Deep house cleaning services near you

When looking for a professional to deep clean your home, make sure you: 

• Verify their license and insurance: While most states don’t require a cleaning-specific license, a professional cleaning service should have a general business license. It’s also important to verify that they have valid liability insurance in case of injury or damages. Requirements depend on your local area so be sure to do your research.

• Get several estimates: Gather quotes from a few different deep cleaning services near you. The estimates should account for the cost of traveling to your home, square footage of your home, specific areas to be cleaned and any additional costs for heavily soiled areas, pets or special circumstances. Clarify whether the price covers one cleaner or a team of cleaners.

• Read their reviews: An online search will usually show reviews from previous customers. Look for feedback on the service’s thoroughness, efficiency and responsiveness.

• Look at their portfolios: Find some before-and-after photos of the service’s previous work. Pay special attention to areas of the home that tend to require thorough cleaning, like kitchen stoves, fridges, baseboards, bathrooms and flooring.

• Find out if they have warranties: Verify that they back their work with a warranty or guarantee in case you aren’t satisfied.

• Ask important questions: For example, how do they set their prices — hourly, by square foot, etc.? How long is the job projected to take? What is their cancellation policy? Can they customize the job to focus on specific areas of concern you have in your home?

For more tips, visit Thumbtack’s Smart Hiring page.

In most cases, a professional will take the following steps when deep cleaning your home: 

• Conduct a walkthrough and discuss expectations: A professional cleaner may ask for a quick tour of the home and discuss specific tasks to make sure you’re on the same page. 

• Unpack their supplies: You don’t need to provide anything. A professional cleaner will have their favorite cleaning agents and tried-and-true tools at the ready. 

• Declutter first: Some pros will tidy up counters and tables, wash dishes and fold laundry first so they can clear surfaces for cleaning.

• Clean from high to low: Floors are often left for last because dirt will fall on them during the cleaning process.

To prepare for a visit, put away valuables and sensitive documents, arrange for pets to be kept out of the way and declutter ahead of time if the cleaner won’t be doing it for you. 

A deep cleaning is more thorough and detailed than a standard cleaning. In most cases, a professional will do the following: 

• Sweep, mop, vacuum and scrub flooring throughout the home.

• Clean inside, behind and under kitchen appliances (like refrigerators and dishwashers), as well as degrease the area around the stove. 

• Clean along the toilet base and remove soap scum from faucets and shower heads. 

• Wipe down hard-to-reach areas, baseboards, walls, light switches, door handles, high shelves and ceiling fans.

• Dust and wash interior windows, blinds and window sills.

• Move furniture to clean and vacuum underneath and around it. Depending on the size and weight of your furniture and the number of cleaners in your home, a deep cleaning may involve moving couches, tables and other items.

Remember that different companies may cover different tasks in a deep cleaning. Always ask for a detailed list of what’s covered if you book them for a deep cleaning.

Deep cleaning your home once or twice a year is a good general rule. You might also consider deep cleaning every time the seasons change. 

Here are some factors that may affect how often you deep clean your house:

• Allergies: More frequent deep cleaning can help keep allergens like dust mites at bay.

• Pets: Pets tend to track dirt into the house, shed hair, scatter litter and have accidents that require some serious scrubbing power.

• Kids: Life with kids usually means crayon marks on the wall, juice on the rug and a sticky mystery on the bathroom floor that goes beyond routine cleaning.

• Lifestyle: If you smoke indoors, wear shoes in the house, live on a farm or work a job that leaves you dusty and dirty, more frequent deep cleaning may be needed to keep your house fresh.

Regardless of your situation, if you notice bad smells, cobwebs, discoloration, mold or mildew, it's probably time to call a deep cleaning service near you. 

Typically, it will take several hours to a few days for a professional to deep clean a house. A few factors may impact how long it takes. For example:

• Size of the home: It takes longer to deep clean a large home.

• Amount of dirt and grime: Cleaners may need to spend extra time scrubbing surfaces with significant buildup. 

• Surfaces being cleaned: Tile and grout tend to take longer to clean than luxury vinyl plank flooring, for example.  

• Amount of stuff in your home: Everything gets wiped down during a deep clean. The more tables, shelves, ceiling fans, appliances and electronics you have, the longer the project.

• The number of cleaners: The more house cleaners tackling this project, the faster it will go. Ask your pro how much it might cost to bring in several cleaners if you want the job done quickly. 

Remember: The timeline for your deep cleaning services will vary depending on many factors. Always ask your pro to provide an estimate.

Some of the biggest benefits of deep cleaning include:

• Improved hygiene: Deep cleaning eliminates harmful allergens and bacteria.

• Longer-lasting surfaces: Regular cleaning can help floors and furniture stay in good condition.

• Pest prevention: A deep clean can remove food scraps that attract pests like flies and roaches.

Many homeowners find deep cleaning to be a worthwhile investment, but consider these factors to determine if it’s worth the time and cost for you:

• State of your home: Has your home accumulated a substantial amount of dust or grime? If so, a professional may be needed.

• Health issues: Do you have allergies or respiratory health concerns that a deep cleaning might alleviate? 

• Time and energy: Do you have limited time and energy to deep clean yourself? If so, consider hiring a pro.

Deep cleaning a house goes beyond the surface level to clear out the dust, grime and gunk that’s collecting on the fan blades, hiding in the blinds, and built up inside the refrigerator drawers. Deep cleaning of a home or apartment costs more than regular house cleaning because it takes more time, effort, and cleaning products. You may choose to have a deep cleaning once or several times a year in addition to your standard cleaning services. You may have a one-time deep cleaning to prepare for company or to clean after a house party. Companies may charge an hourly rate or a price per square foot, or may offer you a flat rate after they have visited your home and estimated work time. The national average house cleaning price is $110-$150, with rates ranging higher for deep-cleaning services. Here are some examples of how a company may calculate their deep-cleaning prices:

• 10 cents per square foot (compared with 5 cents per square foot for standard house cleaning).
• $300 for a 3,000-square-foot home.
• $25 per hour per worker for deep-cleaning services.

There are many questions to ask a cleaning service before you hire them to make sure they’re the right fit. These questions might include:

• How much do you charge?
• How do you set your prices -- per hour or per square foot? Or, do you charge a flat rate?
• What is your past work experience? Can I see a list of references?
• Are you accustomed to working with different home or apartment types and sizes?
• Can you work with children or pets in the house?
• What types of cleaning products do you use?
• Do you bring your own cleaning supplies and products?
• How often can you clean my home?
• Is there anything you recommend I do (or don't do) to my home before you arrive?

For more tips on how to hire the best maid or house cleaning service, read our smart hiring guide.

A basic house cleaning typically includes tasks like carpet cleaning, wiping countertops, taking out the trash, doing the laundry and washing dishes. A deep house cleaning is a much more involved process, where all aspects of the home are given full attention for a cleanout. In a deep house cleaning, the cleaners will wet-wipe everything from door frames to light switch plates, making sure to also clean walls, windows, air vents, ceiling fans, furniture and more.

You may benefit from hiring a professional move-out cleaning service, depending on your budget, time frame and whether you will be getting a deposit back. Hiring a cleaning service takes the stress out of your move. But if you’ve had your house regularly deep-cleaned, or if your landlord will charge you for cleaning anyway, you can save costs by DIY-ing it.