Anonymous
01/05/2026 17:46
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:The types of things you are complaining of are not the kinds of things that are going to be on the list of your weekly/monthly regular cleaner. The kind of clean you can expect is going to be a very surface level kind of clean (which, it sounds like, is what you are getting). I always tell my DH, when I am making him help me clean lol, that housecleaners will never clean your house the way you would. They just don't -- they wipe down surfaces. Unless you are very lucky to have someone who is both very good and very loyal to you and you are probably paying them above market and having them come at least once per week.
To have things like crevices on kitchen cabinet handles and bathroom fans cleaned, that is going to be a "deep clean" appointment. And even then, if you want very specific things like that done, you will need to make that very clear -- even with a "deep clean" appointment, most will work from their own checklist and may not include those things on it.
I think, OP, you are expecting way too much for what you are paying and how much many hours per week you have someone in.
How much per hour?
Anonymous
01/05/2026 13:32
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
The cabinet legs and kitchen handles should be part of a regular cleaning - they should be wiping down cabinets each time they come.
You should do some pre-cleaning before they arrive - they shouldn't be wasting time on doing your dishes. Also put away all shoes, packages, piles of things - that too, is a waste of time when they could be doing more difficult/detailed tasks.
You should do some pre-cleaning before they arrive - they shouldn't be wasting time on doing your dishes. Also put away all shoes, packages, piles of things - that too, is a waste of time when they could be doing more difficult/detailed tasks.
Anonymous
01/05/2026 13:31
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
+1 And dusting legos is iffy--items should be dusted like picture frames that are visible obviously, but maybe your cleaner is scared of damaging the legos. I've dusted my kid's legos, and pieces can break off pretty easily, particularly for the big ones with lots of little pieces, and it becomes a major time suck to put them back together.
Anonymous
01/05/2026 13:25
Subject: Re:Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Yes the areas that you mentioned tend to be stuff that would need to be specifically deep-cleaned.
Most housecleaners will do a surface clean as you mentioned.
Some will move furniture to vacuum behind or under it - others not so much.
They also tend to clean only the exterior of appliances, rarely the interior.
And while they are more than willing to empty out a trash bag, they seldom will scrub + disinfect a garbage can.
If you would like specific duties performed you may have to either ask your regular cleaner to do it on one of their regular visits (one at a time + pay extra) or possibly hire a company that specializes in deep-cleaning tasks.
Good luck either way!
Most housecleaners will do a surface clean as you mentioned.
Some will move furniture to vacuum behind or under it - others not so much.
They also tend to clean only the exterior of appliances, rarely the interior.
And while they are more than willing to empty out a trash bag, they seldom will scrub + disinfect a garbage can.
If you would like specific duties performed you may have to either ask your regular cleaner to do it on one of their regular visits (one at a time + pay extra) or possibly hire a company that specializes in deep-cleaning tasks.
Good luck either way!
Anonymous
01/04/2026 18:05
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
Love that you know these rules! How did you learn?
Isn't it just common sense that a basic clean is anything that can be seen on outside surfaces and not inside drawers and cabinets? They should not be touching your stuff but all reachable surfaces within reason.
I mean, aren’t they putting dishes and silverware away? So if they see crumbs around the organizer, would it be so crazy to expect them to clean it out?
No -- most housecleaners do not do dishes.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 18:03
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
The types of things you are complaining of are not the kinds of things that are going to be on the list of your weekly/monthly regular cleaner. The kind of clean you can expect is going to be a very surface level kind of clean (which, it sounds like, is what you are getting). I always tell my DH, when I am making him help me clean lol, that housecleaners will never clean your house the way you would. They just don't -- they wipe down surfaces. Unless you are very lucky to have someone who is both very good and very loyal to you and you are probably paying them above market and having them come at least once per week.
To have things like crevices on kitchen cabinet handles and bathroom fans cleaned, that is going to be a "deep clean" appointment. And even then, if you want very specific things like that done, you will need to make that very clear -- even with a "deep clean" appointment, most will work from their own checklist and may not include those things on it.
I think, OP, you are expecting way too much for what you are paying and how much many hours per week you have someone in.
To have things like crevices on kitchen cabinet handles and bathroom fans cleaned, that is going to be a "deep clean" appointment. And even then, if you want very specific things like that done, you will need to make that very clear -- even with a "deep clean" appointment, most will work from their own checklist and may not include those things on it.
I think, OP, you are expecting way too much for what you are paying and how much many hours per week you have someone in.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:59
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
Love that you know these rules! How did you learn?
Isn't it just common sense that a basic clean is anything that can be seen on outside surfaces and not inside drawers and cabinets? They should not be touching your stuff but all reachable surfaces within reason.
I mean, aren’t they putting dishes and silverware away? So if they see crumbs around the organizer, would it be so crazy to expect them to clean it out?
Anonymous
01/04/2026 16:12
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
Love that you know these rules! How did you learn?
Isn't it just common sense that a basic clean is anything that can be seen on outside surfaces and not inside drawers and cabinets? They should not be touching your stuff but all reachable surfaces within reason.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:58
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
My SIL used to have a once a week cleaning service, and she'd leave a check on the kitchen counter with a post-it asking them to focus on a different specific thing each time. So they'd do their regular clean, and then also clean out drawers or whatever.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:57
Subject: Re:Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
I have an organizer for that task and a different company for deep cleaning that requires furniture moved, cabinets emptied, walls wiped down, window sills cleaned, outdoor windows, etc.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:53
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
Love that you know these rules! How did you learn?
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:51
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, they are. You need to specifically ask for these, stand around while they do it, and pay for the hours they spend doing it. If you want that done regularly, you need to specifically ask: "instead of wiping counters and vacuuming, which I can do, please clean the baseboards and kitchen cabinets."
Thanks, this is helpful
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:37
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Anonymous wrote:Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Cabinet handles should be cleaned, as legs. Inside the cabinets, no. Ourside of bathroom fan, yes, inside, no.
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:35
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Yes, they are. You need to specifically ask for these, stand around while they do it, and pay for the hours they spend doing it. If you want that done regularly, you need to specifically ask: "instead of wiping counters and vacuuming, which I can do, please clean the baseboards and kitchen cabinets."
Anonymous
01/04/2026 15:31
Subject: Anyone with a housecleaner or service care to share how deep cleaning is handled?
Do you use the same everyday cleaners and pay extra? Or do you bring in others?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?
Do you have a specific list of tasks? If so will you share it? I’ve seen lists to download online and they tend to be way too detailed in some ways, but missing other areas. I live in a smallish condo fwiw.
I’ve been paying for a regular housecleaner for years (usually one person sometimes two, and I’ve switched services) and it seems like no matter how much I pay or suggest or buy tools for, the cleaning is not thorough, and is mostly floors and eye level cleaning.
Ex, the handle crevices on my kitchen cabinet handles were dirty. Another ex, I pulled out my kitchen drawers and all were filthy underneath and in the back. I cleaned them a few months ago so obviously they haven’t been touched since. Legs on my kitchen cabinets were also very dirty and clearly never cleaned. And bathroom fans- never get dusted unless I do it.
Are these considered deep cleaning items?