include:

Remuneration for your cleaning lady in line with Genève market standards
Mandatory social contributions (AHV/IV/APG/AC)
Occupational accident insurance (LAA)
Professional liability insurance
Quality monitoring and full administrative management
Guaranteed replacement if your regular cleaner is unavailable

Tax deductions in Genève

Good news for Genève taxpayers: home cleaning costs are partially tax-deductible. The canton of Genève allows the deduction of maintenance and cleaning expenses under certain conditions, particularly when the household includes elderly persons or persons with a disability. Contact the Genève Cantonal Tax Administration (AFC) or consult your fiduciary for details.

All 45 communes in Genève served by SOS Nettoyage

SOS Nettoyage operates across the entire canton of Genève and its 45 communes. Wherever you live, we have a team nearby to provide you with a quality cleaning service.

City of Genève and urban communes

Rive gauche

Rive droite

Communes in the Genève countryside

Regardless of the commune, SOS Nettoyage sends you a professional cleaning lady living near your home to minimise travel time and ensure optimal punctuality.

Specific aspects of cleaning in Genève

A diverse property portfolio

The canton of Genève has an extremely varied property portfolio. You will find old buildings in the Vieille-Ville with solid oak parquet floors and mouldings, modern apartments in the Eaux-Vives or Champel neighbourhoods, large upscale apartments in Cologny or Vandœuvres, as well as recent housing in new eco-districts such as the Vergers de Meyrin or the Étang neighbourhood. Each type of property requires adapted cleaning techniques and specific products that our professionals master perfectly.

The housing shortage and tenant turnover

Genève has a chronic housing shortage with a vacancy rate below 1% for many years. This housing pressure has several consequences for the cleaning sector: property management agencies are extremely demanding during move-out inspections, and tenants who move often need an impeccable end-of-lease clean to recover their rental deposit. SOS Nettoyage offers a dedicated service for these situations.

Genève water quality

Water in the canton of Genève, supplied by Services industriels de Genève (SIG), is of excellent quality but has moderate to high hardness depending on the area. Limescale therefore regularly builds up on taps, shower screens and sanitary fittings. Our cleaning ladies use professional anti-limescale products and apply regular descaling techniques to preserve the shine of your fixtures.

Waste sorting in Genève

The canton of Genève applies a waste sorting system with local specifications. Taxed rubbish bags (official bags) are mandatory for household waste, and selective sorting (glass, paper, PET, aluminium, green waste) is encouraged. Our cleaning ladies are fully familiar with the Genève sorting system and follow the current guidelines at every visit.

Regulations specific to the canton of Genève

The Genève minimum wage

Genève was the first Swiss canton to introduce a legal minimum wage by popular vote in 2020. Set at 23 CHF/h gross at its introduction, it is indexed annually and currently stands at approximately 24.32 CHF/h gross. This minimum wage applies to all sectors of activity, including domestic cleaning. SOS Nettoyage scrupulously complies with this legislation and pays its staff above the legal minimum, ensuring motivation and retention among our cleaners.

The Genève labour inspection law

The canton of Genève has the Office cantonal de l’inspection et des relations du travail (OCIRT), which ensures compliance with working conditions. Inspections in the domestic cleaning sector are regular. Hiring an undeclared cleaning lady exposes the employer to fines that can reach several thousand francs, in addition to retroactive recovery of unpaid social contributions. By using SOS Nettoyage, you are in full compliance.

The standard employment contract for domestic work

The standard employment contract (CTT) for domestic work in the canton of Genève sets the minimum conditions applicable to domestic workers: minimum wages, working hours, holidays, public holidays and notice periods. SOS Nettoyage goes beyond these legal minimums by offering attractive conditions to its staff, which directly translates into the quality of service provided to our clients.

Why choose SOS Nettoyage in Genève?

A cleaning specialist, not a middleman

SOS Nettoyage is a professional cleaning company. We recruit, train and directly employ our staff. Each cleaning lady benefits from ongoing training in cleaning techniques, professional products and the specifics of Genève housing. We are not a platform that connects people: we are your direct partner for an always impeccable home.

Registered and insured staff

All our staff are:

Registered with AHV/IV/APG/AC (AVS/AI/APG/AC) in accordance with federal and cantonal legislation
Covered by occupational accident insurance (LAA)
Protected by professional liability insurance covering any potential damage
Holders of a valid work permit (B, C, G or L)

Rigorous quality monitoring

Each service is subject to quality monitoring. We regularly contact our clients to ensure their satisfaction and adapt our work based on your feedback. If there is an issue, we intervene immediately to correct the situation.

Guaranteed replacement

If your regular cleaning lady is unavailable (illness, holiday, leave), we ensure her replacement by another qualified professional to guarantee service continuity. You have no steps to take: we manage everything for you.

Total flexibility

You can change the frequency, add or remove services, change the schedule or temporarily suspend the service (holiday, travel) without penalty or additional charges. This flexibility is essential in a city as dynamic as Genève.

How does it work?

Using SOS Nettoyage for your cleaning in Genève is simple and quick:

Request your free quote: Describe your needs (type of property, size, desired frequency) via our online form or by phone. You receive a free, no-obligation quote within 24 hours.
Personalised scheduling: Together, we set the day, time and frequency of visits according to your schedule.
First visit: Your assigned cleaning lady comes to your home. The first visit is often a deep clean to establish an optimal cleanliness baseline.
Follow-up and adjustments: After the first few visits, we check in with you to adjust the services if needed and ensure your complete satisfaction.

Frequently asked questions about home cleaning in Genève

What is the average rate for a cleaning lady in Genève?

The average rate for a professional cleaning lady in Genève is between 40 and 55 CHF per hour, including social charges and insurance. This rate is higher than in other French-speaking cantons due to the Genève minimum wage and the higher cost of living. At SOS Nettoyage, our rates are transparent and include all charges, insurance and VAT.

How many hours of cleaning should I plan for my apartment in Genève?

The number of hours depends on the size of the property and the level of cleaning required. As a general rule, allow 2 to 3 hours for a 2-3 room apartment, 3 to 4 hours for a 4-5 room apartment, and 4 to 6 hours for a villa or large apartment. When you request your free quote, we precisely assess the time needed based on your specific requirements.

Does your staff have valid work permits?

Yes, absolutely. All our staff hold a valid work permit in Switzerland (B, C, G or L permits as applicable). We systematically verify work authorisations before any hiring and remain in compliance with the regulations of the Office cantonal de la population et des migrations (OCPM) of Genève.

Can I deduct cleaning costs from my taxes in Genève?

Under certain conditions, home cleaning costs may be partially deductible from your taxes in the canton of Genève. This particularly applies to elderly persons, persons with a disability or families receiving specific benefits. We provide detailed payment certificates that you can attach to your tax return. Consult your fiduciary or the Cantonal Tax Administration for the exact conditions.

What happens if my cleaning lady is unavailable?

If your regular cleaner is unavailable (illness, leave, holiday), SOS Nettoyage arranges her immediate replacement by another qualified and trained professional. You are informed in advance and service continuity is guaranteed. This is one of the major advantages of using a professional cleaning company rather than directly employing a domestic helper.

Do you operate in all communes of the canton of Genève?

Yes, SOS Nettoyage covers all 45 communes in the canton of Genève, from the city of Genève to the most remote communes such as Céligny, Chancy or Hermance. We assign each client a cleaning lady living close to their home to optimise travel times and ensure punctual visits.

Request your free quote for Genève

You live in the canton of Genève and would like to benefit from a professional cleaning lady service? SOS Nettoyage is at your disposal to assess your needs and offer a tailored solution.

Request your free, no-obligation quote today. Our team responds within 24 hours with a personalised proposal, adapted to your property, your lifestyle and your budget.

Also discover our other cleaning services in Genève: cleaning company in Genève, end-of-lease cleaning, office and commercial premises cleaning and cleaning lady service in French-speaking Switzerland.

Cleaning Lady in Genève