What’s the difference between standard and deep cleaning?
Standard cleaning is the regular upkeep that keeps your home fresh week to week: dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping down kitchens and bathrooms. Deep cleaning goes after the buildup regular cleaning never reaches: inside the oven and fridge, behind appliances, grout, baseboards, light fixtures and window tracks. If your home hasn’t had a thorough clean in a while, or you’re moving, renovating or hosting, start with a deep clean. Not sure which one you need? Call The Montreal Maids at 438-994-3370 or request a free estimate.
Think of it like your car: standard cleaning is the weekly wash, deep cleaning is the full detailing, with the vacuum under the seats, the cup holders and the mystery crumbs from three road trips ago. Both matter. They just don’t do the same job.
What Is Included in Standard Cleaning?
Standard cleaning, also called maintenance or recurring cleaning, keeps an already clean home looking that way. It usually includes:
Dusting visible surfaces: shelves, tables and furniture
Vacuuming carpets and rugs
Mopping hard floors
Wiping kitchen counters, the stovetop and the sink
Cleaning toilets, sinks, mirrors and bathtubs
Emptying trash bins
Making beds (in some packages)
Most households book standard cleaning weekly, biweekly or monthly. See our house cleaning services and apartment and condo cleaning.
What Is Included in Deep Cleaning?
Deep cleaning targets the spots where grime, grease and dust build up slowly, which take more time and sometimes special tools:
Inside the oven, fridge and microwave
Behind and under large appliances
Cabinet fronts and interiors
Scrubbing grout and descaling showerheads and faucets
Baseboards, door frames and corners
Window tracks, sills and sometimes screens
Light fixtures, ceiling fans, vents and switch plates
Behind and under furniture
Learn more about our deep cleaning services.
Standard vs Deep Cleaning, Room by Room
Kitchen: standard wipes counters, the sink and the stovetop. Deep cleaning adds inside the oven and fridge, behind appliances and cabinet fronts
Bathroom: standard cleans the toilet, sink and mirror. Deep cleaning adds grout scrubbing, descaling faucets and showerheads, and behind the toilet base
Floors: standard vacuums and mops open areas. Deep cleaning reaches under furniture, along baseboards and into corners
Windows: standard wipes visible glass. Deep cleaning adds tracks, sills and sometimes screens
Fixtures: standard means light dusting. Deep cleaning covers light fixtures, ceiling fans, vents and switch plates
Time: standard is a shorter routine visit. Deep cleaning is a longer, more detailed visit
Frequency: standard is ongoing. Deep cleaning is one-time or a few times a year
A Montreal Tip: Winter Salt Needs More Than a Quick Mop
Montreal winters leave a white film of road salt on entryway floors, mats and baseboards. A quick mop often just spreads it around, and over time it can dull hardwood and leave marks on tile. Getting rid of salt residue properly takes a bit more care, which is one reason many Montreal homes book a deep clean in spring, once the snow is gone. See our spring cleaning services.
When Do You Need a Deep Clean Instead of a Standard Clean?
Moving in or out: see move in / move out cleaning and end of lease cleaning. In Quebec, most leases end June 30, so book early for July 1
After a renovation: fine dust settles everywhere. See post-renovation cleaning
Before hosting a big event or guests staying a while
Seasonally, as a reset, especially in spring after winter
When it’s simply been a long time since anything beyond a surface clean
Should You Start With a Deep Clean Before Regular Cleaning?
Yes, usually. If your home hasn’t been deep cleaned recently, regular visits only maintain a surface that still has buildup underneath. The best approach is one deep clean to get a truly clean starting point, then standard visits to keep it that way. Without the occasional deep clean, grime slowly builds up in the spots routine cleaning never touches.
How The Montreal Maids Handles Both
Whether you book a standard or a deep clean, our team brings all supplies and eco-friendly products, and we use a color-coded cloth system to prevent cross-contamination: red for toilets and washrooms, yellow for areas with a risk of bacteria, blue for glass and mirrors, green for living rooms and common areas. We’re bonded, fully insured and pet friendly, serving the Island of Montreal, Longueuil and Laval.
See our cleaning service prices, or read how often you should deep clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is deep cleaning more expensive than standard cleaning?
Yes, because it takes more time and labor. The exact price depends on the size and condition of your home. See our prices or ask for a free quote.
How often should you get a deep clean?
Most homes benefit from a deep clean once or twice a year, with standard cleaning in between. Homes with pets, kids or heavy use may need it more often.
Can I add only a few deep cleaning tasks to a standard visit?
Yes. You can add specific tasks, like inside the oven or grout scrubbing, to a standard visit instead of booking a full deep clean.
Does deep cleaning take longer?
Yes, considerably longer, since it involves more detailed work.
Do I need a deep clean before moving into a new home?
It’s highly recommended. The previous occupant’s routine cleaning probably didn’t reach inside the oven, behind appliances or into the grout.
I’ve never had my home deep cleaned. Where do I start?
Book one full deep clean first, then switch to a regular standard cleaning schedule to keep it that way.
Do cleaning services work on weekends?
Many do. Read do cleaning services in Montreal work on weekends.
Comparing companies?
See where to find the best cleaners in Montreal.
Ready to book?
Call The Montreal Maids at 438-994-3370 or request your free estimate, and we’ll get back to you quickly.