Deep Clean vs. Regular Clean: How Much to Charge for Each
"Can you just do a regular clean?" is one of the most expensive sentences a new cleaner can agree to on a first visit. A home that hasn't been professionally cleaned in months takes far longer than a maintained one. If you price it the same, you're working those extra hours for free.
What's the difference between a deep clean and a regular clean?
A regular (maintenance) clean keeps an already-clean home in good shape: surfaces, floors, kitchen and bathroom fixtures, trash, and a general tidy.
A deep clean gets the buildup a regular clean skips. It usually includes:
- Baseboards, door frames, and light switches wiped by hand
- Scrubbing grout, shower doors, and hard-water buildup
- Behind and under easy-to-move furniture and appliances
- Cabinet fronts, window sills, and blinds
- Detailed kitchen degreasing (backsplash, range hood, cabinet tops)
Write your own checklist for each and share it with clients before the first visit. Clear expectations prevent most "I thought that was included" conversations.
How much longer does a deep clean take?
It depends on the home's condition, but many cleaners find a first deep clean takes 1.5 to 2 times as long as a regular clean of the same home. Time your own jobs. After five or six deep cleans you'll know your real number.
The multiplier method
The simplest way to price a deep clean is to start from your regular price and multiply:
Deep clean price = regular clean price × your deep-clean multiplier
If your deep cleans take about 50% longer, use 1.5. If they take twice as long, use 2. Here's how that plays out with a 1.5 multiplier:
| Home | Regular clean | Deep clean (×1.5) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bed / 1 bath | $115 | $172.50 → $175 |
| 3 bed / 2 bath | $140 | $210 |
| 4 bed / 3 bath | $195 | $292.50 → $295 |
These are example numbers. Use your own regular prices, and round up to a clean figure.
Charge the deep clean first, then the recurring price
The smoothest way to sell this is a two-step quote: "Your first visit is a deep clean at $210. After that, biweekly cleans are $126." The client sees exactly why the first visit costs more, and you start the relationship at a fair price instead of trying to raise it later.
When a "deep clean" is really a different job
Some homes need more than a deep clean: heavy clutter, hoarding situations, post-construction dust, or a home that's been vacant for a year. Don't squeeze these into your deep-clean price. Quote them by the hour after a walkthrough, or pass if they're outside what you want to do.
Quick checklist
- Define what's in a regular clean and a deep clean, in writing
- Time your deep cleans and set a multiplier from real data
- Quote first visits as a deep clean, then give the recurring price
- Quote extreme jobs hourly, after a walkthrough
Price every job the same way, every time
The Cleaning Price Calculator applies your deep-clean and move-out multipliers, add-ons, and recurring discounts automatically, then shows your real hourly pay before you send the quote.