Cleaning glossary
Plain-English definitions of the cleaning terms you'll come across when comparing quotes.
- Regular clean
- A maintenance clean of an already-tidy home — kitchens, bathrooms, floors and dusting. The best value per visit. More on regular clean
- Standard clean
- Another name for a regular or maintenance clean. More on standard clean
- Deep clean
- A thorough clean that tackles build-up a regular clean skips — skirtings, tiles and grout, inside appliances. Takes about 1.5–2× as long. More on deep clean
- Spring clean
- A thorough seasonal refresh, more detailed than a regular clean. More on spring clean
- End of lease clean
- A detailed move-out clean held to a property manager's inspection standard, to help return your bond. More on end of lease clean
- Bond clean
- The same as an end-of-lease clean — the name emphasises getting your rental bond back. More on bond clean
- Exit / vacate clean
- Other names for an end-of-lease (bond) clean, emphasising moving out. More on exit / vacate clean
- One-off clean
- A single clean with no ongoing schedule. Costs more per visit than a recurring clean because more has built up. More on one-off clean
- Recurring clean
- A clean on an ongoing schedule (weekly, fortnightly, monthly). Cheaper per visit than a one-off. More on recurring clean
- Hourly rate
- Charging by the hour. Common for one-offs where scope is uncertain — indicatively $40–$65/hr in Australia. More on hourly rate
- Fixed price
- A set price for the whole job, based on property size and scope. Common for regular and bond cleans. More on fixed price
- Minimum booking
- A minimum call-out (often a couple of hours or a set fee) that covers a cleaner's travel and set-up time. More on minimum booking