What Services Are Included In A Deep Cleaning?

Deep cleaning has different meanings to different people.  This page is designed to highlight what deep cleaning services are offered and describe the services.

Deep Cleaning Services In A Room

Deep cleaning generally begins at the top of a room.  If the room has an overhead light fixture, the fixture is generally cleaned, inside and outside (if the fixture can be removed easily and safely).  If the room has a ceiling fan, the blades are generally cleaned (top and bottom), the glass around the light bulbs (both sides), the top and bottom of the fan mount and the tops of the glass globes.

The walls are generally dusted from top to bottom, including the crown molding, door frame and hinges, wainscoating, baseboards and windows and sills.  Depending on the condition of the blinds, the blinds may be dusted, but the blinds are generally not cleaned, as a blinds cleaning company will generally clean the blinds and strings.  The drapes are left in place and are not cleaned (although drapes in good condition may be vacuumed).

Deep Cleaning Interior Windows

Deep cleaning service generally includes cleaning the interior windows.  This included the glass, frame and sill.  If the window has a screen on it, the customer must remove the screen before the arrival of the cleaning team or the window will be skipped.

Deep Cleaning Services and Tape, Stickers and Nails

In some cases, tape, stickers, nails and other items may be left on or in the walls or doors.  Deep cleaning services do not include removal of these items, unless the customer specifies this during the walk-thru.  A separate line item will occur for these services, as these are generally maintenance services.

Deep cleaning also includes dusting and cleaning the tops of the shelves in closets.  Many closets are painted with flat paint and haven’t been properly maintained, so cleaning walls is typically excluded.

Deep Cleaning Doors

Doors and door knobs are generally cleaned, as well as door hinges and the area between the door and the door jamb.  Some areas may have permanent stains.  Stain removal is not part of a deep cleaning service.

Deep Cleaning and Carpets

Rooms are generally thoroughly vacuumed during a deep clean.  A crevice tool is often used to get areas that are often overlooked.  Carpet cleaning, spot removal and stain removal are not part of a deep cleaning service.

Deep Cleaning and Hard Surface Floors

Hard surface floors are swept and mopped.  Items stuck to the floor, such as gum or other easy to remove items, will be removed.  Permanent stains may be on the floors and stain removal is not part of deep cleaning service.  Grout cleaning is not included in a deep cleaning service.  Floor buffing and scrubbing are not part of a deep cleaning service.

Deep Cleaning Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a critical part in a deep cleaning service.  Overhead glass and fixtures should be cleaned, as well as dusting the light bulbs.  The mirror or mirrors should be thoroughly cleaned and free from streaks.  Some mirrors have permanent stains, such as black or discolored marks.  Stain removal is not part of deep cleaning service.

Many bathroom walls are painted with gloss or semi-gloss paint.  These walls are often easier to clean.  Semi-gloss and gloss walls should be cleaned and scrubbed.  Flat walls will not be cleaned.

Countertops and sink fixtures should be thoroughly cleaned.  Limescale buildup isn’t uncommon, especially around the faucet.  Limescale should be cleaned.  However, some areas may be permanently stained.  Stain removal is not included in a deep cleaning.  If the cabinet and/or drawer is empty, the inside and outside of the drawer and cabinet should be scrubbed and cleaned.  However, if there are any personal effects in either, only the exterior of the cabinets and drawers will be cleaned.

Toilets must be thoroughly cleaned.  The top and sides of the tank, both sides of the toilet seat, the exterior of the bowl, the front of the base, the sides of the base where the bolts hold the toilet to the floor and the interior of the bowl should be thoroughly cleaned.  In some cases, water and mineral buildup will remove the enamel and these areas cannot be cleaned.

The bathtub and surround are critical areas in a deep cleaning service.  The shower fixture, hose, handles, grab bars, shower walls, shower basin and the facing of the bathtub will be scrubbed and cleaned.  However, some ceramic tubs may have chipped, rusted, eroded or worn ceramic that will need to be repaired.  Deep cleaning is not included in these services.  Some bathtubs have been painted.  Chipped or peeling paint cannot be properly cleaned and needs to be repaired.  Some grout in the tub surrounds may be permanently stained, due to the grout not being properly sealed, or chemicals being used that remove the seal (such as bleach).  In these cases, the grout should be professionally cleaned (and possibly re-grouted) and sealed.  These services are not included in deep cleaning services.

Kitchen Deep Cleaning

Kitchen deep cleaning is generally the most labor intensive and thorough cleaning.  Overhead lights and fixtures should be cleaned and walls should be dusted from top to bottom.  Overhead cabinets and drawers (if empty) should be cleaned, inside and out.  If paper, shelf liners or other items are in the base of the cabinets, the top of these will be cleaned, if possible.  Some liners are ripped and need to be replaced and some of the sticky base will be exposed.  Removing and replacing these items is not covered under deep cleaning service.  Removing the sticky base is not covered.

In older homes and homes with wooden cabinets and drawers, it is common to have greasy build up around the handles.  The greasy buildup will be cleaned; however, acids from human fingers often erode the areas directly around the handles.  When the greasy buildup is cleaned and removed, the erosion is noticeable.  The grease generally eats through the finish and into the wood, making the wood appear lighter.  The wood needs to be re-painted, re-stained or repaired and these services are not covered in deep cleaning services.

Kitchen counter tops should be thoroughly cleaned.  Some countertops will be chipped, broken, stained or contain burn marks.  Repairing, replacing and removing burns/stains is not included in deep cleaning services.  The sink, sink basin, knobs and faucet will be cleaned.  The backsplash will be cleaned; however, if the grout is chipped, stained or the seal has been removed from the grout, the grout must be professionally cleaned, which is not included in deep cleaning.

Appliance Deep Cleaning

Depending on the client, appliances may or may not be deep cleaned.  If appliances are included, the outside of the refrigerator and freezer should be cleaned, paying attention to the handles.  The inside of the freezer should be cleaned if no food is in the freezer.  The metal racks should be cleaned thoroughly and the rubber seal should be cleaned.  Plastic dividers should be cleaned on both sides.  The inside of the refrigerator should be thoroughly cleaned as long as there is no food in it.  The tops and bottoms of the shelves should be cleaned and the plastic molds holding the shelving should be cleaned (if the shelves are easy to remove).  In some cases, food and other substances get between the glass and plastic housing and cannot be separated.  Deep cleaning does not include separating the glass from the plastic.  The client can choose to separate this, but must separate these prior to the arrival of the cleaning team.  Depending on the condition of the refrigerator/freezer, the appliance may be rolled out and the sides cleaned.  The coils will be vacuumed and the sides of the refrigerator enclosure will be cleaned.  The floor under the refrigerator/freezer will be swept and mopped.

Stove and oven deep cleaning can be performed during deep cleanings.  If the stove or oven is gas, the appliance will not be moved and will be cleaned in place, as the gas line could be pinched or punctured when it is moved.  The client can move it but it needs to be moved prior to the arrival of the cleaning team.  The top of the stove will be cleaned, as well as the eyes of the stove.  If the eyes of the stove are easy to remove, they will be removed and the area under the eyes will be cleaned.  A razor blade may be used to remove items that are stuck to the enamel.  Some items may be burned onto the surface, some scratches may exist and some permanent stains may be present.  These services are not included in a deep cleaning service.  The stove knobs will be cleaned, if they can be easily removed.

The inside of the oven will be cleaned.  The grates will be removed and the interior of the stove will be scrubbed and cleaned.  A razor blade may be used to remove stubborn substances.  In some cases, permanent stains exist and will not be able to be cleaned.  The glass facing the inside of the stove will be cleaned; however, the glass area between the inside glass and outside glass will not be cleaned during a deep cleaning.  The sides of the stove will be cleaned, as well as the back and the area surrounding the stove, if the stove can be easily moved.  The floor under the stove will be swept and mopped.

Washers and dryers are typically not cleaned as part of a deep cleaning service.  However, if the customer requests these to be cleaned, the outsides of each are cleaned.  They are pulled out from the wall if they are not gas powered (we will not move gas appliances) and the walls behind them are cleaned, the hoses and cords are cleaned and the floors directly below them are swept and mopped.

Stairway Deep Cleaning

Stairways are often overlooked in deep cleanings.  The walls will be dusted from top to bottom (extension dusters are generally used for this phase).  If interior windows are along the stairways, the glass, dividers and sills will be cleaned.  The handrails will be cleaned and the exposed stairs will be thoroughly dusted.  If the stairs are carpeted, the carpet will be thoroughly vacuumed.  If the stairs are hard surface, they will be swept and mopped.