Deep cleaning checklist: room by room, and what it costs
A deep cleaning checklist you can print, room by room, from a cleaning company that publishes every price. It shows what a deep clean covers that a regular clean does not, which jobs Heron's Deep clean includes and which are add-ons, what it costs for three real kinds of home, how often to book one, and how to do it safely yourself.
What is a deep clean?
A deep clean is a regular clean done in more detail, plus the buildup a regular clean never gets to: baseboards, doors and frames, switches and handles, sills and tracks, light fixtures and vents, and the edges and corners of every room. At Heron it is the $89 Basic clean (dusting, vacuuming and mopping of a one-bedroom) plus a Deep upgrade priced by floor area from +$59, so a one-bedroom Deep clean starts at $148 before HST.
The difference is detail, not rooms. A Basic clean lifts the everyday layer from every reachable surface and every accessible floor. A Deep clean goes to the edges, the corners and the fixtures, and does any bathroom or kitchen you add in full detail: the grout, the tile and the descaled taps in a bathroom, the backsplash, the range hood and the space under the small appliances in a kitchen. It takes considerably longer than a Basic clean, which is what the size-based upgrade pays for.
Book one for a first visit, a seasonal reset, or a home nobody has cleaned professionally for a while. Every price is on the four city pages: deep cleaning in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Mississauga.
How is a deep clean different from a regular clean?
A regular (Basic) clean keeps a lived-in home up; a deep clean resets it. On the three-bedroom, 1,400 sq ft home with two bathrooms and the kitchen that every Heron price page uses, the Basic clean is $214, the Deep clean $293 (+$79 at this size) and the move-in / move-out clean $313, before HST.
| Clean | What it adds | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Basic clean with two bathrooms and the kitchen | Dusting, vacuuming and mopping; the selected rooms cleaned | $214 |
| Deep clean | Baseboards, frames, tracks, fixtures, edges and buildup in a furnished home, and the selected rooms in detail (+$79 at this size) | $293 |
| Move-in / move-out clean | The same detail in an empty home, plus closets and built-ins inside (+$99 at this size) | $313 |
If the home is being handed over empty, the move-out level is the one to book: the move-out cleaning checklist covers it room by room. If it is a new build or a renovation with construction dust, that is post-construction cleaning, scoped at a walkthrough.
What is on a deep cleaning checklist, room by room?
Four areas and the detail that runs through all of them: the kitchen, the bathrooms, the bedrooms and living areas, and the entry, halls and stairs. Work top to bottom and dry before wet in each room, and do the floors last. Tick the jobs off below, then use the table to see which ones a Heron Deep clean covers.
The kitchen
The bathrooms
Bedrooms and living areas
The entry, halls and stairs
What a Heron Deep clean covers, and what is an add-on
The Deep upgrade covers the detail in every room. Bathrooms and the kitchen are rooms you add, and once added they are done in detail too. The appliance interiors, the cabinets and the windows are never silently included, so you only pay for the ones you want.
| Job | In a Heron Deep clean | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dusting of every reachable surface, vacuuming of every floor, hard floors mopped | Included: this is the Basic clean | $89 for a one-bedroom, by bedrooms |
| Baseboards, doors and door frames, switches and handles, all wiped in detail | Included: the Deep upgrade | +$59 to +$239 by floor area |
| Buildup on ledges, edges, corners and behind what moves within reach | Included: the Deep upgrade | +$59 to +$239 by floor area |
| Window sills and tracks, light fixtures and vents within reach | Included: the Deep upgrade | +$59 to +$239 by floor area |
| Detailed dusting of blinds, decor and electronics | Included: the Deep upgrade | In the upgrade |
| Detailed bathroom work where a bathroom is selected: grout, tile, taps descaled, extractor fan | Included when you add the bathroom | a full bathroom +$20, a powder room +$12 |
| Detailed kitchen work where the kitchen is selected: backsplash, range hood exterior, under small appliances | Included when you add the kitchen | +$25 |
| Inside the oven / inside the fridge | Add-on, only when you choose it | from +$19 / from +$19 |
| Inside the kitchen cabinets | Add-on, emptied before we arrive | +$29 |
| Interior windows: glass, frame and sill | Add-on, counted per window | standard +$5, large +$10, patio door panel +$10 |
| Finished basement | Add-on, small, medium or large | +$45 / +$59 / +$75 |
| Pets in the home | Add-on, one line however many pets | +$25 per visit |
| Laundry, dishes, tidying belongings | Not part of a clean | Not offered |
| Carpet shampooing, wall washing, repairs, outside windows above the ground floor | Not part of a clean | Not offered |
What does a deep clean not include?
The inside of the oven (from +$19), the inside of the fridge (from +$19), the inside of the cabinets (+$29) and interior windows (from +$5 each) are add-ons, as are basements and balconies. Laundry, dishes, tidying, carpet shampooing, wall washing and repairs are not part of any clean.
That is deliberate: a deep clean with every appliance and cupboard folded in would cost everyone the price of the biggest job. At Heron the Deep upgrade is the detail work, and the rest is a line you choose, priced before you book. Heavy grease inside an oven is confirmed with you first, a double oven counts as two, and the cabinets need to be emptied before we arrive. Deep cleaning over 4,000 sq ft is confirmed by phone.
What does a deep clean cost? From $148 ($89 Basic + $59 upgrade)
From $148 for a one-bedroom or a condo under 1,000 sq ft: the $89 Basic clean plus the +$59 Deep upgrade, before HST. The upgrade grows with the floor area, up to +$239 at 3,500–3,999 sq ft, and each bathroom (+$20) and the kitchen (+$25) is added at the same price as on any clean.
| Floor area | Home size adjustment (every clean) | Deep upgrade |
|---|---|---|
| under 1,000 sq ft | none | +$59 |
| 1,000–1,499 sq ft | none | +$79 |
| 1,500–1,999 sq ft | +$15 | +$89 |
| 2,000–2,499 sq ft | +$20 | +$109 |
| 2,500–2,999 sq ft | +$45 | +$149 |
| 3,000–3,499 sq ft | +$70 | +$189 |
| 3,500–3,999 sq ft | +$100 | +$239 |
| 4,000 sq ft and up (confirmed by phone) | +$150 | +$239 |
The Basic price is set by bedrooms ($89 for a one-bedroom and from $149 for a 3-bedroom), and homes over 1,500 sq ft add the same size adjustment as any clean. Everything is before Ontario's 13% HST (Canada Revenue Agency), which the calculator shows on its own line; supplies, a two-person team whenever possible and the 24-hour re-clean guarantee are included. Deep cleans are one-time, so the recurring discount does not apply to them. The whole rate card, with hourly rates and five homes priced line by line, is in how much house cleaning costs in Oakville in 2026; the prices are the same in all four cities.
What does a deep clean cost for a condo, a house and a large home?
$193 for a one-bedroom condo with the bathroom and kitchen, $331 for a three-bedroom house with two bathrooms, the kitchen, the oven and the fridge, and $396 for a 2,400 sq ft four-bedroom house with 2.5 bathrooms, the kitchen and a dog, all before HST. Each is priced line by line below from the rate card.
Each link opens the same build in the calculator, so you can change it to match your home.
A one-bedroom condo, first deep clean
1-bedroom condo, 650 sq ft, bathroom and kitchen. A condo under 1,000 sq ft takes the smallest Deep upgrade. The bathroom and the kitchen are added at their usual prices and done in detail: grout, tile, taps, the extractor fan, the backsplash and the range hood.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Cleaning | $89 |
| Deep Cleaning upgrade | $59 |
| Full bathroom (1 × $20) | $20 |
| Kitchen | $25 |
| Subtotal | $193 |
| HST (13%) | $25.09 |
| Total | $218.09 |
Open this example in the calculator.
A three-bedroom house before the holidays
3-bedroom house, 1,400 sq ft, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, oven and fridge. The home every Heron price page uses, with the inside of the oven and the fridge added for the holiday cooking. Without the two appliances it is $293.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Cleaning | $149 |
| Deep Cleaning upgrade | $79 |
| Full bathrooms (2 × $20) | $40 |
| Kitchen | $25 |
| Inside oven (1 × from $19) | $19 |
| Inside fridge (1 × from $19) | $19 |
| Subtotal | $331 |
| HST (13%) | $43.03 |
| Total | $374.03 |
Open this example in the calculator.
A four-bedroom house with a dog
4-bedroom house, 2,400 sq ft, 2.5 bathrooms, kitchen, a pet. Above 1,500 sq ft the Basic clean carries its home size adjustment and the Deep upgrade steps up with the floor area. Pets in the home is one flat line per visit, however many pets, for the extra passes pet hair needs along the baseboards and under furniture.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Basic Cleaning | $165 |
| Home size adjustment | $20 |
| Deep Cleaning upgrade | $109 |
| Pets in the home | $25 |
| Full bathrooms (2 × $20) | $40 |
| Powder room / half bath (1 × $12) | $12 |
| Kitchen | $25 |
| Subtotal | $396 |
| HST (13%) | $51.48 |
| Total | $447.48 |
How often should you deep clean your home?
Once or twice a year if the home is cleaned regularly: most Heron clients book one in spring and one before the holidays. If nobody has cleaned the home professionally before, start with a Deep clean and keep it there with Basic visits.
| When | Why then |
|---|---|
| Spring | Once the windows can open, the winter's grit, salt dust and heating-season buildup comes off the baseboards, sills and tracks. |
| Before the holidays | Guests see the edges and the bathrooms. Thanksgiving is Monday, October 12, 2026: the Thanksgiving cleaning checklist sets out a three-day plan. |
| Before a regular schedule starts | The first visit resets the home; the Basic visits after it keep it there, at the recurring discount. |
| Moving in or out | Book the move-in / move-out clean instead: the same detail in an empty home, from $168. |
On a schedule already? Yes. Add the Deep upgrade to any scheduled visit at the same size-based price as a first-time Deep clean, +$79 for a home of 1,000–1,499 sq ft, since it is the same work. Most clients do this once in spring and once before the holidays. Inside the oven and fridge are separate add-ons you can put on the same visit. If the week is the problem rather than the buildup, what to hand off to a cleaner first sets out which rooms to give away and which to keep.
How do you clean mould and mildew in a bathroom?
Clean small patches with water and dish detergent: Health Canada says there is no need to use bleach. Then deal with the moisture, by running the bathroom fan while you shower and for a few minutes after, and keeping indoor humidity between 30% and 50%.
The guidance is Health Canada's page on mould (read September 29, 2026). It treats one to three patches, each smaller than 1 m² (10 sq ft), as a small area you can clean yourself, and suggests considering a professional when a patch is larger than 3 m² (32 sq ft). Mould that keeps coming back on the grout or the ceiling points to the moisture, which cleaning alone does not fix.
In a Heron Deep clean, the grout, the tile, the taps and the extractor fan are part of the detailed work in every bathroom you add (a full bathroom +$20, a powder room +$12).
How do you deep clean a house yourself?
Work top to bottom and dry before wet: declutter, dust from high to low, do the detail, then the bathrooms and the kitchen, and the floors last. Never mix bleach with ammonia or with acids such as vinegar: Health Canada warns that some mixtures give off harmful gases.
- Declutter first. Clear the counters, tables and floors, and bag what is leaving. You cannot clean a surface you cannot see.
- Dust from the top down. Light fixtures, the tops of doors and frames, shelves, blinds, then furniture. Dust falls, so it goes before the floors.
- Do the detail. Baseboards, doors and frames, switches and handles, sills and tracks, vent covers: the work a regular clean skips.
- Clean the bathrooms. Grout, tile, taps and the fan cover, with the window open or the fan running.
- Clean the kitchen. The range hood and its filter, the backsplash, under the small appliances, then the inside of whatever you chose: fridge, oven, cabinets.
- Finish with the floors. Vacuum everything, then wash the hard floors, edges and corners included. Floors go last because everything above them drops onto them.
Health Canada's household chemical safety advice is plain: never mix bleach with other chemicals, especially glass cleaners, other products containing ammonia, or acids such as vinegar; open windows or run the exhaust fans during and after cleaning; keep products in their original containers; and wear the gloves the label recommends. One product at a time, rinsed off before the next, is the safe habit.
A whole-home deep clean done yourself is usually a weekend. If you would rather spend it elsewhere, build the clean on the calculator and hand off only the rooms you do not want to do.
How do you get ready for a deep clean?
Clear the surfaces you want cleaned, empty the cabinets if you have added their interiors, and tell us about pets, parking and access when you book. That is all: the team brings every product and piece of equipment.
- Clear the surfaces. Counters, tables, the tops of dressers and the floors: the cleaners spend the visit cleaning rather than moving belongings, and tidying is not part of a clean.
- Empty the cabinets if you have added their interiors (+$29); the shelves, drawer bases and door interiors are wiped and dried.
- Tell us about pets (+$25 per visit), delicate surfaces and any products you want us to use or avoid. If you would rather we used your own products, leave them out.
- In a condo, send the entry instructions and say where to park: difficult building access is +$20, and paid visitor parking is charged at actual cost, agreed before we arrive. See condo cleaning in Mississauga.
Where does Heron do deep cleaning?
Across Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Mississauga, at the same prices in each city, with no travel premium. The neighbourhoods below are examples from our coverage; the price depends on the home, never on the street.
Deep cleaning in Oakville
Heron is based in Oakville and cleans across the town, including Joshua Creek, Glen Abbey, Bronte, River Oaks and Uptown Core. Every Deep price is on deep cleaning in Oakville, and the regular visits that follow on house cleaning in Oakville.
Deep cleaning in Burlington
Our Burlington coverage includes Aldershot, Roseland, Millcroft, Alton Village and The Orchard, at the same prices as Oakville. See deep cleaning in Burlington or house cleaning in Burlington.
Deep cleaning in Milton
Hawthorne Village, Beaty, Clarke and Old Milton are all part of our Milton coverage. Many Milton homes have a finished basement: add it to the Deep clean at +$45 to +$75 by size. See deep cleaning in Milton or house cleaning in Milton.
Deep cleaning in Mississauga
We clean across Mississauga, including Clarkson, Lorne Park, Erin Mills, Meadowvale, East Credit and Lisgar, on the same rate card with no travel premium. See deep cleaning in Mississauga, or the neighbourhood pages for Erin Mills, Churchill Meadows, Port Credit and Streetsville.
Deep cleaning questions
How long does a deep clean take?
Longer than a regular clean: that extra time is what the size-based Deep upgrade pays for. Heron prices the job, not the hours, so the price you build is the price you pay however long the detail takes. A bigger or busier home takes longer, which is why the upgrade steps up with the floor area, from +$59 under 1,000 sq ft to +$239 at 3,500–3,999 sq ft.
Does a deep clean include the inside of the oven and fridge?
No. Inside the oven is from +$19 and inside the fridge is from +$19, whichever clean you book, and they are only done when you add them. Inside cabinets is +$29, emptied before we arrive. Deep cleaning is the detail upgrade (baseboards, frames, tracks, fixtures, buildup); it never silently includes the appliances, so a Deep clean without them costs exactly what the calculator shows.
How much does a deep clean cost for a 3-bedroom house?
At Heron, $293 before HST for a 3-bedroom, 1,400 sq ft home with two bathrooms and the kitchen: the $149 Basic clean, the +$79 Deep upgrade for 1,000–1,499 sq ft, two bathrooms at +$20 each and the kitchen at +$25. With the inside of the oven and the fridge added it is $331. Larger homes add the size adjustment and a larger upgrade.
Can I add a deep clean to my regular cleaning visits?
Yes. Add the Deep upgrade to any scheduled visit at the same size-based price as a first-time Deep clean, +$79 for a home of 1,000–1,499 sq ft, since it is the same work. Most clients do this once in spring and once before the holidays. Inside the oven and fridge are separate add-ons you can put on the same visit.
Is a deep clean the same as a move-out clean?
No. A move-out clean is the same level of detail in an empty home, plus the inside of the closets and built-ins and the marks furniture used to hide, from $168 for a one-bedroom. If the furniture is staying, book the Deep clean; if the home is being handed over empty, the move-out checklist is the one to follow.
Are cleaning supplies included in a deep clean?
Yes. The team brings the vacuum, the mop system, cloths and products, so there is nothing to buy. If you would rather we used your own products, because of a surface, an allergy or a preference, leave them out and we use those instead, at the same price.
Will the price go up on the day?
Choose your rooms and tasks at published prices. We confirm the details and availability by phone. We do not increase the agreed cleaning price on arrival. Extra rooms or tasks are added only if you choose them and agree the price before the work starts.
Is Heron Cleaning insured?
Heron Cleaning carries $2 million commercial general liability per occurrence ($5 million aggregate).
How do you book a deep clean?
Build the clean on the calculator, then call 289-813-7484 with the quote code. The price on your screen is the price we book; an online quote does not reserve a time, the call does.
Build your clean on the pricing page, then call 289-813-7484 with the quote code, or just call and we build it with you. We clean in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Mississauga, at the same prices everywhere.
The quote is online. Booking is by phone. An online quote does not reserve a time; we confirm the scope, the price and a day that suits you when you call.
Sources
Checked September 29, 2026. Heron's prices come from its own published rate card; everything else on this page comes from the sources below.
- Heron Cleaning, rate card 2026-09-26: every Heron price on this page, before HST, generated by the same engine as the calculator.
- Health Canada, Mould: humidity between 30% and 50%, exhaust fans during and after showering, small patches cleaned with water and dish detergent, and when to consider a professional.
- Health Canada, Use household chemicals safely: never mix bleach with glass cleaners, other products containing ammonia, or acids such as vinegar; ventilate during and after cleaning.
- Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST calculator (and rates): Ontario's HST rate is 13%.
