Levels of cleaning: a breakdown

When you're considering working with a partner to help with your cleaning needs, you may not know exactly what it is that you need. There are many different types of cleaning, especially when you take into consideration different specialties, and not all of them may apply to your workspace.

What is often of interest to those in a commercial setting is the different levels of cleaning that are available to them, and what each of these levels entail. Today, that's what we're looking at.

What is the highest level of cleaning?

The most intensive type of cleaning is a deep clean, although what this entails can vary from space to space and from company to company. A deep clean aims for an entirely sterile environment that has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and leaves the space germ-free and pristine.

However, a deep clean is not always necessary, and in other situations a more general cleaning service may be appropriate instead.

What's the difference between a deep clean and a standard clean?

Deep cleaning is extensive and aims to restore hygiene, whereas standard cleaning focuses on maintaining it; the aim of a general clean is upkeep, not overhaul. Depending on which company is providing the service, they may have slightly different definitions of exactly what goes into a deep clean or a standard clean, but the broad aims and approach of each will tend to be the same.

A deep clean will generally take longer than one regular cleaning session would, because the tasks it involves are more extensive - and of course, the cost of these services reflect the different amount of work and time needed, with deep cleaning services generally costing more.

The different levels of cleaning services

You may see certain sources discuss different tiers of cleaning. There are several different ways to look at this:

By regularity: for example daily cleaning vs periodic cleaning vs one off cleaning.

By urgency: for example immediate cleaning needs (such as addressing a particular incident or spill) vs maintenance cleaning vs remedial cleaning.

By hygiene factors: some classify cleaning into three tiers: cleaning, sanitising, and disinfecting. However, we don't think this is a very useful distinction. The vast majority of the work we undertake as a professional cleaning company includes disinfecting, and we work across a lot of different industries and needs - this breakdown seems too specific to us.

By types: for example routine cleaning (in the form of regular or standard cleaning sessions) vs deep cleaning vs specialised cleaning.

In reality, there are a whole host of different tiers or levels of cleaning, and what will work for you won't necessarily be a case as just specifying one of these. The spectrum of cleaning services available to you is quite broad and there are different specialisms within it. Regular, deep and specialised cleaning can be useful distinctions between cleaning services to consider though.

Regular cleaning

Regular cleaning involves cleaning tasks that are done at an agreed frequency to uphold cleanliness standards and maintain a hygienic environment.

Think the traditional cleaning tasks: things like vacuuming, mopping, dusting, and clearing debris from surfaces. It is the type of cleaning service that is offered by most professional cleaners.

Deep cleaning

A deep clean is the most intensive level of cleaning, although within this category there are different 'depths' that you might go to, because different spaces have different requirements. What your space is used for will influence how easily dirt or germs accumulate, or how quickly wear shows.

Deep cleaning has a high level of detail and can involve moving furniture, cleaning inside cupboards (taking everything out so that all parts can be reached), upholstery cleaning, and a meticulous level of sanitisation. It brings attention to hard-to-reach areas or those that don't require regular attention but do need a thorough clean every once in a while.

Deep cleaning can be done as a one-off, but there are also some situations where deep cleaning methods are used as a part of a regular cleaning service contract, for example in the form of monthly tasks. This could be things like cleaning skirting boards or a thorough clear out of a fridge; tasks that are not necessarily needed every day, but that benefit from not being ignored for long periods of time.

Specialised cleaning

Specialised cleaning can be part of regular cleaning or deep cleaning, but is sometimes handled separately to them both. It can involve tasks that require specialist knowledge, skills or experience, so not all cleaning providers will be able to assist.

They could be things like high level cleaning, which focuses on areas which are difficult to reach using conventional methods, so may use elevated work platforms, or cleaning in spaces where risk assessments are necessary, such as those handling hazardous substances (for which COSHH training - Control of Substances Hazardous to Health - would be required).

Specialised cleaning is often important to businesses and organisations who operate in industries where there is a risk of infections, contamination or additional risks to consider if the right level of cleanliness is not adhered to.

How do I determine the right level of cleaning for my needs?

It's best not to worry too much about need to specify a particular 'level' of cleaning - this is what the experts are for! You might benefit from a deep clean followed by a pattern of regular cleaning, or you might be a very specialised space (for example a medical environment, or a workplace that uses hazardous materials) which needs a very specialised service.

Rather than focusing on what to ask for, have a conversation with any potential cleaning partner about how your space is used, your workplace safety concerns, and your unique cleaning needs. They will be able to recommend the right cleaning schedule to ensure optimal hygiene and efficiency.

Bespoke cleaning services with Vivo Clean

Need a commercial cleaning specialist? We are Suffolk's fastest-growing cleaning company, trusted by a wide range of businesses in various industries for regular cleaning, deep cleans, and everything in between.

Our services are bespoke to your requirements; we create a regular cleaning schedule that takes into account both the day to day cleaning and less frequent tasks that ensure we're always on top of everything. This can mean incorporating 'deep' cleaning tasks into your general cleaning schedule based on our discussions with you about your needs.

For example, if your workspace is an office, there will be non-daily tasks. such as cleaning the tops of the kitchen cupboards. that we would look to add to a monthly rotation, rather than leaving them unattended to for long periods of time.

If we can help your business with commercial contract cleaning, or more specific services such as deep cleans or industrial cleaning, get in touch today.

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