Experts Opinion on The Best Time & Frequency of Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is an underestimated commercial cleaning service that has several benefits if done properly by professionals. Businesses, companies, schools and other establishments that already have a contract with a cleaning contractor can have their premises deep cleaned anytime they want, but they aren’t aware of how often their property needs deep cleaning. Therefore, their premises’ cleaning and hygiene standards fall short despite having a regular cleaning service. What they should know is the ideal frequency of deep cleaning.
In this article, we asked several experts in the commercial cleaning industry to tell us the best frequency of deep cleaning for different premises.
What is Deep Cleaning?
Deep cleaning is a technical term for thorough and intensive cleaning and sanitation of every area in a property. It is different from regular daily cleaning because the practice is different and cleaning and sanitation supplies are stronger against any matter like viruses, bacteria, grime and germs.
Deep cleaning, in simpler words, is the amalgamation of every daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly cleaning task on a daily cleaning checklist done in one long cleaning session. Therefore, it usually includes cleaning carpets, descaling sanitaryware, sanitising hard-to-reach spots and cleaning the area from top to bottom.
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Deep Cleaning vs. Spring Cleaning
While in many cases, deep cleaning and spring cleaning are used interchangeably, they are still different in the eyes of commercial cleaning companies and experts working in this industry. We have an article on the main differences between deep cleaning and spring cleaning, but to summarise:
- Deep cleaning is more intensive and conducted using stronger disinfectants and cleaning chemicals.
- Deep cleaning includes carpet cleaning as well as soft upholstery cleaning using professional machinery.
- Spring cleaning is more of an intensive general cleaning and is often referred to as the seasonal cleaning people have at the beginning of the spring.
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Best Time & Frequency for Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning is always effective and can improve productivity and morale around the workspace and eliminate many problems such as pests, mould or sick building syndrome.
However, deep cleaning can also be a double-edged sword. If you have too many deep cleaning sessions in an office or school, you may see the negative effects of exposure to too many disinfectants and cleaning chemicals. Moderation is the key here and having the right number of deep cleaning sessions, you can benefit from its advantages.
We asked several experts in the commercial cleaning industry about their opinions on the best deep cleaning frequency and the right time for deep cleaning sessions in several common types of premises and establishments.
Their opinion is summarised in the table below:
| Premises | Frequency | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Homes | 2 to 3 times per year | Start of season (especially Spring), before holidays and after big events or parties |
| Regular Offices | 2 to 3 times per year | Start of the season (especially Spring), before holidays and after big events or parties |
| Open Plan Offices | Once every month or every 2 months | When employee attendance is lower, during holiday seasons or after peak work seasons |
| Schools | On weekends or during public holidays when the building has less foot traffic | Before school season and during school breaks |
| Nurseries | Once every month or every 2 months | On weekends or during holiday breaks when children aren’t present in the nursery |
| GP Surgeries / Dental Surgeries | Once every month | After hours, on weekends or during holiday closures |
| Medical Centres | Twice a month | During low-traffic periods, after hours or on weekends |
| Hospitals | At least once every 2 weeks | During night shifts and on weekends |
| Retail Stores | 2 to 3 times per year | Before major sales (like Black Friday), during holiday closures and after peak seasons |
| Shopping Centres | Once every month or every 2 months | It’s a high foot traffic area so before high seasons and at nights when the mall is closed |
| Event Venues | After each major event or once every month | Between events and during downtimes |
| Cinemas | Once a month | At night when the cinema is closed |
| Indoor Sports Centres | Once every month or every 2 months | Indoor Sports Centres |
| Gyms / Fitness Studios | At least once every 2 weeks | During off-peak hours or at nights when the gym is closed |
| Hotels | Once a month for each room and once every 2 or 3 months for communal spaces in the hotel | When the room is empty, during off-seasons and before high-season |
| B&B Accommodations / Hostels | Once every 3 months for each room and Once every 3 to 6 months for communal spaces | When the room is empty, during off-peak periods |
| Student Accommodations | Once every 3 to 6 months | During summer breaks or between terms |
| Communal Areas in Commercial Buildings | Once every 2 to 3 months | On weekends or during public holidays when building has less foot traffic |
| Communal Areas in Residential Estates | Once every 3 to 6 months | During weekdays when tenants and occupants are at work or at school |
| Galleries & Museums | Once every 2 to 4 months | During off-peak, during closure, before high seasons, between exhibits and before big events and exhibitions |
Keep in mind that these data are valid if the premises have a regular cleaning service in place (at least once per week).
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Conclusion
Deep cleaning should be an insperable part of cleaning service in every premises. However, too few or too many deep cleaning sessions can ruin the positive impacts of deep cleaning despite having a regular cleaning service in effect. In this article, we explored the best deep cleaning frequency and the right time to have the premises deep cleaned for different types of establishments based on expert opinions.
The information provided in this article can help you decide when to hire deep cleaning services and avoid paying extra for redundant deep cleaning sessions.
