A deep cleaning is the most thorough cleaning service most homeowners ever book. But “deep clean” can mean very different things depending on who’s doing it — so here’s exactly what’s included, room by room, in a professional deep cleaning, plus the common things that aren’t.
Quick answer: a deep cleaning includes everything in a regular clean plus detailed work — inside ovens, microwaves, and fridges (when emptied), inside cabinets, baseboards, blinds, window sills and tracks, door frames, light switches, ceiling fans, grout, and shower doors.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning Checklist
- Inside the oven — degreased, scrubbed, racks cleaned
- Inside the microwave — including the turntable
- Inside the refrigerator and freezer (when emptied by the homeowner)
- Inside cabinets and drawers (when empty)
- Range hood, vent, and filter
- Top of the fridge and cabinets
- Backsplash and grout scrubbed
- All counters cleared and wiped
- Sink scrubbed and fixtures polished
- Dishwasher exterior, edges, and seal
- Floors swept and mopped, including baseboards
- Cabinet exteriors wiped down
- Trash and recycling emptied
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
- Tile and grout scrubbed
- Soap scum and hard water stains treated
- Shower doors descaled
- Toilet — bowl, seat, base, and floor behind
- Sink and counter scrubbed
- Mirror cleaned
- Fixtures (faucets, handles, towel bars) polished
- Cabinets and drawers wiped (inside when empty, outside always)
- Exhaust fan vent dusted
- Light fixtures dusted
- Walls spot-cleaned
- Floor mopped, including behind toilet
- Trash emptied
Bedroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
- Beds made (we’ll change linens if you leave fresh ones out)
- Dust all surfaces, furniture, and décor
- Ceiling fans dusted (where reachable)
- Light fixtures dusted
- Picture frames and wall art dusted
- Lampshades dusted
- Closets organized and floors vacuumed (when reasonably accessible)
- Baseboards wiped
- Window sills and tracks cleaned
- Blinds dusted or wiped
- Mirrors cleaned
- Door, doorframe, and switches wiped
- Floors vacuumed (carpet) or swept and mopped (hard floor)
- Trash emptied
Living Areas Deep Cleaning Checklist
- Dust all surfaces, furniture, electronics, and décor
- Vacuum upholstered furniture, including cushions removed
- Vacuum and reach into baseboards and corners
- Mop hard floors throughout
- Wipe down baseboards
- Clean ceiling fans (when reachable)
- Dust light fixtures and lampshades
- Clean window sills and tracks
- Dust or wipe blinds
- Wipe doors, doorframes, and switches
- Wipe banisters and stair railings
- Clean entry mats, doormats
- Spot-clean walls for marks
Throughout the Home (in Every Room)
- Baseboards hand-wiped
- Door frames, doors, and handles wiped
- Light switches and outlet covers cleaned
- Air vents and registers dusted
- Window sills and tracks cleaned
- Cobwebs removed from corners and ceilings
- High-touch surfaces sanitized
What’s NOT Usually Included
Some things are commonly excluded from a standard deep clean and offered as add-ons or separate services:
- Exterior windows — usually a separate window cleaning service
- Carpet shampooing or steam cleaning — a separate service requiring different equipment
- Wall washing (full scrub of all walls, vs. spot-cleaning marks) — only on request
- Pressure washing — exterior only, separate service
- Biohazard cleanup — requires specialized cleanup companies
- Chimney cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, gutter cleaning — specialty services
- Anything requiring more than a step stool — high ceilings, second-story exterior windows, etc.
- Moving heavy furniture — we clean around and under what we can lift, but we don’t move pianos, beds, or large items
Common Add-Ons
- Inside the refrigerator (when emptied)
- Inside the freezer (when defrosted)
- Inside the oven (if not standard)
- Interior windows
- Garage sweep-out
- Laundry — wash, dry, fold
- Dishwashing if dishes are in the sink
How Long a Deep Clean Takes
A 3-bedroom home usually takes 4–7 hours with a 2-person team. The variables are:
- Square footage and number of rooms
- Time since last deep clean
- Pets and household activity level
- Whether inside cabinets or appliances need cleaning
How to Prep Before a Deep Clean
- If you want inside cabinets cleaned, empty them in advance
- If you want inside the fridge cleaned, empty it the night before
- Pick up small clutter — clothes, toys, paperwork — before we arrive
- Note any specific concerns you have (stained tile, an unpleasant smell, etc.) — let us know in advance so we plan time for it
- Secure pets if they’re anxious around new people or vacuum noise
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a deep cleaning?
A deep cleaning includes everything in a regular clean plus detailed work: inside ovens, microwaves, and refrigerators (when emptied), inside cabinets and drawers, baseboards, blinds, window sills and tracks, door frames, light switches, ceiling fans, and high-detail areas like grout and shower doors.
How is a deep clean different from a regular clean?
A regular clean focuses on maintenance — surfaces, floors, bathrooms, kitchen. A deep clean adds detail work that doesn’t fit in a routine visit: inside appliances, baseboards, blinds, window tracks, behind furniture, and other accumulation points.
How long does a deep cleaning take?
A 3-bedroom home usually takes 4–7 hours for a deep clean with a 2-person team. Larger or more lived-in homes can take longer.
What’s NOT usually included in a deep clean?
Standard exclusions are: exterior windows, carpet shampooing, wall washing (full scrub vs. spot cleaning), pressure washing, biohazard cleanup, and anything requiring ladders beyond a step stool. These are usually offered as separate services.
Get a Deep Clean for Your Home
If you’re ready to book a deep clean for your home in Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, or Yulee, call (904) 605-4582 or request a free quote. We’ll give you a clear, all-in price and schedule a time that works.
For more on our deep cleaning service, see our deep cleaning services page.