If your home needs a good refresh, deep cleaning is your best bet. But if you’re new to it, it’s normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. Luckily, this guide will help you understand deep cleaning better and outline the tasks involved so you can do it right!

Differences between regular cleaning and deep cleaning

As the name suggests, deep cleaning is an in-depth process designed to significantly reduce dirt and dust in your home. It’s more than just scrubbing a bit harder during your usual cleaning routine. Here’s how they differ:

• The purpose. Regular cleaning is about maintaining cleanliness by removing visible dirt and dust. In contrast, deep cleaning aims to get rid of stubborn and hidden dirt that builds up over time, setting a standard that a regular cleaning service can maintain.

• Tasks included. Deep cleaning includes all the chores of regular cleaning but is done more thoroughly. It also tackles tasks that are usually skipped in regular routines, either because of how easy they are to overlook or because they’re in hard-to-reach areas.

• Time needed. Depending on the space, regular cleaning might take from one to two hours. However, achieving thorough cleanliness through deep cleaning, which involves tackling tasks with more detail and covering as many areas as possible, can take over two hours.

What does a deep cleaning include?

A deep cleaning checklist ensures detailed and long-lasting results. Here’s a room-by-room breakdown:

Living areas and bedrooms

Both regular and deep cleaning involves dusting and wiping furniture, mopping and vacuuming floors, and taking out the trash. Additional deep cleaning tasks are:

• Top-to-bottom dusting
• Wipe all surfaces
• Clean fireplace mantle
• Clean mirrors and fixtures
• Clean tables and chairs
• Clean floors (vacuum, sweep & mop)
• Remove cobwebs
• Empty trash & replace liner
• Baseboard detail cleaning
• Clean ceiling fans
• Wipe doors & frames

Kitchen

Both cleaning types cover wiping countertops and the exterior of appliances and cabinets. Deep cleaning in the kitchen also includes:

• Top-to-bottom dusting
• Clean, disinfect, polish, sinks & faucets
• Clean exterior of major appliances
• Clean floors (vacuum, sweep & mop)
• Clean microwave inside & out
• Clean tables & chairs
• Disinfect door knobs & light switches
• Empty trash & replace liner
• Remove cobwebs
• Wipe & clean kitchen surfaces
• Baseboard detail cleaning
• Clean the exterior of cabinets
• Clean inside of range hood

Bathroom

Both regular and deep cleaning includes wiping shower heads, mirrors, sinks, and the exterior of the toilet. Deep cleaning adds:

• Top-to-bottom dusting
• Clean, disinfect, polish, sinks & faucets
• Clean countertops
• Clean & disinfect towel bars
• Clean floors (vacuum, sweep & mop)
• Clean mirrors & fixtures
• Clean shower, shower door & bathtub
• Clean toilets in/out, base & behind
• Disinfect door knobs & light switches
• Empty trash & replace liner
• Remove cobwebs
• Baseboard detail cleaning
• Clean the exterior of cabinets
• Heavy scrub to bathtub & shower

Note: This list includes common deep cleaning tasks but isn’t exhaustive. Feel free to add chores specific to your home. If you’re hiring cleaning services, tasks can vary by company.

Deep cleaning services to meet your needs

Does deep cleaning seem too daunting? Leave it to the professionals! Cascade Maids provides deep cleaning services that tackle all those places you usually skip in your daily cleaning routine—done by fully vetted professionals. Book online in just a few clicks!