Moving into a new home or apartment can be a very exciting time! However, moving is also hugely stressful and often quite messy. To set your new place up for success, it is crucial to do a deep clean both before moving out of your previous home and immediately after moving into the new one. A thorough cleaning will not only remove dirt, odors, and germs left behind by the former residents, but it will also allow you to fully settle in and make your new house feel like home. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will provide helpful cleaning tips and checklists to properly prepare for a move-in or move-out. From decluttering and donating unused belongings, to scrubbing every nook and cranny, you will learn everything you need to leave your old place spotless and make your new home sparkle. Let’s get cleaning!

General Cleaning Tips

No matter if you are moving in or out, there are some general cleaning tasks you will want to tackle to ensure a fresh start. Here are some overarching cleaning tips to keep in mind:

Declutter and Donate Items 

As you prepare to move, go through each room and declutter thoroughly. Get rid of things you no longer need or want by selling, donating or throwing them away. Having less stuff to move will make packing easier. And it prevents you from carting clutter to your new place. Ask yourself as you sort through belongings:

– Have I used this in the past year? 

– Does it still fit my style?

– Is it damaged or expired?

– Could someone else use this?

Create separate piles or boxes for selling, donating, and trash. Many charities will even pick up donations from your home. Getting organized now prevents chaotic unpacking later.

Deep Clean the Entire Home

Moving is the perfect opportunity to do an intensive deep cleaning from top to bottom. Clean properly in all the nooks, crannies and spaces you don’t regularly get to. Go room by room, making sure not to miss any spots.

Clean Windows, Doors, and Hardware

Wipe down all windows inside and out with glass cleaner. Remove any dirt and debris stuck in window tracks and window sills. Clean window blinds and curtains (see more tips below). Check door handles, knobs, and hardware for grime–clean and polish them up.

Scrub Walls, Ceilings, and Vents 

Use a magic eraser or multi-surface spray cleaner to wipe down all walls. This removes scuff marks, dirt, and stains. For crayon or grease stains, try gently scrubbing with baking soda paste first. Use a vacuum with a hose and crevice tool to remove cobwebs and dust from ceilings and ceiling fan blades. Also vacuum out air vents throughout the home.

Shampoo Carpets and Rugs

Moving is a great time to have carpets professionally cleaned—or rent a carpet shampooer and do it yourself. This removes embedded dirt, stains, allergens, and odors. For small area rugs, take them outside and beat out debris with a carpet beater tool.

Wax and Polish Wood Floors 

If you have wood floors, restore their shine before you move out by refinishing, waxing and polishing. This protects them and makes them gleam. Sweep and mop wood laminate floors with a vinyl floor cleaner.

Clean Out and Organize Closets

As you declutter and pack, take advantage of the empty closets and drawers. Vacuum out closets, wiping down walls and shelves. Consider adding closet organization systems. Neatly lined shelves and storage bins make closets more inviting for the new owners or residents.

Wash Curtains and Blinds 

Take down curtains and throw them in the wash according to fabric directions to freshen them up. Use a damp microfiber cloth and mild soap to wipe down vinyl or plastic blinds. For fabric blinds, use a handheld vacuum with a brush attachment. 

Dust Light Fixtures

Use a duster or vacuum with brush attachment to remove dust and cobwebs from all light fixtures. Wipe down exterior surfaces with a clean, dry cloth. For glass pendants or chandeliers, spray with glass cleaner and wipe down carefully.

Clean Appliances Inside and Out

Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior of all kitchen and laundry appliances. For the fridge, toss expired food, wipe down shelves, clean vegetable bins, and vacuum the coils underneath. Scrub the stove, removing burned on food and grease splatters. Disinfect the microwave. For laundry machines, do a hot rinse cycle to disinfect, cleaning the soap dispensers, door gaskets and exterior surfaces. 

Scrub Bathrooms Top to Bottom  

Bathrooms harbor a lot of dirt and germs. Make them sparkle by scrubbing and disinfecting. Clean and descale showers, tubs, sinks and toilets. Wipe down mirrors and glass. Disinfect countertops and handles. Clean flooring, walls, cabinets, and shelving using appropriate cleaners. 

Disinfect Kitchen Surfaces

The kitchen sees a lot of action, so make sure to fully disinfect all surfaces. Clean inside cabinets, drawers and pantries. Disinfect countertops using a multi surface spray or wipes. Move appliances and clean under and around them.

Wipe Down Baseboards

Run a damp microfiber cloth along all the baseboards to clean up dust, dirt, and scuffs. For stubborn grime, spray first with an all-purpose cleaner before wiping.

Vacuum and Mop All Floors

Give all flooring a thorough vacuuming or sweeping to remove dirt and debris before wet mopping hard floors. Clean under furniture and appliances and along edges. For carpets, vacuum thoroughly including under beds and furniture.

Freshen Furniture and Mattresses 

Freshen up upholstered furniture and mattresses with a handheld vacuum and fabric spray cleaner or refresher. This removes dust, dirt and odors that accumulate over time. Consider renting a carpet cleaning machine to deep clean upholstered furniture and mattresses prior to moving out.

Launder Bedding and Linens

Wash all bedding, including mattress pads, sheets, pillowcases, comforters and blankets. This removes oils, sweat, dust mites and odors that build up over time. Wash shower curtains, bath mats, and other linens.

Clean Out the Garage and Attic

Take advantage of being in the process of moving to fully clear out and organize the garage and attic. Vacuum and sweep floors, getting rid of cobwebs and dust. Toss or donate unused items. Arrange remaining belongings neatly on shelving units.

Moving Out Cleaning Tips

When preparing to move out of a rental unit or home you are selling, extra cleaning steps are needed to leave the property clean, damage-free and ready for new occupants. Here are some cleaning tips specific to moving out:

Remove All Personal Belongings

Double check every room, closet, and crawl space for any lingering personal belongings. It is easy to overlook items during such a hectic time. Don’t leave anything behind for the new owners or tenants. 

Patch Holes in Walls

Examine walls and ceilings for any holes, cracks or damage. Repair and patch minor nail holes from hanging pictures and damage from furniture rubbing against walls. Paint over repairs to match existing paint color.

Repaint Dirty Walls if Needed

If any walls have excessive dirt, grime or stains that cleaning alone won’t fix, plan to repaint walls and ceilings prior to move out. This leaves the property fresh and new looking for the next residents.

Hire a Professional Carpet Cleaner

Although you cleaned carpets yourself earlier, consider also hiring professional carpet cleaners prior to moving out. They have industrial machines that extract more dirt, stains, dust mites and allergens than rental carpet shampooers. This leaves carpets extra fresh for new homeowners or renters.

Clean Behind and Under Appliances

When appliances get pulled out to clean behind and underneath them, be sure to clean flooring beneath them extra well too. Vacuum and mop under stove, fridge, dishwasher, etc once moved out.

Replace Air Filters

Replace furnace and AC air filters right before you move out. This small task makes HVAC systems ready for new residents.

Replace Light Bulbs 

Check all light fixtures and replace any burnt out bulbs. This way all the lights are ready to shine bright for new owners.

Read Your Lease Agreement Carefully

If renting, re-read the lease and verify that you completed any cleaning stipulations required by the landlord. This could include professional carpet cleaning receipts or having the ducts cleaned. Doing required deep cleaning now prevents fees taken from your deposit later.

Moving In Cleaning Tips

After completing the moving process, cleaning is once again required to make your new home comfortable and healthy for your family. Here are some cleaning tips specific to moving in:

Do a Walkthrough Inspection

Before fully moving in, do a thorough walk through of the entire home, checking that all is in good order. Make notes of any damage or issues needing addressing. Verify that the previous owners or cleaning crew adequately prepared the home for move in.

Check All Appliances and Fixtures

Turn on all kitchen and laundry appliances, testing that each one is in working order. Run water through all plumbing fixtures, checking for leaks, low pressure or drainage issues. Flush toilets to ensure proper operation. Test that all lighting fixtures work. Turn on furnace and AC to verify functioning and change filters.

Test Water Quality 

Run all faucets and take note of water pressure and temperature. Check that the water runs clear initially and after several minutes, with no odors present. Call your city if any water quality issues arise. Consider having water filtration systems installed under sinks or whole-home systems if water purity is a concern.

Look for Pest Infestations

Inspect closely for signs of mice droppings or insect infestations. Look in dark corners, under sinks, and inside cabinets. Set out sticky traps and monitor them. Call an exterminator immediately if pests are an issue so they can eradicate prior to move in.

Check for Mold and Mildew

Carefully inspect under sinks, basements, bathrooms and windows for any signs of mold or mildew accumulating. Address any moisture issues right away. Use mold killing solutions to remove mold and mildew so it doesn’t worsen.  

Sniff for Strange Odors

Walk through the home sniffing for any lingering odors from pets, smoke, mildew or stale air. Open windows initially to air it out. Consider having an air duct cleaning service come prior to moving in if odors linger in ductwork. Use deodorizers and air fresheners as needed.

Install New Air Filters

One of the very first tasks should be installing new, clean air filters in the furnace, air conditioner and air purifiers. Previous filters likely need replacing after contractors working in the home. High quality filters help remove allergens, dust and odors.

Thoroughly Clean Before Unpacking

Even if the home was cleaned prior to move in, do an intensive clean of your own with disinfectants to get rid of any lingering germs and odors. Clean all floors, walls, appliances, cabinets, fixtures, countertops, windows, blinds, and baseboards.

Hire Professional Carpet and Upholstery Cleaners

To really freshen up all flooring and fabrics, consider hiring professional carpet and upholstery cleaners. They can deep clean carpets, rugs, drapes and upholstered furniture throughout the home using powerful equipment. This provides peace of mind that these expensive items are clean for your family.

Wash All Linens Before Using

To remove any dust or odors, launder all sheets, pillowcases, mattress covers and other linens. For furniture included, clean or launder cushions and slipcovers. Either replace old pillows or launder pillow protectors.

Disinfect All Surfaces

Make sure to thoroughly disinfect every surface in the home, especially those touched frequently like light switches, door knobs, TV remotes, etc. Coronavirus can live on surfaces for days, so take proper precautions.

Check for Lead Paint if Children Will Be Living There

If small children will be living in the home, test paint, especially on windows and doors, for lead contamination. Lead exposure can cause serious health issues for children. Remediate any lead paint issues before moving kids in.

Conclusion

Preparing for a move with proper cleaning is extremely important—yet often rushed through. Don’t let a fast-approaching move date force you to cut corners. Invest the time and diligence needed to leave your old home spotless and make your new space truly comfortable and healthy. 

Use the comprehensive cleaning tips and checklists outlined above to ensure no corners, nooks or crannies are overlooked. Pay special attention to disinfecting, checking appliances, and addressing any maintenance issues needing repaired before move in.

While moving is undoubtedly stressful, starting fresh in a sparkling clean home sets the tone for happiness in your new surroundings. Welcome guests over proudly, not worrying about dirt or foul odors left behind by previous occupants. A clean home provides peace of mind and supports good health and wellbeing for your family. Just be sure to stay on top of maintaining cleanliness once you settle in!