I hired a cleaner on Meituan for ¥45/hour. She cleaned things I didn't know were dirty.

ChinaTravelMemo

My friend from the US lives in a 1-bedroom apartment in Shanghai. She's busy. She doesn't clean often.

After 3 months, her bathroom looked like a science experiment.

She opened Meituan. Searched "保洁" (cleaning). Booked a 3-hour session for ¥135 ($19).

The cleaner arrived:

A woman in her 50s. Tool bag. Apron. No English.

She walked in. Looked around. Didn't judge. Just got to work.

What she cleaned in 3 hours:

Kitchen:
• Scrubbed the stove until it looked new
• Cleaned inside the microwave (my friend had never done this)
• Wiped down every cabinet door
• Mopped the floor on her hands and knees

Bathroom:
• Scrubbed the toilet, sink, shower tiles
• Cleaned the mirror with no streaks
• Removed the mold from the shower curtain
• Cleaned the drain (my friend didn't know that was possible)

Living room/bedroom:
• Dusting: ceiling fans, window sills, baseboards, light fixtures
• Vacuumed and mopped
• Changed bedsheets (my friend provided clean ones)
• Organized shoes by the door

The surprises:
• She cleaned the inside of the washing machine drum
• She wiped the outside of the AC unit
• She cleaned the balcony railing
• She even wiped down the router

The cost:

• 3 hours: ¥135 ($19)
• She brought her own supplies
• My friend tipped ¥20 because she felt guilty paying so little

How to book:

1. Meituan app → Search 保洁 or 家政
2. Select duration (2-4 hours typical)
3. Choose type: regular cleaning (日常保洁) or deep cleaning (深度保洁)
4. Pick date and time
5. Pay via Alipay/WeChat
6. Cleaner arrives with supplies

Tips:

• Be home for the first session to show them around
• Remove valuables — not because they'll steal, but because they move everything to clean under it
• Provide clean bedsheets if you want them changed
• Deep cleaning (深度保洁) costs more but includes inside cabinets and windows
• Some cleaners speak basic English, but most don't. Use translation apps or gestures.

My US friend:

"I paid $19 and my apartment looked like I'd just moved in. She cleaned things I didn't know could be cleaned. The inside of my microwave was beige when she arrived. It was white when she left. I'm booking her monthly now."

Anyone else used a cleaning service in China? What surprised you?