Key takeaways
- Daily cleaning maintains a standard. Deep cleaning restores one.
- Most offices need a deep clean twice a year; kitchens and washrooms more often.
- A deep clean should come with a checklist you sign off, not a vague promise.
- Planned deep cleans cost less than reactive ones and prevent the build-up that causes them.
"We already have cleaners, why would we need a deep clean?" It's a fair question, and the answer is about time rather than effort. A daily clean is priced for a set number of hours to keep a building presentable. Nobody is climbing behind the fridge in those hours.
The practical difference
| Daily clean | Deep clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Maintain the standard | Reset the standard |
| Frequency | Daily or several times a week | Twice yearly or as needed |
| Duration | 1–4 hours | A day to a weekend |
| Reaches | Visible, accessible surfaces | Behind, above, underneath, inside |
| Equipment | Vacuum, cloths, mop | Scrubber-driers, extraction, steam |
| Pricing | Fixed monthly | Fixed job price |
What a deep clean actually covers
- Degreasing kitchen surfaces, appliances and extract canopies
- Descaling washrooms, grout and tiles
- High-level dusting: tops of cupboards, vents, light fittings
- Behind and underneath furniture and appliances
- Machine scrubbing of hard floors
- Carpet extraction cleaning
- Internal glass, frames and sills
- Full sanitisation of touchpoints
- Radiators, skirting and pipework
- Bin stores and cleaning cupboards
When you need one
- On a planned cycleTwice a year for most offices, quarterly for kitchens, healthcare and education.
- Before a new tenant moves inPre-occupation cleans set the standard for the whole tenancy.
- After building workConstruction dust travels everywhere and settles for weeks. Standard cleaning won't clear it.
- Before an audit or inspectionWhether it's a client visit, an accreditation audit or an EHO inspection.
- When you take over a neglected siteStarting a new contract on a building that's been under-cleaned means the daily team spends months catching up unless you reset first.
- After an incidentFlood, leak, pest issue or infection outbreak.
If you switch cleaning providers on a neglected building and don't budget for a deep clean, the new team gets blamed for the old team's backlog. Reset first, then judge the daily service.
What it costs
Price depends on size, condition and access. A neglected site takes considerably longer than one on a maintained cycle, which is the argument for planning them rather than reacting.
Insist on a checklist
A deep clean is easy to under-deliver because much of the work is invisible when done well. Ask for the task list before the job starts and sign it off at the end. Any provider confident in their work will offer this without being asked.
You see the checklist before we start and sign it when we finish. Deep cleans can be one-off or scheduled into your contract so they happen on a cycle instead of when someone finally notices.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a deep clean take?
A small office is usually a day. Larger or heavily soiled premises may need a team over a weekend. We'll tell you at the site visit rather than after.
Do we have to close?
No. Most deep cleans run in evenings, weekends or holiday periods to avoid disruption.
Are the products safe for food areas?
Yes, we use products appropriate to each environment, including food-safe options for kitchens.
Can a deep clean be included in a contract?
Yes. Building one or two into the annual contract spreads the cost and means it actually gets scheduled.
More reading
Other guides from AMA
Free quote
Due a deep clean?
We'll walk the site, agree a checklist you sign off at the end, and quote a fixed job price.