What to Expect from a Deep Cleaning Service

What is Included in a Deep Cleaning Service?

If you've ever wondered what separates a regular house cleaning from a deep cleaning service, you're in the right place. As a professional cleaner, I can tell you that deep cleaning goes beyond the surface-level tidying to get into the nooks, crannies, and hard-to-reach spots that tend to get overlooked. It’s ideal for those who want a thorough cleaning or are preparing for a big event, moving, or simply needing to hit the "reset" button on their home.

In this article, we’ll break down what’s typically included in a deep cleaning service and why it’s a good idea to schedule one every once in a while.

What Areas Does a Deep Cleaning Service Cover?

1. Kitchen

The kitchen is one of the most-used spaces in any home and often needs a little extra TLC. In a deep cleaning service, expect every corner to be scrubbed, polished, and disinfected. Here’s a breakdown of what’s typically included:

Appliances

• Inside and outside of appliances: Not just a wipe-down of the front of your fridge or stove, but cleaning inside the oven, microwave, and wiping out the refrigerator. This includes removing crumbs, food residue, and even disinfecting handles and knobs.
• Dishwasher: A deep clean may include cleaning out the dishwasher filter and the seals around the door to eliminate grime and odors.

Cabinets and Drawers

• Inside cabinet cleaning: In deep cleaning, your cleaner will remove items from cabinets to clean and disinfect the shelves, as well as wipe down cabinet doors.
• Drawer handles and pulls: These often-overlooked areas are disinfected, removing fingerprints and dirt buildup.

Countertops and Backsplashes

• Scrubbing and disinfecting: Deep cleaning includes removing stains, food splatters, and bacteria, leaving surfaces looking fresh and safe for food prep.

Sink and Faucet

• Descaling and sanitizing: The sink and faucet are scrubbed to remove hard water spots, soap scum, and grime. Many cleaners also disinfect the garbage disposal or strainers to get rid of lingering odors.

Tip from my experience: Don’t forget to ask for a special focus on grout in tile backsplashes, which can easily collect grease and grime.

2. Bathroom

Bathrooms are another space where deep cleaning really shines. Daily use leads to the buildup of soap scum, mold, and bacteria, which are all tackled during a deep cleaning.

Showers and Bathtubs

• Scrubbing tiles and grout: Removing mildew, soap scum, and hard water stains. This can also include cleaning glass shower doors to remove streaks and buildup.
• Bathtubs: If you have a jetted tub, the jets may also be cleaned to ensure there’s no buildup inside them.

Toilets

• Full toilet disinfection: Cleaners scrub inside and around the toilet, disinfecting all surfaces, including the base and behind the toilet where dust and grime can accumulate.

Sinks and Countertops

• Descaling faucets and cleaning sinks: Like in the kitchen, the bathroom sink area will be thoroughly cleaned to remove toothpaste splatters, soap scum, and water stains. The space around the faucet will also be disinfected.

Mirrors and Glass

• Streak-free mirrors: Deep cleaning ensures your mirrors are spotless and streak-free.

3. Living Areas and Bedrooms

These spaces may not need the level of attention that a kitchen or bathroom requires, but deep cleaning services still go beyond the basics.

Dusting

• High and low dusting: This includes ceiling fans, light fixtures, baseboards, and behind furniture, areas that are often skipped during a regular clean. Even air vents and window sills are dusted and wiped down.

Windows

• Cleaning window interiors: This means not just wiping down the glass but cleaning the window tracks and frames where dust and dead insects tend to accumulate.

Upholstery and Furniture

• Vacuuming and stain treatment: Furniture is vacuumed, cushions are removed, and crumbs or debris underneath are cleaned. Upholstery may be spot-treated for stains.

Baseboards

• Scrubbing baseboards: Regular cleaning might involve a quick dust, but deep cleaning services will often scrub baseboards to remove scuff marks, dust buildup, and dirt.

Personal anecdote: I once had a client who hadn’t cleaned the tops of their ceiling fans in years. After a deep clean, not only was the dust gone, but the air in the house actually felt fresher because it wasn’t being recirculated.

4. Floors

Whether you have hardwood, tile, or carpet, deep cleaning ensures every type of flooring gets the attention it deserves.

Hardwood or Tile

• Mopping and polishing: Floors are scrubbed, and depending on the material, they may also be polished to restore their shine.
• Grout cleaning: If you have tile floors, deep cleaning includes scrubbing grout lines to remove dirt and stains.

Carpets

• Vacuuming and spot cleaning: Carpets are vacuumed thoroughly, and many cleaners will offer an option for spot treatment of stains or even full carpet shampooing.

5. Other Common Areas

Doors and Light Switches

• Disinfection: High-touch areas like door handles, light switches, and remote controls are often missed in regular cleanings. In a deep clean, these spots are wiped down and disinfected.

Closets

• Organizing and cleaning: Some deep cleaning services even include reorganizing and dusting inside closets, especially if they’ve become dusty from clothing or shoe buildup.

When Should You Book a Deep Cleaning Service?

1. Seasonal Cleaning

One of the most common times people schedule deep cleanings is during seasonal transitions, such as spring or fall. After months of dust buildup from the colder seasons or to prepare for the holiday season, a deep clean can help your home feel refreshed.

2. Before or After an Event

If you’re hosting a party, moving into a new home, or preparing for a move-out, a deep clean is essential to get the house spotless for yourself or the next occupant.

3. When Regular Cleanings Aren’t Cutting It

Even if you maintain a regular cleaning schedule, sometimes dirt and grime build up in hard-to-reach spots. If you notice dust on the tops of cabinets or stains that just won't go away, it’s probably time for a deep clean.

What Should You Expect from a Deep Cleaning Service?

When you book a deep cleaning, expect it to take longer than a regular cleaning. Depending on the size of your home, a thorough deep clean can take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours, or even longer for larger properties. Make sure to discuss your specific needs with your cleaner, and if there are certain areas you’d like them to focus on, be upfront so they can allocate time accordingly.

Personal anecdote: I once spent almost 5 hours in a client’s kitchen alone because they had skipped deep cleaning for over two years. By the end, their countertops were sparkling, and the grout between their tiles looked brand new.

Final Thoughts

A deep cleaning service is a fantastic way to restore your home to its best state, especially if you’ve fallen behind on regular upkeep or are preparing for a major event. From scrubbing kitchen appliances to dusting ceiling fans, deep cleaning covers every detail, leaving your home looking fresh and spotless.

If you’ve never had a deep clean before, now might be the time to treat yourself and your home to one! Your home will feel brand new—and you won’t have to lift a finger to make it happen.