When homeowners in Plainfield and the southwest Chicago suburbs ask us, "What exactly is included in a deep house cleaning?", they're often surprised by the answer. A professional deep clean goes far beyond what your weekly routine covers. It goes after buildup, allergens and the grime that collects in places you don't think about until you finally see them clean.
This guide breaks down exactly what our deep cleaning service covers, room by room. Whether you're scheduling your first professional deep clean or just want to know what to expect, this checklist covers everything.
Deep Cleaning vs. Standard Cleaning: The Key Difference
Before diving into the checklist, it's worth drawing a clear line. Recurring cleaning is maintenance: it keeps a clean home clean. Vacuuming, mopping, wiping counters, cleaning toilets and sinks, and dusting visible surfaces are all part of the routine. It's fast, efficient, and designed to be repeated weekly or biweekly.
A deep clean is different. It's a reset: the kind of thorough cleaning that a home needs periodically to address the buildup that routine maintenance can't touch. Deep cleaning takes significantly more time, covers more surfaces, and involves detail work: scrubbing grout, wiping down baseboards and door frames, cleaning light fixtures, and reaching the spots that standard cleaning skips entirely.
Most cleaning professionals recommend a deep clean at least once or twice a year, with recurring standard cleaning in between to maintain results. It's especially important after a long Illinois winter, when months of closed windows, forced-air heat, and road salt tracked inside have left residue on nearly every surface.
Kitchen Deep Cleaning Checklist
The kitchen is typically the most labor-intensive room in a deep clean. Grease and food splatter bake onto the stovetop, burners and hood vent, and it takes degreasing, not a quick wipe, to get them off.
- Clean inside the microwave: walls, ceiling, turntable, and door seal
- Degrease the stovetop, burner grates, drip pans, and control knobs
- Detail the refrigerator exterior: top, sides, and handles
- Wipe down the exterior of all appliances including the dishwasher, refrigerator, and microwave
- Clean cabinet exteriors: fronts and handles
- Degrease the range hood and clean the filter
- Scrub the sink basin, faucet, and drain area
- Clean and disinfect countertops thoroughly
- Wipe down backsplash tile and grout
- Clean window sills and inside glass in the kitchen
- Dust and wipe light fixtures and ceiling fan blades (if present)
- Sweep, vacuum, and mop the floor, including edges and corners
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Bathrooms build up soap scum and mildew in the grout that standard cleaning routines can't fully eliminate. A deep clean restores them to a level of cleanliness that's hard to achieve without professional products and technique.
- Scrub tile walls and grout lines in the shower and tub area
- Remove soap scum from shower doors and tracks
- Clean and disinfect the shower floor and corners
- Deep clean the bathtub: jets, overflow drain, and all surfaces
- Scrub the toilet inside and out, including the base and behind the tank
- Clean and disinfect the sink, faucet, and surrounding countertop
- Wipe down cabinet exteriors
- Clean the bathroom mirror and any mirrored cabinet doors
- Wipe down all baseboards, door frames, and trim
- Clean light fixtures and exhaust fan covers
- Wash and sanitize the trash can
- Sweep, scrub, and mop the floor, including behind the toilet and along the edges
Bedroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Bedrooms are often overlooked in a deep clean, but they're some of the most important rooms for air quality and allergen control, especially in Illinois homes where windows stay sealed for months at a time.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and overhead surfaces
- Wipe down all furniture surfaces: nightstands, dressers, headboards, and frames
- Clean mirrors and glass surfaces
- Vacuum under the bed and along all baseboards
- Wipe down baseboards and window sills
- Clean light switches and door handles
- Vacuum upholstered furniture
- Vacuum floors thoroughly, including closet floors
- Mop hard floors (if applicable)
Living Room & Common Areas Deep Cleaning Checklist
High-traffic common areas collect dust, pet dander, and allergens quickly. A deep clean of these spaces makes a visible and measurable difference in air quality and overall freshness.
- Dust all ceiling fans, light fixtures, and ceiling corners
- Wipe down and dust all furniture, shelves, and decorative surfaces
- Clean TV screens and entertainment unit surfaces
- Vacuum all upholstered furniture, including under cushions
- Wipe down baseboards, door frames, and windowsills throughout
- Clean window sills and inside glass
- Dust blinds and wipe window coverings
- Clean light switches, outlet covers, and door handles
- Vacuum all floors, rugs, and carpeted areas thoroughly
- Mop all hard floors, including corners and edges
Additional Areas Covered in a Full Deep Clean
Beyond the main rooms, a thorough deep clean also addresses the transitional spaces and surfaces that accumulate grime over time:
- Entryway and mudroom: sweep, mop, wipe down shoe storage and coat hooks
- Hallways: dust, wipe baseboards, clean light switches and door handles
- Laundry room: wipe down washer and dryer exterior, clean lint trap area, mop floor
- Interior doors and frames throughout the home
- Wall switches and outlet covers on every floor
What's NOT Included in a Standard Deep Clean
Transparency matters. Here's what a typical deep clean does not cover, so there are no surprises on the day of service:
- Inside oven cleaning (add-on)
- Inside cabinets (add-on)
- Exterior windows (deep cleaning includes inside window glass only)
- Carpet steam cleaning or stain removal (we vacuum thoroughly; steam cleaning is not part of a deep clean)
- Garage cleaning (sweeping the inside of the garage is an add-on)
- Attic or basement organization (a basement can be added as an extra room)
- Biohazard cleanup
- Dishes or laundry
Some of these, like the inside of the oven, inside cabinets, an extra room such as a basement, or a sweep of the garage, are add-ons you can choose when you book. For homes preparing for a sale or lease, our move-out cleaning service is designed specifically for that scenario and covers an even more detailed scope.
How Long Does a Deep House Cleaning Take?
Most deep cleans take between 4 and 8 hours depending on the size of the home, the number of bathrooms, and how long it's been since the last professional clean. A 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home in typical condition typically takes 5–6 hours for our team. Homes that haven't been professionally deep cleaned in over a year may take longer due to built-up grease and soap scum.
Our pricing is flat-rate, so you'll always know what you're paying before we arrive. Visit our pricing page to see exact rates by home size.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is included in a professional deep house cleaning?
A professional deep house cleaning covers every room in the house, including cleaning inside the microwave, scrubbing tile grout and shower walls, removing soap scum and mildew, wiping down baseboards and door frames, cleaning ceiling fans and light fixtures, and vacuuming and mopping all floors. The refrigerator is cleaned on the outside only. Cleaning inside the oven or inside cabinets is an add-on. It goes significantly further than a standard recurring clean.
How long does a deep house cleaning take?
Most deep house cleanings take between 4 and 8 hours, depending on the size of the home, number of bathrooms, and the current condition. A typical 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home takes approximately 5 to 6 hours. Homes that haven't been professionally cleaned in over a year may require additional time.
How is a deep clean different from a standard cleaning?
Standard cleaning is routine maintenance: vacuuming, mopping, wiping counters, and cleaning bathrooms. A deep clean is a comprehensive reset that adds grout scrubbing, baseboard and door frame wiping, light fixtures, and the other areas that get skipped during weekly cleanings. Deep cleans are recommended once or twice a year.
How much does a deep house cleaning cost?
DSM Cleaning Solutions uses flat-rate pricing based on home size. Deep cleaning starts at $300 for a 1-bedroom home and ranges up to $830 for a 5-bedroom home. All rates are all-inclusive, no hidden fees. Visit our pricing page for the full breakdown.
Do I need to be home during the deep cleaning?
You don't need to be home during the cleaning. Many of our customers leave a key or provide entry instructions. All DSM Cleaning Solutions team members are background-checked and fully insured, so you can feel confident leaving your home in our care.
Why Choose DSM Cleaning Solutions for Your Deep Clean?
We're a family-owned cleaning company based in Romeoville (60446), serving homeowners throughout Plainfield, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Joliet, Lockport, and the entire southwest Chicago suburbs. Every team member is background-checked and fully trained. We bring all our own supplies. Prefer eco-friendly products? Add them when you book. Learn more on our eco-friendly cleaning page. For Plainfield homeowners, see our dedicated Plainfield deep cleaning service page for location-specific details.
Every clean is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. If something isn't right, we'll come back and fix it, no questions asked.
Ready for a Professional Deep Clean in the Southwest Suburbs?
DSM Cleaning Solutions serves Plainfield, Romeoville, Naperville, Bolingbrook, and the surrounding southwest Chicago suburbs. Get a free estimate today, no obligation required. Get My Free Quote or call (815) 246-2113.