Deep Clean vs. Regular Clean: What's the Difference?

What a regular clean covers

A regular clean is the maintenance visit. It's what happens on a weekly, biweekly or monthly plan:

• Kitchen counters, backsplash, sink and stovetop
• The outside of the fridge, oven, dishwasher and microwave
• Toilets, showers, tubs, sinks and mirrors
• Reachable surfaces dusted
• Floors vacuumed and mopped
• Trash emptied

It assumes the house is already in decent shape and keeps it there. It's the visit you repeat every week or two, so it's priced lower than a deep clean.

What a deep clean adds

A deep clean does all of that, plus the detail work that builds up over months:

• Baseboards wiped
• Ceiling fan blades dusted and wiped
• Doors, door frames, light switches and outlet covers wiped
• Window sills wiped and vent covers dusted
• Cabinet fronts and handles wiped
• Tile, tubs and showers scrubbed for soap scum and build-up

It takes longer, because every one of those surfaces gets handled, not just the ones you see every day.

The inside of the oven, fridge and cabinets are add-ons on a deep clean. If you're moving, a move-in or move-out clean includes all three.

The price difference

For a 1,800 to 2,500 square foot home, a deep clean is $365. A one-time regular clean for a returning client is $215, and a biweekly visit is $185. The gap pays for the detail work, which takes real time. For a smaller home, up to 1,200 square feet, it's $249 for a deep clean and $135 for a biweekly visit.

One rule worth knowing: your first visit with us is always billed at the deep clean rate. Recurring rates start on visit two.

Deep clean vs. regular clean: how to choose

Book a deep clean if:

• It's been a few months since the house had a real clean
• Guests are coming and you want the details done
• You're starting a recurring plan, since the first visit is billed at the deep clean rate anyway
• You can see dust on the baseboards or ceiling fans from across the room
• You're selling and want the house ready for listing photos

Book a regular clean if the house is in decent shape and you want it to stay that way. For most homes, that means a recurring plan with a deep clean once or twice a year. Still not sure? Text us a couple of photos and we'll tell you.

Where a move clean fits in

A move-in or move-out clean is a third option. It's a deep clean done in an empty home, with the inside of the oven, fridge, cabinets and drawers included. If you're moving, it's the right call: the house is empty, so we can reach everything, and the appliance and cabinet work is already in the price.

A simple rule of thumb: if you can't remember the last time the baseboards were wiped, book a deep clean. If you can, book a regular clean. Then keep it going with a recurring plan and a deep clean once or twice a year.

What every clean includes

Deep or regular, we bring all the supplies and equipment. Everyone who cleans in your home has passed a background check, and we're insured. You don't need to be home, and if you're out, we text you photos when we finish. If something got missed, tell us within 24 hours and we'll come back and redo it free. See the full deep cleaning checklist, or book either one.