Types of Cleaning Explained: Which Clean Does Your Dublin Home Need?

Regular clean, deep clean, one-off, end of tenancy: the names sound similar, but they cover different jobs and take very different amounts of time. Booking the wrong one is the most common reason a clean does not meet expectations, whether it is a flat in Phibsborough or a family home in Blackrock.

This guide explains what each type of cleaning includes, how long it usually takes, and how to choose the right one for your situation.

Regular cleaning

A regular clean is maintenance. It keeps a home that is already in reasonable shape clean and tidy, usually weekly or fortnightly. The cleaner focuses on the surfaces and rooms that get dirty every day rather than the hidden areas that build up over months.

Because the same jobs are repeated on a schedule, regular cleans are quicker than a first-time or deep clean and keep the home at a consistent standard.

• Kitchen worktops, hob, sink and outside of appliances
• Bathrooms: toilet, shower, bath, sink, mirrors and floors
• Dusting of reachable surfaces
• Vacuuming and mopping of floors
• Emptying bins and general tidying

One-off cleaning

A one-off clean covers the same ground as a regular clean but is booked on its own, for example before guests arrive, after a busy few weeks or while you try out a cleaner. If the home has not been cleaned professionally for a while, allow a little more time than for a regular visit, as the first clean always takes longer.

Deep cleaning

A deep clean goes further than a regular clean, reaching the areas that are skipped in weekly upkeep. It suits a home that has fallen behind, a spring or pre-Christmas reset, or the first clean before starting a regular schedule.

In Dublin, a deep clean often means tackling hard-water limescale on taps, shower screens and around the sink, which builds up gradually and takes time to remove properly.

• Descaling taps, shower heads, screens and tiles
• Skirting boards, door frames, light switches and handles
• Inside kitchen cupboards and drawers if emptied
• Behind and under movable furniture
• Extras such as inside the oven, inside the fridge and internal windows

End of tenancy cleaning

End of tenancy cleaning is the most thorough clean, designed to return a rental property to the condition expected at check-out. Every room is cleaned top to bottom, inside and out, with extra attention to the kitchen and bathrooms, as these are where landlords and agents look first.

It usually needs booking a day or more ahead and takes the longest of any clean. For a full breakdown of what is included, see our end of tenancy cleaning checklist for Dublin renters, or book professional end of tenancy cleaning in Dublin directly.

• Inside the oven, hob, extractor and all kitchen appliances
• Inside every cupboard, drawer and wardrobe
• Full bathroom descale and grout clean
• Walls spot-cleaned, skirting and door frames wiped
• Carpets vacuumed thoroughly, hard floors washed

Move-in cleaning

Moving into a new place in Dublin, you will not always find it as clean as you would like. A move-in clean is essentially a deep clean of an empty property, and it is much easier to do before your furniture and boxes arrive. Book it as a deep or one-off clean and mention that the property is empty.

How to choose the right clean

If you are unsure, these rules of thumb help:

• Home in decent shape, want it kept that way: regular clean
• Home fallen behind or never cleaned professionally: deep clean first, then regular
• Guests or a one-time event: one-off clean
• Moving out of a rental: end of tenancy clean
• Moving into a new place: deep clean before you unpack

Frequently Asked Questions

Book the Right Clean in Dublin

Whichever clean your home needs, eMop connects you with vetted cleaners across Dublin, from Ranelagh to Swords, for regular, one-off, deep and end of tenancy cleaning.

Choose your clean and book online at emop.ie, with next-day slots available.