A home can look clean during a walk-through and still hold plenty of the previous occupant’s grime: crumbs and sticky spots inside kitchen cabinets, dust on closet shelves, buildup around the toilet base, a greasy range hood filter, and a refrigerator that was wiped but never scrubbed. A move-in clean deals with all of that before your belongings go in, while the home is still empty and every surface is easy to reach.
Here’s what a move-in clean covers, how to time it, and what you might handle yourself.
Table of Contents
Why clean before you move in
- It’s the only time the home is empty. Once furniture and boxes arrive, cabinets, closets, and floor edges are hard to reach for months.
- You’re putting food, dishes, and clothes on these surfaces. Kitchen cabinets, the fridge, and closet shelves deserve a thorough clean.
- Bathrooms are personal. Most people want toilets, tubs, and showers scrubbed by someone they chose.
- Move-out cleans vary. Even if the previous occupant cleaned, their standards may not match yours.
What a move-in clean covers
- Kitchen: inside all cabinets and drawers; inside the fridge, freezer, oven, microwave, and dishwasher; counters, backsplash, sink, and faucet; the range hood and its filter.
- Bathrooms: tub, shower, and grout; the toilet, including the base and behind it; vanity drawers and the medicine cabinet; mirrors and fixtures.
- Bedrooms and closets: shelves, rods, and floor edges.
- Throughout: baseboards, light switches, door handles, window sills and tracks, vent covers, and floors.
Timing it right
The ideal window is after you get the keys and before the moving truck arrives, even if that means a gap of just a day. If you can’t get a gap, have the cleaners start with the kitchen and bathrooms while movers fill the bedrooms and living areas.
If the previous owner or tenant just moved out, ask the cleaners to start with the fridge and freezer, so they’re ready for groceries, and the bathroom you’ll use first.
Move-in vs. move-out cleaning
The checklists are similar, but the goals differ. A move-out clean is about passing an inspection and focuses on what a landlord or buyer will see. A move-in clean is about a sanitary, comfortable start and focuses on the surfaces you’ll live with every day. For the move-out side, see move-out cleaning services.
Things to do while the home is empty
Cleaning is just one task. While the rooms are empty, it’s also the easiest time to:
- Replace the HVAC filter. See what size air filter you need.
- Change or rekey the locks, if you bought the home.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and replace batteries.
- Clean or replace the dryer vent duct, especially in an older home; see dryer vent cleaning.
- Find the main water shutoff and electrical panel.
- Book carpet cleaning, if the carpets are staying.
- Paint, if you’re planning to, since it’s far easier before furniture arrives.
What it costs
Move-in cleans are priced much like move-out cleans: by home size, condition, and add-ons such as interior windows or wall washing. See move-out cleaning cost for typical ranges, which are a good guide for move-in cleaning too.
Hiring a move-in cleaning service
- Confirm the home will be empty and accessible, and how the cleaners will get in.
- Ask for the checklist and specify priorities, usually the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Ask whether they disinfect high-touch surfaces and with what products.
- Check insurance, background checks, and reviews.
Allergy- and pet-friendly options
If anyone in your household has allergies or asthma, ask for fragrance-free products and a HEPA vacuum, and ask the cleaners to wipe vents and wash the range hood filter, which collect dust and dander from previous occupants. A previous owner’s pet dander can linger in carpets and ducts for a long time, so carpet cleaning and a fresh HVAC filter are worth prioritizing. If you have pets of your own, see our guide to pet-safe cleaning products.
Doing it yourself
If you’re cleaning yourself, bring a kit on key day: microfiber cloths, a bucket, all-purpose cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, a degreaser, a vacuum, a mop, gloves, and trash bags. Do cabinets and the fridge first, bathrooms next, and floors last. For greasy cabinets, see how to degrease kitchen cabinets.
Common questions
Is a move-in clean necessary if the home was cleaned at move-out?
Not always, but many people still want cabinets, appliances, and bathrooms cleaned to their own standard before unpacking.
How long does a move-in clean take?
Small apartments may take a few hours. Larger homes often take most of a day with a team.
Should I clean the carpets too?
If the carpets are staying and look soiled, or if previous occupants had pets, a professional carpet cleaning before move-in is worth considering.
Can I book the same day I close?
Sometimes. Book ahead and confirm the time you’ll have the keys, since closing times can shift.