Written by MaidEX Cleaning Services Editorial Team · Reviewed by Milad Hoseini, Founder & CEO · Published September 3, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026 · 4 min read
The short version
A deep clean is a top-to-bottom reset of a home you're still living in; a move-out clean is for an empty home you're leaving or moving into. Both go further than a standard clean — the move-out clean is simply the most detailed of the three, done in a vacant space so every surface and corner gets covered. The big practical difference: inside the oven, fridge and cabinets are paid add-ons on a deep clean but included on a move-out clean.
A move-out clean reaches everything an empty home allows — oven, fridge and cabinets included. Real MaidEX move-out result.
What a deep clean covers
Everything in a standard clean, plus the detail work that builds up over time:
- Cabinet fronts, baseboards and door frames
- Light switch plates and high-touch spots
- Extra time in the bathrooms on grout, tile and build-up
- Corners, edges and the places a quick clean usually misses
It's done while you still live in the home — ideal for a first professional clean, a seasonal reset, or before guests arrive. (Still deciding between a deep and a standard clean? See deep clean vs standard clean.)
What a move-out clean covers
The most thorough clean we offer, for an empty home:
- Every room cleaned top to bottom with the home cleared out
- Inside cupboards and closets, baseboards, doors and frames
- Detailed kitchen and bathrooms — the spots landlords inspect
- Inside the oven, fridge and cabinets — included as standard
Because the home is empty, our team can reach everything — which is exactly what you need to get your damage deposit back or move into a spotless new place. For the full room-by-room list, see the move-out cleaning checklist.
Deep clean vs move-out clean, side by side
| Deep clean | Move-out clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Home is | Lived-in / furnished | Empty / moving out |
| Best for | First clean, seasonal reset, before guests | End of a lease, selling, or moving in |
| Main goal | A thorough refresh you can maintain | Deposit back / spotless handover |
| Inside cupboards & closets | Fronts & reachable areas | Inside & out (empty) |
| Inside oven / fridge | Add-on | Included free |
| Detail level | High | Highest |
Which one should you choose?
- Staying in your home and want a thorough reset? Choose a deep clean.
- Handing back keys, selling, or moving into an empty place? Choose a move-out clean.
- Not moving but overdue? A deep clean now, then a standard recurring plan keeps it up for less.
What about the price?
Both are priced by the size of your home and the details you add — and with MaidEX you see the exact, flat-rate number online before you book, with the 5% GST included and no PST (cleaning is PST-exempt in BC). On a deep clean you can add inside-oven, inside-fridge or inside-cabinet cleaning and the price updates instantly; on a move-out clean those are already included at no extra charge, so there are no surprises.
See your exact deep-clean or move-out price in about a minute.
Flat-rate, 5% GST shown, no PST · Insured & background-checked · Metro Vancouver & the Lower Mainland
Book a cleanFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a deep clean and a move-out clean?
A deep clean is a top-to-bottom reset of a home you're still living in — it adds detail work (baseboards, cabinet fronts, detailed bathrooms) to a standard clean. A move-out clean is for an empty home you're leaving or moving into, and covers every surface and corner so you can hand back the keys or start fresh. Move-out is the most detailed clean of the three.
Do I need a deep clean or a move-out clean when I move?
When you're moving out of (or into) an empty home, choose a move-out clean — it's designed for a vacant space and targets the detail landlords inspect for your damage deposit. Choose a deep clean when you're staying in the home and want a thorough seasonal or first-time reset.
Does a move-out clean include inside the oven, fridge and cabinets?
Yes — a move-out clean covers the empty home top to bottom, and cleaning inside the oven, inside the fridge and freezer, and inside the cabinets and drawers are all included as standard, at no extra charge. On a deep clean those are optional paid add-ons.
Is a move-out clean taxed in BC?
You pay only the 5% federal GST. General residential cleaning — including move-out cleaning — is PST-exempt in BC, so there's no 7% PST added on top.
About the author
Milad Hoseini
Founder & CEO, MaidEX Cleaning Services
Written by the MaidEX Cleaning Services Editorial Team and reviewed by Milad Hoseini, who founded MaidEX in Vancouver. MaidEX provides insured, background-checked cleaning across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. More about MaidEX →
How this guide was made
This guide draws on MaidEX's hands-on cleaning experience across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, along with publicly available sources. It was drafted with the help of AI tools, then reviewed and fact-checked by our editorial team and approved by Milad Hoseini, Founder & CEO, before publishing.