Written by MaidEX Cleaning Services Editorial Team · Reviewed by Milad Hoseini, Founder & CEO · Published August 6, 2026 · Updated October 16, 2026 · 5 min read
The short version
A standard clean keeps an already-tidy home fresh — kitchen, bathrooms, floors and dusting. A deep clean does all of that plus the detail that builds up over time: baseboards, cabinet fronts, door frames, switch plates, and extra work on grout and tile. A deep clean takes longer, so it costs more. Most people start with a deep clean, then keep it up with standard recurring visits (up to 15% off). Inside the oven, fridge and cabinets are paid add-ons on either — included only on a move-in/out clean.
“Standard” and “deep” are the two cleans you'll choose between most often, and the names don't really explain the difference. Here's the honest way our crews think about it: a standard clean is maintenance — it keeps a home that's already in decent shape looking and feeling fresh. A deep clean is a reset — it goes after the build-up and the detail spots that a weekly clean never has time for. Everything a deep clean does, a standard clean does too; a deep clean just adds the slower, more detailed work on top.
A deep clean goes after build-up a weekly clean skips — here, a cooktop and backsplash reset on a MaidEX Vancouver deep clean.
Standard vs deep vs move-out, side by side
| What's covered | Standard | Deep | Move-in/out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Counters, sinks, appliance exteriors, floors | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dusting reachable surfaces & furniture | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Baseboards, cabinet fronts, door frames | — | Yes | Yes |
| Switch plates & high-touch detail | — | Yes | Yes |
| Grout & tile detail | Light | Yes | Yes |
| Inside oven / fridge / cabinets | Add-on | Add-on | Included |
| Best for | Upkeep | First visit / reset | Empty home / deposit |
What's in a standard clean
A standard clean covers the visible, everyday surfaces — the things that make a home feel cared for week to week:
- Kitchen: counters and backsplash wiped, sink cleaned and sanitized, appliance exteriors and the stovetop wiped, floors swept and mopped.
- Bathrooms: toilet, tub and shower scrubbed and disinfected, sink and mirror polished, floors washed.
- Bedrooms & living areas: reachable surfaces and furniture dusted, floors vacuumed and mopped, trash emptied and a general tidy of surfaces.
It's the right level for a home that's already in good shape — and the one you'll book most often once the home is reset.
What a deep clean adds
A deep clean includes everything in a standard clean, plus the slower detail work that a quick clean never gets to:
- Baseboards, cabinet fronts and door frames wiped
- Light-switch plates and high-touch spots
- Extra time in the bathrooms on grout, tile and soap-scum build-up
- Corners, edges and the places a weekly clean usually passes over
This is the work that makes a home feel genuinely reset rather than just tidied — which is why it takes longer and costs more than a standard visit.
The add-ons (same on both)
One thing that surprises people: inside the oven, inside the fridge and inside cabinets are optional paid add-ons on both standard and deep cleans — a deep clean doesn't include them automatically. You tick the ones you want at booking and the price updates instantly. Interior windows & tracks and blinds are paid add-ons too. The one time these inside-appliance jobs come included is a move-in/move-out clean, which is built for an empty home. For the full room-by-room list, see what's included in a house cleaning.
How to decide
Choose a standard clean if… your home is already well-maintained and you just want to keep it that way. A weekly, bi-weekly or monthly plan is ideal, and recurring visits save up to 15% (from the second clean).
Choose a deep clean if… any of these are true:
- It's your first professional clean in a while
- You want a seasonal reset — spring cleaning, or before/after guests
- Allergies or pets, or you just want that top-to-bottom fresh feeling
The move most of our customers make: start with a deep clean, then switch to standard recurring visits to hold the result. It's the most cost-effective way to keep a home consistently clean — you pay once for the reset, then a lower per-visit rate to maintain it. If you're genuinely unsure, a deep clean is the safe first choice. New to hiring a cleaner altogether? Start with how to choose a cleaning service.
What it costs
A deep clean costs more than a standard clean for one simple reason: it takes longer. More rooms get the detailed treatment, and build-up takes real time to shift. Rather than quote a vague hourly range, MaidEX shows a flat, upfront price for your exact home and the options you choose — with the 5% GST shown and no PST (cleaning is PST-exempt in BC), and insured, background-checked cleaners behind a satisfaction guarantee. You can see your exact price for both levels in about 60 seconds, so you can compare before you commit.
Compare both and see the price instantly.
Flat-rate, 5% GST shown, no PST · Insured & background-checked · Metro Vancouver & the Lower Mainland
See my priceFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between a standard clean and a deep clean?
A standard clean keeps an already-tidy home fresh — kitchen, bathrooms, floors and dusting of reachable surfaces. A deep clean does all of that plus the detail that builds up over time: baseboards, cabinet fronts, door frames, switch plates, and extra work on grout and tile. A deep clean takes longer, so it costs more.
Do I need a deep clean or a standard clean first?
If it's your first professional clean in a while, start with a deep clean — it resets the home and reaches the spots regular cleaning skips. After that, standard recurring visits keep it up at a lower per-visit price. If your home is already well-maintained, a standard clean is enough.
Is cleaning inside the oven and fridge included in a deep clean?
No — inside the oven, inside the fridge and inside cabinets are optional paid add-ons on both standard and deep cleans. You add them at booking and the price updates instantly. They're included free only on a move-in/move-out clean.
How much more does a deep clean cost?
A deep clean costs more than a standard clean because it takes longer — more rooms get detailed, and build-up takes extra time. MaidEX prices are flat-rate and shown before you book (5% GST, no PST), so you'll see the exact difference for your home in about 60 seconds on the booking page.
How often should I get a deep clean?
Most homes do well with one or two deep cleans a year — often a first visit plus a seasonal reset — kept up with standard recurring visits in between. Homes with pets, allergies or heavy use may benefit from deep cleans more often.
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.