Holiday home owners often ask us about the difference between a standard guest clean (changeover clean) and a deep clean – and why there’s a price gap between the two. It’s a fair question, and this guide breaks it down clearly so you can see exactly where your money goes and why both types of clean matter.
When Do Deep Cleans Happen?
Deep cleans are typically scheduled after intensive guest use. This usually means:
- After the summer holidays
- After the Christmas and New Year period
- Sometimes after Easter, depending on guest turnover
If your lodge has had a long run of back-to-back bookings, a deep clean may be needed earlier than planned. Standard changeovers don’t allow enough time to reach every corner of the property – and dirt builds up over time.
What is a Standard Guest Clean?
A standard guest clean, or changeover clean, is designed to get the property guest-ready in a short window between departures and arrivals.
This includes:
- General cleaning of bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms, and lounge
- Surface wipe-downs
- Floor hoover and mop
- Emptying bins
- Setting out new linen and towels
- Replenishing essentials like:
- Toilet rolls
- Dishwasher tablets
- Sponge and cloth
- Hand soap and washing-up liquid
- Hot tub drain and refill (where applicable)
- Resetting the property to a clean, welcoming state
This is all done within a few hours, typically same-day, to meet guest check-in times.
What Does It Cost?
A standard changeover clean for a typical 3-bedroom lodge costs £158. That includes:
- Cleaning labour
- Laundry and linen cleaning and ironing
- Hot tub change and chemical addition/check
- Replenishment of guest essentials
From that amount:
- Devon Cleaning receives £40
- The remaining £118 goes toward:
- Laundry and linen
- Consumables
- Hot tub treatment
Where Does the £40 Go?
The properties £40 must cover:
- Cleaner wages
- Fuel and mileage of the staff and the company vehicles
- Vehicle maintenance, insurance, and MOT
- Storage unit rental and management
- Admin time, booking management, and contingency
- Admin, scheduling and coordination
It’s a tight margin – especially when back-to-back bookings are happening, and the teams are working to tight turnarounds.
What is a Deep Clean?
A deep clean is much more thorough. It’s not about turnaround – it’s about detail. Deep cleans go well beyond a surface refresh.
This includes:
- Pulling out sofas, beds, and other furniture to clean under and behind
- Scrubbing grouting in bathrooms and kitchens
- Cleaning tile edges and shower screens
- Wiping down skirting boards, walls, door frames, and switches
- Emptying cupboards and drawers
- Cleaning inside the units and wiping down the contents
- Dusting and hoovering lampshades, picture frames, ceiling edges
- Clearing limescale from taps and showerheads
- Removing built-up dirt that standard cleans can’t cover
This is labour-heavy, detailed work that takes several hours longer than a standard clean.
What Does a Deep Clean Cost?
A deep clean is £60, and here’s why it’s priced differently:
- No linen change
- No hot tub service
- No welcome pack or consumables
It’s a labour-only job, with full focus on restoring the property to a clean, polished state – not resetting it for a new guest.
It also happens during quieter weeks, when bookings allow more time to spend on the property.
Why Standard Cleans Can’t Include Deep Cleaning
Changeover days are time-pressured. Guests leave at 10am. New arrivals can check in by 4pm – or earlier in some cases. That leaves just a few hours to:
- Clean the whole property
- Turn over laundry
- Restock supplies
- Reset the hot tub
There’s simply not enough time to:
- Move heavy furniture
- Scrub tile grout
- Clean inside every drawer and cupboard
- Wipe down all walls and paintwork
These jobs require time, space, and focus – and are better done when the property is empty for at least 24 hours.
Why Deep Cleans Are So Important
Even with the best changeover cleaners, grime builds up over time. Greasy residues in kitchens, watermarks in bathrooms, hidden crumbs under sofas – it all adds up.
Regular deep cleans:
- Keep your property in top condition
- Help prevent negative guest reviews
- Reduce wear and tear on furnishings and fixtures
- Show guests that the property is properly cared for
- Extend the life of appliances and furniture
Skipping them will eventually lead to complaints, refunds, and extra repair bills.
Summary of the Key Differences
| Task | Standard Clean (£158) | Deep Clean (£60) |
|---|---|---|
| General surface clean | ✅ | ✅ |
| Floor hoover & mop | ✅ | ✅ |
| Linen change | ✅ | ❌ |
| Consumables restocked | ✅ | ❌ |
| Hot tub service | ✅ | ❌ |
| Furniture moved & cleaned under | ❌ | ✅ |
| Grout scrubbing | ❌ | ✅ |
| Walls, skirtings, switches | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cupboards and drawers cleaned inside | ❌ | ✅ |
| Extra time on deep dirt and stains | ❌ | ✅ |
Final Thoughts
Both types of clean play a crucial role in keeping your holiday home at the standard guests expect.
- Standard changeovers keep things ticking week to week
- Deep cleans reset the property after heavy use, making sure dirt doesn’t build up
It’s about maintenance as much as presentation.
Letting out a lodge or holiday home is a business – and deep cleaning is part of the cost of running that business well. Regular upkeep protects your investment and ensures guests keep coming back.
If you’d like to schedule a deep clean or find out when your property last had one, get in touch – we’ll happily check for you.