Cleaning companies use words like regular, one-off, deep and end of tenancy as if everyone knows the difference. If you are wondering which type of clean your home needs, the answer depends less on the size of the house than on what you want the clean to do. Almost every request falls into one of three needs: keeping a home in order, resetting a home that has fallen behind, or handing a property back at the end of a tenancy.
Match the clean to your situation
| Your situation | The clean that fits |
|---|---|
| You want help every week or two so the house never gets on top of you | Regular domestic cleaning |
| The house needs a thorough reset: after building work, before moving in, or after months of busy life | A deep clean |
| You are moving out of a rented home, or a landlord preparing for new tenants | End of tenancy cleaning |
| The carpets look tired, stained or smell, even though the rest of the house is fine | Carpet cleaning |
| You want regular help, but the house is behind | A one-off clean first, then regular visits |
If you are torn between a one-off clean and regular visits, our post on one-off or regular cleaning weighs them up.
Regular cleaning and deep cleaning compared
A regular clean looks after the parts of a home that get used every day: kitchen surfaces, the sink and hob, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming and mopping. It follows a set list and repeats it each visit, weekly or fortnightly.
A deep clean goes where a regular visit does not: skirting boards, behind appliances, inside cupboards, descaling tiles and taps, and surfaces that are hard to reach. It takes much longer and is booked once, or a few times a year. If you want to see what that involves room by room, use our deep cleaning checklist.
End of tenancy and deep cleaning compared
The two involve similar work, but an end of tenancy clean has a fixed purpose: the property is empty and has to meet the standard the landlord or letting agent will check against. It covers the whole property, with the inside of the oven, fridge and cupboards available as extras, and it is planned around the move-out date and the check-out inspection. A deep clean is for a home you are living in, at a time that suits you, and it can be limited to the rooms that need it.
Adding carpet cleaning
Carpet cleaning uses different equipment from the rest of the clean: a machine that puts water and cleaning solution into the carpet and extracts it again, with stains treated first. It is not part of a standard end of tenancy or deep clean, but it can be added to either, so the whole property is done in one booking. That is often the simplest choice when you are moving out or refreshing a home before guests.
Still not sure?
Tell us what you want the home to look like when the cleaners leave, and when, and we will suggest the right clean. You can also browse all our cleaning services, from regular visits to oven, window, carpet and upholstery cleaning, call 01483 773531 or send us a message.