move-in cleaning checklist

Start Out Fresh: The Ultimate Move In Cleaning Checklist

move-in cleaning checklist

Whether you’re moving into a new luxury apartment or just bought a new home, it’s easy to get swept up in it all. However, before you start getting too cozy, you should probably do a little cleaning first. Before you moved in, another family lived there. They walked around barefoot, made food messes, used the bathroom, etc. While you would hope the previous owners or landlord did an adequate job cleaning, you can never be too careful. In order to fully relax and nuzzle into your new home, we recommend ensuring its cleanliness. Keep reading for our move-in cleaning checklist.

1. Sanitize the Kitchen and All Appliances

First, start with the areas of the house that will require the most attention. We recommend starting in the kitchen. You need to make sure all the surfaces are cleaned with disinfectant, as this is where you will be preparing food for your family.

Your deep cleaning checklist must include cleaning the kitchen appliances. Make sure the stove, oven, fridge, dishwasher, and microwave are all spotless.

2. Sanitize the Bathrooms

Next on our move-in cleaning checklist are the bathrooms. These are just as important to clean as the kitchen. Once again, you’ll want a powerful disinfectant.

Pay special attention to the toilet and areas around the toilet where urine was likely to splatter. You should also sanitize the tub and shower. In fact, we recommend using a disinfectant on every surface of the bathroom.

3. Clean All Surfaces From Top to Bottom

Learning how to clean a new home before moving in means learning how to be a stickler for details. Wipe down every surface of the home, including walls and ceilings if necessary.

Things like countertops and shelves are obvious. However, don’t neglect surfaces people commonly touch, such as door handles, cabinet handles, drawer pulls, light switches, railings, etc.

It will be easiest if you start high and work your way down in each room. This will help you avoid missing anything.

4. Double Check Hard-to-Reach Places

Now it’s time to check the easy to miss (and easy to purposefully ignore) hard-to-reach places. This includes things like the tops of ceiling fans and the depths of cabinets and drawers. We recommend pulling out the drawers of the kitchen cabinets to make sure there’s nothing lingering. You should also move furniture and appliances to clean underneath and behind them.

This is a good time to check for signs of mold, pests, and other possible damages.

5. Deep Clean the Floors

Finally, you can complete your move-in cleaning checklist by cleaning the floors. Sweep and mop hard-surfaced floors. You can also consider adding a wax or shine layer, depending on the type of flooring.

Carpets will be a little more labor-intensive. First, vacuum slowly, making multiple passes to ensure maximum dirt removal. It is also recommended to shampoo or steam clean the carpet.

Need Help With Your Move-In Cleaning Checklist?

Have you recently moved into a new place or plan to do so in the near future? If so, make sure you accomplish everything on our move-in cleaning checklist. It’s vital for your comfort, health, and peace of mind.

But if you need a little help, we’ve got you covered. We specialize in deep cleaning homes. Contact us today to get a free quote.

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