What is a deep house cleaning (and do you need one)?
By Nicki Escudero•Last updated Mar 29, 2023
Last updated Mar 29, 2023
Our homes have lots of nooks, crannies and hard-to-reach surfaces that we don’t always have time to clean. And although your home might look spotless after a regular house cleaning session, dirt, grime and bacteria could still remain. That's when it's probably time for a deep house cleaning.
Keep reading to learn more about deep house cleaning — and why you should consider getting one.
Why deep cleaning is important
Did you know your house could contain potential health hazards when it isn’t cleaned properly? Common culprits include the following:
- Mold and mildew: Mold and mildew can cause or worsen allergy symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing and headaches.
- Dust: Dust can decrease air quality and trigger asthma and allergies.
- Germs and bacteria: Germs and bacteria like E. coli, salmonella and listeria can cause food-borne illnesses.
Pets, shoes, kids and visitors can bring these hazards into your home. Even opening screened windows can let in dirt and dust.
Dirt and grime can also affect your home’s appearance and value over time. When mold and mildew damage surfaces, that could require costly repairs. And selling your home may be harder if appliances, flooring and other surfaces are damaged from lack of cleaning.
If you haven’t deep cleaned your home in a while, consider doing it yourself or hiring a pro for the task.
Deep cleanings vs. regular cleanings
| Regular house cleanings | Deep house cleanings |
|---|---|
| Occur weekly | Occur once every 6 months |
| Focus on light and routine cleaning | Focus on removing grime and targeting hard-to-reach areas |
| Tasks include dusting, vacuuming, mopping and wiping down surfaces | Tasks include regular house cleaning plus cleaning inside and behind appliances, baseboards, windows, ceiling fans and more |
Standard and deep house cleanings differ in two major ways:
1. Frequency.
Regular cleaning happens, well, regularly. Tasks like dusting, wiping surfaces and vacuuming should take place at least once a week. You may clean your house more often if you have pets that shed or children who create more messes and spills.
On the other hand, a deep cleaning can take place less frequently, at least once every six months.
2. Cleaning tasks.
Whether you DIY or hire a pro, standard house cleanings typically include just the basic cleaning tasks you’re already familiar with: dusting, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming and wiping down surfaces. Deep cleaning often goes beyond the surface.
For example, a standard cleaning of your kitchen might include the following:
- Wiping down the counters
- Washing the dishes
- Sweeping and mopping the floors
When you’re deep cleaning your kitchen, you might add the following tasks:
- Defrosting the freezer and cleaning it out
- Removing food from the fridge and wiping down the shelves
- Emptying your cabinets to wipe down those shelves, too
- Washing the inside and outside of your oven, dishwasher and microwave
- And the list goes on
As you can see in the example above, deep cleaning your house involves more tasks. And tackling all of those tasks can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. If you don’t have the time and energy for deep cleaning, you can often find house cleaning services that offer it. You’ll just need to make sure the professional you hire offers the deep cleaning services you want.
What is included in a deep house cleaning?
The services included in a deep house cleaning will vary depending on the professional you hire. That’s why it’s important to ask plenty of questions when you contact local house cleaners. You should also compare their deep cleaning services to make sure you’re getting everything you need.
With that said, here’s a room-by-room list of deep house cleaning tasks that some professionals may offer:
Throughout the entire house, deep cleaning tasks sometimes include:
- Sanitizing trash cans, bins and waste baskets
- Cleaning furniture and upholstery
- Cleaning window glass, sills, blinds and tracks
- Wiping down countertops and tabletops
- Disinfecting light switches and door handles
- Cleaning vents and replacing filters
- Sweeping, mopping, scrubbing and vacuuming floors and carpeting
- Dusting light fixtures, electronics, ceiling fans, shelves and tables
- Dusting and wiping down walls, baseboards, trim and molding
Kitchen deep cleaning services sometimes include tasks like the following:
- Descaling and cleaning the kitchen sink and faucet
- Cleaning the fridge/freezer interior and exterior
- Detailed cleaning of window sills and hard-to-reach light fixtures
- Cleaning and scrubbing baseboards and grout
- Sanitizing and cleaning the trash bins
- Sweeping and mopping the kitchen floors
- Steam-cleaning kitchen appliances
- Wiping down all shelves and cleaning the interior and exterior of cabinets
- Removing everything (dishes, food, etc.) from shelves, cabinets, drawers, pantry, refrigerator and freezer to throw away and reorganize
- Cleaning inside and behind kitchen appliances, including the oven, stove, microwave and dishwasher
Deep cleaning the bathroom sometimes includes:
- Wiping and scrubbing down the countertops
- Sweeping, mopping and scrubbing the floors
- Cleaning the windows and wiping down the mirror
- Washing and wiping down shower curtains and doors
- Scrubbing toilets to remove spots or grime buildup
- Cleaning the shower and tub, including the tile and grout
- Cleaning bathroom vents and hard-to-reach places
- Washing the toothbrush holder, soap dish and other bathroom accessories
- Removing toiletries from shelves and closets so they can be organized or discarded if they’ve expired
- Descaling and scouring shower and bathtub fixtures and grout to help prevent and remove mold, mildew and mineral deposit buildup
In bedrooms, a deep clean sometimes involves:
- Taking out clothes and trinkets from closets and drawers so the interior can be wiped down, then reorganizing items
- Vacuuming the carpet or sweeping and mopping the floors
- Dusting the nightstand, bookshelves and other flat surfaces
- Dusting and wiping ceiling fans and vents
- Cleaning windows, window tracks and window sills
- Cleaning drapes and window treatments
- Removing bed sheets, pillowcases and linens and washing them
- Flipping the mattress to help extend its lifespan. The mattress label or brand can provide guidelines. When a mattress is removed during a deep clean, that provides an opportunity to clean the bed frame, too.
In your family and living rooms, deep cleaning tasks sometimes include:
- Dusting tables, shelves and frames that contain art and photos
- Cleaning TVs, remote controls and the surrounding entertainment area
- Moving furniture to clean the walls and surfaces behind and under them
- Cleaning the window sills and window tracks
- Dusting light fixtures and ceiling fans
- Dusting and wiping down baseboards, trim and molding
- Cleaning upholstery and furniture, including the couch, chairs and curtains
Laundry room deep cleaning tasks sometimes include:
- Cleaning the inside and outside of your washing machine and dryer
- Sweeping and mopping the floors
- Cleaning the sink and faucet
- Wiping down all counters and inside your cabinets
How often should a house be deep cleaned?
It’s recommended that you deep clean your home at least twice a year, or about once every six months. You could use spring and fall cleaning to keep track.
However, there are other scenarios where you might want to book deep cleaning services:
- You’re hosting a special event at your home.
- You’re having guests stay over for several days.
- You notice a large amount of dust on your ceiling fans, light fixtures and other areas.
- You’re sneezing more often than usual, likely due to too much dust.
- You suspect you may have mildew inside your home.
- You smell odors in and around your home that won’t go away after a regular cleaning.
How much do deep house cleaning services cost?
Deep house cleaning costs vary depending on the professional you hire. Your home’s size, the specific services you need and many other factors can affect pricing.
Figure out how much deep cleaning services near you cost by requesting free cost estimates from several house cleaners.
Find deep house cleaning services on Thumbtack
There’s nothing like the look, feel and fresh scent of a home that’s been deep cleaned. If you don’t want to DIY this task, download Thumbtack and hire a deep house cleaning service near you.
FAQs
What is the difference between deep cleaning and spring cleaning?
That depends on the level of detail you put into spring cleaning. Many people use spring cleaning as a time to do a deep house cleaning, so there may not be many differences.
How do you prepare for a deep house cleaning?
To make deep cleaning quicker and easier for house cleaners, it helps to clear the space. That might mean sending kids, pets and others in your home to a different location, and getting rid of clutter. If you have any special instructions or needs, communicate those to the house cleaner verbally or via written instructions. Some people also choose to store valuables or important documents somewhere safe during a house cleaning.
Please note: This article lists some tasks that might be included in a deep house cleaning when you hire a professional. However, pros vary in what they consider to be a deep clean. Make sure you always ask your pro what’s included in a deep house cleaning before you hire.
A note about project costs included or linked in this article: Figures represent national average cost estimates using data provided by Thumbtack pros and additional research. These figures are provided for educational purposes only and are subject to change at any time.
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