If your home has not had a professional clean before, or the last one was months ago, book a deep clean first. A regular clean is built to keep a home at a level it has already reached; a deep clean is what gets it there. The difference is easiest to see by putting the two PavMa checklists next to each other.
The two checklists differ in edges, vents and appliance interiors
Both services cover the same rooms: kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas, with floors vacuumed and mopped and garbage taken out. The gap is in the surfaces a weekly wipe-down never reaches. Here is where each one stands, taken from the service pages for regular house cleaning and deep cleaning.
| Area | Regular cleaning | Deep cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Baseboards | Not on the checklist | Included in every room, plus kitchen toe-kicks under the cabinets |
| Doors and door frames | Switches and door handles are wiped | Doors, frames, handles and switches are cleaned |
| Air vents, light fixtures, ceiling fans | Not on the checklist | Accessible vents and fixtures, fan blades dusted |
| Windowsills and tracks | Not on the checklist | Sills, accessible frames and tracks wiped |
| Under furniture and upholstery | Carpets and floors vacuumed | Vacuuming under accessible furniture, sofas and the areas under cushions |
| Oven and refrigerator | Exteriors wiped; insides are optional add-ons | Oven and fridge cleaned inside and outside |
| Microwave | Exterior, and the interior when needed | Interior cleaned |
| Range hood and backsplash | Cooktop cleaned | Cooktop, burners, range hood and backsplash, with normal grease removed |
| Cabinets | Exteriors wiped | Fronts, handles and drawer fronts cleaned; interiors by request, with extra time |
| Bathroom tile and glass | Tub, shower, normal water marks and soap residue | Shower walls, tile and grout, detailed shower glass, normal limescale, the toilet base and the outside of the fan |
Neither checklist moves heavy furniture or appliances. On a deep clean, the space behind or under an appliance is cleaned only when it can be moved easily and safely.
Five signs the first visit should be a deep clean
- Grey lines along the baseboards
- Dust settles on the top edge of the trim and along the floor next to it. A regular clean vacuums the floor but does not wipe the trim itself.
- Grease you can feel on the range hood or cabinet fronts
- Cooking grease builds into a tacky film that a quick wipe smears. The deep-clean kitchen list treats the hood, the backsplash and the cabinet fronts as their own jobs.
- A dull film on the shower glass or chrome
- Soap residue and limescale build up in layers. Normal limescale is on the deep-clean bathroom list, along with tile and grout.
- An oven or fridge nobody has opened with a cloth in months
- Spills bake on and shelves collect drips. Both interiors are part of a deep clean; on a regular visit they are add-ons you choose.
- Dust you can see on the vents or the fan blades
- A ceiling fan spreads whatever sits on its blades the next time it is switched on. Fixtures, fans and accessible vents are on the deep-clean list only.
One sign is enough to make a deep clean the sensible starting point. If none of them describe your home, a regular clean can be the first visit.
When a regular clean is the right first visit
Some homes do not need the extra detail work on day one. A regular clean is a reasonable start in these cases.
The home was cleaned thoroughly not long ago
If a deep clean, a move-in clean or your own top-to-bottom clean happened recently, the edges and appliances are already at a good level, and routine upkeep is what keeps them there.
You only need the everyday rooms brought back
Counters, sinks, toilets, mirrors and floors are the core of the regular checklist. If those are what bother you, a regular visit covers them, and beds can be made on request.
One or two problem spots, not the whole house
If the oven is the only real problem, a regular clean with the inside-oven add-on may cover it. The same goes for the fridge interior, cabinet interiors, interior windows, blinds, pet hair or a finished basement, which are all on PavMa's list of optional extras.
How the first visit sets up the routine that follows
A deep clean is often the step before a recurring schedule. PavMa's own deep-cleaning page describes it as a good starting point before moving to regular cleaning, and the sequence usually looks like this:
- Send photos of the worst spots. Photos on WhatsApp of the oven, the shower or the baseboards help match the service to what the home actually needs.
- Book the deep clean as a one-time visit. The quote is free and depends on the service, the size and condition of the home, and any extras; the scope is confirmed before the cleaning starts.
- Choose a rhythm for regular cleaning. Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly, depending on how quickly the kitchen, bathrooms and floors fill up again in your household.
- Bring back a deep clean when buildup returns. A seasonal reset or a heavier stretch, like a renovation next door or a busy winter with salt on the floors, is the moment to book the detailed list again.
What to tell the cleaner before either visit
The checklist is a starting point, and the final scope is confirmed for your home. A few details help plan the right amount of time:
- delicate finishes, natural stone or surfaces that are already damaged and should be left alone;
- pets, so access, pet hair and product preferences can be planned;
- allergies or products you would rather avoid;
- parking and entry instructions, since you do not need to be home if access is arranged;
- the rooms you want done first.
You can put these in the deep-cleaning quote form, or ask for a regular cleaning quote if the signs above do not fit your home. If you are not sure which one you need, send the photos and ask PavMa to recommend the service.
Choosing between a deep clean and a regular clean
Is a deep clean always needed before regular cleaning starts?
No. It makes sense when there is buildup on the baseboards, vents, appliance interiors or bathroom tile and glass. If the home was cleaned thoroughly not long ago, a regular clean can be the first visit and the routine can start from there.
Does a regular clean include the inside of the oven and fridge?
Not by default. On a regular clean the oven and fridge are wiped on the outside, and their interiors are optional add-ons you can request. A deep clean includes the oven and the refrigerator inside and outside as part of its checklist.
Are the insides of kitchen cabinets part of a deep clean?
They can be added on request with additional time. The standard deep-clean checklist covers cabinet fronts, handles and drawer fronts, and the toe-kicks under the cabinets, while the interiors are planned separately because they need to be emptied first.
Why does a deep clean cost more than a regular clean?
It covers many more surfaces, from baseboards and vents to appliance interiors and grout, so the visit takes more time. PavMa's quote is based on the service, the size and condition of the home and any extras, and it is free and without obligation.
