If you’ve never booked a professional house cleaning before, it’s normal to wonder what you’re getting. Do they clean everything? Just the obvious stuff?
Here’s a straightforward answer — no fluff, no vague promises. Just exactly what a professional house cleaning covers, and what it doesn’t.
Deep Clean vs. Standard Clean
Professional house cleaning typically comes in two levels: a standard clean and a deep clean. Understanding the difference helps you book the right one.
Standard clean: Designed for homes on a regular schedule — weekly, biweekly, or monthly. It’s thorough and consistent, focused on the surfaces and areas that need routine attention.
Deep clean: Goes significantly further. Your first professional house cleaning will likely be a deep clean to return the home to a baseline we can maintain going forward. This also applies to homes that haven’t been cleaned professionally in more than a month, or any move-in/move-out situation. It’s more of a full reset.
What Professional House Cleaning Includes (By Room)
There’s something to be said for what a professional house cleaning can accomplish that even the most diligent homeowner rarely has time for. It’s not about effort — it’s about having the right tools, professional-grade natural products, and the kind of experience that comes from cleaning hundreds of homes. A professional cleaning team moves efficiently and thoroughly, getting into the spots that are easy to overlook when life gets busy. The result is a clean that feels different — and lasts longer.
Your house cleaner should pick items up from each surface to clean thoroughly, rather than just wiping around them.
Kitchen cleaning generally includes:
- Disinfect sink & countertops
- Clean front of cabinets
- Outside of refrigerator & countertop appliances
- Clean microwave inside & out
- Clean stovetop, control panels & hood vent
- Polish all metal surfaces
- Wipe & disinfect table
- Dust all reachable surfaces
- Spot clean walls & remove cobwebs as noticed
- Mop floors with fresh water
You can ask for these, if not included every visit:
- Pull out the oven and clean behind it
- Range hood filters (grease buildup)
- Scrubbing the trash bin
Bathrooms should include:
- Wipe & disinfect countertops
- Clean mirrors
- Clean showers & tubs, scrub shower floors
- Polish all metal surfaces
- Clean & disinfect toilets
- Disinfect light switches & door handles
- Dust all reachable objects
- Mop floors with fresh water
You can ask for these, if not included every visit:
- Extra time on grout detailing
- Additional detailing of shower door tracks and seals
Bedrooms & living spaces:
- Dust reachable surfaces & furniture
- Make beds if left untidy (not all services offer this)
- Floors & stairs
- Empty trash if full
- Window smudges as noticed
You can ask for these, if not included every visit:
- Vacuuming pet hair from furniture
- Ceiling fans & light fixtures
- Baseboards & window frames
- Cleaning under furniture
- Closet floors & shelves
What a Professional House Cleaning Doesn’t Include
A good cleaning company will always be upfront about scope before they start. To set honest expectations, professional house cleaners typically won’t:
- Move heavy furniture or fragile items but will clean them
- Clean higher than a step ladder but may use extendable tools
- Handle pet messes, pests, blood, or other biohazards
- Touch technology including computers, tv’s, or printers
- Clean the exterior of the home
Many cleaning companies also won’t do dishes or laundry, but we’re happy to help wherever you need us.
Add-Ons Worth Knowing About
Some professional house cleaning services offer add-ons you can request in advance. For example, ours include:
- Inside oven or refrigerator
- Dishes
- Laundry washing & folding
- Interior windows & window blinds
- Organizing & tidying
- Inside drawers
- Specialty cleaning by request
These aren’t part of a standard or deep clean, but they’re worth asking about when you book.
Which Level Do You Need?
Here’s a simple rule of thumb:
- First time booking a professional house cleaning? Start with a deep clean.
- Haven’t had a professional clean in more than a month? Deep clean.
- Already on a regular schedule? Standard clean is perfect, with add on’s as needed.
- Moving in or out? Deep clean, every time.
Book a Professional House Cleaning
Lemon Fresh Cleaners offers professional house cleaning services with a 24-Hour Satisfaction Guarantee, incredible natural products, and a team you’ll actually look forward to having in your home. Female-owned and operated, with locations across the region. Get started with a free estimate.
