What's Included in a Deep Clean? | San Diego

What's Included in a Deep Clean? San Diego Homeowner's Breakdown

"What actually gets cleaned" is the most common question we hear before a deep clean, and for good reason — "deep clean" isn't a regulated term, so it means something different depending on which company you call. In San Diego, where a lot of homes carry months of dust from open windows and coastal air, that gap matters. Here's exactly what's included in a Bravo Maids deep clean, room by room, and what's billed separately.

Kitchen

The kitchen gets the most attention in a deep clean because it's where residue builds up fastest.

• Appliance exteriors: refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave fronts, wiped down and de-smudged, including handles and control panels.
• Microwave interior: included as standard — food splatter and grease removed from walls, ceiling, and turntable.
• Cabinet fronts: wiped down to remove grease film and fingerprints, inside and out on upper reach; we won't empty and reorganize cabinet contents.
• Backsplash: scrubbed to remove grease splatter, a spot deep cleans often skip.
• Countertops: cleared, wiped, and edges detailed where crumbs and grime collect.
• Sink and faucet: scrubbed, including around the base and drain area.
• Stovetop and burner area: degreased, including under removable burner caps where accessible.

Bathrooms

• Grout lines: scrubbed by hand in showers, tub surrounds, and floors — this is one of the biggest time investments in a deep clean.
• Fixtures: faucets, showerheads, and handles cleaned and buffed to remove water spots and mineral buildup.
• Toilets: cleaned top to bottom, including the base and behind the seat hinges.
• Inside cabinets and vanity drawers: wiped down if items are already organized enough to work around; we don't sort personal items.
• Mirrors and glass shower doors: streak-free finish, including soap scum removal on doors.
• Exhaust fan covers: dusted where accessible.

Bedrooms and Living Areas

• Baseboards: wiped down along every wall, not just the visible stretches.
• Light fixtures and ceiling fans: dusted, including fan blades and light fixture globes.
• Window sills and tracks: detailed — sills are a common trap for dust and, near open windows, sand.
• Door frames and switch plates: hand-wiped, an easy detail to miss but noticeable once done.
• Interior windows: cleaned (exterior windows are a separate add-on).
• Furniture surfaces: dusted and wiped, including under lamps and decor (we don't move heavy furniture).

Floors

All floor types are vacuumed and then hand- or mop-cleaned depending on surface — hardwood, tile, and laminate get a wet-mop pass after vacuuming; carpets get a full vacuum including edges and under furniture where accessible. Corners and along baseboards get extra attention since that's where standard cleans typically skip.

What's Included vs. What's an Add-On

This is where most confusion comes from, and it's worth being direct about it. A standard deep clean covers everything above — surfaces, fixtures, cabinet fronts, appliance exteriors, and the microwave interior. It does not automatically include pulling the refrigerator or oven away from the wall to clean behind and underneath them.

We've had this exact question twice recently from the same customer, who asked about refrigerator pull-out and stove pull-out cleaning and whether that was already covered by what she'd paid. It's a fair question, and the honest answer is: interior refrigerator cleaning and interior oven cleaning (inside the oven cavity, and pulling either appliance away from cabinetry to clean behind/underneath) are typically add-ons beyond the standard deep-clean scope, because they require moving heavy appliances away from built-in cabinetry — different labor and time than surface cleaning. If that's something you want included, tell us at booking or call to confirm what's covered before your appointment, so there's no surprise on cleaning day. Other common add-ons include interior windows on the exterior side, garage cleaning, and inside-cabinet organizing beyond a wipe-down.

How Long Does It Take?

Deep cleans run longer than standard maintenance cleans because of the detail work above — grout, baseboards, appliance exteriors, and window sills all add time compared to a routine visit. For a realistic time estimate based on home size, see how long a deep clean takes.

Occupied Home or Move-Out?

What's included can also shift depending on whether you're living in the home during the clean or preparing it empty for a move. We break down the differences in occupied vs. vacant deep cleans, including why empty homes typically get cleaned faster and more thoroughly.

FAQ

Does a deep clean include inside the oven? Interior oven cleaning is typically an add-on, not part of the standard deep-clean scope, since it involves cleaning the oven cavity and often pulling the appliance from cabinetry. Confirm at booking if you want it included.

Will you move furniture and appliances? We clean around furniture and appliances in their existing position. Moving heavy items (refrigerators, stoves, large furniture) falls under add-on services — let us know in advance if you need that.

Is a deep clean a one-time service or can it be recurring? Most customers book a deep clean as a one-time reset, then move to a recurring maintenance schedule afterward. We can walk you through both options when you book.

Ready to Book?

If you want a deep clean that actually covers grout, baseboards, appliance exteriors, and every window sill — not just the visible surfaces — book your San Diego deep clean. Have a specific question about what's included for your home, like fridge or oven pull-out? Call us at (619) 853-3200 and we'll confirm the scope before your appointment.