When you move into a new home, you begin a fresh chapter because you receive a blank slate to decorate freely and start building memories. Before decorating your new place, you must perform a crucial cleaning step that should not be missed.

Thorough cleaning before moving in goes beyond surface appearances and is key to starting fresh and maintaining a healthy environment. Cleaning before unpacking ensures the new space feels like home. 

This guide explains the importance of pre-move-in cleaning, offers a step-by-step approach, and provides strategies for tackling even the tightest spaces, helping you prepare for your move-in cleaning tasks.

Why Clean Before You Unpack?

You might think, “It looks clean enough—why not just start unpacking?” Here’s why you shouldn’t:

1. You’re Cleaning for Your Standards

Previous residents who left behind the property probably cleaned the apartment, but individual cleaning standards vary widely. A surface might contain hidden dust particles, grease, and pet dander, but look clean on initial examination.

2. Cleaning Helps You Inspect

Walking through each room while cleaning allows you to spot various signs of damage that might have stayed hidden otherwise. Documenting pre-existing damage becomes important for renters because it protects them from potential future costs.

3. An empty room provides better cleaning opportunities.

You should take advantage of the space since furniture and boxes eventually block your access to the tight corners.

Supplies You’ll Need

Before you get started, gather your essentials:

• Microfiber cloths or paper towels

• All-purpose cleaner

• Disinfectant spray or wipes

• Mop and bucket

• Vacuum or broom

• Rubber gloves

• Baking soda and vinegar (for natural cleaning)

• Garbage bags

Optional but helpful:

• Magic erasers for scuffs

• Toothbrush (for tile grout or tight spots)

• Glass cleaner

• Essential oils or lemon for fresh scents

Essential Cleaning Tasks Before Unpacking in Your New Home

1. Start with a Deep Cleaning Plan

Devote several minutes to planning before beginning your cleaning operations. Create a schedule that includes all areas and specific cleaning duties. Begin with each room before segregating your cleaning operations into clean, sanitise, disinfect, vacuum, mop, inspect, and other activities.

A tenant used a dry-erase board on their refrigerator to keep track of their move-in cleaning checklist, marking off each room once it was completed. This method proved effective, particularly when managing multiple tasks during the moving process.

Pro Tip: Begin cleaning by addressing ceiling fans and high shelves in each room, then move on to the floors to keep the space tidy.

2. Hire Deep Clean Services (If Needed)

Moving is exhausting. Hiring professional cleaners is the optimal choice for certain situations. The cleaning process becomes more necessary when your house is extensive, has undergone recent renovations, or has been unoccupied for an extended period.

A tenant hired professional cleaners for the first day of moving into a fixer-upper home last year. The cleaning team used specialised tools to clean baseboards, polish windows, and thoroughly remove dust from HVAC vents. Although the service was costly, it saved significant time and effort, proving to be a worthwhile investment.

3. Begin your cleaning process by tackling deep kitchen cleaning tasks

The kitchen is the most active zone in a house and the most filthy section when people do not perform regular cleaning. Start by cleaning the kitchen for proper food storage and immediate cooking access.

Key Areas to Clean:

Start by removing liners from cabinets and drawers before vacuuming out crumbs and wiping down surfaces with disinfectant.

• Countertops and backsplash: Disinfect thoroughly. Old grout stains and discolourations require treatment with the baking soda paste.

• Appliances: Clean inside and outside of the fridge, microwave, oven, and dishwasher.

• Clean the sink basin, then check for clogged pipes before sanitising the areas under the sink.

• Clean floors and let them dry completely before installing rugs or mats.

4. Bathroom Deep Cleaning

The bathroom needs thorough cleaning because bacteria, mould, and mildew can develop in this area.

Checklist:

• Toilet: Clean the seat, bowl, and handle with a sanitising agent. If the seat is worn or stained, replace it without delay.

• Sink and tub: Remove soap scum and grime. Using natural cleaners with essential oils and bleach helps keep the cleaning process fresh and pleasant.

• Mirror and fixtures: Use glass cleaner to shine surfaces and apply polish to taps.

• Cabinets: Thoroughly check bathroom surfaces for any remaining belongings that belonged to previous occupants.

• Tiles and grout: Scrub with a stiff brush and mildew remover.

Placing fresh shower curtains and bath mats with new towels will transform the bathroom into a more individual and sanitary environment.

5. Floor Deep Cleaning Across the House

The accumulation of dust and debris from upper levels meets the dirt left behind by former inhabitants on the floors.

Steps:

1. Hardwood: The floor needs wood-friendly cleaning through sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping.

2. Tiles: Mop and scrub grout lines.

3. Carpet: Ideally, vacuum the entire area thoroughly before proceeding with steam cleaning. You can either rent a steam cleaning machine or hire a professional service to handle the job.

A tenant noticed that her new apartment’s carpet emitted a dog shelter odour during hot weather. After hiring a professional carpet cleaning service for steam cleaning, it uncovered hair particles, dander, and food debris. This step is essential and should not be skipped!

6. Make sure all bedrooms maintain complete cleanliness

The bedroom functions as a place for relaxation; therefore, it needs proper attention.

Tasks:

• Clean all accessible surfaces, including shelves, ledges, baseboards and interior closet spaces.

• Ceiling fans and light fixtures should be cleaned because dead bugs accumulate in old light covers.

• Regularly clean all high-traffic points, including door handles and light switches.

Let in fresh air: 

• The musty odours should be removed by opening windows to let in fresh air.

• Storage bins and under-bed boxes need to be completely clean before placement.

7. Sanitise High-Touch Areas

These areas get missed most often, but they’re crucial for maintaining hygiene.

High-touch points:

1. Doorknobs and handles

2. Cabinet and drawer pull.

3. Light switches

4. Remote controls

5. Thermostats and control panels

Sanitising high-touch areas using disinfectant wipes or sprays with at least 70% alcohol is essential. In one case, the areas quickly became grimy again, but cleaning them before unpacking set a good habit for regular upkeep.

8. Window Cleaning

When your windows are clean, they create more brightness in your space and help you feel mentally clear and open.

Steps:

1. Clean the inside and outside surfaces of the glass when accessibility permits.

2. Clean the window sills and tracks with a suitable cleaning solution.

3. You should remove the screens because quick dust accumulation occurs in this area. Wash them thoroughly.

4. Natural light entering through windows has the immediate effect of transforming a new space into a home-like environment.

9. Address the Utility Areas

Make sure to clean all hidden areas, including laundry rooms and pantries, and basements. Such spaces remain unobserved during standard inspections.

Cleaning To-Do:

• Behind the washer and dryer: Remove all lint and dust, together with any stray socks, from this area.

• Laundry appliances: Clean filters, trays, and hoses.

• Pantry: Check shelves for old odours and pest infestations by wiping them down.

You should inspect the basement or attic by sweeping all areas while checking for mould growth and signs of moisture.

You will save yourself future troubles by performing cleaning duties in the present rather than waiting to discover mouse droppings in your pantry after a week.

10. Check and Clean HVAC Systems

HVAC systems strongly impact the quality of the indoor air that people breathe.

Tips:

1. The replacement or cleaning of air filters needs to happen without delay.

2. Professional cleaning staff should dust and vacuum all heating system vents, registers, and fans.

3. Duct inspection services should be used for professional examination when available.

A tenant’s first apartment experience turned unpleasant after neglecting to check the filters, which led to ongoing allergy symptoms. Once the clogged filter was replaced, clean air circulation was immediately restored.

Conclusion

Proper and thorough cleaning of your new home should take precedence over unpacking and furniture arrangement because it requires at least a day or several hours. The process requires more than simple decoration because it protects your health and ensures the safety and personalisation of your space.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. You should either gather your family to help you clean, hire professional cleaning services or organise a housewarming event. The entire moving process becomes more seamless because of a clean start.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is cleaning necessary when the landlord or seller claims to have completed the cleaning?

A: Yes! Clean the space even if the current condition meets your hygiene requirements. A quick review provides reassurance about the cleaning state.

Q. Can I clean with natural products instead of commercial cleaning chemicals?

A: Absolutely. Using environmentally friendly cleaning products offers dual benefitsNatural cleaning substitutes include white vinegar,  baking soda, lemon and essential oils.

Q. When unpacking, do I need to complete all cleaning tasks if I lack sufficient time?

A: Prioritise the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. The most impacted areas are those with maximum use, which will affect comfort and safety.

Q. Should I perform additional cleaning tasks following the unpacking process?

The cleaning will mainly involve light maintenance tasks. A thorough cleaning session before moving will substantially reduce the need for additional cleaning afterwards.