What Is Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning?

Vacuuming and wiping down the countertops is a daily task in some homes, so that’s clearly a regular cleaning. But how often do you clean the oven and the ceiling fan blades? If it’s time to get around to all those occasional tasks, it’s time for a deep cleaning.

Fortunately, you only have to worry about deep cleanings, which rid your home of slow-building dirt and grime, a few times a year. Whether you’re hiring a house cleaning service or doing the work yourself, we’ll help explain what a deep cleaning includes and how it differs from standard cleaning.

What Is Deep Cleaning?

You know the urge you get to throw open the windows and clear out a winter's worth of dust and grime as soon as the weather warms? That's deep cleaning. You only need to give your home a deep cleaning two or three times a year—or, depending on your schedule, you can tackle deep-cleaning tasks one at a time over the course of a few weeks.

Deep cleaning involves attending to all of those nooks and crannies that slowly but surely accumulate dirt, grime, and other debris throughout day-to-day life. These are spots that get dirty too gradually or too far out of the way to necessitate weekly attention. A deep cleaning will usually entail all the work of a standard cleaning in addition to the tasks required to spruce up and freshen every corner of the house more thoroughly.

Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning entails wiping down surfaces, putting away clutter, cleaning rooms, and vacuuming the floors once a week. Whether you DIY or hire a local cleaning pro, keeping up with these regular tasks can help you maintain a certain level of cleanliness in your home. 

But even when you clean regularly, things like baseboards or ceiling fans might get missed. Deep cleaning can take care of these forgotten areas to ensure your house is in good shape aesthetically and a healthy place for residents. 

Homeowners who hire professional cleaners often start with a deep clean and then transition to regular maintenance cleaning sessions to keep their homes in tip-top condition. Deep cleaning can also be a good option if you’re selling your home or moving out of an apartment and trying to preserve your security deposit.

What’s Included in a Deep Clean?

To make sure you’re actually getting the most from your deep cleaning experience, make sure you tackle all or most of the tasks on this house cleaning checklist for each room. 

Some cleaning services will perform additional tasks during deep cleaning, like washing the walls, if you ask. Keep in mind that this will likely involve an additional fee.

Kitchen

Your kitchen is a messy place. Even if you wipe up spills when they happen, there are plenty of messes and icky buildup that can accumulate without you even noticing. Here are some essential items for a deep cleaning checklist when you’re tackling the kitchen:

• Remove grime from surfaces

• Declutter cabinets and drawers

• Scrub the sink 

• Disinfect countertops

• Clean the areas behind and beneath appliances

• Clean the oven and scrub stovetop and drip pans

• Wipe down the fridge door, shelves, and drawers

• Clean and polish small appliances such as coffee makers, microwaves, and toasters

Bathroom 

Lots of bacteria can accumulate in your bathroom. And it’s important to keep the place where you clean yourself just as sparkling as you want to feel. Here are some tips for how to clean a bathroom like a pro:

• Scrub tiles and grout

• Clean mirrors top-to-bottom

• Remove soap scum from surfaces

• Clean and disinfect toilet seat, base, and bowl

• Disinfect the sink

• Clean toothbrush holders

• Clean the shower and/or bathtub 

• Wipe down cabinets

• Clean shower doors

• Dust surfaces

• Sweep and mop the floor

Living Room

• Vacuum and clean furniture

• Dust and clean baseboards

• Dust the tops of shelves, furniture and fan blades

• Dust and clean baseboards

• Dust and wash blinds and shutters

• Vacuum and wash all floors, including inside closets

• Dust vents

• Thoroughly vacuum all carpet crevices 

• Fully clean and wash both sides of all doors

• Shampoo carpets

• Wipe down picture frames and other knick-knacks

• Clean cabinet fronts

• Hand-wash light fixtures

• Wash windows and clean window treatments

Bedroom

While it is possible to clean your room fast, bedrooms deserve a deep cleaning from time to time to make your resting place all the more comfortable. Here are some essential tasks to complete when deep cleaning a bedroom:

• Wash all bedding and pillows

• Reverse your mattress

• Spot treat any stains on your mattress

• Organize closet 

•  Remove dust and debris from dresser drawers and refold clothing

What Is Regular Cleaning?

Keeping up on standard cleaning tasks helps make deep cleaning go more smoothly. A standard house cleaning—also known as a basic cleaning or a regular cleaning—consists of all the tasks you should do regularly to keep your house fresh and well-organized.

Putting things away, wiping up spills, and keeping up with pet messes, for example, will help keep your home guest-ready in between these deep cleanings.

If you’re still stumped on how often you should clean your home, aiming to do so about once a week will help keep it fresh, clean, and comfortable. Keep in mind that you don’t have to set aside one day to devote to cleaning every week—you can also break these tasks up and do a few things each day.

Standard house cleaning involves the tasks professional housekeeping services do at each visit or the tasks you’ll do to keep your home in good shape. Though the details will differ by cleaning company, a professional standard cleaning will usually include most or all of the following: 

• Sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping floors

• General tidying

• Dusting of living room, bedroom, and hallway surfaces, as well as doors, window frames, and vents

• Cleaning and disinfecting bathroom and kitchen surfaces, including appliances, the sink, and inside the microwave 

• Making the beds

• Taking out the trash

How Much Does a Professional Cleaning Service Cost?

Some cleaning tasks are best left to the pros. The cost to hire professional house cleaners ranges between $120 and $230, with most homeowners paying an average of $170. The exact cost will depend on the size of your home (apartment cleaning costs less than single-family home cleaning), the frequency of the service, and the type of cleaning service.

• Standard cleaning costs $75 to $175.

• Deep cleaning costs $200 to $400.

• Move-out cleaning costs up to $500.

• One-time cleaning service costs $100 to $500.

Adding extra services can also increase the cost. For example, you might pay more for natural or eco-friendly products. There will also be an extra charge if you want the cleaner to tackle your fridge and oven.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Cleaning is one of those tasks that can be done by a homeowner or by a pro. If you enjoy cleaning and have the time to clean your home, you can save money. However, to clean as effectively as possible, you may need to invest in quality equipment and supplies, such as a steam mop and professional-grade cleaning products.

Many homeowners prefer to hire a professional cleaner to help them keep their home spick and span—especially those with kids or pets that make cleaning extra chaotic. Hiring a pro can also be a good idea if you work long hours and don’t want to spend your precious free time scrubbing your bathtub and kitchen countertops. Professionals also have access to better equipment and cleaning supplies, which means they can clean your home quickly and efficiently while you focus on what matters to you.