Move-In Cleaning Checklist:
What to Clean Before You Unpack

Moving into a new home or apartment is one of the best opportunities to start truly clean. Once your furniture is in, cleaning behind appliances, inside cabinets, and in tight corners becomes dramatically harder. A thorough move-in clean — done before boxes arrive — sets you up for a healthier, fresher start in your new space.

This checklist covers every room in priority order. If you are hiring a cleaning service, share this list so nothing gets missed.

Before You Start: What to Do First

• Change the HVAC filters — previous occupants' dust and allergens are circulating in the air system
• Run the exhaust fans and open windows for ventilation
• Test all smoke detectors and replace batteries
• Gather your supplies: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, disinfectant, microfiber cloths, mop, vacuum, scrub brushes, rubber gloves

Kitchen (Start Here)

The kitchen is the most important room to clean thoroughly before use. Previous occupants' food residue and grease can be months or years old.

Appliances:

• Inside and outside the refrigerator — remove drawers and shelves, wash with warm soapy water, dry thoroughly
• Refrigerator coils (behind or underneath) — vacuum accumulated dust
• Inside the oven — use oven cleaner if heavily soiled; run self-clean cycle if available
• Under the oven element and inside the oven drawer
• Microwave — inside, outside, and underneath (grease accumulates on the bottom)
• Dishwasher — run an empty cycle with a cup of white vinegar in the bottom rack, then a cycle with baking soda

Cabinets and drawers:

• Wipe inside all cabinets and drawers before lining or stocking them
• Clean cabinet hardware — knobs and pulls accumulate grease and grime
• Clean cabinet exterior surfaces, paying attention to areas around handles

Surfaces:

• Countertops — clean and sanitize, paying attention to seams where bacteria accumulate
• Backsplash — scrub grease from behind the stove area
• Sink and faucet — scrub with baking soda, disinfect, clean aerator if water flow is reduced
• Under the sink — inspect for moisture or mold, wipe down thoroughly

Bathrooms

Bathrooms need disinfection, not just cleaning. Use an actual disinfectant (EPA-registered product or bleach solution) in addition to cleaning products.

• Toilet — inside bowl with toilet cleaner, outside and base with disinfectant, behind and under the tank
• Shower and tub — scrub thoroughly, treat mold/mildew with bleach solution if present, replace caulk if cracked or moldy
• Showerhead — fill a bag with white vinegar and rubber-band it over the showerhead overnight to dissolve mineral deposits
• Sink and faucet — scrub and disinfect
• Medicine cabinet — wipe inside, clean mirror
• Exhaust fan — remove cover and vacuum out dust (a clogged fan cannot remove moisture, promoting mold)
• Floor and grout — scrub grout with a stiff brush and grout cleaner

Bedrooms

• Wipe down all closet shelving and rods
• Vacuum closet floors — previous occupants' debris accumulates here
• Clean window sills and tracks
• Wipe ceiling fan blades (common source of accumulated dust)
• Clean light fixtures and switch plates
• Vacuum or clean floors before furniture arrives
• Wipe down baseboards

Common Areas: Living Room, Dining Room, Hallways

• Dust ceiling fixtures and ceiling fan blades
• Clean windows inside — window cleaner and microfiber cloth
• Wipe window sills and tracks (tracks are often neglected and accumulate debris)
• Clean switch plates and outlet covers
• Wipe baseboards
• Clean floors: vacuum carpet, sweep and mop hard floors
• Clean fireplace if present — remove ash, scrub hearth

Often Forgotten (But Important)

• Light switches and door handles — touched constantly, rarely cleaned
• Door frames and tops of door frames
• Inside pantry and linen closets
• Garage floors if applicable — sweep, treat oil stains
• Laundry area — inside washer drum (run a clean cycle), clean dryer vent (critical for fire safety)
• Vents and registers — remove and wash, vacuum duct openings
• Windowsills on the exterior side

Should You Hire a Move-In Cleaning Service?

A professional move-in cleaning service makes the most sense when:

• The previous occupants were not clean — the level of effort required goes beyond what you want to take on yourself
• You are moving from a distance and cannot be there before the movers arrive
• You have a large home and limited time before the moving truck arrives
• The home has been vacant — vacant homes get dusty and develop odors quickly

Professional move-in cleans typically run $200-$500 depending on home size, and they include the deep cleaning most people skip. For a new home purchase, it is often worth the investment to start completely fresh.