“Deep clean” and “regular clean” get used loosely, which makes quotes hard to compare. Here’s what each one actually covers, so you know what you’re booking and which one your home needs.
The difference in one line
A regular clean maintains a home that’s already in good shape. A deep clean gets it into good shape, including all the places a regular clean doesn’t reach.
What a regular clean covers
A regular clean is the everyday maintenance, usually weekly or fortnightly:
- Kitchen benches, sink, stovetop and appliance fronts wiped
- Bathrooms and toilets cleaned
- Dusting of surfaces you can see and reach
- Floors vacuumed and mopped
- Bins emptied, beds made, rooms tidied
What a deep clean adds
A deep clean does everything above, plus the detailed jobs that build up over months:
- Kitchen: rangehood and filters degreased, inside the oven and microwave, cupboard fronts, splashback tiles
- Bathrooms: shower glass descaled, grout and tiles scrubbed, exhaust fan covers
- Every room: skirting boards, door frames, light switches, window sills and tracks
- Up high: ceiling fans, light fittings and the tops of cupboards
It takes considerably longer than a regular clean, which is why it’s priced differently.
Side by side
| Area | Regular clean | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen benches and sink | Yes | Yes |
| Rangehood and oven | Outside only | Degreased, inside and out |
| Bathrooms | Cleaned | Plus grout, descaling and fans |
| Dusting | Visible surfaces | Plus fans, fittings and up high |
| Skirting, frames and switches | Spot clean | Every one wiped |
| Window sills and tracks | Occasionally | Yes |
| Floors | Vacuumed and mopped | Plus edges and under furniture |
Which one do you need?
Book a deep clean if:
- It’s been a few months or more since the house had a thorough clean.
- You’re about to start regular cleans and want to begin from a clean slate.
- You’ve just finished a renovation, or you’re moving in (see move-in cleaning).
- Guests are coming, or it’s time for a spring clean.
Book regular cleans if:
- The house is in good shape and you want to keep it there.
- You’d rather spend weekends on anything other than cleaning.
The usual patternMost households start with one deep clean, then move to weekly or fortnightly regular cleans, with another deep clean once or twice a year.
Moving out of a rental is different again: that’s an end of lease clean, which follows the agent’s inspection checklist.
How often to book each
- Regular cleans: weekly for busy households, kids or pets; fortnightly for smaller or quieter homes.
- Deep cleans: once or twice a year for most homes, or more often with pets, allergies or a lot of cooking.