How Often Should You Deep Clean Your House? A Guide by Household Type
Angi recommends deep cleaning at least once or twice a year, and more often if you have pets, children or heavy foot traffic. For heavy foot traffic it says every three to six months. A home cleaned weekly and kept tidy may need it only once a year. Sources vary, so adjust to your household.
Key takeaways
- Angi recommends at least once or twice a year, with more frequent deep cleans for pets, children or heavy foot traffic.
- A home cleaned weekly and kept tidy may only need a yearly deep clean.
- Some jobs, like the oven and pillows, run on three-to-six-month cycles per Good Housekeeping.
- AAFA gives routines for dust mite allergies but sets no deep-clean frequency.
- Spring and fall are popular because you can open windows; book ahead for holidays.
How often should you deep clean your house?
Angi recommends deep cleaning at least once or twice a year, and more often with pets, children or heavy foot traffic, with every three to six months for heavy foot traffic. A home that gets regular cleaning every week may need a deep clean only once a year. Sources vary, so treat these as ranges.
Two of Angi's guides give slightly different numbers, which is a good reminder that this is a range and not a rule. One says to deep clean at least once or twice a year, with more frequent deep cleans every three to six months in homes with heavy foot traffic. Another says two or three times a year, or more often with kids or pets.
Angi's reasoning ties the schedule to your habits. If you clean weekly and keep things tidy, you may only need a deep clean once a year. If you do not keep up with regular cleaning, or have pets that track in mud and shed, you might need one two or three times a year.
A deep clean is different from a regular clean. Angi describes it as tending to overlooked spots, such as under appliances, light fixtures, baseboards and window sills, and shampooing carpets. For the full comparison, see deep cleaning versus regular cleaning, and for a task list see our deep cleaning checklist.
How does your household type change the schedule?
Pets, children and heavy foot traffic push the schedule toward more frequent deep cleans; a tidy home cleaned weekly can stretch toward once a year. Angi ties frequency to home size, activity level and lifestyle. Use the table below as a starting point and adjust to how your home actually looks and feels.
| Your household | What the sources suggest |
|---|---|
| Cleaned weekly and kept tidy | Angi: possibly once a year |
| A typical home | Angi: at least once or twice a year |
| Pets that track in mud and shed | Angi: two or three times a year |
| Children or heavy foot traffic | Angi: more often, with every three to six months for heavy foot traffic |
| Not keeping up with regular cleaning | Angi: two or three times a year |
Angi adds that each household is different, and that home size, activity level and lifestyle all matter. We found no neutral source with one exact number for every home, so we do not invent one.
Pet owners can find more in our guide to deep cleaning a house with pets. If your regular cleaning is not on a schedule yet, our guide to weekly versus biweekly house cleaning may help.
Which jobs need attention more often than a yearly deep clean?
Some tasks repeat on shorter cycles. Good Housekeeping's schedule puts cleaning inside the oven, washing pillows and washing the shower curtain liner at every three to six months, and washing the machine, dishwasher and vacuum monthly. Deep cleaning carpets and windows, and cleaning around the dryer and vents, are yearly jobs.
The Good Housekeeping Institute's schedule is a useful way to see what a deep clean bundles up. Here is how it divides the work:
- Monthly: clean the washing machine and dishwasher, and clean the vacuum.
- Every three to six months: wash pillows, clean the inside of the oven, and wash the shower curtain liner.
- Yearly: deep clean carpets and windows, and clean around the dryer and vents. Good Housekeeping notes excess lint can cause house fires.
So a once-a-year deep clean does not mean the oven goes a year untouched. Think of a deep clean as the reset for jobs that are not part of weekly cleaning, and slot the shorter-cycle tasks in between.
For a look at one of those shorter-cycle jobs, see our guide to cleaning the oven naturally.
What if someone in the home has dust mite allergies?
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) gives routines, not a deep-clean schedule. It suggests washing sheets and blankets weekly in water at least 130°F, vacuuming the mattress every one to three months, using a HEPA vacuum weekly, and keeping humidity between 30 and 50 percent. This is general information, not medical advice.
AAFA says dust mites live in nearly every home, no matter how clean, and that it may not be possible to rid a home of them entirely. It adds that any effort you make to reduce them can help. Its steps for a bedroom include:
- Wash sheets, blankets and throw rugs weekly in hot water, at least 130°F.
- Vacuum the mattress every one to three months, or more often if it has no allergen-barrier cover.
- Replace pillows every two years and mattresses every ten.
For the rest of the home, AAFA suggests reducing clutter, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter weekly, and keeping humidity between 30 and 50 percent. It also advises having someone without a dust mite allergy clean the bedroom if possible.
AAFA does not set a deep-clean frequency, so a deep clean is an addition to those routines. Ask your doctor what is right for you. We cover more in our guide to allergy-friendly house cleaning in Raleigh.
When is the best time of year to deep clean?
Angi says you can deep clean any time of year, but spring and fall are the most popular because milder temperatures let you open windows to move dust out and fresh air in. Pick a season that fits your calendar, and book ahead if you want a specific date before guests arrive.
Angi's reasoning for spring and fall is practical: temperatures tend to be milder, so you can open the windows to let dust out and fresh air in.
A second trigger is an event. If guests are coming for the holidays, a deep clean beforehand can take the pressure off. Our holiday deep cleaning checklist covers what to prioritize.
A third trigger is what you see. Angi notes that skipping deep cleaning can lead to problems: mold and mildew can grow in damp areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms, grime buildup can let bacteria thrive, and a dirty home can attract pests such as cockroaches, ants and rodents. If you notice any of those warning signs between planned cleans, it is a good reason to move the date up.
Should you deep clean yourself or hire a professional?
Angi says you can deep clean yourself, but it is time and labor intensive, and hiring a professional makes sense if your schedule is full or you have physical limitations. Cardinal Rule Cleaning provides deep cleaning in Raleigh and the Triangle, with a free quote and a clear price up front.
Angi's view is balanced: deep cleaning is something you can handle yourself, but it takes real time and effort. It suggests a pro when your calendar is packed or physical limits make the work hard, and notes that you can also break the job into smaller tasks if you are short on time.
If you choose to hire, deep cleaning from Cardinal Rule Cleaning covers tile and grout, soap scum and hard-water buildup, baseboards, door frames and trim, ceiling fans and vents, the inside of the microwave, under movable furniture, window sills and tracks, cabinet fronts, switch plates, and the stovetop and range hood exterior. Cardinal Rule Cleaning is licensed and insured.
See how long a deep clean takes. When you are ready, request a free quote; the form takes about 60 seconds, and your quote gives a clear price up front.
Want this done for you? See our Deep Cleaning service or request a free quote.
Get your free deep cleaning quote
Takes about 60 seconds. No obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Is it enough to deep clean once a year?
It can be, for some homes. Angi says a home cleaned weekly and kept tidy may need a deep clean only once a year. With pets, children or heavy foot traffic, Angi suggests more often, even every three to six months. Your own home's wear is the best guide.
How often should you deep clean with pets?
Angi says a home with pets that drag in mud and shed may need deep cleaning two or three times a year. Sources vary, and size and activity level matter. Weekly regular cleaning in between helps, and our deep cleaning guide for homes with pets has specifics.
Do you need a deep clean if you clean weekly?
Possibly less often. Angi says if you clean weekly and keep things tidy, you may only need to deep clean once a year. A deep clean still covers areas weekly cleaning skips, such as under appliances, light fixtures and baseboards, so many people schedule at least one.
Is spring or fall better for a deep clean?
Angi says spring and fall are the most popular times because milder temperatures let you open windows to let dust out and fresh air in. You can deep clean any time of year, so choose a season that fits your calendar and your guests.
How long does a deep clean take?
It depends on the size of the home, the number of rooms and how dirty it is. Angi gives an average of four to eight hours for a deep clean, and notes a frequently cleaned home takes less time. Our how-long guide explains what shapes the estimate.