We get this question all the time from restaurant owners across Scranton and Wilkes-Barre: “How much does restaurant cleaning actually cost?” The honest answer is, it depends. But we can give you real numbers so you know what to expect before you call anyone.
What You’re Really Paying For
Restaurant cleaning isn’t one-size-fits-all. You’ve got nightly janitorial, deep cleaning, and hood cleaning, each with very different price points. Mixing them up is how business owners end up overpaying or getting burned by subpar work.
Nightly Janitorial Service
This is your routine after-hours clean: floors mopped, surfaces wiped, bathrooms sanitized, trash removed. For most restaurants in northeastern Pennsylvania, expect to pay $150–$350 per night depending on size and scope. A small café sits at the lower end; a full-service restaurant doing 200+ covers a night will be higher.
Deep Cleaning Services
Deep cleans go beyond the surface, behind equipment, under prep stations, inside reach-in coolers, grease buildup on walls. These typically run $500–$1,500 per session depending on kitchen size and how long it’s been since the last one. If it’s your first deep clean in a year, budget toward the top.
Hood Cleaning
Kitchen exhaust hood cleaning is a fire code requirement in Pennsylvania, not optional. Pricing typically runs $300–$800 per hood system, with most restaurants needing quarterly or semi-annual cleaning depending on cooking volume. This is specialized work, it shouldn’t be bundled cheaply into a general cleaning contract.
What Drives the Price Up (or Down)
- Square footage: More space = more time = more cost.
- Frequency: Daily service is priced lower per-visit than weekly. Commitment gets you better rates.
- Condition of the kitchen: A kitchen cleaned nightly is faster to maintain. One that’s been neglected takes 3x as long to restore.
- Specialized equipment: Wood-fired ovens, charbroilers, and fryers require extra attention.
What Should Be Included. And What Often Isn’t
A solid nightly scope includes: sweeping and mopping all floors, sanitizing food prep surfaces to health code standards, cleaning and restocking restrooms, emptying trash, wiping exterior of cooking equipment, and glass cleaning on front-of-house windows. What’s typically NOT included without extra charge: grease trap maintenance, hood cleaning, deep equipment cleaning, floor stripping, and walk-in cooler cleaning. Ask specifically, don’t assume.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
- Supply fees: Some companies charge extra for cleaning products. Ask upfront.
- Holiday or after-hours surcharges: Late-night or holiday service often costs more.
- Damage liability gaps: Cheap contractors often carry minimal insurance.
- Cancellation penalties: Lock-in contracts with stiff exit clauses are common. Read the fine print.
Why the Cheapest Bid Is Almost Never the Best Deal
We’ve taken over cleaning contracts in Scranton and Luzerne County from low-bid companies that overpromised and underdelivered. The pattern is always the same: price looks great, first few weeks are decent, then corners start getting cut. Equipment gets skipped. Floors get “mopped” without proper sanitizing. Health inspectors notice.
A restaurant that fails a health inspection doesn’t just face fines, it faces reputation damage that’s very hard to recover from in a market like Scranton or Wilkes-Barre. Paying $50 more a night for reliable service is one of the best investments you can make.
Average Cost Summary
| Service Type | Typical Range (PA) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Nightly Janitorial | $150–$350/night | Daily |
| Deep Cleaning | $500–$1,500/session | Monthly or quarterly |
| Hood Cleaning | $300–$800/system | Quarterly or semi-annual |
| Floor Strip & Wax | $200–$600 | As needed |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does restaurant cleaning cost per month in Pennsylvania?
For a full-service restaurant with nightly cleaning, expect $3,000–$7,000/month depending on size, frequency, and what’s included. Smaller cafés or fast-casual spots might run $1,500–$3,000/month.
Should I hire a restaurant cleaning specialist or a general janitorial service?
Dedicated restaurant cleaners know health code requirements and food-safe chemical standards. A general janitor may not. Restaurant-specific experience matters, especially when health inspectors show up.
How often should a restaurant get a deep clean?
At minimum, quarterly. High-volume kitchens should deep clean monthly. If you’re running fryers hard every day, grease builds up faster than you think.
What questions should I ask before hiring a restaurant cleaning company?
Ask about insurance coverage, whether staff are background-checked, which chemicals they use and whether they’re food-safe, what’s specifically included in scope, and how they handle complaints. A professional company will have clear answers to all of these.
Does Excellence Janitorial Services clean restaurants in the Scranton area?
Yes. We serve restaurants throughout Scranton. Wilkes-Barre. Kingston, Pittston, and greater Luzerne County. We’re familiar with Pennsylvania health code requirements and can build a cleaning plan that keeps your kitchen compliant.