What's Included in a Standard House Clean vs a Deep Clean

One of the most common sources of disappointment in professional cleaning is the gap between what a client meant by "deep clean" and what the cleaner understood it to be. The word "deep" is used by both cleaning companies and clients, but it rarely means the same thing to both parties.

A client who books a deep clean expecting the inside of every cupboard to be wiped, the oven to be fully cleaned, the grout to be scrubbed, and the ceiling fans to be done — and instead gets a more thorough version of the regular clean — has a legitimate grievance. But so does a cleaner who quoted for one thing and is now expected to deliver something twice as time-consuming.

The solution is clarity before booking. This post defines both service types clearly — what should be in each, what's commonly excluded, and how to make sure you're communicating precisely what you need.

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Standard House Clean: What It Is

A standard maintenance clean is designed to keep an already-reasonably-maintained home in good condition. It covers the surfaces and areas that need regular attention — typically every fortnight or month — to maintain a baseline of cleanliness.

It is not designed to address months of accumulated buildup, deep-embedded grime, or areas that are only cleaned occasionally. It's maintenance, not restoration.

What a Standard Clean Should Include

Bedrooms:

• Dust all accessible surfaces (bedside tables, shelves, windowsills)
• Wipe surfaces with a damp cloth
• Clean mirrors
• Vacuum floors and mop if hard floors
• Empty bins

Bathrooms:

• Clean toilet (bowl, seat, outside, base)
• Clean basin and taps
• Wipe shower/bath walls and glass
• Clean mirror
• Mop floor
• Empty bin
• Restock toilet paper if provided

Kitchen:

• Wipe all benchtops
• Wipe stovetop (exterior — not a deep clean of baked-on grease)
• Wipe outside of appliances (fridge front, microwave exterior, dishwasher front)
• Clean sink
• Wipe cupboard fronts (not inside)
• Mop floor
• Empty bin

Living areas:

• Dust accessible surfaces
• Wipe surfaces
• Vacuum floors, mop if hard floors
• Empty bins

General:

• Skirting boards dusted (not necessarily wiped in every visit)
• High-touch surfaces (light switches, door handles) wiped

What a Standard Clean Does NOT Include

• Inside of oven
• Inside of cupboards or drawers
• Inside of fridge
• Rangehood filter removal and cleaning
• Ceiling fans (may be dusted but not always wiped)
• Windows (internal or external)
• Blind cleaning (individual slat wiping)
• Laundry (washing, folding)
• Changing bed linen (unless specifically agreed)
• Scrubbing grout
• Moving heavy furniture
• Garages, balconies, external areas

These aren't hidden extras — they're simply not the scope of maintenance cleaning. Any of them can be added, but they need to be agreed and priced accordingly.

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Deep Clean: What It Is

A deep clean is a comprehensive, intensive clean designed to address accumulated buildup and areas that standard cleaning doesn't cover. It's appropriate:

• As a first clean before starting a regular maintenance schedule
• After a long period without professional cleaning
• Seasonally (spring clean, autumn reset)
• Before or after a major event
• At the end of a long tenancy (separate from a bond clean — see below)
• Moving in or out

A deep clean typically takes 2–3x longer than a standard clean of the same property, and is priced accordingly.

What a Deep Clean Should Include

Everything in the standard clean, plus:

Kitchen:

• Oven interior (cavity, racks, door glass inside and out)
• Rangehood filter removed and cleaned
• Inside of all cupboards and drawers
• Inside of microwave
• Inside of fridge (exterior in standard, interior in deep clean)
• Splashback including grout
• Exhaust fan cover
• Top of fridge and overhead cupboards

Bathrooms:

• Grout scrubbing in shower and floor tiles
• Exhaust fan cover removed and cleaned
• Shower head descaled
• Showerscreen/glass descaled (limescale removal)
• Behind and at the base of the toilet
• Cabinet interiors

Bedrooms:

• Wardrobe interiors — shelves, tracks, floor
• Ceiling fans wiped (each blade)
• Skirting boards wiped (full length)
• Windows cleaned (glass, frames, sills, tracks)

Living areas:

• Skirting boards wiped throughout
• Ceiling fans
• Light fittings dusted
• Blinds (dusted or wiped per type)
• Windows
• Under and behind furniture moved (within reason)
• Sliding door tracks

Laundry:

• Washing machine interior (drum, seal, drawer)
• Dryer exterior and lint filter
• Laundry trough

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Bond Clean: How It Differs

A bond clean (end of lease clean) is distinct from both of the above. It's cleaned to a specific standard — the condition documented in the ingoing condition report — and is subject to inspection by the property management cleaning in Adelaide.

Bond cleans typically include everything in a deep clean, plus:

• Carpet professionally steam cleaned (usually, per lease terms)
• Walls checked for marks and wiped
• All windows internal
• All blinds per type
• External areas if specified in the lease

Bond cleans are the most intensive and time-consuming cleaning service and are priced accordingly. See our end of lease cleaning guide for the complete rundown.

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How to Book the Right Service

When booking any professional cleaning service in Adelaide, don't just say "standard" or "deep" — specify what you actually need. Tell the cleaner:

1. When was the home last professionally cleaned? This affects which service type is appropriate.
2. What specific areas or tasks are most important to you? Oven? Inside cupboards? Grout?
3. What is explicitly in or out of scope? Get this in writing — a simple email confirmation of what's included is sufficient.
4. What's the current condition? A home that hasn't been deep-cleaned in 2 years requires more time than one that was done 6 months ago.

A reputable cleaning company will ask these questions before quoting and won't provide a fixed-price quote without understanding the scope.

Questions to Ask Before Booking

• "Is the oven interior included?"
• "Does this include the inside of kitchen cupboards?"
• "Are ceiling fans included?"
• "Do you clean window tracks?"
• "How are blinds handled?"
• "What's your re-clean policy if something is missed?"

Getting specific answers before booking removes all ambiguity about what you're paying for.

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Pricing Difference Between Standard and Deep Clean

As a general guide for Adelaide in 2025:

Home size	Standard clean	Deep clean
2 bedroom	$150 – $210	$280 – $420
3 bedroom	$200 – $280	$380 – $560
4 bedroom	$250 – $360	$480 – $720

The deep clean range is wide because it depends significantly on the current condition and exactly what's in scope. A deep clean with full oven, all cupboards, and windows takes longer than one without.

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At PF Cleaning, we get specific before every job. We'll ask exactly what you need, quote based on that scope, and confirm in writing what's included. Contact us for a transparent quote on either a standard or deep clean in Adelaide.

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Written by Victor Jacon — Master Cleaner & Home Detailing Specialist, Founder of PF Cleaning Adelaide.