Choosing a service
Regular, deep or move-out cleaning: which one do you need?
Three kinds of clean, three different jobs. Here's how to tell which one fits your home right now.
The short version: regular cleaning keeps a clean home clean. A deep clean resets a home that has gotten behind. A move-out clean gets an empty home ready for a walkthrough, a sale or the next people to live there.
The quick way to decide
- The house is in decent shape and you just can't keep up with it. You need regular house cleaning.
- It's been months, or you can see buildup on the grout, baseboards and range hood. Start with a deep clean.
- The home is empty, or about to be. You want a move-out or move-in clean.
What each clean covers
These are the general differences. The exact list for your home gets agreed when you get your quote.
| Detail | Regular | Deep | Move-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Keeping up a home that's already clean | Catching up on built-up grime | An empty home before or after a move |
| Home is | Lived in | Lived in | Empty |
| Baseboards & doors | Spot-cleaned as needed | Hand-wiped in every room | Hand-wiped in every room |
| Grout & hard water | Surface cleaned | Scrubbed and descaled | Scrubbed and descaled |
| Inside cabinets | Not included | Not usually, since they're full | Every cabinet and drawer |
| Inside oven & fridge | Add-on | Add-on | Included |
| Blinds, sills & tracks | Dusted in reach | Blinds dusted, sills and tracks cleaned | Blinds dusted, sills and tracks cleaned |
| How often | Weekly, every other week or monthly | Once or twice a year | Once, at the move |
Signs you need a deep clean first
A regular visit is built to maintain a clean home. If the home isn't there yet, the first few visits spend their time catching up, and you won't see the results you're paying for. A deep clean first is usually the better value when:
- The grout has darkened or the shower glass has a cloudy film
- There's grease on the range hood and cabinet fronts
- You can see dust on the baseboards, vents and ceiling fan blades
- It's been a few months since anyone cleaned top to bottom
- You're hosting something big, or getting the house ready to list
When a move-out clean is the right call
A move-out clean is built for an empty home. With the furniture gone, the crew can reach inside every cabinet and closet and clean the floors wall to wall. It's the right choice if you're a renter heading into a walkthrough, a seller getting ready to close, a landlord between tenants, or someone moving into a place that needs to be clean before your things go in.
Renting? Our move-out checklist for California renters explains what a landlord can and can't charge for.
How they work together
Most homes use more than one. A common pattern is a deep clean to reset the house, followed by regular visits to keep it there, with a deep clean again once or twice a year. Every other week suits most households. Weekly makes sense with kids, pets or a full house, and monthly works for smaller or tidier homes.
What affects the price
For any of the three, the price mostly comes down to the size of the home, its condition, pets and any add-ons you choose. That's why Leo quotes after a quick walkthrough or a look at photos rather than giving a flat rate over the phone. The fastest way to an accurate price is to text a few photos of the kitchen and bathrooms.
Still not sure which one fits?
Text Leo a few photos at (559) 514-9816 and he'll tell you.