A Guide for What to Clean Before You Move In or Move Out
There’s so much to do when you are moving out of your current residence and into your new residence—including cleaning both places.
Understanding what to clean before you move out increases your odds of receiving your full security deposit.
Even if your new place looks clean, there are some key areas to clean for peace of mind. The tips below will help.
What to Clean Before You Move In Your New Residence?
If it works in your schedule, space the date you receive your keys at least a few days early. Even if you are a renter, many landlords will turn the keys over a day or two in advance without charging you more. It never hurts to ask!
Your new place should be cleaned before you move in, but there are a few areas you want to double-check, detail, and sanitize.
HVAC
Inquire about the last time the ducts were cleaned and check the air filters, HVAC vents, range hood, and bathroom exhaust fan.
Garbage Disposal
If your kitchen sink has a garbage disposal, sprinkle a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar. Let sit for 10 minutes, turn on the hot water, and run the garbage disposal for 30 seconds.
Dishwasher, Washing Machine, and Oven
Follow the owner’s manual for how to clean each of these appliances. The manual probably won’t be provided, so perform an online search. Newer appliances often have a self-clean function.
Refrigerator
Even if they look clean, sanitize the freezer and refrigerator. If there’s nothing to scrape away, simply spray with hydrogen peroxide, let sit for 10 minutes, and wipe dry.
Cabinets and Closets
Dust and sanitize the cabinets to ensure there isn’t any food, dust, insect eggs, or cobwebs. If you prefer, you can line the kitchen shelves.
Doorknobs and Light Switches
Even if the previous residents or building maintenance did an excellent job cleaning, they may have forgotten to sanitize the doorknobs and light switches. These are bacteria-ridden high-touch areas. Disinfect hands-free with Lysol or hydrogen peroxide from a spray bottle.
Kitchen and Bathroom
These are typically the two most bacteria-ridden areas of your home. If they look clean, sanitize them. Also, consider replacing the toilet seat.
Detail Clean Flooring
Your flooring will likely get dirty during the move, but if you want to shampoo the carpets or steam clean tile and grout it’s easier to do before moving in.
Upholstery
If your new place is furnished, ask if the furniture will be shampooed and disinfected before moving in. If not, you may want to do it yourself.
Baseboards
An often-forgotten place to dust, so check to ensure the baseboards are clean before you move your furniture in.
What to Clean Before You Move Out of Your Current Residence?
If you are renting, check your lease and ask your landlord what you are responsible for cleaning before you move out.
This will increase your likelihood of receiving your full security deposit. If you are a homeowner, leaving a clean home welcomes the new owners.
Basically, you need to detail clean everything from top to bottom, inside and out. To make things easier, start cleaning as each room is packed up.
It’s exhausting enough packing and moving, let alone cleaning your old and new place. Cleaning in phases will help.
Many landlords have a fee schedule, deducting $10 to $30 per each uncleaned area from your security deposit. Or they will hire a professional move out cleaning company and deduct the cost from your security deposit.
The most common areas that cleaning fees are assessed include:
Vacuum
Mop
Clean the stovetop
Clean drip pans
Clean the oven
Clean the kitchen and bathroom counters
Dust the cabinets and closets
Clean all sinks and toilets
Scrub the bathtub and shower walls
Clean bathroom and floor grout
Dust the baseboards
Wash the inside window panes
You may also have fees deducted from your security deposit for damages that are considered more than average wear and tear.
For example, you likely won’t be charged for holes in the wall caused by small nails where your artwork hung. However, holes larger than a nail or screw will likely be deducted from your security deposit.
Leave Nothing Behind
This might sound obvious, but you must move everything out of your rental unit. If you don’t, you will be charged a removal fee for the furniture, belongings, and trash you’ve left behind.
Post furniture you won’t be using online to sell, give items away for free, or arrange to have a local non-profit pick up your donations.
Keep a box of heavy-duty trash bags nearby for the inevitable day-of trash.
Double check the fridge and freezer on move day and throw out the remaining garbage before you turn over the keys.
Should I Hire a Professional Move In Or Move Out Cleaning Company?
Instead of stressing about what to clean before you move in or out of your residence, consider hiring a professional cleaning company.
Cleaning companies offer a variety of services, including move-in, move-out services. Both of these services are a deep clean beyond standard weekly services. They can ever offer you feedback regarding areas you are unable to clean. Maybe even suggestions for minor repairs.
You can hire your cleaning company to head to your new place first so that it’s sparkling clean when you move in. Then have them head to your current place after you move out to ensure it’s pristine.
Looking For Move-In/Move-Out Deep Cleaning Services in Seattle?
Essential Move Out Cleaning specializes in floor-to-ceiling, in-n-out deep cleaning. We have detailed checklists to ensure we don’t forget any appliance or surface.
In addition to increasing the odds of receiving your full security deposit, we minimize your move-day stress!
We also serve property managers and real estate agents, to ensure your properties are pristine before your new tenants or homeowners move in.