Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning: What's the Difference?

Deep Cleaning vs Regular Cleaning: Understanding the Difference

If you’ve ever booked a cleaning service, you’ve likely encountered two main options: regular cleaning and deep cleaning. While both result in a cleaner home, they serve different purposes and address different levels of cleanliness. Understanding the difference helps you choose the right service for your needs and budget.

From our experience serving homes across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, the high humidity here (often hovering around 80%) means “clean” isn’t just about appearance; it’s about preventing mold and bacterial growth. A quick wipe-down prevents dust, but it won’t stop the hidden buildup that happens in our tropical climate.

What is Regular Cleaning?

Regular cleaning (also called maintenance cleaning or standard cleaning) is the routine upkeep that keeps your home tidy and presentable on a day-to-day basis. It addresses the surfaces and areas that get dirty most frequently.

Think of this as preventative maintenance. It stops the daily accumulation of dust—which can be particularly heavy during haze season or if you live near construction zones—from turning into stubborn grime.

What’s Included in Regular Cleaning

Kitchen:

• Wiping countertops and backsplash
• Cleaning stovetop surface
• Cleaning exterior of appliances
• Washing sink
• Emptying trash
• Sweeping and mopping floors

Bathrooms:

• Cleaning and sanitizing toilet
• Cleaning sink and vanity
• Wiping mirrors
• Cleaning shower/tub surfaces
• Mopping floors

Living Areas & Bedrooms:

• Dusting surfaces and furniture
• Vacuuming carpets and rugs
• Sweeping/mopping hard floors
• Making beds (linens provided by you)
• General tidying

Typical Frequency

• Weekly or bi-weekly
• Sometimes daily for high-traffic homes

Best For

• Maintaining a clean home
• Preventing dirt buildup
• Quick refreshes between deep cleans
• Regular upkeep

What is Deep Cleaning?

Deep cleaning goes beyond the surface to tackle dirt, grime, and buildup that accumulates over time. It reaches areas that regular cleaning doesn’t address and is much more thorough and time-intensive.

We treat deep cleaning as a “restoration” process rather than a maintenance one. This service often requires heavy-duty equipment, such as steam cleaners for sanitization and industrial-grade degreasers to handle the sticky residue common in Malaysian kitchens where heavy frying (like sambal or wok cooking) occurs.

What’s Included in Deep Cleaning

Everything in Regular Cleaning, PLUS:

Kitchen (Deep Clean):

• Degreasing all surfaces
• Cleaning inside the oven
• Cleaning inside the refrigerator
• Cleaning range hood and filter
• Scrubbing cabinet fronts
• Tile grout cleaning
• Behind appliances (if movable)
• Inside drawers and cabinets

Bathrooms (Deep Clean):

• Deep scrubbing of tile grout
• Descaling fixtures and showerheads
• Cleaning inside cabinets
• Cleaning exhaust fans
• Scrubbing behind toilet
• Detailed tile cleaning

Living Areas & Bedrooms (Deep Clean):

• Moving furniture to clean behind
• Detailed baseboard cleaning
• Light fixture and ceiling fan cleaning
• Window sill and track cleaning
• Inside closet cleaning
• Upholstery vacuuming
• Mattress vacuuming

The “Hidden Zones” We Target

Most homeowners are surprised by what a deep clean uncovers.

• Ceiling Fans: The top of the blades often accumulates a thick, greasy layer of dust that a feather duster simply smears.
• Sliding Door Tracks: The rails of your balcony doors collect dead insects and hardened mud that can eventually jam the door if not scrubbed out.
• Air-Con Vents: We wipe down the exterior vents where condensation often creates black mold spots.

Additional Areas:

• Door and door frame cleaning
• Light switch and outlet plate cleaning
• Vent and air-con vent cleaning
• Window cleaning (interior)
• Balcony cleaning

Typical Frequency

• Quarterly (every 3 months)
• Seasonally (before festivals)
• After special circumstances (renovation, illness, moving)

Best For

• Spring cleaning or festive preparation
• Moving into a new home
• After long periods without professional cleaning
• Addressing accumulated dirt and grime
• Resetting your home’s cleanliness level

Side-by-Side Comparison

Aspect	Regular Cleaning	Deep Cleaning
Purpose	Maintenance	Restoration
Time Required	2-4 hours	4-8+ hours
Frequency	Weekly/bi-weekly	Quarterly/yearly
Areas Covered	Visible surfaces	All surfaces including hidden
Detail Level	Surface level	In-depth, thorough
Moves Furniture	No	Yes
Inside Appliances	No	Yes
Grout & Tile Detail	No	Yes
Price	Lower (Hourly)	Higher (Per Sq. Ft.)

How to Know Which You Need

You Need Regular Cleaning If:

• Your home is already clean but needs maintenance
• You clean regularly yourself but want help
• You want to keep up with weekly chores
• There’s no heavy buildup or grime
• You had a deep clean recently

You Need Deep Cleaning If:

• You are a Tenant Moving Out: Most tenancy agreements in Malaysia require the unit to be returned in its original condition to get your full 2.5-month security deposit back.
• You Spot the “Grout Check”: If the lines between your bathroom tiles have turned orange or black, regular mopping won’t fix it—you need deep scrubbing.
• You Haven’t Had Professional Cleaning in Months: Dirt layers settle on baseboards and above cabinets.
• You’re Preparing for a Special Occasion: Hosting for Hari Raya, CNY, or Deepavali requires a spotless environment.
• You’ve Just Finished Renovations: Post-renovation dust is incredibly fine and settles everywhere, including inside closed cupboards.

The Ideal Cleaning Schedule

For optimal home cleanliness, we recommend:

1. Regular Cleaning: Weekly or bi-weekly to maintain cleanliness
2. Deep Cleaning: Every 3-6 months or seasonally

This combination ensures your home stays clean daily while getting the thorough attention it needs periodically. Many of our customers do:

• Weekly regular cleaning (DIY or professional)
• Professional deep clean before major festivals
• Professional deep clean when moving

Pricing Difference

Regular Cleaning: At 22 Cleaning Service, regular house cleaning starts from RM100 for 2 cleaners x 2 hours. This covers maintenance of most home sizes.

Deep Cleaning: Deep cleaning is priced by square feet because it takes significantly more time and effort. Contact us with your home details for a custom quote.

Pro-Tip: While the upfront cost of deep cleaning is higher, it protects your assets. Regular deep cleaning of appliances like ovens and range hoods prevents grease fires and extends the life of the machine, saving you replacement costs down the road.

When One Isn’t Enough

Sometimes regular cleaning just won’t cut it:

Signs you need more than regular cleaning:

• Soap scum that won’t budge with normal cleaning
• Grout that’s changed color
• Sticky kitchen residue
• Dust buildup on ceiling fans and vents
• Musty smells that won’t go away
• Visible dirt behind appliances

In these cases, start with a deep cleaning to reset your home, then maintain with regular cleaning.

Our Services

At 22 Cleaning Service, we offer both:

House Cleaning - Regular maintenance cleaning from RM100

• All equipment and products included
• Eco-friendly, Halal-certified products
• Trained Malaysian cleaners

Deep Cleaning - Thorough deep cleaning priced by square feet

• Goes beyond surface cleaning
• Perfect for seasonal or periodic refresh
• Professional equipment for stubborn dirt

Book Your Cleaning

Not sure which service you need? WhatsApp us at +60 16-254 2022 with details about your home and we’ll recommend the right option. No deposit required - pay only when you’re satisfied.