May 2, 2025

Spring Cleaning vs. Deep Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

Spring brings new life to New York City. The days are longer, and with it comes renewed energy – even for tasks like cleaning your home. The things you’ve put off, like reorganizing your closet or dusting under the bed, no longer feel so daunting. Instead, they seem like a great way to start fresh. 

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Many people want to tackle the brighter days by cleaning. Unfortunately, they are unsure where to start or what type of clean they need. Below, we’ll walk you through the differences between spring cleaning and deep cleaning, tasks you can include in the process, and tips to help you understand what clean is best for you.

By the end, you’ll be ready to get your hands dirty and start your next cleaning project, whether by yourself or with the help of professionals. 

What is Spring Cleaning?

Spring cleaning is a type of deep cleaning that is typically done during the spring, from March to May. Normally, it can include surface-level tasks and decluttering. Any cleaning tasks you do to refresh your home after winter can be considered spring cleaning. There is no universal set of tasks for spring cleaning.  

There’s actually a scientific reason for the urge you feel to clean during this time of year. During the colder months in New York City, you’re exposed to less sunlight, which can make you tired. Because you have less energy, you’re less likely to want to clean. That’s when clutter builds up in your home, so when spring rolls around, you’re ready to purge and start anew. 

Many religions and cultures also subscribe to spring cleaning as an effective way to renew their spirits as well as their spaces.

• During Passover, which falls in March or April, followers often remove the leavened bread (chametz) from their homes in honor of the Israelites fleeing Egypt. 
• During Holy Week, Catholics would clean the altar on Thursday to prepare for Good Friday. They also wash others’ feet in honor of Jesus’s final acts of kindness. 
• Before Lunar New Year, people in China will clean to help get rid of any bad luck, misfortune, and negativity. By doing so, they prepare their home and spaces for good luck and prosperity. 

Additionally, prior to the advent of electricity, people would burn natural resources such as wood, coal, and oil. It served as both a light and a heat source, but it caused a build-up of soot because they were unable to open the windows. That buildup would need to be deeply cleaned come spring. 

Spring cleaning is so deeply rooted in our history. It’s no wonder that we’re inspired each year to complete it. 

Tasks to Include in Spring Cleaning

You can really include any tasks in your spring cleaning routine as long as they’re not part of your typical cleaning process. These can include:

• Washing the curtains
• Dusting less common areas, like curtain rods, vents, and fan blades
• Cleaning out your closet
• Decluttering your home of items you no longer need, like outdated decor, unused homeware items, and more. 

While they can be a form of deep cleaning, spring cleaning often features surface-level tasks. You’re cleaning things that either you or your guests can see when they come into your home. 

You want a fresh start after the winter months. 

What is Deep Cleaning?

Deep cleaning is a more intensive, detail-oriented process that targets often-overlooked areas. During a deep clean, you’re getting into the nooks and crannies of your home. 

It’s not just about wiping down surfaces and straightening up common areas. Instead, you are getting deep into areas of your home that you may be the only one aware of, including baseboards, grout, vents, and behind appliances.

Much like spring cleaning, you can conduct a thorough deep clean of your home one to two times a year; however, some tasks should be completed on a more frequent basis, especially depending on your lifestyle. 

Tasks to Include in Deep Cleaning

Depending on the size of your home, starting the deep cleaning process can be overwhelming. We recommend breaking down the tasks you need to complete by room and tackling each space one at a time. Schedule these cleans a few times a year, and it will help the process feel more manageable while also providing you with a clear action plan. 

Let’s break down tasks you can do in each room below. There will be some overlap depending on the features in your room, like caring for windows, baseboards, trim, and other common features. 

Living Room

The living room and other shared living spaces see a lot of traffic in most homes. It will likely appear clean at a surface level, but once you look closer, you’ll notice areas you missed during regular cleans. 

Generally, you should aim to deep clean your living room once a year. Consider adding the following tasks to your next deep clean.

• Move the furniture and clean behind and under them
• Shampoo carpets or area rugs
• Wash walls, ceilings, trim, and baseboard
• Dust everything – the top of bookcases, inside cabinets, and on shelves between items
• Polish furniture
• Wipe down windows and window sills

Be sure to include any unique features of your living spaces on your cleaning list. For example, you may need to vacuum out a fireplace or dust picture frames on your wall. 

Kitchen

Of course, you routinely wipe down your counters and stove, but there’s an opportunity to go deeper with your kitchen cleans.

• Clean the inside of your appliances, including your fridge, freezer, oven, and microwave
• Move your appliances and clean behind and under them
• Wash the walls and ceilings, especially the hidden grime behind the stovetop burners
• Wipe down the inside and outside of your cabinets
• Dust light fixtures
• Change or wipe down stove filters

Aim to deep clean your kitchen every three to six months. The more you use the space, the more frequently you should clean it. 

Bathroom

Bathrooms are often one of the areas that are cleaned most frequently, but there’s more to clean than simply wiping down the surfaces and scrubbing your toilet. 

• Clean the grout on your tile in your bathtub, shower, and floor to get rid of stubborn mold and mildew
• Sweep behind the toilet and under any vanities or cabinets
• Dust light fixtures, mirror sides, and on top of any cabinets
• Wipe down towel racks or hand towel holders

You should aim to deep clean your bathroom every month to prevent mold and mildew from building up. The more frequently you deep clean your bathroom, the less scrubbing you’ll have to do. 

Understanding What Type of Clean You Need 

It can be challenging to determine the type of cleaning you need to do in your home and where to start. Whether you’re considering a spring clean, deep clean, or standard clean, here are some factors to keep in mind. 

• When was the last time you cleaned it? 
• How dirty is the area?
• Are you cleaning for a specific purpose (ie, to prepare for a party, clean up after hosting a meal, etc.)?
• Do you have the products and skills to clean it?
• Do you have the time to clean it?

Cleaning is often a task that people dread, but there are ways to make it more enjoyable.

• Pick a room and stick with it. It will make the cleaning process more manageable.
• Spread out your clean over a few days. You don’t have to clean everything all at once unless you have a reason.
• Listen to your favorite music, a podcast, or audiobook. It will help pass the time as you clean. 
• Know when it’s best to call in the professionals. 

Sometimes you don’t have time to clean your home, and that’s okay! That’s when it’s time to call cleaning professionals like White Glove Cleaner to finish the job. 

Bring in the Professionals for Your Next Clean

White Glove Cleaner is one of the best cleaning services in New York City, and with good reason. We’re proud to offer customized cleaning services based on your needs. We offer a variety of services, including deep cleaning, regular cleaning, post-construction cleaning, and more. Our clients can rest easy knowing they are getting top-notch service when they partner with White Glove Cleaner. This allows them to focus their time and energy on other areas of life that bring them joy and leave the deep cleaning to the professionals.