How Long Does Deep Cleaning Take? Time Estimates by Home Size

How Long Does Deep Cleaning Really Take?

You know the feeling of trying to plan your day around a service appointment. You block out a few hours, hope the team finishes on time, and wonder if you’ll actually make your evening dinner reservation. Getting a clear answer on timing is often harder than it should be.

The reality is that “it depends” is the only honest starting point.

Our team has cleaned hundreds of homes across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, and we see how unique factors change the timeline every single day. One 1,200 sq ft condo might take four hours for a standard deep cleaning, while another identical unit down the street takes seven simply because of grease buildup in the wet kitchen.

We can, however, provide highly accurate estimates based on data from thousands of completed jobs. Let’s look at the numbers, the hidden factors that add hours to the clock, and how you can plan your day effectively.

Time Estimates by Property Size

These estimates assume a standard team of two professionals and a home in “average” condition. Use these baselines to set your initial expectations.

Studio or 1-Bedroom Apartment (400-600 sq ft)

Estimated Duration: 3-4 Hours (2 Cleaners)

Small spaces in developments like Empire City or older flats often present unique density challenges. While the square footage is low, the density of furniture often requires more time to navigate.

Where the time goes:

• Kitchen Deep Clean (45-60 mins): Scrubbing stovetops, backsplashes, and cabinet exteriors.
• Bathroom Deep Clean (30-45 mins): Descaling tiles, sanitizing toilets, and scrubbing shower glass.
• Living & Sleeping Areas (75-105 mins): Dusting ceiling fans, wiping baseboards, and vacuuming upholstery.
• General Areas (30 mins): Entryway cleaning and final floor mopping.

2-Bedroom Apartment/Condo (700-1,000 sq ft)

Estimated Duration: 4-5 Hours (2 Cleaners)

This is the most common unit size we encounter in Selangor. The addition of a second bedroom and often a second bathroom pushes the timeline past the half-day mark.

Where the time goes:

• Kitchen (60-75 mins): Addressing both wet and dry kitchen areas if present.
• Bathrooms (60-90 mins): Cleaning two full bathrooms, including grout scrubbing.
• Living/Dining (60-75 mins): Cleaning larger sliding doors and balcony tracks.
• Bedrooms (60-90 mins): detailed dusting of wardrobes and window treatments.
• General Areas (45 mins): Hallways and utility yards.

3-Bedroom Home (1,000-1,500 sq ft)

Estimated Duration: 5-7 Hours (2 Cleaners)

At this size, fatigue becomes a factor for a single cleaner, which is why a two-person team is non-negotiable for efficiency. This category covers many standard terrace houses and larger condos.

Where the time goes:

• Kitchen (75-90 mins): Deep degreasing of hood and hob filters.
• Bathrooms (90-120 mins): Managing 2-3 bathrooms, often dealing with master bath tubs.
• Living/Dining (75-90 mins): extensive floor area and multiple window sets.
• Bedrooms (90-120 mins): Cleaning under movable furniture and top shelves.
• General Areas (60 mins): Staircases (for landed properties) and porches.

4+ Bedroom House (1,500+ sq ft)

Estimated Duration: 7-10 Hours (2-3 Cleaners)

Large landed properties or penthouses frequently require a full day. In many cases, we may dispatch a third cleaner to ensure the job finishes before evening.

Logistical Note: For reliable scheduling, we often cap a single day at 8 hours. If a home requires 10+ hours of labor, we might recommend splitting the service across two days or adding more manpower to fit the window.

Critical Factors That Affect Cleaning Time

Square footage provides the baseline, but the specific condition of your home dictates the final schedule.

1. The “Wet Kitchen” Factor

Malaysian homes often feature separate wet and dry kitchens.

• Standard Kitchen: 45-60 minutes.
• Heavy Cooking (Sambal/Frying): Adds 30-60 minutes. Oil particles settle on top of cabinets and light fixtures, requiring heavy degreasers and multiple wipe-downs to remove the sticky residue without damaging surfaces.

2. Bathroom Condition and Humidity

Our local humidity creates ideal conditions for mold, specifically in grout lines and silicone sealants.

• Surface Cleaning: 30 minutes per bath.
• Mold/Limescale Removal: Adds 20-30 minutes per bath. Scrubbing grout lines is manual, labor-intensive work that cannot be rushed if you want visible results.

3. Occupancy Status

Empty homes are significantly faster to clean than occupied ones.

• Move-In/Move-Out: We can move fast using floor scrubbing machines without navigating furniture.
• Occupied Homes: We must carefully lift items, clean under them, and replace them exactly where they were. This “lift-clean-replace” process adds about 20% to the total time.

4. Special Requests & Add-ons

Standard deep cleaning covers the surfaces, but internal cleaning of appliances is specialized work.

Task	Estimated Added Time	Why It Takes Time
Inside Oven	+30-45 mins	Burnt-on carbon requires soaking and scraping.
Inside Fridge	+30-45 mins	Shelves must be removed, washed, and dried.
Window Panes	+15 mins/set	Hard water stains require polishing.
Balcony	+30-45 mins	City dust and rain splash require heavy scrubbing.
Ceiling Fans	+10 mins/unit	Ladder work is slower for safety reasons.

Our Team Configuration

We typically deploy a team of two trained professionals for deep cleaning assignments at 22 Cleaning Service.

This strategy offers three distinct advantages over a solo cleaner:

1. Parallel Efficiency: One cleaner tackles the grease in the kitchen while the other manages the bathrooms.
2. Safety & Heavy Lifting: Moving sofas or dining tables to clean underneath requires two pairs of hands to avoid floor scratches or injury.
3. Fatigue Management: Deep cleaning is physically exhausting. A fresh team maintains high energy levels for detailed scrubbing right up until the final hour.

Larger bungalows or urgent requests may prompt us to send a team of three or four to meet a specific deadline.

Planning Your Deep Cleaning Day

To ensure the process runs smoothly and finishes on time, a little preparation goes a long way.

Condo Management Rules (Crucial for KL/Selangor)

Most Joint Management Bodies (JMB) in condos restrict contractor access to specific hours.

• Weekdays: Usually 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Saturdays: Often 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM only.
• Strict Cut-off: Security often asks contractors to leave promptly at 5:00 PM. If you book a deep clean for a 2,000 sq ft condo starting at 2:00 PM, we simply won’t finish. Morning slots are essential for large units.

Before We Arrive

You can help us start faster by handling a few small tasks.

1. Declutter Countertops: We want to spend time scrubbing your granite, not organizing mail or sorting toys.
2. Secure Valuables: Store jewelry, cash, and small electronics in a safe place.
3. Register the Team: If you live in a high-security condo, pre-registering our vehicle prevents a 20-minute delay at the guardhouse.

During the Service

You have options regarding your presence.

• Stay Home: You are welcome to stay. We will work room-by-room to minimize disruption.
• Grant Access: Many clients let us in and head to work. We can lock up and send photos upon completion.
• The Walkthrough: We always recommend returning 30 minutes before the estimated finish time to inspect the work while the team is still there.

Comparing to DIY Deep Cleaning

You might consider tackling this yourself to save money. It is important to realize that professional speed comes from specialized tools and workflow.

Task	Professional Team (2 Pax)	DIY (1 Person)	The Reality
1-Bed Apt	3-4 Hours	8-10 Hours	You will likely lose an entire Saturday.
2-Bed Condo	4-5 Hours	12-16 Hours	This often spans two weekends for a solo DIYer.
3-Bed Home	5-7 Hours	16-24 Hours	Physically exhausting without industrial vacuums/steamers.

Professionals use steam cleaners, high-grade degreasers, and systematic “top-to-bottom” methods that are difficult to replicate with household tools.

Why Time Matters

Understanding these estimates protects your schedule and your wallet.

• Accurate Budgeting: Since deep cleaning is often hourly or size-based, knowing the time helps you verify quotes.
• Scheduling Contractors: If you are renovating, you don’t want the cleaners and the painters in the same room at the same time.
• Realistic Expectations: You avoid the frustration of expecting a “miracle” in two hours when the job physically requires six.

Get an Accurate Estimate

Every home has a different story. The most accurate way to find out how long your specific home will take is to share a few details with us:

• Approximate size (sq ft).
• Number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
• Type of kitchen (Wet/Dry or Dry only).
• Date of last deep clean.
• Your location (to factor in logistics).

We use this information to calculate a realistic timeframe and a transparent price quote.

Book Your Deep Cleaning

Ready to restore your home to its best condition? WhatsApp us at +60 16-254 2022.

Our team will ask the right questions to give you a time estimate you can actually plan your day around. No hidden delays, just a sparkling clean home.