Move In Cleaning Checklist {Make a Fresh Start}

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. One of the tasks that many people overlook is deep cleaning the new home before moving in their belongings. Cleaning your new place from top to bottom will help you start off on the right foot and make sure that your family has a safe and healthy environment to call home. This move in cleaning checklist for moms will help you tackle each room quickly, but with ease.

Even though you’re not actually moving into a new house, we want you to feel as though you are.

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How Much Does it Cost to Clean a House Before Moving in?

This is a difficult question to answer. What I recommend you do is call several cleaning services in your area and get quotes from them for your new house. You can also ask for referrals on facebook for the best move in cleaning service in town for your new house. The price will depend on how large your new house is, how much cleaning needs to be done, whether you need the entire house done or just a part of it. Most cleaning services will be able to give you a rate over the phone.

However, if you are not able to afford to pay for a cleaning service for your new house, stick with me, and we’ll make your new house shine in no time at all, hopefully without getting too stressed!

Should I Deep Clean Before Moving In?

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you want to get moved in as soon as possible

I get it, I really do.

But cleaning your new place from top to bottom will help you start off on the right foot and make sure that your family has a safe and healthy environment to call home. It’s much harder to clean your new house with all your belongings and boxes all over the place and furniture. I recommend taking a few extra days to clean your entire house before you move in! My move in cleaning checklist will help you tackle each room with ease so that you can enjoy some peace of mind.

Are you ready to get started? Okay, let’s go.

Move In Cleaning Supplies You Need

Before going to your new house to clean, you want to make sure you have all the cleaning supplies ready when you need them.

Here is a quick list of cleaning supplies you will need:

Vacuum cleaner/brush/mop.
Disinfectant wipes/toilet cleaner/all purpose cleaner/polish/windex.
Rags/sponge//trash bags/baking soda/white vinegar/oven cleaner/stainless steel cleaner/spray bottle/feather duster.
Trash bags/ dishwasher gel/washing machine detergent/gloves

Bring any other cleaning supplies that you normally use in your own home.

White vinegar is great for getting rid of stubborn stains like soap scum. White vinegar also works well for cleaning windows. Mix one part of distilled vinegar to 10 parts warm water in a spray bottle and use that to clean the windows with. Wipe the windows first with a microfiber cloth to remove any dust and then spray your solution on the window and give it a good wipe down.

Move In Cleaning Checklist

My cleaning checklist is a straightforward yet thorough move in cleaning checklist that will help to ensure your entire house is cleaned from top to bottom. This move in cleaning checklist also includes blank places for you to add in your own specific cleaning tasks.

Join Us And Get Our FREE Printable Move-In Checklist

Stay organized and efficient while preparing your new house.
Room by room cleaning tasks to get you ready for moving in.
Eliminate wasted time and effort and relax knowing everything is ready in your new castle!

In What Order Should I Clean the Rooms in My House?

Start cleaning from the top down AFTER you do these 4 things!

Start the dishwasher on a self clean cycle, so it’s clean when it comes to your family putting their dishes in it.
Check the oven and see if you need to spray oven cleaner in it to get it clean.
When the dishwasher is done, start the washing machine on a self clean cycle too.
Check toilets/bath/shower/kitchen sink – anywhere there might be bad stains. If you find any, give them a good spray and let them sit.

Now that you’ve done that, let’s start cleaning rooms, so head to the master bedroom and let’s start there! You can get my uber popular clean bedroom checklist here.

Master Bedroom

If it’s the right time of year, open the windows to allow some fresh air inside. Get ready to start cleaning.

Bedroom Move-In Cleaning Checklist

Wipe down baseboards and window sills with a microfiber cloth.
Dust all surfaces.
Dust ceiling fans.
Wipe light switches, light fixtures and door knobs,
Clean marks on walls and /or doors.
Wipe closet shelves etc.
Clean mirrors.
Floors swept or vacuumed and mopped
Remove anything left over by tenants

PRO TIP: Vacuum/mop all floors upstairs at the one time.

You are going to clean the same way for the other bedrooms

PRO TIP: If you have a roomba, stick it in a bedroom and leave it clean until it runs out of power

Bathroom Move In Cleaning Checklist

Now let’s head into the bathrooms to give them a good clean. This particular cleaning task can be either super easy or extremely difficult, depending on how the previous tenants left the backrooms! If they left their toilet brush behind, I recommend throwing it out and buying a new one. Check all cabinet doors and drawers, cupboards and medicine cabinets to see if they left anything behind.

Wipe down baseboards and doors, and towel racks.
Sanitize and clean the bathroom tub, bathroom shower, glass doors.
Clean and sanitize both the toilet bowl and the toilet seat.
Remove anything that the previous tenants may have left in the medicine cabinet , sanitize and wash well using a disinfectant spray.
Sanitize and clean linen closet shelves.
Sink cleaned and sanitized with a specialized cleaner to ensure everything is perfectly clean.
Clean the mirrors, wipe down the light switches.
Wipe down all bathroom surfaces with a cloth and disinfectant spray.
Bathroom cupboards, interior and exterior wiped down.
Vacuum and mop the bathroom floor.
Throw away any leftover trash.

PRO TIP: If you have a particularly bad shower that needs some extra deep cleaning. Sprinkle some baking soda across the shower floor, then squirt dishwashing liquid over the baking soda (in the shape of an S), now scrub the floor with a wet brush. You can also put some baking soda on a damp microfiber cloth to clean a shower curtain liner, but I recommend buying a new one, they don’t cost much at all.

Vacuum the hallway and move everything downstairs.

Kitchen Move In Cleaning Checklist

This is the room that will be utilized the most, so let’s make sure it’s cleaned and sanitized before you move in and start utilizing it.

I highly recommend using shelf liners and drawer liners to keep things nice and clean. You want to clean all kitchen appliances both inside and out. Check drawers and cupboards to see if the previous tenants left anything behind. Here is a list of cleaning tasks for the kitchen.

Pull out and clean all fridge shelves and drawers with warm soapy water. Wipe down the fridge interior with a damp sponge.
Pull the fridge out and clean behind and under it.
Clean the microwave inside and outside
Clean the oven interior and exterior, as well as the stovetop. Remove the stove top parts and wash them in soapy water also.
Make sure to clean exhaust fans and check that everything is working perfectly.
Wipe all cupboard shelves, as well as any shelves in the pantry. Anything you find, toss it.
Wipe interior and exterior cabinet doors with a clean cloth.
Clean underneath the kitchen sink, look for any stains that you may need to cover up with a mat.
Clean all kitchen counters with a damp sponge, use a specialized cleaner if you have marble or granite.
Wipe light fixtures, door handles, ceiling fans, window frame and door frames.
Clean the backsplash and any marks on the wall.
Fill the sink with soapy water, clean it and turn on the garbage disposal and let all that nice soapy water go down the drain!
Empty the trash, take the trash container outside and hose it down.
Sweep the kitchen floor, make sure to get the corners and get under things. Vacuum and mop.
Remove anything left over by tenants

Check out our bedroom cleaning checklist to help you get your bedroom looking comfy and cozy, and less of a mess!

Living Spaces Move In Checklist

Now that we’re finished cleaning the dreaded kitchen area, congrats to you by the way, let’s move into the living space.

The living space will include any of the following – coat closet, entryway, dining room,

I want you to check behind things in case dust built up behind there. If the previous owners left rugs behind, I would recommend taking them outside and giving them a good clean, as you want your new space perfectly clean.

Here is your to do list for the living space in your new house or apartment.

Dust all surfaces using a soft cloth.
Clean around the fireplace.
Dust and wipe all baseboards.
Clean window sills and remove dirt from all trackers.
Clean ceiling fans.
Wipe down light switches, wood cabinets, door knobs, door handles, light fixtures (a microfiber cloth works best).
Check for any stains on the carpet you need to clean or on the hardwood floors.
Dust and clean both the interior and exterior of any closets.
Clean any marks on the walls.
Give this area a really good vacuum and make sure the floors are looking good.
Remove anything left over by tenants

Laundry Room Move In Checklist

Most houses nowadays have a laundry room, so if the previous owners left the washing machine and dryer behind, we want to get them cleaned before using them! Wipe down the outside of the washer and dryer with a wet cloth. Empty and clean out the filter for both the washer and dryer. Next, clean the washing machine with one of these tables, now the washing machine is clean and you can use it to wash your own clothes as you move in.

Wipe down shelves
Carefully get behind washing machine and dryer and clean/remove trash
Wipe down doors, door knob/light switches/walls.
Sweep/mop floor.
Remove anything left over by tenants.

Couple using spray bottle to clean stain

Cleaning a House Before Moving In

If you are unable to use a move in cleaning service to help clean your new home before you move into your new home, now you see how easily you can clean it on your own with our cleaning checklist!

You may also need to focus on deep-cleaning tasks such as cleaning carpets or upholstery with a steam cleaner. Obviously you won’t know exactly what needs to be done until you walk through your new home with your cleaning checklist.

Doing all of the above should get your new home looking really well. Depending on the current condition of your home, you should be able to clean your new home with your partner within the same day, or maybe it takes a few days.

You also may want to use this time to change the licks, or get new carpet, or do any major repairs that need to get done. These steps are important because they will ensure that your new home looks its best when it’s time for you to move in.

Moms and dads have enough stress during the moving process without having to add cleaning duties onto their already full plate! By using this move-in cleaning checklist as a guide, you can rest assured that your new home will be clean and ready for your family’s arrival come move-in day. With this helpful tool at hand, you can focus on more important things—like getting settled into your new life!

Congratulations on your new home!