Deep cleaning services in Singapore: what's included and when you need one

Deep cleaning vs regular cleaning

A regular clean, whether you do it or a part-time cleaner does, keeps the visible surfaces tidy: wiping counters, mopping floors, cleaning the toilet. A deep clean goes after everything that regular cleaning skips. That means inside the cabinets and appliances, behind and under furniture, along window tracks and grilles, the grease film on kitchen walls, the scale and mould in bathroom grout, and the dust on ceiling fans and light fittings.

It is a bigger, slower job, done by a team with heavier equipment, and it is usually booked once in a while rather than every week.

What a deep clean includes

Scope varies between companies, so always ask for the list. A thorough whole-home deep clean usually covers:

• Kitchen: degreasing the hood, hob, backsplash and walls, cabinets wiped inside and out, and appliance exteriors.
• Bathrooms: mould on grout and silicone, scale on taps, glass and tiles, toilets, drains and floor traps.
• All rooms: ledges, skirting, switch plates, doors and frames, ceiling fans and the dust ordinary cleaning misses.
• Windows: glass, frames, tracks and grilles.
• Floors: vacuumed and scrubbed, including grout lines on tiles and marks on vinyl and stone.
• Optional extras: sofa, mattress, carpet and curtain cleaning, and in a new renovation, formaldehyde treatment.

Things that are usually separate specialist jobs: aircon servicing, pest control, and cleaning the outside of windows at height.

When you need a deep clean

• Moving in: to clear out what the last occupant left before you unpack.
• Moving out: to hand the unit back in inspection-ready condition. Our end of tenancy cleaning guide lists what landlords check.
• After a renovation: fine construction dust settles everywhere and needs more than a wipe. See our post-renovation cleaning checklist.
• Before a big occasion: Chinese New Year, hosting family, or a baby arriving.
• Once or twice a year: as a reset, even if you clean regularly.

How long it takes

For most homes, a whole-home deep clean takes from half a day to a full day. A small, lightly lived-in flat is at the shorter end; a large unit, a home that has not had a deep clean in years, or a post-renovation clean takes longer. An empty unit is much quicker than a furnished one, which is why move-in and move-out cleans are best done with the furniture out.

If you add fabric items, most are dry in 2 to 4 hours after cleaning, so plan for that before you use them.

How deep cleaning is priced

Whole-home deep cleaning is usually quoted to your home rather than at a flat rate, because the work depends on the unit type and size, how much grime has built up, whether it is furnished, and which extras you want. A quote after a quick look, or from photos, is normal. Be wary of a very low headline price that turns out to cover only a few rooms or excludes the kitchen.

BRISC's whole-home deep clean for move-in, move-out and post-renovation is quoted by unit type, size and condition; send the details and a few photos on WhatsApp. Fabric items can be added on the same visit at per-piece prices, for example a sofa from $55 and curtains from $55 a panel. Work out the fabric part with the price calculator.

How to get your home ready

• Clear counters, floors and surfaces, so the team cleans rather than tidies.
• Empty cabinets and wardrobes if you want the insides cleaned.
• Make sure water and electricity are on, and arrange access, parking and any building permits for contractors.
• Point out problem areas at the start: a mouldy corner, a stained grout line, a sticky hood.
• Plan to be out of the way, or in one room, so each area can be done in one go.

If there is a new renovation, ventilate well and read our guide to formaldehyde after a renovation before you move in.

Frequently asked questions