When you book a house cleaning, the first choice is the type of clean. The two most common are a standard clean and a deep clean. They sound similar, but they cover different amounts of work, and picking the right one makes a real difference to the result.
Here's what each one includes, taken from the written checklist our cleaners follow, and how to choose.
What a standard clean covers
A standard clean is regular upkeep. It's made for a home that's already in fairly good shape. On every visit:
- Kitchen: outside of all appliances, countertops and backsplash sanitized, sink and faucet disinfected, cabinet fronts and handles wiped, the range hood wiped, trash emptied, sink dishes loaded into the dishwasher, and floors vacuumed and mopped
- Bathrooms: tub and shower cleaned and sanitized, toilets disinfected inside and out, counters, sink and vanity, mirrors, faucets polished, wastebaskets emptied and floors
- Bedrooms: beds made (linens changed if you leave them out), surfaces and nightstands wiped, lamps and frames dusted, mirrors, trash emptied and floors vacuumed
- Living and dining areas: surfaces dusted and wiped, window sills and frames, lamps and picture frames dusted, basic straightening and floors
What a deep clean adds
A deep clean includes everything above, plus the detail work and buildup a regular clean skips:
- Kitchen: inside all cabinets and drawers, inside the microwave, oven and refrigerator, the stovetop scrubbed, inside the dishwasher door and filter area, range hood degreasing and backsplash grout
- Bathrooms: heavy scrubbing of tub and shower scale and soap scum, walls and tile grout, baseboards, light fixtures and the exhaust fan, light switches and handles
- Living and dining areas: baseboards and trim, interior doors and frames, vents and return grilles, ceiling fans and light fixtures, light switches and door handles, and wall scuffs
- Bedrooms: closet shelves and doors, baseboards and trim, wall spots, ceiling fans and light fixtures
When to book a deep clean
- It's your first professional clean, or the first in a long while
- You're starting a recurring schedule and want a clean slate first
- Guests, a holiday or a family event is coming up
- The kitchen or bathrooms have built-up grease or soap scum
If it's been a while since your last professional clean, start with a deep clean. Larger homes and deep cleans may get a team of cleaners instead of one.
When a standard clean is enough
- Your home has had a professional clean recently
- You're on a weekly, every-2-weeks or monthly schedule
- You keep up with the kitchen and bathrooms between visits
The middle ground: add extras
Sometimes you only need one or two deep-clean tasks. You can add extras to a standard clean when you book: inside the refrigerator, inside the oven, inside the cabinets, interior windows or baseboards. Each extra is priced in the booking form before you confirm. If you'd want several, compare the total with a deep clean.
The other types of cleaning services
- A move in / move out clean covers the same detail as a deep clean, in an empty home.
- An Airbnb turnover follows our deep clean checklist between guests, with same-day turnovers available.
- Post-construction cleaning removes dust and light debris after a remodel or new build, by quote.
How the price compares
A deep clean costs more than a standard clean because it covers more. Both are a flat price for the job, not an hourly rate, and you see your price before you book. Recurring standard cleans cost less per visit than a one-time clean. See how house cleaning prices work.
Our promise either way
Every clean follows the written checklist, and our cleaners are background checked. If anything on the checklist was missed, tell us within 24 hours and we come back and re-clean that area free.
Still not sure? Start with a deep clean if it has been a while, then keep it there with a recurring standard clean. See your price and book.