Difference between a deep clean and a maintenance clean?

I have a feeling that you were brought to this blog post because you were either recently burned or you are afraid to be burned by a professional cleaning company. It is all too common people are paying significant amounts of money to a cleaner that leaves half the job NOT done.

The motivation I have for writing on this particular topic is to save someone the disappointment BEFORE it happens. So here goes:

What is the difference between a deep cleaning and a maintenance cleaning?

The Deep Clean

For Sparkly Green Cleaning Co. a deep clean is a comprehensive, top to bottom cleaning. This means that I begin to clean each room with high dusting. I have a dusting tool that I use where the ceiling meets the wall, walking the perimeter in each room to remove any cobwebs. After, I dust the light fixtures and ceiling fan if there is one, and wet wiping the blades. This takes care of the “top” portion.

To begin the “middle”, I typically start with the window if the room has one. The first thing I will do is feather dust the blinds to remove the majority of loose dust. If the blinds are very thin, due to the fragility, I will stop with the feather duster. However, if they are thicker blinds, I will follow-up with a wet wipe to remove any stuck on smudges or built up residue. When the blinds are finished, I will raise them up completely and begin cleaning the window. First I wipe down the trim, followed by the ledges and window sill, and finally clean the glass. Once I put the blinds back to the way they were, I circle the room again, and clean the items on and against the wall. This will include all of the decor, picture frames, shelving, items on the shelves, mirrors, etc. I also clean dressers and table tops. I will include the top surfaces, the sides and drawer/cupboard fronts, table legs, and any items that are placed on these surfaces.

Once I completely circle the room, I will move to any objects in the center of the room. For example, if it is a bedroom I will move to dusting the headboard and making the bed. If it is the kitchen, I would clean the island, similar to the way that I would clean a dresser. This is going to take care of the “middle” section.

The final piece of the process is the “bottom” portion, which of course means the floor. I begin the process differently depending if it’s carpet or a hard floor. Vacuuming consists of edging and the main area. If the flooring is not carpet, I will vacuum first. If the floor is carpet, I will scrub the baseboards first. This is an important piece of my process because I want to prevent making any footprints in the vacuum lines. If the floor is not carpeted though, I will scrub the baseboards at the same time that I mop the floor.

Now that you understand what is meant by a comprehensive “top to bottom” cleaning, I want to zone in on what is not included in a deep clean. At Sparkly Green Cleaning Co., we do not include the inside of cabinets/drawers, the inside of the refrigerator, the inside of the oven, dishes, laundry, or organization. All of these items are optional add-on services, but they are not included in your deep clean quote.

The Maintenance Clean

All new clients are required to purchase a deep clean initially. This is going to increase efficiency for recurring services. The options for maintenance cleanings are monthly, biweekly, and weekly. Each option is priced based on its respective discount.

The overall cleaning process is going to be the same, meaning it is always a top to bottom cleaning. Now let me explain the differences, which revolve around ways to save time while still delivering a service that feels like a reset each time.

When doing the high dusting, I will typically spot check for cobwebs and the fan rather than doing a more in depth wet wiping. In the middle range, I am still going to wipe down the tops of surfaces, but I will not do the sides or drawer fronts unless there is something noticeable. In terms of the wall decor, I will quickly dust these with my feather duster rather than wet wiping them down. The only exception would be mirrors, these will be wet wiped each time.

The bottom portion is going to be essentially the same whether it is a deep clean or not. The only difference is the baseboards. Deep cleans focus on scrubbing them down, while maintenance cleans will be more of a quick feather dusting.

Sparkly Green Cleaning Co. strives to maintain a consistently clean home for our clients by providing a deep clean in one to two rooms on a rotating basis. Whether it is one or two rooms will depend on the type of room it is. For example, if the deep cleaning is in the kitchen or bathroom, we will likely keep it as the only room done. However, bedrooms or the dining room are more likely to be coupled with another room. This method prevents our clients from having to purchase a periodic deep clean.

Final Thoughts

Not all cleaners are created equal, so it is important that you ask questions before bringing a new company or cleaner into your home. If they do not provide this information transparently, be sure to ask! This will ensure that your expectations line up and prevent any unexpected surprises. You want to make sure that your money is spent wisely.

Another thing to consider is the process they have for recurring services. If they don’t include the rotating room deep clean, this will lead to a situation where it feels like the quality consistently declines. The initial areas that made it transform so beautifully the first time are never touched on again. This is why we do what we do the way that we do it, so our clients can count on that fresh feeling each and every time we service your home.

Thanks for reading, and I hope this helps! 😊