Room by room
What is included in a standard house cleaning?
A standard clean covers kitchens, bathrooms, dusting and floors. Here is the room-by-room checklist, the usual extras, and what most cleaners will not do.
By Northern Virginia Housekeeping · 5 min read · Updated
"Standard clean" sounds like it should mean the same thing everywhere. It does not. Every company writes its own list, and the gaps tend to show up on the first visit. This guide walks through what a standard clean usually includes, room by room. It also covers what is usually an extra, and what most cleaning companies will not do at all, so you know what to ask before you book.
What "standard" means
A standard clean, also called a regular or maintenance clean, keeps a lived-in home in good order. It assumes the home is kept up between visits. It does not go after months of build-up on baseboards, vents or grout. That is the job of a deep clean. For where one ends and the other begins, see deep cleaning vs regular cleaning.
Here is what a good standard clean covers in each part of the home.
Kitchen
- Wipe counters and the backsplash
- Clean the stovetop and the outside of the appliances
- Clean the microwave, inside and out
- Wipe cabinet fronts and handles where they are marked
- Scrub and shine the sink and faucet
- Load the dishwasher or wash the dishes left out
- Take out the trash and recycling
- Vacuum and mop the floor
Kitchens and bathrooms usually take the most time in a standard clean. If you cook a lot, ask whether degreasing the range hood is included or an extra.
Bathrooms
- Clean and disinfect the toilet, including the base
- Scrub the tub and shower
- Clean the sink and counter, and wipe the vanity fronts
- Polish mirrors, faucets and fixtures
- Wipe light switches and door handles
- Empty the trash
- Vacuum and mop the floor
Count every bathroom when you book, including powder rooms and the one in the basement. Each one is a full clean of its own.
Bedrooms
- Dust every surface the team can reach: dressers, nightstands, headboards and shelves
- Clean mirrors
- Make the beds, with fresh sheets if you leave them out
- Wipe switches and handles
- Empty the trash
- Vacuum carpets and rugs, and mop hard floors
Living rooms, dining rooms and offices
- Dust reachable surfaces, picture frames and lamps
- Clean mirrors and glass tables
- Wipe switches and handles
- Straighten cushions and throws
- Empty the trash
- Vacuum and mop the floors
In a home office, most cleaners will dust around papers rather than move them. Tell your team if you want the desk cleared and wiped, or skipped.
Stairs, halls and entries
- Vacuum the stairs
- Wipe stair rails
- Clean glass on the front door and sidelights
- Vacuum and mop entry and hall floors
What is usually an extra
These jobs take more time, so most companies offer them as add-ons, for a set price or extra hours:
- Inside the oven
- Inside the fridge and freezer
- Inside cabinets and drawers, which works best when you empty them first
- Inside windows, sills and tracks
- Baseboards, blinds and vents, often saved for a deep clean
- Laundry and folding
- Fresh sheets on every bed
- A full sink of dishes after a party
- Organizing a closet or pantry
Not sure which extras you need? Pick one per visit and rotate through them. A little at a time keeps the whole home in shape.
What is usually not included
Some jobs need a different kind of pro, special equipment or training that a cleaning team does not have. Most cleaning companies will say no to these, and you should be wary of one that says yes without asking questions.
- Outside windows. Especially above the ground floor. Window washing companies have the ladders, poles and insurance for it.
- Mold remediation. Mold spread across a wall, a ceiling or a basement is a different job from cleaning a shower. The EPA's guide to mold and moisture (opens in a new tab) says you can usually handle an area under about 10 square feet yourself, and to pick a contractor with mold cleanup experience for a bigger job. Our guide to basement humidity and mold covers the rest of its advice.
- Biohazards and hoarding. Blood, bodily fluids and sewage backups are jobs for a trained biohazard cleanup company. A hoarding cleanout also needs a specialist team.
- Pests. Signs of mice, rats or insects call for pest control first. Clean up after the problem is handled.
- Heavy lifting. Pianos, full bookcases, beds and large appliances stay where they are. Most teams move only what is light and safe to lift.
- Climbing high. Chandeliers in two-story foyers and high ledges in great rooms may need a tall ladder or a specialist.
- Repairs, painting and hauling. Patching walls, touching up paint and hauling away things left behind are jobs for a handyman, a painter or a junk removal company.
- Specialty floors and fabrics. Carpet shampooing, upholstery steam cleaning and floor refinishing need their own equipment.
- Outside the house. Decks, patios, porches and garages are usually outside a house cleaning.
- Pet waste. Many companies do not clean litter boxes or pick up after pets.
If any of these apply to your home, say so when you book. A good company will tell you plainly what it can and cannot do.
Valuables and delicate things
Even inside a standard clean, some things are best left to you. Many teams dust around fine china, heirlooms and art rather than handle them. Tell your team which pieces they can pick up, which to dust around, and which to leave alone. Natural stone, like marble counters, and unsealed wood may need specific products, so mention those too.
How to get more from a standard clean
- Clear the way. A few minutes of tidying the night before lets your team spend their time cleaning. Our guide on how to prepare for house cleaners has a short list.
- Name your priorities. Tell your team the one thing you want done every time.
- Rotate extras. Add inside the oven one visit and the fridge the next.
- Keep the same team. People who clean your home every visit learn it, and the details stop slipping.
What our standard clean includes
Our recurring cleaning follows one written checklist, room by room, much like the lists above. Our what is included page has that checklist for each of our cleans, plus the short list of things we do not do. Inside the oven, fridge, cabinets and windows are extras you can add to any visit, with their scope and price agreed in your personal quote. Baseboards and blinds are part of every deep clean. We aim to keep a regular team who learns your priorities. If someone is unavailable, we discuss a suitable replacement or another date with you and share the agreed home notes.
