There's no industry-wide definition of a "standard" cleaning, so what's included can vary meaningfully between providers. This is a general sense of what's typically covered, so you know what to confirm before booking.
Usually included
- Kitchens: counters, sink, stovetop, exterior of appliances, floors
- Bathrooms: sink, toilet, shower/tub, mirrors, floors
- Living areas and bedrooms: dusting, vacuuming, mopping, trash removal
- General tidying — but not organizing your belongings
Usually an add-on, not standard
- Inside the oven or refrigerator
- Interior windows
- Baseboards, blinds, and light fixtures
- Laundry
- Areas with pets, if not disclosed ahead of time
How long a visit usually takes
A routine visit on an already-maintained home typically runs somewhere between 1.5 and 3 hours for an average-sized home, depending on square footage and crew size. A first-time or deep-clean visit runs longer — sometimes considerably — since it's covering the buildup a routine visit doesn't touch. Ask for a time estimate up front so you know roughly what to expect.
If you're not sure whether something's included
If something matters to you — a specific room, a fragile item, a pet — mention it before the visit rather than after. It's a much easier conversation to have up front, and most providers would rather confirm scope on the phone than guess and get it wrong on-site.