Short answer: A regular clean keeps a home that is already in good shape tidy: dusting, vacuuming, mopping, kitchen and bathroom surfaces. A deep clean adds the hidden, built-up grime — baseboards, door frames, vent covers, inside the oven, fridge and cabinets, and wall marks. At BlueGuard, a deep clean costs the standard price plus $99.
Both services leave your home looking clean. The difference is what happens below eye level, behind doors and inside appliances — the places dust and grease quietly collect for months. Choosing the right one saves you money and gets better results.
What a regular (standard) clean includes
A regular clean, also called a standard or maintenance clean, is designed for homes that are cleaned on a schedule. It covers the surfaces you see and touch every day:
- Dust all reachable surfaces, shelves and décor
- Vacuum carpets, rugs and floors
- Mop hard floors
- Kitchen: wipe counters, clean the sink, degrease the stovetop, wipe cabinet exteriors and appliance fronts
- Bathrooms: clean and disinfect toilets, tubs, showers, sinks, mirrors and tiles
- Bedrooms and living areas: make beds, tidy, wipe surfaces
- Empty all trash and replace liners
You can see the full list on our standard cleaning page.
What a deep clean adds
A deep clean includes everything above, then goes further into the details:
- Baseboards wiped by hand in every room
- Door frames, doors and light switches — the most-touched surfaces in the house
- Vent covers dusted and wiped
- Inside the oven — racks and walls degreased
- Inside the fridge — shelves and drawers washed
- Inside cabinets and drawers in the kitchen and bathrooms
- Wall spot cleaning — scuffs, fingerprints and splashes
- Extra attention to soap scum, hard-water build-up and grout lines in bathrooms
- Behind and under easy-to-move furniture
See everything that is covered on the deep cleaning page.
Side-by-side comparison
| Regular clean | Deep clean | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Homes cleaned every 1–4 weeks | First visits, seasonal resets, homes not cleaned in 2+ months |
| Surfaces | Visible, daily-use surfaces | Everything, including hidden and built-up areas |
| Baseboards and door frames | Quick dusting | Hand-wiped |
| Inside oven and fridge | Add-on ($29 each) | Included |
| Inside cabinets | Add-on ($39) | Included |
| Wall marks | Not included | Spot-cleaned |
| Typical time (3 bed / 2 bath) | 2–3 hours, two cleaners | 4–5 hours, two cleaners |
| BlueGuard price (3 bed / 2 bath, 1,500 sq ft) | $289 | $388 |
Room by room: what actually changes
Kitchen. On a regular visit, the crew wipes counters, cleans the sink, degreases the stovetop and wipes cabinet fronts and appliance exteriors. On a deep clean they also wipe the inside of cabinets and drawers, clean inside the oven and fridge, scrub the range hood, and detail the backsplash grout and the tops of cabinets where grease and dust bond together.
Bathrooms. A regular clean disinfects the toilet, tub, shower, sink and mirror. A deep clean adds descaling of fixtures and glass, scrubbing grout lines, wiping the exhaust fan cover, cleaning inside vanity drawers, and working around the toilet base and behind it.
Bedrooms and living areas. A regular clean dusts reachable surfaces, makes beds and vacuums. A deep clean adds hand-wiped baseboards, door frames, doors and light switches, vent covers, wall spot cleaning and vacuuming under and behind easy-to-move furniture.
Entryways. In an Ottawa winter, a deep clean also means extra time on salt residue at the front door, scuffed walls and boot-tray stains.
How much more does a deep clean cost in Ottawa?
Published Ottawa prices put a deep clean at roughly $100 more than a standard clean. For example, a 1 bed / 1 bath deep clean runs about $277–$287 at larger local companies, and 2 bed / 2 bath about $327–$337.
BlueGuard keeps it simple: deep clean = standard price + $99. A few examples, before tax:
- 1 bed / 1 bath, under 1,000 sq ft: $174 standard, $273 deep
- 2 bed / 2 bath, 1,200 sq ft: $244 standard, $343 deep
- 4 bed / 2.5 bath, 2,200 sq ft: $349 standard, $448 deep
In Ontario, add 13% HST. In Québec, add 5% GST and 9.975% QST.
When you need a deep clean
Book a deep clean if any of these sound familiar:
- It is your first professional clean. The first visit removes months of build-up so regular visits can stay quick. That is why most cleaning companies recommend it.
- It has been more than two months since the last thorough clean.
- The season is changing. Spring in Ottawa means grit, salt and dust tracked in all winter. Our spring cleaning service is priced the same as a deep clean.
- You are hosting a holiday dinner, a graduation party or out-of-town family.
- Someone in the home has allergies. Dust on baseboards, vent covers and door tops is a common trigger.
- You are selling — consider our pre-sale and staging clean, which goes beyond a deep clean with photo-ready detail (a standard clean plus $148).
When a regular clean is enough
If your home is cleaned every one to four weeks, a regular clean is all you need. The point of recurring service is that grime never gets a chance to build up. Weekly visits are 20% off from the second visit, bi-weekly 15% and monthly 10% with recurring cleaning.
The smart combination: deep first, then regular
The most cost-effective plan for most Ottawa families:
- Visit 1: deep clean to reset the home.
- Visit 2 onward: bi-weekly standard cleans at 15% off.
- Each spring and fall: add a few targeted add-ons — inside the oven ($29), inside the fridge ($29) or interior windows (from $39) — instead of a full deep clean.
For a 3 bed / 2 bath, 1,500 sq ft home, that looks like $388 for the first visit and then 15% off every bi-weekly visit after that, before tax.
Is a move-out clean the same as a deep clean?
Not quite. A move-in or move-out clean includes everything in a deep clean, but in an empty home, so the crew also cleans inside every cabinet, drawer and closet and spot-cleans all walls. At BlueGuard it is the standard price plus $179. Read our move-out cleaning checklist for Ontario tenants for details.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be home for a deep clean?
No. Many clients leave entry instructions — a lockbox, a key or a concierge. You only pay after the clean is done.
Can I turn a regular clean into a deep clean on the day?
If the crew has time, they can add specific add-ons. For a full deep clean, it is better to book it as one so the right team size is scheduled.
Is a first deep clean required?
At BlueGuard it is recommended, not forced. If your home is already well maintained, start with a standard clean.
What if something was missed?
Report it within 24 hours and we re-clean the missed items for free — that is our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
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