Quick Summary
This blog breaks down seven key types of cleaning services available for residential and commercial spaces, from regular maintenance cleans to specialized options like eco-friendly cleaning, move-in and move-out cleans, and Airbnb turnovers. It is a practical guide for anyone trying to figure out which service fits their situation and what each one actually covers.
Not all cleaning services are the same, and booking the wrong one for your situation can leave you underwhelmed or overpaying for things you did not need. Understanding the different types of cleaning services available helps you make a smarter decision and get better results.
Maid Sailors offers a full range of residential and commercial cleaning services across New York City, and this guide covers the seven most important categories, what each one involves, and who it works best for. If you already know what you need, you can view all our NYC cleaning services and book directly from there.
Regular Cleaning Service
A regular cleaning service is the most common type and the backbone of a well-maintained home or office. It covers the everyday cleaning tasks that keep a space consistently tidy and hygienic: vacuuming and mopping floors, wiping down surfaces, cleaning bathrooms and kitchens, emptying bins, and dusting accessible areas.
The real value of a regular clean is not any single visit but the consistency it creates over time. When a professional team visits weekly or bi-weekly, your home never falls too far behind, which means each visit takes less time and the overall standard stays higher. Regular cleaning works best as a scheduled recurring service rather than a one-off, and most providers offer meaningful discounts for clients who commit to a routine. At Maid Sailors, weekly recurring cleans come with a 20% discount, bi-weekly with 15%, and monthly with 10%, all with no contracts required.
Deep Cleaning Service
A deep cleaning service goes significantly further than a regular clean. Where a regular clean maintains a space that is already in reasonable shape, a deep clean is designed to reset a home to a high standard of cleanliness by targeting areas that routine cleaning never reaches.
This includes scrubbing grout lines, cleaning inside appliances, degreasing the range hood, wiping down skirting boards and door frames, cleaning ceiling fans and light fixtures, and tackling built-up grime in bathrooms and kitchens. Most cleaning professionals recommend a deep clean if your home has not had professional attention in three months or more, before or after hosting a major event, or as a seasonal reset.
At Maid Sailors, our deep cleaning service is available as an add-on to our standard flat-rate packages at $100 extra, and carpet cleaning can also be requested based on availability.
Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning Service
Moving is one of the most stressful life events, and cleaning tends to be the last thing people want to think about when they are packing boxes or waiting on a deposit return. A move-in and move-out cleaning service is designed specifically for this moment.
For those moving out, it covers a thorough clean of the entire property to leave it in the condition required by landlords or new owners, which is often what determines how much of a security deposit gets returned. For those moving in, it provides a fresh, fully sanitized start before unpacking begins, removing whatever the previous occupants left behind. Move-in and move-out cleans are typically more thorough than a standard deep clean and are priced accordingly, reflecting the condition most vacated properties are found in.
Office and Commercial Cleaning Service
Offices, retail spaces, and commercial properties have different cleaning needs than residential homes. Higher foot traffic, shared surfaces, communal kitchens, and client-facing areas all demand a more structured and frequent approach to cleaning and hygiene.
A professional office cleaning service covers workstation sanitization, bathroom disinfection, common area maintenance, floor care, waste removal, and high-touch surface disinfection throughout. For many NYC commercial buildings, cleaning vendors are also required to carry a Certificate of Insurance before accessing the space. Working with a bonded, insured provider that can supply a COI on request simplifies that process considerably. Our NYC office cleaning service is available for businesses of all sizes and can be scheduled outside of office hours to avoid any disruption to your team.
Eco-Friendly and Green Cleaning Service
For households with young children, pets, allergy sufferers, or simply a commitment to reducing chemical exposure at home, an eco-friendly cleaning service uses non-toxic, biodegradable products that are safe for people and the environment without compromising on cleaning effectiveness.
Green cleaning has come a long way from the days of watered-down solutions that did not really work. Modern eco-friendly products are genuinely effective at disinfecting surfaces, removing grease, and tackling grime, while avoiding the harsh chemicals found in many conventional cleaners. At Maid Sailors, eco-friendly products can be requested for any cleaning appointment. Just let us know when you book and we will bring green alternatives for the entire clean.
Airbnb and Short-Term Rental Cleaning Service
Short-term rental hosts operate under a very different set of pressures from regular homeowners. Turnovers between guests often happen within a matter of hours, and the standard guests expect is shaped by hotel stays rather than ordinary household visits. A single poor review citing cleanliness can meaningfully damage a listing’s performance.
An Airbnb cleaning service is built around the specific demands of this environment: fast, thorough turnovers that cover fresh linen changes, full bathroom and kitchen cleaning, restocking of toiletries and supplies, and careful attention to the small details that show up in guest reviews. Reliability and consistency across back-to-back bookings are what matter most, and that is what a professional Airbnb turnaround cleaning service is designed to deliver.
Specialty and Add-On Cleaning Services
Beyond the core service types, most professional cleaning providers offer a range of specialty or add-on services that address specific needs not covered in a standard package. These are worth knowing about because they can significantly change the outcome of a clean when the situation calls for them.
Common add-ons include laundry and folding, inside-fridge and inside-oven cleaning, interior cabinet cleaning, interior window cleaning, wall washing, organization services, pet hair removal, and UV disinfection. At Maid Sailors, all of these are available to add to any booking at transparent per-item pricing. For clients who want a completely tailored approach, our hourly custom cleaning option lets you specify exactly how you want the time spent, with full flexibility on what gets covered.
Let Maid Sailors Match You With the Right Cleaning Service
With so many options available, the best approach is to start with what your space actually needs right now and build from there. If your home is in reasonable shape, a regular recurring clean is likely the right starting point. If it has been a while since a thorough professional clean, starting with a deep clean makes more sense. Moving in or out, or managing a short-term rental, points you toward a more specialized service.
At Maid Sailors, we have been helping New Yorkers find the right cleaning solution since 2014. Our cleaners are background-checked, trained employees who bring all supplies and work to a consistently high standard across every service type. We offer transparent pricing, flexible scheduling, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee on every clean.
Book a cleaning with Maid Sailors today and get a service that is matched to exactly what your space needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which type of cleaning service is right for my home?
A good starting point is the current state of your space and how long it has been since the last professional clean. If your home is kept reasonably tidy and just needs consistent upkeep, a regular recurring clean is the right fit. If there is significant buildup or it has been three or more months since a professional visited, start with a deep clean to reset the baseline. If you are moving, renovating, or managing a rental, there are specialized services designed for exactly those situations. If you are not sure, give us a call and we will help you figure out the best option.
Can I combine different types of cleaning services in one appointment?
Yes, absolutely. Many of our clients combine a standard or deep clean with add-ons like laundry, inside-appliance cleaning, organization, or eco-friendly products all in a single visit. When you book through our website, you can add these on directly and see the updated price before you confirm. It is one of the easiest ways to get everything done at once without scheduling multiple separate appointments.
Do you offer the same cleaning services in Boston and Austin as in NYC?
Yes. We offer our core range of cleaning services, including regular cleans, deep cleans, move-in and move-out cleans, office cleaning, eco-friendly options, and laundry services, in Boston and Austin as well as across New York City. Some specialty add-ons may vary by location. If you are outside NYC and want to confirm availability of a specific service, just reach out and we will let you know what is available in your area.