Ultimate Move-In Cleaning Checklist Before You Move In

What a True Move-In Deep Clean Should Include

We recently got a call from a new homeowner — let’s call her Ashley — who was getting ready to move into a 3,200 sq. ft. home with five bedrooms, two and a half baths, plus a basement. The previous family was still living there, and while the place looked “pretty good,” she wanted it truly clean before her own furniture and kids’ toys crossed the threshold.

Ashley’s big question was simple: “What exactly does a professional move-in deep clean include?” She didn’t want any surprises, and she didn’t want to assume something was covered only to find out it wasn’t.

So we walked her through our full move-in cleaning scope, room by room, from “everything you can see and touch” — top to bottom. We’ll share that same breakdown here so you can use it as your own ultimate move-in cleaning checklist, whether you hire a pro or tackle parts of it yourself.

Before You Start: Scope, Size, and Timing

When Ashley called, we first asked about the basics: square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, whether the basement was included, and how dirty the home was on a 1–10 scale. Her answer: “About a 7 — in pretty good shape.”

Those details matter because a true move-in deep clean is more than a quick tidy:

• Team size & time: For Ashley’s 3,200 sq. ft. home, we recommended a team of two for about eight hours to do a thorough top-to-bottom clean.
• Occupied vs. empty: Some sellers are still in the home, which means food in the fridge, dishes, and closets in use. That can add time and complexity.
• Basement included? Make sure you’re clear on whether the basement, storage rooms, or utility areas are part of the job.

Once we had Ashley’s details, we could walk her through exactly what we would clean so she knew her new home would be move-in ready — not just “surface clean.”

Kitchen: From Cabinets to Appliances

The kitchen is where we spend the most time during a move-in clean, because it’s where previous cooking, grease, and food odors like to hide. With Ashley, we explained that our goal is to clean everything you can see and touch in the space.

Here’s what a professional move-in kitchen deep clean should include:

• Cabinets & drawers
  • Wipe inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers
  • Clean handles, pulls, and edges where grease builds up
  • Wipe pantry shelves and pantry floor
• Surfaces & fixtures
  • Clean & sanitize countertops and backsplash
  • Wipe light switches, outlet covers, and door handles
  • Dust or wipe blinds and shutters
• Appliances
  • Clean microwave inside and out
  • Clean stovetop, burners, and control panels
  • Wipe oven exterior and vent hood
  • Deep clean inside the oven (confirm this is included)
  • Deep clean inside the refrigerator (shelves, drawers, walls)
• Floors
  • Sweep or vacuum thoroughly, including under toe kicks if accessible
  • Mop floors with appropriate cleaner for the surface

With Ashley, we were running a promo that included inside the fridge and oven at no extra charge. When you’re comparing quotes, always ask whether those two are included — they’re often add-ons.

Bathrooms: Sanitized from Top to Bottom

Bathrooms are another area where “looks okay” isn’t good enough for move-in. You want to know everything has been disinfected and detailed before your family starts using it.

Here’s what we told Ashley her bathrooms would receive during a move-in deep clean:

• Mirrors & glass
  • Buffed mirrors and any glass surfaces until streak-free
  • Cleaned shower doors and glass panels
• Showers & tubs
  • Scrubbed tile grout to remove soap scum and buildup
  • Detailed cleaning of shower doors and tracks
  • Cleaned and rinsed walls, fixtures, and hardware
• Toilets & sinks
  • Sanitized inside and outside of toilets, including base
  • Scrubbed and disinfected sinks and faucets
  • Wiped light switches, handles, and towel bars
• Cabinets & storage
  • Wipe fronts of cabinets and drawers
  • Clean inside cabinets and drawers so you can put items away immediately
• Floors & trim
  • Sweep or vacuum floors thoroughly
  • Mop with an appropriate disinfecting cleaner
  • Wipe baseboards, doors, and frames
  • Dust blinds or window coverings

Bedrooms & Common Areas: Dust-Free and Ready for Furniture

Ashley also asked about bedrooms and living spaces: “Is it just a quick dust, or do you really get into everything?” For a move-in, the goal is to remove previous dust, pet hair, and allergens before you bring your own furniture in.

A complete move-in clean for these areas should include:

• Dusting & detailing
  • Dust all reachable surfaces: window sills, ledges, shelves
  • Dust ceiling fans, lamps, and light fixtures where safely accessible
  • Wipe doors, door frames, and baseboards throughout
  • Dust blinds and shutters
  • Buff any mirrors
• Closets
  • Wipe shelves, rods, and corners
  • Sweep, vacuum, or mop closet floors
• Floors
  • Thoroughly vacuum carpets and rugs
  • Sweep and mop hard floors
  • Remove any small trash or debris

Whether there is existing furniture or the home is empty, we focus on surfaces, fixtures, and floors so the space is fresh and ready for your layout.

Basement & “Bonus” Spaces

When Ashley mentioned that her square footage included the basement, we confirmed she wanted that cleaned as well. Basements often get overlooked, but they’re part of your living environment — and dust, cobwebs, and smells love to settle there.

For a basic move-in basement clean, you should expect:

• Thorough vacuuming or mopping, depending on floor type
• Removal of visible cobwebs and dust from corners and accessible surfaces
• Basic tidying if there’s leftover debris

If your basement has finished living areas, you can apply the same bedroom/common-area checklist: dusting, baseboards, blinds, and any built-in shelves.

How to Use This Checklist (and What to Ask a Pro)

When you’re planning your own move-in clean or getting quotes, use this checklist to make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. With Ashley, we went through all of this verbally so she knew exactly what was included in her investment.

Here are a few key questions to ask any cleaning company before you book:

• Is this your most comprehensive deep clean? (Move-in/move-out should be.)
• Do you clean inside kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers?
• Are inside the oven and fridge included or extra?
• Are baseboards, doors, door frames, and light switches included?
• Is the basement or any bonus room part of the quoted square footage?
• How many cleaners will come, and how long will they be there?

Move-in day is stressful enough. When you know exactly what a professional deep clean should cover, you can walk into your new home confident that it’s not just new to you — it’s freshly and thoroughly cleaned for you.