Deep Cleaning Checklist: Room by Room
A deep cleaning checklist for every room, what is usually not included in a deep clean, and what a full deep house clean costs in Derby.
Derby Cleaners serves homes and businesses across Derby. Eco-friendly products are included, and every booking is covered by our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Call 07491 874921 for a clear quote.
A deep cleaning checklist covers every room in detail: kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, hallways and stairs, plus the places a normal clean skips, such as skirting boards, door frames, switches and the tops of wardrobes. In Derby, a deep clean of a three-bed house takes 7 to 10 hours and costs £175 to £250 at £25 an hour.
How to use this checklist
You can use the lists below in two ways. If you are doing the deep clean yourself, work through one room at a time and finish each room before moving on. If you are hiring someone, use them to agree what is included, room by room, before the visit.
Work from the top of each room to the bottom, and from the back of the room to the door. Dust and drips fall, so you clean the floor last. If you would like to know whether you need a deep clean now, see how often to deep clean and how it differs from regular cleaning.
Kitchen
The kitchen takes the longest, because grease and food residue build up in places a quick clean never reaches.
- Clear and wipe down all worktops and splashbacks
- Degrease the hob, including burners, rings and the surrounding area
- Clean the outside of the oven, the door and the control panel
- Wipe the extractor hood and the visible filter surface
- Clean cupboard doors and handles, inside and out where empty
- Scrub and descale the sink, taps and plughole
- Wipe the outside of the fridge, freezer and dishwasher
- Clean the inside of the microwave
- Wipe small appliances such as the kettle and toaster
- Clean light switches, sockets and door handles
- Vacuum and mop the floor, including edges and under accessible appliances
Bathrooms
Limescale, soap scum and damp are the main targets. They need dwell time, not just a quick wipe.
- Descale taps, shower head, shower screen and tiles
- Scrub the bath or shower tray, including around the waste
- Clean the toilet inside, outside, behind and around the base
- Clean the basin, overflow and plughole
- Scrub grout lines and sealant where the surface allows
- Polish mirrors and wipe cabinets and shelves
- Wipe the extractor fan cover and vent
- Clean tiles, windowsills and radiator
- Mop the floor, including corners and behind the toilet
Bedrooms
Bedrooms collect dust, and it is easy to miss the places that hold most of it.
- Dust all surfaces, shelves, headboards and bedside tables
- Dust picture frames, lampshades and light fittings
- Wipe wardrobe doors, handles and the tops of wardrobes
- Vacuum under the bed and around furniture
- Wipe skirting boards, door frames and door tops
- Clean windowsills, frames and the inside of the glass
- Wipe light switches and plug sockets
- Vacuum the carpet edge to edge or mop the floor
- Make the bed or change linen if you ask
Living areas
Living rooms and dining rooms are used every day, so they pick up fingerprints, crumbs and fine dust.
- Dust surfaces, shelves, TV units and ornaments
- Wipe the TV, remote controls and screens with a suitable cloth
- Vacuum the sofa, including under the cushions
- Vacuum behind and under furniture that moves easily
- Wipe skirting boards, radiators and door frames
- Clean windowsills, frames and the inside of the glass
- Wipe the dining table, chairs and any glass doors
- Clean light switches, sockets and door handles
- Vacuum or mop the floors, including corners
Hallways and stairs
Hallways and stairs take the most footfall, and they are the first thing visitors see.
- Vacuum the stairs, including the edges of each tread
- Dust the banister, spindles and handrail
- Wipe skirting boards and door frames along the hall and stairs
- Clean the front door and the glass panel, inside
- Wipe the letterbox, shoe rack and coat hooks
- Dust light fittings and picture frames
- Wipe light switches and door handles
- Vacuum and mop the hallway floor
What is usually not included in a deep clean
A deep clean is thorough, but it has limits. These jobs are usually separate, because they need different equipment, more time or specialist products.
- Exterior windows
- Carpet shampooing or hot water extraction
- Upholstery and sofa cleaning
- A full oven clean with racks soaked and baked-on carbon removed
- Washing walls and ceilings
- Mould remediation beyond surface treatment
- Rubbish removal and clearing a property
Ask any cleaner for this list before you book, so that nothing you expect turns out to be an extra.
Extras that are worth adding
Several of the items above can be booked alongside a deep clean, so the whole home is finished in one go. These are our prices.
| Extra | Cost |
|---|---|
| Carpet cleaning, every carpet in a three-bed house | £100 to £125 |
| Oven clean, single oven and hob | £40 to £60 |
| Sofa cleaning, two-seater | £40 to £50 |
| Sofa cleaning, three-seater | £50 to £70 |
More detail is on the pages for carpet cleaning, oven cleaning and sofa and upholstery cleaning.
How long a deep clean takes and what it costs
| Property | Time | Cost at £25 an hour |
|---|---|---|
| Two-bed flat | 5 to 7 hours | £125 to £175 |
| Three-bed house | 7 to 10 hours | £175 to £250 |
The lower end suits a home that has been kept up. The upper end is for a home with heavy limescale, a lot of grease, pets or a long gap since the last thorough clean. See how much a deep clean costs in Derby and deep clean prices by property size for other home sizes.
Is a deep clean worth paying for?
A deep clean is worth it in a few situations:
- Before you start regular cleaning, so every room begins at the same standard
- After a long gap, such as a busy winter, a new baby or illness
- Before guests, a celebration or a house sale photo shoot
- When you move in to a home that has been lived in by someone else
- Once or twice a year as a reset, alongside regular visits
If your home is already well kept, you will probably get more value from regular visits than from a deep clean. Our post on what a cleaner can do in 2 or 3 hours shows what a regular clean covers.
How to get ready for a deep clean
- Clear worktops, bathroom shelves and floors so the cleaner can reach every surface
- Put away valuables, paperwork and anything fragile
- Empty the dishwasher and clear the sink
- Move small items from the tops of wardrobes and shelves
- Tell the cleaner about any surfaces that need special care
- Leave pets in a safe room, or tell us they will be around
Questions about deep cleaning
What is included in a deep clean?
A deep clean covers the whole home in detail: kitchen surfaces, cupboard fronts, hob and appliance exteriors, descaled bathrooms, dusting from ceiling corners to skirting boards, door frames, switches, interior windows and sills, and vacuuming and mopping every floor, including edges and corners.
What is not included in a deep clean?
Usually not included are exterior windows, carpet shampooing, upholstery cleaning, a full oven clean, washing walls and ceilings, mould remediation beyond surface treatment, and rubbish removal. Most of these can be booked as separate extras, so ask for them when you request your quote.
Is it worth paying for a deep clean?
Yes, if the home has not had a thorough clean for months, if you are preparing for a move, or if you want to start a regular cleaning routine from a clean baseline. A deep clean makes later regular visits quicker and easier. If your home is already well kept, regular cleaning is enough.
How much does a full deep house clean cost?
At £25 an hour, a deep clean of a three-bed house takes 7 to 10 hours and costs £175 to £250. A two-bed flat takes 5 to 7 hours, which is £125 to £175. Products, equipment and travel inside Derby are included in the hourly rate.
How long does a deep clean take?
A two-bed flat typically takes 5 to 7 hours and a three-bed house 7 to 10 hours. The time depends on how long it has been since the last proper clean, how much limescale and grease there is, and how many people and pets use the home.
Should I do a deep clean before starting regular cleaning?
It is a good idea. A first deep clean brings every room up to the same standard, so each later two or three-hour visit only has to maintain it. Without it, the early regular visits spend much of their time catching up on built-up dirt.
Book a deep clean in Derby
Our deep cleaning service follows this checklist, and the guarantee applies: tell us within 48 hours and we come back to put it right. Call 07491 874921, seven days a week from 9am to 9pm.
Have questions?
We are happy to help. Call us or send an enquiry and we will get back to you.