Last reviewed: September 19, 2026. This is the checklist our teams actually work from.
The checklist, room by room
Each row is one task. A check means it is included in that type of clean. Deep cleans include everything in a standard clean; move-out cleans include everything in a deep clean, plus the insides of cabinets, closets and appliances, because the home is empty.
| Task | Standard | Deep | Move-out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | |||
| Countertops, backsplash and sink scrubbed and dried | Included | Included | Included |
| Outside of appliances wiped, stainless polished with the grain | Included | Included | Included |
| Stovetop degreased, drip pans and grates washed | Included | Included | Included |
| Microwave cleaned inside and out | Included | Included | Included |
| Cabinet fronts and handles wiped | Not included | Included | Included |
| Inside cabinets and drawers | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Inside the oven and refrigerator | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Floors vacuumed and mopped, including under the kick plate edge | Included | Included | Included |
| Bathrooms | |||
| Toilet cleaned and disinfected, base and hinges included | Included | Included | Included |
| Tub, shower walls and glass descaled | Included | Included | Included |
| Sink, faucet and mirror cleaned, streak-free | Included | Included | Included |
| Grout lines scrubbed by hand | Not included | Included | Included |
| Inside vanity drawers and medicine cabinet | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Exhaust fan cover dusted | Not included | Included | Included |
| Floors hand-washed at the edges | Included | Included | Included |
| Bedrooms and living areas | |||
| Reachable surfaces dusted, decor lifted not dusted around | Included | Included | Included |
| Beds made; linens changed if fresh ones are left out | Included | Included | Not included |
| Carpets and rugs vacuumed, edges included | Included | Included | Included |
| Hard floors vacuumed and damp-mopped | Included | Included | Included |
| Baseboards hand-wiped | Not included | Included | Included |
| Doors, frames and light switches wiped | Not included | Included | Included |
| Window sills and tracks cleaned | Not included | Included | Included |
| Ceiling fan blades and vent covers dusted | Not included | Included | Included |
| Inside closets and shelving | Not included | Not included | Included |
| Whole home | |||
| Trash emptied, liners replaced | Included | Included | Included |
| Entry and stair railings wiped | Included | Included | Included |
| Stairs vacuumed | Included | Included | Included |
| Laundry room machines wiped outside | Not included | Included | Included |
| Walk-through against the checklist before we leave | Included | Included | Included |
Which clean do you need?
| Situation | Clean | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Home cleaned professionally in the last month | Standard | Maintenance only; nothing has built up |
| Two months or more since a professional clean | Deep | Baseboards, grout and vents need resetting before a standard visit can keep up |
| Starting recurring service | Deep, then standard | The first visit resets the home; later visits maintain it |
| End of pollen season (late May) | Deep | Sills, tracks and vents hold a season of pine pollen |
| Moving out or in, home empty | Move-out | Insides of cabinets, closets and appliances are only reachable when empty |
| Brand-new construction | Post-construction (quoted) | Drywall dust inside everything, plus sticker and adhesive residue |
The order professionals clean in
If you clean yourself between visits, the order matters more than the products:
- Top to bottom. Dust fans, shelves and sills before counters, and counters before floors, so nothing you clean first gets dusted on later.
- Dry before wet. Dust and vacuum before you mop or wipe with liquid, or you turn dust into mud.
- Apply, then wait. Spray bathroom surfaces first and clean something else while the product works. Disinfectants only disinfect after their labeled contact time, often several minutes.
- Clean to dirty. Kitchen before bathrooms, and a separate cloth for each. We color-code ours so a bathroom cloth never reaches a counter.
- Entry floors first in pollen season. Otherwise the vacuum spreads what came in on shoes through the rest of the house.
What professional cleaners do not do
- Clean up biohazards such as blood, vomit in quantity or bodily fluids — that needs a remediation company
- Treat mold growth beyond surface mildew on grout and caulk
- Clean exterior windows above the first floor or anything needing a tall ladder
- Move furniture over 50 pounds, or unplug electronics with cables attached
- Deal with significant pest droppings, which need pest control first
- Organize or decide where belongings go
How long each clean takes
| Home | Standard (2 people) | Deep (2 people) | Move-out (2 people) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bedroom, 1 bath | About 1 hour | 2 to 2.5 hours | 2.5 to 3 hours |
| 2 bedrooms, 2 baths | About 1.5 hours | 3 to 4 hours | 4 to 5 hours |
| 3 bedrooms, 2 baths | About 2 hours | 4 to 5 hours | 5 to 6 hours |
| 4 bedrooms, 3 baths | 2 to 2.5 hours | 5 to 6 hours | 6 to 7 hours |
A finished basement adds about a third to each. See our prices for what each clean costs.