Move-In Cleaning Checklist: What to Clean Before Unpacking

You just signed the lease or closed on a new place. You are excited. I get it. But before you start dragging boxes inside, do yourself a favor and clean the place first. Trust me, it is 10 times easier to clean an empty space than one full of your stuff.

I have done hundreds of move-in cleanings across LA County, from tiny studios in Koreatown to 4-bedroom houses in Torrance. Here is the checklist I give to every client.

Kitchen

• Wipe down the inside of every cabinet and drawer. You do not know what the last person stored in there.
• Clean inside the oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Pull out the fridge shelves and wash them.
• Run the dishwasher empty with a cup of vinegar on the top rack.
• Scrub the sink and run the disposal with ice and lemon.
• Clean behind and under the stove if you can pull it out. You would be shocked at what accumulates back there.
• Wipe down all countertops and the backsplash.

Bathrooms

• Scrub the toilet inside and out. I mean really scrub it. Use a disinfectant.
• Clean the shower or tub, including the grout lines. If there is mildew, hit it with a bathroom cleaner and let it sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing.
• Wipe down the vanity, mirrors, and any shelving.
• Check the exhaust fan. It is probably caked with dust.
• Clean inside the medicine cabinet.

All Rooms

• Wipe down all baseboards. They collect dust and grime like magnets.
• Clean all light switches and outlet covers. These are the most touched surfaces in any home and nobody ever cleans them.
• Dust ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Clean all windows, inside and out if accessible. Wipe down window sills and tracks.
• Vacuum or mop all floors. If there is carpet, consider getting it steam cleaned.
• Wipe down all closet shelves and rods.
• Clean inside any built-in shelving.

Do Not Forget These

• HVAC vents and air returns. Dusty vents blow dusty air.
• Garage floor. Sweep it out before you start storing things in there.
• Front door and back door. Wipe them down, clean the handles.
• The washer and dryer (if included). Run an empty hot cycle with bleach in the washer. Clean the dryer lint trap and vent.

Why I Recommend Hiring Pros for Move-In Cleans

Look, I am obviously biased. But here is the thing. When you are moving, you have a million things going on. Coordinating movers, setting up utilities, dealing with the old place. The last thing you want is to spend 6 hours cleaning an empty apartment on your hands and knees.

Our team can knock out a full move-in clean in 3 to 4 hours. We bring everything. You do not have to buy a single cleaning product. And you walk into a place that actually feels new.

We do move-in cleanings all over LA. Burbank, Glendale, Long Beach, Culver City, everywhere in the county. If you want to start your new place right, give us a call at (424) 677-1146 and we will get it handled before your moving truck shows up.