Childcare Cleaning Cost in Melbourne (2026): Per-Visit, Hourly & Monthly Prices
Quick answer
Childcare cleaning in Melbourne typically costs $45–$75/hr per cleaner hour in 2026. Quoted per visit, small centres usually pay $120–$150 + GST, medium centres $160–$220 + GST and large centres $230–$320 + GST. A typical 3-hour nightly clean at $60/hr + GST is about $180 + GST. Holiday deep cleans range from $450–$700 + GST to $1,100–$1,800 + GST depending on size.
If you are budgeting for childcare cleaning in Melbourne, the honest answer is that prices vary more than most websites admit — mostly because centres vary. A 25-place kinder in a community hall and a 120-place long day care centre with three nurseries, a commercial kitchen and carpeted rooms are completely different jobs.
This guide breaks down 2026 market rates, typical per-visit and monthly costs by centre size, deep-clean and outbreak pricing, and what pushes a quote up or down. All prices are guide estimates in Australian dollars, excluding GST. For an exact fixed price, book a free walk-through on our childcare cleaning Melbourne page.
Key takeaways
- Most Melbourne providers quote a fixed price per visit after a walk-through, worked out from the hours your scope needs.
- Nightly (5×/week) cleaning costs more per week but less per visit than 2–3 visits a week.
- A medium long day care centre cleaned 5 nights a week usually budgets around $3,500–$4,500 + GST a month.
- After-hours award rates, super, insurance and supervision mean an honest childcare rate rarely sits below about $45 per hour.
In this guide
- Childcare cleaning hourly rates in Melbourne
- Cost per visit by centre size
- Monthly childcare cleaning budget examples
- Deep clean, outbreak and specialist cleaning costs
- What affects the price of childcare cleaning
- Why very cheap childcare cleaning quotes are a red flag
- Is it cheaper to have educators clean?
- How to get an accurate childcare cleaning quote
- Frequently asked questions
Childcare cleaning hourly rates in Melbourne
Across Melbourne, commercial childcare cleaning is charged at roughly $45–$75/hr per cleaner hour in 2026. Inner-city and after-hours work sits in the middle of that range; specialist work such as outbreak disinfection, carpet extraction and weekend deep cleans sits higher.
| Service | Typical Melbourne rate (ex GST) | Cleaning Professionals |
|---|---|---|
| Regular nightly / weekly contract | $45–$70/hr | $60/hr + GST (3-hour minimum) |
| Once-off or holiday deep clean | $55–$80/hr | Fixed quote after walk-through |
| Outbreak / infection-control clean | $60–$90/hr | $250–$600 + GST per visit for most centres |
| Carpet hot-water extraction | $3–$7 per m² | $3–$6 per m² + GST |
Cost per visit by centre size
| Centre size | Typical scope | Hours per visit | Price per visit (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small — up to ~200 m², up to ~30 children | Single-level kinder, small long day care or family day care venue | 2–2.5 hrs | $120–$150 + GST |
| Medium — ~200–400 m², 30–50 children | Several rooms, kitchen, 2+ bathrooms, nappy areas | 3–3.5 hrs | $160–$220 + GST |
| Large — 400 m²+, 50+ children | Multiple nurseries, sleep rooms, commercial kitchen, large yard | 4–5.5 hrs | $230–$320 + GST |
Monthly childcare cleaning budget examples
Directors and approved providers usually budget monthly. Using an average of 4.33 weeks a month:
| Example centre | Schedule | Per visit | Approx. per month (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sessional kinder, 1 room | 3 visits a week | $130–$150 | $1,700–$1,950 |
| Small long day care, 40 places | 5 nights a week | $130–$160 | $2,800–$3,450 |
| Medium long day care, 75 places | 5 nights a week | $170–$210 | $3,700–$4,550 |
| Large long day care, 120 places | 5 nights a week | $250–$320 | $5,400–$6,900 |
Deep clean, outbreak and specialist cleaning costs
| Service | Small centre | Medium centre | Large centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| School-holiday deep clean | $450–$700 + GST | $700–$1,100 + GST | $1,100–$1,800 + GST |
| Outbreak sanitising visit | $250–$350 | $350–$480 | $450–$600+ |
| Carpet steam cleaning (per m²) | $3–$6 per m² + GST | $3–$6 per m² + GST | $3–$6 per m² + GST |
| Window cleaning (internal + external, ground floor) | $180–$300 | $300–$450 | $450–$700 |
| Hard-floor strip and seal | $400–$700 | $700–$1,200 | $1,200–$2,000 |
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
What affects the price of childcare cleaning
1. Floor area and layout
More rooms, partitions and levels take longer than one open space of the same size.
2. Number of children and age groups
Nursery rooms with mouthing and nappies need more toy and floor work than preschool rooms.
3. Bathrooms and nappy areas
Each extra bathroom or change room adds time for clean-and-disinfect tasks.
4. Kitchen type
A centre that cooks (Class 1 food premises) needs more kitchen detail than one serving fruit and packed lunches.
5. Carpet vs hard floors
Carpeted rooms need daily vacuuming and periodic extraction.
6. Frequency
5 nights a week lowers the per-visit price compared with 2–3 heavier visits.
7. Access window
A tight window (e.g. 6:30–9pm) may need two cleaners to finish on time.
8. Contract length
12- or 24-month agreements usually unlock better rates because staffing can be planned.
Why very cheap childcare cleaning quotes are a red flag
From 1 July 2026 the Cleaning Services Award minimum is $27.08 an hour for a Level 1 permanent cleaner, $33.85 for a casual, and permanent staff finishing after 6pm on weekdays earn a shift loading on top. Add 12% superannuation, workers’ compensation, public liability insurance, chemicals, equipment, training, police and WWCC checks, supervision and travel, and an honest after-hours childcare rate rarely sits below about $45 per hour.
Quotes well under that usually mean sub-award pay, cash-in-hand subcontractors, no real insurance or hours being quietly cut. In a childcare setting those risks land on you: unchecked people in your building, unrecorded chemical use and a centre that is not actually clean. Our guide on how to choose a childcare cleaning company lists the documents to ask for.
Is it cheaper to have educators clean?
On paper, adding an hour to an educator’s shift looks cheaper than a contractor. In practice you pay educator rates (higher than cleaner rates for qualified staff), overtime or penalty rates after close, plus equipment, chemicals and training — and you lose time that should be spent on programming and children. We run the numbers in professional vs in-house childcare cleaning.
How to get an accurate childcare cleaning quote
- 1
Book a walk-through
A phone estimate can only be a range. A 20-minute walk-through lets the provider see rooms, floors, bathrooms and the kitchen.
- 2
Share your current checklist
Or use our childcare cleaning checklist so every quote prices the same scope.
- 3
Confirm frequency and access times
Nightly, weekday or weekend; what time the last family leaves and when the first educator arrives.
- 4
Ask what is included
Consumables, toy washing, linen, windows, carpet extraction and outbreak response — included or extra?
- 5
Get one fixed price per visit in writing
With the hours it is based on, the scope by room and a clear notice period.
We offer free, no-obligation walk-throughs across Melbourne with no travel fees. Request your childcare cleaning quote or call 1300 886 119.
Frequently asked questions
How much does childcare cleaning cost in Melbourne?
Typically $45–$75/hr per cleaner hour in 2026. Per visit, small centres pay about $120–$150 + GST, medium centres $160–$220 + GST and large centres $230–$320 + GST. A typical 3-hour visit is about $180 + GST.
Is childcare cleaning priced per hour or per visit?
Providers work out the hours your scope needs, then most quote one fixed price per visit (billed weekly or monthly) so your costs stay predictable.
How much is a childcare centre deep clean?
Around $450–$700 + GST for a small centre, $700–$1,100 + GST for a medium centre and $1,100–$1,800 + GST for a large centre, depending on carpet, floors, windows and outdoor areas.
Do childcare cleaning prices include GST?
Commercial cleaning quotes are usually shown excluding GST, with 10% GST added on the invoice. Always confirm whether a quote is GST-inclusive before comparing providers. The prices in this guide exclude GST.
Are cleaning supplies included in the price?
Cleaning chemicals and equipment are normally included. Washroom consumables such as soap, paper towel and bin liners are often supplied by the centre or charged at cost — check the quote.
Can I get a childcare cleaning quote without a site visit?
You can get a guide range by phone or online, but a fixed price needs a short walk-through so nothing is missed.
Deep-dive guides in this topic
Want this cleaning done for your centre?
WWCC-verified, police-checked teams cleaning after hours across Melbourne. A typical 3-hour visit is around $180 + GST, with one fixed price per visit after a free walk-through.
Sources and further reading
- Fair Work Ombudsman — Cleaning Services Award pay guide (from 1 July 2026)
- safefood.vic.gov.au — Classifications for food businesses (childcare centres and kindergartens)
- NHMRC — Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services (6th ed.)
This guide is general information for early childhood services. Always follow your service's policies, product labels and safety data sheets, and current advice from your regulatory authority and local health department. Prices are guide estimates only; your fixed price is confirmed after a free walk-through.
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