How Long Should It Take To Deep Clean A House

Difference between deep cleaning and regular cleaning

We often get asked…

what's the difference between regular cleaning and deep cleaning?

Regular cleaning definition

The simplest way to describe regular cleaning is a set of cleaning tasks that are performed on a regular basis. This is sometimes also referred to as domestic cleaning.

Half of Millennials hiring cleaners as they are 'too busy' to clean one-bed flats
The Telegraph

Regular cleaning is what most people do on a daily or weekly basis. Deep cleaning is normally carried out every 6 months to a year.

Regular cleaning maintains a good level of cleanliness around the house. Regular cleaning tasks often cover things like:

hoovering and mopping the floors
cleaning bathrooms – sink, mirror, bath and toilet
Tidying up
cleaning the kitchen – wiping down work surfaces, cupboard doors, hob etc

Deep cleaning is very different and is often a requirement before a tenant moves in or out, also known as an end of tenancy clean.

Deep cleaning definition

Deep cleaningis different from regular or spring cleaning because it reaches the deep grime and dirt in your home.

It covers areas which aren't traditionally covered by a regular or spring clean for example:

behind kitchen appliances like the washing machine and oven, cutting through the grime that builds up
under the sink
inside the oven including the oven door glass
inside of window frames and patio doors
inside and outside of all windows – read our vinegar window cleaning tip
washing all blinds
full and deep dusting including all the corners of rooms for cobwebs
scale removal from all bathroom tiles, kitchen tiles, taps, shower heads etc

Professional deep cleaning is a must at the end of a tenancy. Poor or no cleaning is one of the main reasons for deposit deductions.
Twinkle Clean Founder

Deep cleaning checklist

Here is a snapshot of the cleaning tasks on our end of tenancy cleaning checklist. View and download the full PDF checklist here.

FRONT DOOR	Exterior & Interior	Door frame Door Handle
ENTRANCE HALL	Decoration	Dust picture frames Dust/wash skirting boards
	Lighting	Lampshade Light switch plate
	Window	Window frames Blinds Glass
	Fixtures and fittings	Disinfect/wash phone Disinfect/wash thermostat Radiator Plug sockets Fuse box
	Floor	Hoover Mop
	Ceiling corners	Hoover
	Cupboards	Door frame Door Handle Hoover
KITCHEN	Exterior & Interior	Door frame Door Handle Dust/wash skirting boards Remove cobwebs from corner
	Lighting	Lampshade Light switch plate
	Window	Window frames Blinds Glass
	Fixtures and fittings	Cupboard doors Inside cupboards Underneath cupboards Radiator Kitchen sink inc Limescale Tiles Boiler front and side Plug sockets Wipe outside bin
	Appliances	Microwave Oven door Oven grills Inside oven Draw under oven Hob and Gills Hob fan and extractor Wipe kettle and toaster Wipe table and chairs Washing machine seal Washing machine tray Washing machine outside Fridge and Freezer inc Seal
	Ceiling	Hoover cobwebs
	Floor	Hoover Mop
BEDROOM	Exterior & Interior	Door frame Door Handle Dust/wash skirting boards Remove cobwebs from corner

View and download the full PDF checklist here.

Example

Let's take the bathroom as an example. As well as covering what a regular clean would, deep cleaning the bathroom means cleaning the inside and tops of the cupboards, including the medicine cabinet, underneath and behind the sink and toilet and using professional limescale remover to remove all built upscale from all taps, tiles and the shower head.

This is of course reflected in the time it takes to carry out the clean. Most regular cleaning is done for 2-3 hours a week. A deep clean of a two bedroom house can take a cleaning team of 3 up to 12 hours (average condition).