Why the Distinction Matters

A lot of cleaning companies use the terms "standard" and "deep clean" loosely without ever spelling out what's actually included. We think that's a disservice to clients. At MDT, we believe in full transparency — whether we're providing office cleaning in Houston, recurring residential service in Conroe, or a one-time move-in clean in The Woodlands. For a behind-the-scenes look at how every visit is structured, see How We Clean: MDT's Top-to-Bottom Approach.

The short version: a Standard Clean is your recurring maintenance service — consistent, thorough, and designed to keep your space fresh on a regular schedule. A Deep Clean goes further, hand-washing surfaces that a lighter pass leaves behind. Think of it as resetting your space to a true baseline. We clean everything we can reach by hand or with a 2-step ladder, on every service tier.

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Our recommendation: New clients — both residential and commercial — should start with a Deep Clean to establish a proper baseline. Then move to a Standard recurring plan to maintain it. This approach is standard practice among top janitorial services in Houston and across the industry.

Residential: What's Included

For homeowners in Conroe, The Woodlands, and surrounding areas — here's exactly what's included at every service level, side by side.

Task Standard Deep Clean
Kitchen & Bathroom
Kitchen Cleaning (Counters, Cabinet Exteriors, Appliance Exteriors, Sink & Microwave) Included Included
Bathroom Sanitization (Tub, Shower, Toilet, Sinks & Mirrors) Included Included
All Rooms
Dusting Surfaces, Ceiling Fans & Light Fixtures Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Furniture and Belongings Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Doors Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Blinds Dusted Dusted
Interior Window Sills & Ledges Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Interior Window Glass Add-On Add-On
Baseboards Dusted & Spot-Checked Dusted & Spot-Checked
Stairs Dusted Hand-Washed
Behind & Under Furniture (light, movable pieces) — Dusted & Wiped Down
Light Switches & Door Handles Included Included
Bedroom Tidying & Bed Making Included Included
Floors Vacuumed & Mopped Included Included
Emptying Trash & Replacing Liners Included Included
Add-On Only (Every Tier)
Dishes Add-On Add-On
Cabinet & Drawer Interiors Add-On Add-On
Inside Oven Add-On Add-On
Inside Refrigerator Add-On Add-On
Included Same at every level Dusted Light touch, same at every level Upgrade Hand-washed / more attention on Deep Add-On Priced separately — see below
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Furniture & appliances: light furniture may be moved to clean underneath. Heavy appliances (fridges, stovetops, ovens) stay in place for safety. Fresh spills are wiped as routine care — set-in stains need a specialty treatment.
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Baseboards & blinds: dusted and spot-checked at every visit, Standard or Deep — this never changes between tiers. A full detailed wipe-down is a separate add-on.

Commercial: What's Included

For businesses receiving commercial cleaning in Houston, TX and the Conroe area — including offices, medical facilities, retail spaces, and churches — here's the full breakdown by service level, plus the exact checklist our teams follow on every visit.

Task Standard Deep Clean
Rooms & Common Areas
Dust All Accessible Surfaces (Décor, Light Fixtures, Ceiling Fans, Windowsills) Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Floors Vacuumed/Mopped Included Included
Light Switches, Door Handles & High-Touch Areas Included Included
Trash Removal Included Included
Break Rooms & Kitchens
Counters, Cabinet Exteriors, Sinks & Faucets Dusted & Spot Cleaned Dusted & Wiped Down
Refrigerator & Small Appliance Exteriors Dusted & Spot Cleaned Dusted & Washed Down (Exterior Only)
Microwave (Interior & Exterior) Included Included
Floors Swept/Mopped Included Included
Restrooms
Toilets, Urinals, Sinks & Mirrors Included Included
Vanities & Counters Included Included
Supplies Restocked (Toilet Paper, Soap, Paper Towels) Included Included
Floors Swept/Mopped Included Included
Conference Rooms
Dust Surfaces, Tables & Chairs Dusted Dusted & Wiped Down
Vacuum Carpets & Area Rugs Included Included
Whiteboards & Conference Phones Sanitized Included Included
Included Part of every visit at that level Dusted Same light touch at every level Upgrade More time/attention at this level

Restroom supplies are restocked as part of every visit when supplies are provided by the client.

The Exact Checklist Our Teams Follow

Beyond the tier breakdown above, here's the specific task list every commercial crew works from on every visit:

General Areas

  • Dust desks, chairs, tables & cabinets
  • Empty trash cans, replace liners
  • Clean & sanitize restrooms
  • Restock supplies (if provided)
  • Sweep & mop hard floors
  • Vacuum carpets & mats
  • Dust window sills & frames (step-stool reach)
  • Dust air vents & grilles (step-stool reach)
  • Dust light fixtures & switches
  • Wipe down door handles

Kitchen & Breakroom

  • Dust tables & chairs
  • Sanitize sinks, counters & backsplashes
  • Clean microwave, interior & exterior
  • Clean fridge exterior
  • Clean stove exterior
  • Clean dishwasher exterior
  • Sweep & mop floors
  • Wipe cabinet & drawer surfaces
  • Wipe down door handles

Conference Rooms

  • Dust tables & chairs
  • Vacuum carpets & area rugs
  • Clean whiteboards / chalkboards
  • Sanitize phones
  • Wipe down door handles

What's NOT Included

To keep pricing fair and predictable, some tasks fall outside every standard visit — Residential or Commercial, Standard or Deep. Here's the full list:

Outside the Scope of Standard & Deep Clean

  • Moving heavy appliances or furniture (refrigerators, stovetops, ovens) — we clean around them for safety. Light, movable furniture is shifted as needed.
  • Cleaning above a 2-step ladder's safe reach.
  • A detailed wipe-down of baseboards or blinds — both are dusted and spot-checked at every visit; a full wipe-down is a separate add-on.
  • Washing or spot-cleaning walls — available separately as an add-on.
  • Set-in stains on furniture or upholstery — fresh spills and simple surface marks are wiped as routine care, but set-in stains need a specialty treatment.
  • Dishes — a sink load can be added as a separate add-on.
  • Cabinet, drawer, oven & refrigerator interiors — always a separate add-on on every tier.
  • Interior window glass — always a separate add-on, priced per window.
  • Exterior window glass and outside areas — porch and patio cleaning are available separately as add-ons.
  • Heavy trash or furniture removal.
  • For everyone's health and safety, we're unable to clean blood, feces, vomit, or urine, or treat for fleas or bed bugs.

Add-Ons & Pricing

Need something beyond a Standard or Deep Clean? These are booked and priced separately, on either service level:

Add-On Price
Detail Baseboards (Whole Home) $60
Wet Wipe Window Blinds $10 per blind
Interior Window Glass $10 per window
Kitchen Cabinets (Empty) $60 each
Kitchen Cabinets (Full of Items) $90 each
Inside Fridge (Empty) $50
Inside Fridge (Full of Items) $75
Clean Inside Oven $50 per oven
Cabinet & Drawer Interiors Free on Move-In/Move-Out if empty (otherwise priced as Kitchen Cabinets above)
Spot Clean Walls $25 per wall
Sweep Inside Garage $45 per garage
Dishes $25 per sink load
Pets $20 each
Patio & Balcony $20 each

Which One Do You Need?

Choose Standard Clean if:

Your space is already on a regular cleaning schedule and you just need consistent, reliable maintenance. Most of our recurring clients — from small offices in Conroe to larger commercial facilities receiving commercial cleaning services in Houston — are on a standard recurring plan after their initial deep clean.

Choose Deep Clean if:

You're a new client, you haven't had professional cleaning in a while, you're moving in or out, preparing for an inspection, or you want a full reset. Our deep clean is also popular with clients in The Woodlands and surrounding areas who need carpet cleaning in The Woodlands, TX or want a thorough one-time service before switching to a recurring plan.

Industry standard: Most reputable cleaning companies in Houston recommend starting every new client relationship with a deep clean before transitioning to recurring service. It ensures the baseline is set correctly so the standard clean can actually maintain it.
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Why MDT Stands Out

Whether you're searching for a maid service in Conroe, TX, commercial cleaning in The Woodlands, or janitorial services in Houston — the difference comes down to consistency and transparency. Most cleaning services won't tell you exactly what's included, and even fewer will tell you what's not. We do both.

Every visit follows a detailed checklist. Every team member is trained on the same system. And if anything is missed, we come back and make it right. That's the MDT standard — for every client, every visit, across every service area from Conroe to Houston. For a closer look at pricing, check our Commercial Cleaning Cost Guide if you're a business, or our Residential Cleaning Cost Guide if you're a homeowner.

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