A deep cleaning is not simply a more thorough version of your weekly tidy-up. It is a systematic, room-by-room process that targets the areas your regular cleaning routine never reaches — the inside of your oven, the grout between your bathroom tiles, the dust behind your refrigerator, the buildup under your kitchen appliances.
For San Francisco homeowners, where older Victorian and Edwardian homes accumulate grime in ways that newer construction does not, a professional deep clean is one of the most impactful investments you can make in your home's health and appearance. This guide walks through exactly what a professional deep cleaning includes, room by room, so you know precisely what to expect before you book — and what to look for to make sure the job is done right.
What makes a deep clean different from regular cleaning?
Regular cleaning maintains a clean home. Deep cleaning restores it. The difference is not just effort — it's the specific tasks that are included. Here's a side-by-side comparison of what each service covers.
| Task | Regular Clean | Deep Clean |
|---|---|---|
| Dusting surfaces | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vacuuming floors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mopping floors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wiping countertops | ✓ | ✓ |
| Inside oven & racks | — | ✓ |
| Inside refrigerator | — | ✓ |
| Behind & under appliances | — | ✓ |
| Grout scrubbing | — | ✓ |
| Baseboards & trim | — | ✓ |
| Window sills & tracks | — | ✓ |
| Light fixtures & ceiling fans | — | ✓ |
| Inside cabinets & drawers | — | ✓ |
| Shower door tracks | — | ✓ |
| Wall spot cleaning | — | ✓ |
The complete room-by-room deep cleaning checklist
This is the exact checklist Green Planet Cleaning uses on every deep clean in San Francisco. Print it, save it, or use it to evaluate any cleaning service you're considering.
Kitchen
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Living Areas & Common Spaces
The oven is the most labor-intensive part of a deep clean — and the most commonly missed in a standard clean.
How long does a deep cleaning take?
Time varies by home size, condition, and the number of cleaners. Here are realistic estimates for San Francisco homes. Note that older SF homes — Victorian and Edwardian construction — typically take 20–30% longer due to more intricate moldings, older fixtures, and accumulated buildup in harder-to-reach areas.
| Home Size | Estimated Time | Team Size |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | 2–3 hours | 1–2 |
| 2BR apartment | 3–4 hours | 2 |
| 3BR home | 4–6 hours | 2–3 |
| 4BR+ home | 6–8 hours | 3 |
How often should you deep clean your SF home?
For most San Francisco homes, twice a year is the right cadence — once in spring and once in fall. But certain situations call for more frequent deep cleans.
Twice a year
Spring + fall for most SF homes on a regular cleaning schedule
After renovation
Post-construction dust and debris requires a full deep clean before moving back in
Before or after a move
Move-in/move-out deep cleans protect your security deposit and set a clean baseline
Pet households
Quarterly deep cleans recommended — dander, fur, and odors accumulate faster
Allergy or asthma
More frequent deep cleans reduce allergen load significantly — every 6–8 weeks
The Greentified Guarantee
Every Green Planet deep clean is backed by our Greentified Guarantee. If anything on this checklist is missed, we return within 24 hours — no questions asked.
We also use only non-toxic, plant-based products and our ColoredClean™ color-coded microfiber system — so there's zero cross-contamination between rooms.
Bathroom grout and tile are among the most time-intensive areas in a deep clean — and the most satisfying when done right.
