If you have not previously hired a professional cleaning service for your home, the experience can be a little uncertain. What exactly will they do? What should you do before they arrive? How does pricing work, and is there anything you need to watch out for?
This guide is intended to answer those questions honestly. It describes what a professional residential cleaning service typically includes, how the process usually works, and what questions are reasonable to ask when you are considering a provider in Regina, Saskatchewan.
What Does a Standard Residential Cleaning Cover?
A standard residential cleaning — sometimes called a "maintenance clean" — is designed for homes that are already in a reasonable state of cleanliness and need regular upkeep. The scope typically includes:
- Kitchens: Wiping countertops, cleaning exterior surfaces of appliances, cleaning the stovetop, cleaning the sink and faucet, mopping the floor, and emptying visible bins. Note that the inside of appliances (oven, refrigerator) is generally not part of a standard clean — that typically falls under a deep clean.
- Bathrooms: Cleaning toilets, sinks, and shower or bath surfaces; wiping mirrors; mopping the floor; replacing used hand towels if provided.
- Living areas and bedrooms: Dusting visible surfaces (shelves, window sills, baseboards), vacuuming upholstery if accessible, vacuuming or mopping floors.
- General tasks: Emptying waste bins, tidying visible surfaces, and spot-wiping any obvious marks or spills.
What a standard clean does not include is equally important to understand: inside kitchen cupboards, behind heavy furniture, inside appliances, high windows, garage areas, or any room or item not included in the agreed scope.
Every service provider is different in what they consider "standard." A reliable provider will give you a written or confirmed scope before the visit, not after. Ask for this if it isn't offered.
Preparing Your Home Before the Cleaners Arrive
There is a common misconception that you need to tidy your home extensively before a cleaning crew arrives. This is not quite right. You don't need to clean before they clean — but some preparation does help, and it is in your interest to do it.
The most useful preparation steps are:
- Clear floors of items that would prevent thorough vacuuming or mopping (shoes, toys, bags)
- Move any fragile or valuable items off surfaces if you are concerned about them being handled
- Make sure dishes are not left in a state that would prevent sink cleaning
- Identify any areas that are off-limits and communicate that clearly in advance
You do not need to pre-vacuum, pre-wipe surfaces, or pre-mop. Those tasks are what you are paying for.
What Happens During the Visit
On the day of the service, the cleaning team will typically arrive within the agreed time window. Many clients choose not to be home during the clean, which is common and generally fine — access arrangements should be discussed and confirmed beforehand.
A professional team will work through the agreed rooms in a methodical order, typically starting from the areas requiring the most attention (often bathrooms and kitchens) and moving to living areas and bedrooms. Surfaces are usually cleaned top to bottom, floors last.
If the team encounters something outside the agreed scope — an unexpectedly soiled area, a room not originally included — they should flag this with you rather than proceeding unilaterally, particularly if it would affect the time or cost of the service.
Deep Cleaning vs. Maintenance Cleaning
The distinction between a "deep clean" and a "maintenance clean" is one of the most common sources of confusion when engaging a cleaning service. The key difference is scope and thoroughness.
A maintenance clean is suitable for homes that are cleaned on a regular schedule — weekly, biweekly, or monthly. The work keeps a reasonably tidy home in that condition. It is relatively quick and covers the most visible surfaces and areas.
A deep clean is intended for homes that have not been cleaned in a while, are being prepared for sale or rental, or simply need more detailed attention. It covers inside appliances, under furniture, window treatments, grout cleaning, and other tasks that are not part of a routine visit.
If you are hiring a cleaning service for the first time, or your home has not been cleaned by a professional in several months, it is worth asking whether the provider recommends a deep clean first, followed by regular maintenance visits. Some clients find this a useful starting point.
How Pricing Works
Residential cleaning is most commonly priced by the visit, with rates that vary based on property size, number of rooms, type of service, and scheduling frequency. Many providers apply a discount for recurring bookings (weekly or biweekly) compared to one-time visits, since the home tends to be in better condition and each visit takes less time.
In Regina and the surrounding area, pricing for a standard clean on a medium-sized home (two or three bedrooms) typically ranges from around $120 to $250 per visit, depending on the scope and provider. One-time deep cleans are priced higher, often starting around $200 and increasing significantly for larger properties or those in poorer condition.
These are general reference ranges and should not be treated as quotes. The best way to get an accurate price is to contact a provider with specifics about your property.
Questions to Ask a Cleaning Provider
Before booking, it is worth asking:
- What is included in the scope, and what is explicitly not included?
- Do staff bring their own supplies and equipment, or do they use what is on site?
- Are the staff employed by the company, or are they contracted independently?
- What is the cancellation or rescheduling policy?
- How is pricing confirmed, and is there anything that could cause it to change after the fact?
A provider who answers these questions clearly and without hesitation is generally operating with a reasonable level of transparency. Be cautious of providers who make sweeping promises about results, offer significantly lower prices than comparable services, or are vague about what is actually included.
After the Clean
Most cleaning services will not conduct a walk-through with you at the end of the visit, though some do. If you have concerns about the work, it is usually best to raise them promptly — within 24 to 48 hours — so the provider has an opportunity to address them. A reputable company will take a reasonable concern seriously and make arrangements to correct anything that genuinely falls within the agreed scope.
For recurring bookings, it is worth spending a few minutes after the first visit to note what was done well and whether anything was missed or needed more attention. Most providers are willing to adjust the service plan based on feedback before the next visit.
Summary
Professional residential cleaning is a practical service when it is approached with realistic expectations. The most important factors are a clearly defined scope, transparent pricing, reliable scheduling, and a team that is professional and respectful of the property. None of these are difficult to find — they just require asking the right questions before you book.
If you are located in Regina, SK and are looking for a cleaning service that operates with these principles, get in touch with Ixvoria to discuss your requirements.