What Is the Difference Between Deep Cleaning and Regular Cleaning?
A deep clean is a detailed top-to-bottom clean: everything in a regular clean, plus baseboards, door frames, light fixtures, grout and the inside of the oven. Regular cleaning is the weekly, bi-weekly or monthly upkeep visit. Deep cleans run $199 to $899, and recurring visits are priced from $149.
"Do I need a deep clean or a regular clean?" Understanding the difference can help you choose the right service and get the most value from your cleaning investment.
Deep Clean vs Regular Cleaning at a Glance
| Compare | Deep clean | Regular cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $199–$899, flat rate | from $149 per visit |
| What it covers | Everything in a regular clean, plus washing baseboards and door frames, detailed cleaning of light fixtures and ceiling fans, and scrubbing grout and tile | The room-by-room checklist: dusting, vacuuming and mopping, bathrooms, kitchen counters, sink and stovetop, the outside of appliances and cabinets, window touch-ups, making beds and emptying trash |
| Windows | Interior windows, including tracks and frames | Window touch-ups |
| Inside the oven | Included | The stovetop and the outside of the oven |
| Inside the fridge | Not included | The outside of the fridge |
| Inside cabinets | Not included | Cabinet and drawer fronts |
| When to book it | A first professional clean, or a home that hasn't had one in a while | Upkeep once the home is at a clean baseline: weekly, bi-weekly or monthly |
Our guide to what house cleaning costs in Victoria explains what changes each price.
What Regular Cleaning Covers
Regular cleaning (also called maintenance cleaning) is designed to keep your home consistently clean week after week. It covers the basics that need ongoing attention:
- Dusting surfaces and furniture
- Vacuuming and mopping floors
- Cleaning bathrooms (toilets, sinks, showers)
- Wiping down kitchen surfaces and appliances
- Making beds
- Emptying trash
Regular cleaning is perfect for homes that are already in good shape and just need upkeep. Regular visits are weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
What a Deep Clean Includes
Deep cleaning goes beyond the surface to tackle the dirt and grime that builds up over time in hard-to-reach places. It includes everything in a regular clean, plus:
- Wiping baseboards and door frames
- Detailed cleaning of light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Cleaning inside the oven
- Scrubbing grout and tile
- Vacuuming under furniture (we don't lift anything over 20 lbs)
- Interior windows, including tracks and frames
When Should You Choose Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning?
Choose a deep clean when:
- You're hiring a cleaning service for the first time
- It's been a while since your last professional clean
- Seasonal refresh (spring cleaning!). We also offer a seasonal clean.
Stick with regular cleaning when:
- Your home is already clean and well-maintained
- You've recently had a deep clean
- You want to maintain your home's cleanliness between deep cleans
Moving in or out? Book a move-out or move-in clean instead. Renovating your home? See post-construction cleaning.
How Often to Deep Clean Each Room
Everyone says "deep clean regularly," but nobody says how often. Here's a room-by-room schedule for doing it yourself.
Kitchen: every three months
The kitchen collects grease, crumbs and spills in places you don't see every day. Every three months, deep clean your oven, fridge interior and coils, range hood and filters, and inside cabinets. Fridge and cabinet interiors and fridge coils aren't part of our deep clean, so they stay on your list.
Doing the oven yourself? Our guide on how to clean an oven covers the racks and the stovetop too.
Bathroom: monthly or every two months
With hard water or high humidity, aim for monthly; otherwise, every two months works. Go after the grout, the soap scum, the space under the vanity and the inside of the toilet tank.
Bedrooms: spring and fall
Deep clean your bedrooms in spring and fall: vacuum the mattress and under the bed, clean inside the closets, and dust the ceiling corners and baseboards.
Living room: every three to four months
This room collects dust, pet hair and crumbs. Every three to four months, vacuum the upholstered furniture, move furniture to clean behind it, and wash the window treatments.
Entry and mudroom: spring and fall
Tackle the entry in spring and fall. It takes the tracked-in dirt and seasonal grime, so wash the baseboards and door frames and give the floor a proper scrub.
Signs you've waited too long
- Visible discolouration in grout or caulk
- Your range hood feels sticky to the touch
- You can see dust bunnies from across the room
- Your bedroom has a musty smell even with windows open
A Note From Our Owner
You can't polish a surface that hasn't been properly scrubbed first.
That's why new recurring clients start with a First-Time Deep Clean, unless the home was professionally cleaned in the last month. It's the difference between putting a fresh coat of paint on a wall versus actually repairing the foundation first.
Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning: Common Questions
How much does a deep clean cost compared with regular cleaning?
Our deep cleans run $199 to $899; a first-time deep clean is priced mainly on the number of bathrooms and kitchens, the square footage, and how long it's been since the home's last professional clean. Recurring visits are priced from $149. Each is a flat rate, quoted up front for your home.
How long does a deep clean take?
It depends on the size of your home: about 3–4 work hours for a studio, and about 8 work hours for most 2–3 bedroom homes with multiple bathrooms.
Are fridge and cabinet interiors part of a deep clean?
No. A deep clean includes the inside of the oven, but fridge and cabinet interiors aren't included.
Which comes first, a deep clean or regular cleaning?
New recurring clients start with a First-Time Deep Clean, unless the home was professionally cleaned in the last month. After that, regular visits are weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
Ready to get your home where it needs to be? Get a quote for a deep clean, or explore our recurring cleaning plans.