Mine get maintenance cleanings about once a month (sometimes once every other month). They get a thorough cleaning on range days (or any day that I have them out shooting).
Maintenance cleanings entail field stripping the handguns and then wiping them down with Rem-Oil (they make Rem-Oil cloths, but usually just use large patch and Rem-Oil). Then I run a patch down the bore. Then I lube up the mechanical and friction areas, put it back together, wipe it down, and back it goes from whence it came.
Range cleanings I am more throrough. Once they're field stripped, they get the Boresnake. (Except for the Desert Eagle, and they don't make Boresnakes for those, so they get the brush and patches). I take Q-tips and Rem-Oil and clean the finer areas until there is no more carbon residue. For areas with an excess of carbon build up, they get a nylon brush with a little solvent. The entire gun gets the same treatment; lint-free rags, patches and Q-tips with Rem-Oil until there is not more carbon residue, nylon brush with solvent for excessive build up. Mechanical areas that I can't reach with a Q-tip will sometimes get Rem-Oiled and hit with a small blast from the air compressor. Springs and guide rods are next, same treatment. Springs and guide rods get set on a rag and doused with healthy coat of Rem-Oil and left to sit. Frame slide and barrel get a wipedown with a "clean" Rem-Oiled patch (or lint free cloth). Finer mechanic and friction areas oiled, then entire gun is reassembled, and the action is worked (and sometimes more oil is added here) until I get the movement I want. Then the excess oil is wiped off, and the gun is returned either to a holster or it's place of storage.
That may be a little more excessive than you want to go, but I really enjoy cleaning and maintaining my guns. I'll make an evening of it, especially if I've been to the range. I go rent a couple of movies and plunk down in front of the tv and go at it all evening (and have a ball).