Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning: What's the Difference?
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When you book a cleaner, the first choice is usually: regular clean or deep clean? They sound similar, but they cover different things, take different amounts of time and cost different amounts. Here's the difference, when you need each one, and what you'll pay in Ottawa.
Quick answer: a regular (standard) clean keeps a home that's already in good shape clean: surfaces, bathrooms, kitchen and floors. A deep clean does all of that plus the build-up a regular clean skips, like baseboards, switches, door handles and hard-to-reach dust. It takes about 1Ā½ hours longer.
Deep cleaning vs regular cleaning at a glance
| Regular clean | Deep clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Ongoing upkeep (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) | First visits, seasonal resets, before or after hosting |
| Kitchen counters, sink, stovetop, cabinet fronts | ā | ā |
| Bathrooms: toilet, shower, tub, fixtures | ā | ā, with extra time on grime and grout |
| Dusting of reachable surfaces | ā | ā |
| Floors vacuumed and mopped | ā | ā |
| Baseboards wiped throughout | ā | ā |
| Light switches and door handles disinfected | ā | ā |
| Detailed dusting of hard-to-reach areas | ā | ā |
| Extra time for build-up | ā | ā (about +1Ā½ hours) |
| Inside oven, fridge, cabinets, windows | Add-on | Add-on (included in move-in/move-out cleans) |
What a regular clean includes
A regular clean is maintenance. It keeps the rooms you use every day fresh and hygienic:
- Kitchen: sink, countertops, cabinet faces and stovetop
- Bathrooms: toilet, shower, tub, handles and drains
- Bedrooms and living areas: surfaces dusted, beds tidied
- Floors: vacuumed and mopped throughout
Because it's done often, there's little build-up, so it's quick. That's why recurring cleans are the most affordable way to keep a home clean.
What a deep clean adds
A deep clean goes after the dirt that builds up slowly in places a regular clean doesn't reach every time:
- Baseboards wiped throughout the home
- Light switches and door handles cleaned and disinfected
- Detailed dusting of vents, ledges, frames and hard-to-reach areas
- Extra time on soap scum, grease and grime in kitchens and bathrooms
Want the inside of the fridge, the oven or your cabinets done too? Add them to a deep clean, or book a move-in/move-out clean, which includes them.
When you need a deep clean
- Your first professional clean. Start with a deep clean, then keep it up with regular visits.
- It's been a few months. If you can see dust on baseboards and grime around handles, a regular clean won't catch up.
- Spring cleaning or a pre-holiday reset. Great before hosting family or after a long Ottawa winter of salt and slush tracked indoors.
- Before listing or after renovations. A deep clean makes photos and showings look their best.
- Moving? Book a move-in/move-out clean instead. It's built for an empty home and includes the appliances. See our move-out cleaning checklist.
How often should you deep clean?
Most homes do well with a deep clean two to four times a year and regular cleans in between. Homes with pets, kids or allergies may want one every season. If you book regular bi-weekly cleans, you'll need deep cleans less often, because build-up never gets the chance to settle in.
Cost: deep clean vs regular clean in Ottawa
At $45 per cleaner, per hour with a 3-hour minimum, here's what the difference looks like with SHossaini Solutions (one-time prices, rounded, including HST):
| Home | Regular clean | Deep clean |
|---|---|---|
| 1ā2 bedroom, 1 bathroom | about $153 | about $229 |
| 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom | about $191 | about $267 |
| 4 bedroom, 2Ā½ bathroom with finished basement | about $292 | about $369 |
Regular cleans get cheaper when they recur: 5% off monthly, 10% off bi-weekly and 15% off weekly. For the full breakdown, see our house cleaning cost guide.
The smart way to book
For most Ottawa homes, the best value is one deep clean to reset, then regular bi-weekly or monthly cleans to keep it that way. You get a truly clean home once, then pay less each visit to maintain it.
Not sure which one you need?
Try both in our instant calculator and compare the price, or ask us and we'll recommend the right clean for your home.
Deep cleaning in Ottawa Ā· Get an instant quote Ā· Call or text 343-501-0002
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a deep clean and a regular clean?
A regular clean covers kitchens, bathrooms, surfaces and floors for ongoing upkeep. A deep clean adds baseboards, light switches, door handles, detailed dusting and extra time for build-up.
How long does a deep clean take?
About 1Ā½ hours more than a regular clean. For example, a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom house is about 5Ā¼ labour hours, or around 2Ā½ to 3 hours on site with a two-person team.
Does a deep clean include the inside of the oven and fridge?
Not by default. They're available as add-ons, and they're included in a move-in/move-out clean.
How often should I get a deep clean?
Two to four times a year works for most homes, with regular cleans in between.
Should my first cleaning be a deep clean?
Usually, yes. A deep clean gets the home to a clean baseline, so your regular cleans after that are faster and cost less.
Prices are estimates from our 2026 calculator, rounded to the nearest dollar, and include 13% HST. Final hours can vary with the condition of the home, and we confirm your price before booking.