Home deep cleaning checklist: what gets cleaned, room by room

1. Before the appointment: agree the scope

Most misunderstandings in deep cleaning come from different expectations. You might assume cleaning inside the oven, behind the fridge or washing the sofa is included, while the company treats it as an extra. So ask for a written list of what the offer covers, what it doesn’t, the number of workers and the approximate duration.

In your request, give the number of rooms and bathrooms, the property type and its condition: is it lived in or empty, and is this regular cleaning or the first clean after a long time? These details change the size and time of the job considerably and help the company send the right team.

2. Kitchen

The kitchen needs deep cleaning more than any other room, because grease and steam stick to almost every surface.

• The cooker hood and its filters, the wall behind the hob, kitchen tiles and grout.
• Upper and lower cupboard fronts and handles, and inside them once emptied.
• The hob surface, inside the oven if agreed, and around and behind appliances.
• The sink, taps and limescale around them.
• The floor, corners and under appliances that can be moved safely.
• The outside of the fridge, and the inside if emptied beforehand.

If grease is heavy in a kitchen that hasn’t been cleaned for a long time, say so in your request and add kitchen degreasing from the extras. See also kitchen and floor cleaning.

3. Bathrooms and toilets

• Tiles and grout, soap scum and limescale.
• Basins, taps, mirrors and accessories.
• The toilet inside, outside and around it.
• The shower cabin or bath and its glass.
• Drain covers from the outside, and the extractor fan cover if visible.
• Doors, handles, the floor and corners.

If mould spots come back quickly after cleaning, the cause may be a leak or poor ventilation, and cleaning alone won’t fix it. Tell the company, and consider fixing the cause.

4. Bedrooms, living rooms and majlis rooms

• Dusting high surfaces: tops of wardrobes, frames and shelves.
• Fans and light fittings that can be reached safely.
• Doors, frames, handles and light switches.
• Under beds and sofas, shifting them where safe.
• Floors, corners and skirting boards.
• Wiping furniture on the outside and cleaning mirrors.

Washing sofas, floor seating, carpets, mattresses and curtains is usually a separate service with special machines. Add it from the extras in the form, or read about sofa and carpet cleaning.

5. Windows, glass and window tracks

In Saudi Arabia dust settles in window and sliding-door tracks and hardens over time, needing small tools and brushes. Deep cleaning usually covers glass on the inside, and on the outside where it can be reached safely from inside the home or from the ground.

Exterior glass on high floors and facades needs trained teams with safety equipment, and no worker should be asked to put themselves at risk. Read about glass and facade cleaning if your glass is high up.

6. Visible AC covers and vents

Deep cleaning often includes wiping the outer cover of wall-mounted AC units and visible vents, since they collect dust. Washing AC units inside and servicing them is a separate service provided by AC technicians, not part of home cleaning.

7. Yards, roofs and entrances

For villas and detached homes, the offer may include sweeping and washing the yard, cleaning the entrance and outdoor stairs, and dusting outdoor seating. After dust waves, soil builds up in corners and gutters, so mention it in your request if you want it covered.

If you have a roof or ground tank, cleaning it is a different service needing an equipped team. Read how often to clean a water tank.

8. What to prepare before the appointment

• Put away personal items, valuables and important papers from surfaces.
• Empty cupboards and the fridge if cleaning inside them is included.
• Show the team where to get water and power, and point out delicate areas.
• Tell the company about floors or surfaces needing special care, such as marble or wood.
• Arrange for a family member to be home, or agree a clear key handover.
• If there are children or pets at home, agree a safe place for them during the work.

9. Calm safety notes

Never mix different cleaning products, and don’t put one cleaner on top of another in the bathroom or kitchen — some combinations can release harmful fumes. Ask the team to ventilate during and after the work and keep products out of children’s reach.

If someone at home has allergies or asthma, tell the company in advance, ask which products they use and request milder alternatives where possible. After the work, leave windows slightly open until smells clear.

10. The end-of-day walk-through

Before the team leaves, walk through the home with them room by room and use this checklist to confirm that what was agreed has been done. If something was missed, mention it calmly so it can be fixed then and there — many companies prefer that to another visit.

Ask the company about its policy if you notice something after they leave, such as re-cleaning a specific area, and keep the written agreement. It protects both sides and makes the experience clearer.

11. When to choose deep cleaning over regular cleaning

If your home is cleaned regularly every week, regular cleaning may be enough most of the year, with a deep clean before Ramadan and Eid or after the dusty season. If months have passed without a thorough clean, you’ve moved into a new home, or there’s a big occasion, deep cleaning is the better fit.

After a deep clean, keeping the home tidy is easier, so you can agree a lighter regular clean every week or two. Choose the frequency in the form, and read about regular home cleaning.