· 4 min read
The best time to deep clean a home is the day you get the keys, before a single box comes in. With the place empty, every surface is reachable and you'll never have a cleaner slate than right now. Whether the previous owners left it spotless or not, a move-in clean means your fresh start is genuinely fresh. Here's a room-by-room checklist.
Start high, work down, and go room by room
Clean top to bottom so dust and debris fall onto surfaces you haven't done yet. Ceilings and fixtures first, floors last. Focus your energy on the spots you'll touch, eat off of, or bathe in every day.
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of every cabinet and drawer
- Inside the oven, microwave, and refrigerator, including seals and drawers
- Behind and underneath the range and fridge where crumbs collect
- Sink, faucet, and garbage disposal cleaned and sanitized
- Countertops, backsplash, and floors washed
Bathrooms
- Toilet cleaned and sanitized inside and out, including the base and bolts
- Tub, shower, and tile scrubbed; glass de-scaled
- Sink, vanity, and mirror polished; inside cabinets wiped
- Exhaust fan cover dusted and floor washed
Every room
- Wipe down walls, doors, frames, light switches, and outlet covers
- Dust ceiling fans, vents, closet shelves, and baseboards
- Clean interior windows, sills, and tracks
- Deep clean carpets and mop hard floors last
The move-in extras worth doing right away
- Change the HVAC filter and wipe return-air grilles
- Consider re-keying locks and replacing toilet seats for peace of mind
- Run empty cycles with cleaner in the dishwasher and washing machine
It's a big job, and moving is exhausting enough. Many West Michigan families have us handle the move-in clean before the truck arrives, so day one in the new place starts spotless.
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