Standard, Deep or Move-Out Cleaning: What Each Includes and How Much to Charge
A standard clean keeps a home clean (kitchen, bathrooms, dusting, vacuuming and mopping); a deep clean reaches what isn't cleaned every week (baseboards, inside the microwave, built-up grease) and costs almost double; a move-out clean is done in an empty home, includes the inside of cabinets and appliances, and costs about 2.5 times a standard clean. Explaining this to the client is the best way to avoid "you didn't clean this" complaints.
In this article:
Standard (general) cleaning
It's the maintenance clean: it gets the home clean and tidy quickly, and it's the one that repeats weekly or biweekly. Ideal for recurring clients and busy families.
Usually includes:
- Kitchen: countertops, sink, appliance exteriors, cooktop and microwave exterior.
- Bathrooms: toilet, shower or tub, sink and mirrors.
- Bedrooms: dusting surfaces, making beds or changing sheets (if provided) and vacuuming.
- Common areas: dusting furniture, vacuuming sofas and rugs, sweeping and mopping.
Deep cleaning
It includes everything in a standard clean plus the areas that get dirty slowly and aren't cleaned every week: baseboards, door frames, light switches, fans, vents, range hood grease and inside the microwave. Recommended the first time you clean a home or when it hasn't been cleaned thoroughly in months.
On top of a standard clean:
- Kitchen: degrease the range hood, cooktop and backsplash; cabinet exteriors; inside the microwave.
- Bathrooms: remove hard-water stains from shower doors and faucets, grout and full disinfection.
- Whole home: baseboards, door frames and handles, light switches, ceiling fans, vents and cobwebs.
See the full list in the deep cleaning checklist, ready to print.
Standard vs. deep at a glance
| Task | Standard | Deep |
|---|---|---|
| Surfaces | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes, more detailed |
| Dusting and vacuuming | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes, including hard-to-reach areas |
| Kitchen and bathrooms | ✅ Basic | ✅ Intensive scrubbing and sanitizing |
| Appliances | ❌ Outside only | ✅ Inside and outside* |
| Baseboards and vents | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Carpets and upholstery | ✅ Basic vacuuming | ✅ Thorough vacuuming of fabrics and furniture |
| Windows and blinds | ❌ No | ✅ Detailed dusting |
| Wall marks | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
*Many cleaners charge the inside of the oven and fridge as an add-on for deep cleans.
Move-out/move-in cleaning
It's done in an empty home, before handing over the keys or moving in, and includes the inside of everything: closets, drawers, oven, fridge and cabinets. The goal is for the owner to get the deposit back or for the new family to move into a ready home.
On top of a deep clean:
- Inside closets, cabinets and drawers.
- Inside the oven and fridge.
- Window frames, both sides of doors and baseboards throughout.
- Floors in every room, now without furniture.
How much to charge for each type
As a reference, if a standard clean costs X, a deep clean costs about 1.8X, a move-out about 2.5X and post-construction about 3X. The base price depends on the size of the home and your state.
Example with AgendaQuote prices for a 1,500 sq ft home with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms in Minnesota:
| Type | Multiplier | Estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1× | $170 |
| Deep | 1.8× | $305 |
| Move-out | 2.5× | $425 |
| Post-construction | 3× | $510 |
Recurring clients usually get a discount on standard cleans: weekly −20%, biweekly −15% and monthly −10%. Add-ons (inside the oven, inside the fridge, windows, laundry…) are charged separately.
Calculate the price for your state:
Estimate a cleaning price
Using AgendaQuote values for your state (BLS wages). Fine-tune it to your business in the app.
Create quotes like this in 1 minuteKey takeaways
- Standard: weekly or biweekly maintenance.
- Deep: the first time or when a home hasn't been deep cleaned in months (≈1.8×).
- Move-out: empty home, inside everything (≈2.5×).
- Tell the client what each one includes before you start.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a deep clean take?
Usually 1.5 to 2 times as long as a standard clean. A 1,500 sq ft home can take one person 5 to 7 hours.
Should I do a deep clean before starting a recurring client?
It's recommended: the first clean always takes more work. After that, weekly or biweekly standard cleans keep the home up and go faster.
Is the inside of the oven part of a deep clean?
It depends on each cleaner. Most commonly it's an add-on for deep cleans and included in move-out cleans.