Standard clean or deep clean: which does your home need?

Short answer: choose a standard clean if your home is regularly maintained and you want it kept on track. Choose a deep clean if it needs more detailed cleaning and additional attention, for example after a busy few months, before guests arrive, or when it's been a while since a professional clean.

What a standard clean is for

A standard clean is the right choice for homes that are kept up regularly. It's a thorough clean of every room, designed to keep things fresh week to week or fortnight to fortnight. Once a home is on a routine, it usually doesn't need the extra time a deep clean takes.

It suits you if:

• Your home was cleaned properly within the last month or so
• You're booking a weekly or fortnightly routine
• You mainly want the floors, kitchen, bathrooms and surfaces looked after

What a deep clean is for

A deep clean gives your home more time and more detail. Your cleaner spends longer on build-up in kitchens and bathrooms and on the details that a regular clean moves past.

It suits you if:

• It's been a while since your home had a professional clean
• Kitchens and bathrooms have visible build-up
• You're getting your home ready for guests or a special occasion
• You've just moved in and want a fresh start
• You're about to start a regular routine and want a solid base first

A simple way to decide

Ask yourself one question: would a regular clean leave your home looking the way you want? If yes, a standard clean is all you need. If you can already picture the areas that need extra attention, book a deep clean.

Many households do both: a deep clean first to reset the home, then a weekly or fortnightly standard clean to keep it that way. That routine also saves you 20% (weekly) or 15% (fortnightly) on every clean after the first.

Questions to ask yourself

If you're still unsure, run through these:

• When was the last professional clean? More than a couple of months usually points to a deep clean.
• Are the kitchen and bathrooms the problem? If it's only one or two areas, a standard clean with the right extras may be enough.
• Is this a one-off or the start of a routine? A routine works best when it starts from a properly clean home.
• Is there a deadline? Guests, a family event or a home inspection are good reasons to give the home more time.

When to switch back to standard

A deep clean isn't something most homes need every time. Once your home is back to where you want it, regular standard cleans keep it there. If you notice build-up returning between cleans, you can book the occasional deep clean, for example each change of season, or add extras like a shower and grout detail to your regular clean instead.

How the price compares

Deep cleans take longer, so they cost more. For a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home, a one-off standard clean is $269 and a deep clean is $345 at the time of writing. Our house cleaning price guide explains what sets the price.

Add only what you need

Whichever you choose, you can add extras for specific jobs, like the inside of the oven ($79), the fridge ($45) or a shower and grout detail ($49 per bathroom). Sometimes a standard clean with one or two extras is all a home needs, and it costs less than moving up to a deep clean.

Choosing in the booking

When you start a booking, the first step asks how you'd describe your home: Standard Clean, for homes that are regularly maintained, or Deep Clean, for homes requiring more detailed cleaning and additional attention. You'll see the price for both for your home before you decide.