Move-in cleaning checklist: what to clean before you unpack
An empty house is the easiest it will ever be to clean. Here is what to do before the boxes come in.
Why clean a home that was "already cleaned"?
Even when the previous owners or tenants cleaned before leaving, their idea of clean may not be yours. A move-out clean happens at the end of a stressful day, and it is often rushed. Inside cupboards, behind appliances and along baseboards are the places most likely to have been missed. And this is the one moment the home is completely empty, so it is the easiest it will ever be to do properly.
Day one priorities
If you only have a few hours before the truck arrives, start here:
- Kitchen cupboards and drawers, so dishes and food can go straight in.
- The fridge, inside and out, so groceries have somewhere clean to go.
- At least one bathroom: toilet, sink, shower and mirror.
- Bedroom floors, before the beds go down.
Kitchen
- Inside every cupboard and drawer, including the top shelves.
- Inside the fridge, freezer, oven, microwave and dishwasher.
- Countertops, backsplash and the sink, including around the faucet base.
- Cabinet fronts, handles and the range hood.
Bathrooms
- Toilet inside and out, including behind the base.
- Shower, tub and tile. If the glass is spotted, see removing hard water spots.
- Vanity drawers and cupboards, before your things go in.
- Exhaust fan cover, mirrors and light fixtures.
Bedrooms and living areas
- Closet shelves, rods and floors.
- Baseboards, door frames and doors.
- Window sills and tracks.
- Light switches, outlet covers and ceiling fans.
- Floors last: vacuum, then mop hard floors.
Small jobs worth doing now
- Replace the furnace or HVAC filter, so you start with clean air.
- Wipe down the inside of the washer and dryer, and clear the dryer lint trap.
- Check under sinks for leaks while the cupboards are empty.
Leaving somewhere at the same time?
Most people moving in are also moving out. Our move-out checklist for Reno renters covers the other end, including what Nevada law says about your deposit.
A move-in clean from Tracy's Tidy Homes covers every room floor to ceiling, inside the cupboards and inside the appliances, so you can walk into a home that is already done. Tracy can handle the place you are leaving and the one you are settling into. Share your moving dates early, and request an estimate.