What to Expect from House Cleaners in San Diego
Bravo Maids uses a structured, room-by-room checklist so San Diego homeowners know exactly what gets cleaned, how long it takes, and what to expect every visit.
Published: February 5, 2026
Hiring professional house cleaners for the first time can feel uncertain. You might wonder what they actually do, how long they'll be in your home, and whether they'll clean behind the couch or just around it.
At Bravo Maids, we believe transparency eliminates anxiety. Whether you live in a spacious Scripps Ranch family home or a charming Hillcrest bungalow, this guide breaks down exactly what happens during a professional cleaning visit.
We cover the room-by-room timing breakdown, what's included versus excluded, and how our checklist approach ensures consistency. The EPA Safer Choice program guides our product selection, ensuring every surface gets treated with effective, non-toxic solutions.
What Do San Diego House Cleaners Do (and Not Do)?
Understanding scope prevents misunderstandings. Here's a clear breakdown of included tasks versus those that require separate booking.
- Dust all accessible surfaces with microfiber cloths
- Vacuum carpets and rugs with HEPA-filter vacuums
- Mop hard floors (hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl)
- Sanitize bathrooms with EPA-registered disinfectants
- Clean kitchen countertops, sink, and appliance exteriors
- Wipe stovetop, range hood exterior, and drip pans
- Empty all trash cans and replace liners
- Make beds and straighten pillows
- Clean mirrors and glass surfaces
- Spot-clean light switches and door handles
- Exterior window washing or pressure washing
- Yard work, gardening, or patio furniture cleaning
- Pest control or mold remediation
- Heavy furniture moving (sofas, dressers, beds)
- Laundry, ironing, or folding clothes
- Organizing closets, garages, or storage areas
- Biohazard or hoarding situations
- High-risk tasks requiring tall ladders (skylights, chandeliers)
- Pet waste cleanup beyond standard tidying
- Dish washing beyond loading/unloading the dishwasher
Bravo Maids offers deep cleaning services that cover baseboards, inside appliances, ceiling fans, and grout scrubbing. For move-related needs, our move-in/move-out cleaning covers every surface from inside cabinets to closet shelves.
How Long Does Each Room Take to Clean?
Professional cleaners work room by room using a systematic checklist approach. Here's the timing breakdown for a typical San Diego home.
| Room | Standard Clean | Deep Clean |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 30-45 min | 60-90 min |
| Bathroom (each) | 20-30 min | 40-60 min |
| Bedroom (each) | 15-20 min | 30-45 min |
| Living Room | 20-30 min | 40-60 min |
| Dining Room | 10-15 min | 20-30 min |
| Hallways & Stairs | 10-15 min | 20-30 min |
Standard cleaning: 2.5 - 4 hours
Typical for maintained homes in Scripps Ranch, La Jolla, or North Park with regular bi-weekly service.
Deep cleaning: 4 - 6 hours
Recommended for first-time clients or homes not professionally cleaned in 3+ months.
What Happens in Each Room?
Here's the room-by-room breakdown of what our cleaning teams tackle in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms. According to the CDC's guidelines on environmental hygiene, proper disinfection of high-touch surfaces is essential for household health.
The kitchen demands the most attention. Grease, food particles, and high-touch surfaces require targeted cleaning with plant-based degreasers and EPA-registered disinfectants.
- Sanitize countertops and backsplash
- Clean stovetop, range hood exterior, drip pans
- Scrub and polish sink and faucet
- Wipe appliance exteriors (fridge, dishwasher, microwave)
- Clean cabinet fronts and drawer handles
- Sweep and mop the floor
- Inside oven with non-toxic degreaser
- Inside microwave and refrigerator shelves
- Inside cabinet interiors and shelf liners
- Grout scrubbing between tiles
- Baseboard washing and light fixtures
- Behind and under accessible appliances
Bathrooms require hospital-grade sanitation to eliminate bacteria, mildew, and hard water deposits. San Diego's hard water causes mineral buildup on glass and fixtures, so we use citric-acid-based descalers.
- Interior bowl scrubbing with disinfectant
- Exterior wipe-down (base, lid, handle)
- Behind-toilet floor cleaning
- Scrub tiles, walls, and glass doors
- Clean showerhead and fixtures
- Treat soap scum and hard water buildup
- Countertop sanitization
- Sink and faucet polishing
- Mirror cleaning (streak-free with microfiber)
- Sweep and mop bathroom floor
- Empty trash and replace liner
- Straighten towels and restock if noted
Bedrooms are where dust and allergens accumulate most. Our HEPA-filter vacuums capture 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, critical for San Diego's year-round pollen season.
- Dust nightstands, dressers, shelves
- Wipe lamp bases, picture frames
- Clean mirrors with microfiber
- Vacuum carpet or mop hard floors
- Make bed and straighten pillows
- Empty bedroom trash can
- Ceiling fan blade dusting
- Baseboard and door frame wiping
- Window sill and track cleaning
Why Does Bravo Maids Use a Checklist Approach?
Checklists remove guesswork. Every room gets the same thorough attention whether your cleaner is servicing a La Jolla estate or a North Park apartment.
A written checklist ensures nothing gets skipped. Your Scripps Ranch kitchen gets the same 12-point treatment every time, regardless of which team member cleans.
Our team checks off each task as completed. If something isn't right, we know exactly where to look. That's how we maintain a 5.0-star rating across 35+ reviews.
Your checklist can be adjusted. Pet owners in Hillcrest might prioritize pet hair removal. Families in Scripps Ranch might emphasize playroom sanitization.
A structured workflow means cleaners move room to room with purpose, completing your 3-bedroom home in 2.5-4 hours without wasted time.
You see exactly what's included before we arrive. Our checklists are shared during booking so you can add notes or special requests. No surprises.
Each task is paired with the right tool: HEPA vacuums for carpets, color-coded microfiber cloths for surfaces, citric-acid descalers for bathrooms.
How Should You Prepare Before Cleaners Arrive?
A few minutes of preparation maximizes your cleaning team's efficiency and helps us focus on deep cleaning rather than surface tidying.
Pick up clothing, toys, and personal items from floors. Clear kitchen countertops of dishes and clutter so cleaners can focus on actual cleaning.
Store jewelry, cash, documents, and prescriptions in a locked drawer. While our team is background-verified and fully insured, this is a best practice for any service visit.
Keep pets comfortable and contained. Some pets become anxious around vacuums and unfamiliar people. We love San Diego's pets but want everyone safe.
Guests coming? Need extra attention in the master bath? Let us know before the visit. Our checklist is flexible for your Hillcrest or La Jolla household.
What Factors Affect How Long Cleaning Takes?
Every San Diego home is different. These variables influence total cleaning duration.
A 3,500 sq ft Scripps Ranch home takes significantly longer than an 1,100 sq ft Hillcrest apartment. Multi-story homes add time for carrying equipment between floors.
Each bathroom adds 20-30 minutes. Homes with three or more bathrooms—common in La Jolla and Scripps Ranch—require proportionally more time.
A home maintained with regular bi-weekly service cleans faster. First visits typically take 30-50% longer than subsequent ones.
Pet hair requires HEPA vacuuming with multiple passes. Coastal homes in La Jolla or North Park experience salt air residue and faster dust buildup from San Diego's dry climate.
Start with a deep cleaning to establish a clean baseline, then transition to bi-weekly regular cleaning for ongoing maintenance. Check our pricing page for current rates across all service types.
What Equipment and Products Do We Bring?
Professional house cleaning requires commercial-grade equipment that outperforms consumer products. Here's what our team arrives with.
- HEPA-filter vacuum
Captures 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns
- Color-coded microfiber cloths
Prevents cross-contamination between rooms
- Professional flat mop system
Streak-free hard floor cleaning
- Extension dusters
Reaches ceiling fans, crown molding, high shelves
- EPA Safer Choice all-purpose cleaner
Plant-based formula safe for kids and pets
- Non-toxic glass cleaner
Ammonia-free for streak-free mirrors
- Citric-acid-based descaler
Removes hard water without harsh chemicals
- EPA-registered disinfectant
Kills 99.9% of bacteria on contact surfaces
We accept only 1 in 50 applicants after background checks, reference verification, and skills assessments.
No hidden fees. No hourly surprises. You see the exact cost before we arrive, including all supplies.
Full coverage and workers' compensation protect your home and our team. Certificates available anytime.
EPA Safer Choice certified, plant-based solutions safe for children, pets, and San Diego's environment.
Not happy? We'll return to make it right at no additional cost. No questions asked.
Same cleaner assigned to your home for recurring service. They learn your preferences and layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do professional house cleaners in San Diego actually do?
Professional house cleaners follow a structured checklist that includes dusting all accessible surfaces with microfiber cloths, vacuuming carpets with HEPA-filter vacuums, mopping hard floors, sanitizing bathrooms and kitchens with EPA-registered disinfectants, emptying trash, and making beds. At Bravo Maids, our team uses a room-by-room approach so nothing gets missed. Deep cleaning adds baseboards, inside appliances, ceiling fans, grout scrubbing, and window tracks.
How long does it take to clean a 3-bedroom house in San Diego?
A standard cleaning for a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom San Diego home typically takes 2.5 to 4 hours. Kitchens average 30-45 minutes, each bathroom takes 20-30 minutes, and bedrooms require 15-20 minutes each. Homes in Scripps Ranch or La Jolla with larger floor plans or specialty surfaces may take longer. Regular clients see shorter visit times since buildup is minimal between cleanings.
What tasks are NOT included in a standard house cleaning?
Standard house cleaning typically excludes exterior window washing, yard work, pest control, heavy furniture moving, laundry and ironing, organizing closets or garages, and biohazard cleanup. These services require specialized equipment or separate booking. Bravo Maids provides a detailed checklist before every visit so there are no surprises.
Should I be home when the cleaners arrive?
You do not need to be home during the cleaning. Many San Diego homeowners provide a lockbox code, garage code, or smart lock access so cleaners can work while you're at the office. Bravo Maids' team members are fully background-verified and insured ($2M liability). We recommend being home for the first visit to walk through preferences, but subsequent visits can happen while you're away.
How do I prepare my home before the cleaners arrive?
Pick up personal items, toys, and clothing from floors so cleaners can focus on actual cleaning rather than tidying. Clear kitchen countertops of dishes and clutter. Secure valuables and medications. Make sure pets are comfortable or contained. Communicate any priority areas or special instructions beforehand—this helps your Bravo Maids team maximize their time.
What cleaning products and equipment do San Diego house cleaners use?
Professional cleaners bring commercial-grade equipment including HEPA-filter vacuums that capture 99.97% of airborne particles down to 0.3 microns, color-coded microfiber cloths to prevent cross-contamination, and EPA Safer Choice certified cleaning products. Bravo Maids uses plant-based, non-toxic solutions safe for children, pets, and San Diego's sensitive coastal environment.
Ready to Experience Professional House Cleaning?
Now that you know exactly what to expect, let Bravo Maids take cleaning off your list. We serve Scripps Ranch, La Jolla, Hillcrest, North Park, and all San Diego neighborhoods with transparent pricing and a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Ready for a Cleaner Home?
Book your first cleaning today and discover why San Diego families trust Bravo Maids for a healthier, happier home.
Free quotes - Flexible scheduling - 100% satisfaction guaranteed