Clean a new home before the boxes arrive, not after. An empty unit lets you reach inside every cabinet, behind appliances and along every baseboard, which becomes impractical once furniture is in. Priority order is kitchen interiors, bathrooms, floors, then the high-touch surfaces the previous occupant used daily.
Should you clean before or after moving in?
Before, and it is not close. The empty-home window is the only time you will have unobstructed access to the backs of cabinets, the floor beneath where the sofa will sit, and the wall behind the fridge. Once boxes are in, those places are effectively sealed for the length of your tenancy.
The practical sequence in Chicago is: get the keys, clean the empty unit, then schedule the movers. If your building requires a freight elevator reservation for the move, book the clean for the day before that slot.
Do landlords clean between tenants?
Sometimes, and rarely to the standard you would choose. A turnover clean is generally aimed at making a unit presentable for showings, not at the inside of the dishwasher filter. Assume the visible surfaces have been handled and the interiors have not.
This is also true of homes bought rather than rented. A seller has no obligation to leave a house clean, and many leave it in whatever state the move produced.
What should you clean first in a new home?
Priority order, because move-in day rarely allows for everything.
- Kitchen interiors. Inside every cabinet and drawer, the fridge including the seals, the oven, the dishwasher filter, and the range hood filter.
- Bathrooms. Toilet including the base and behind, shower and tub, and hard-water film on glass, which the previous occupant almost certainly did not address.
- Floors. Vacuum then mop, edges and corners included, while nothing is in the way.
- High-touch surfaces. Light switches, door handles, cabinet pulls, thermostat, buzzer panel, and the inside of the front door.
- Everything else. Baseboards, window sills and tracks, vents, radiator covers, closet shelving, and light fixtures.
What is on a move-in cleaning checklist?
- Inside all cabinets, drawers and closets
- Inside the fridge and freezer, including seals and the drip tray
- Inside the oven, including racks and door glass
- Dishwasher filter and door edge
- Range hood filter
- Countertops, backsplash and sink
- All bathroom fixtures, grout and glass
- Baseboards, door frames and switch plates
- Window interiors, sills and tracks
- Vents, radiator covers and ceiling fans
- Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout
- Balcony or patio swept
How is move-in cleaning different from move-out cleaning?
The checklist is nearly identical. The purpose is not. A move-out clean exists to satisfy a landlord and protect a deposit, so it is judged against someone else's standard. A move-in clean exists to make the home yours, and the standard is your own.
The practical difference is emphasis. Move-out work concentrates on the line items landlords deduct for. Move-in work concentrates on anywhere the previous occupant left traces: interiors, seals, filters, and high-touch surfaces.
How long does a move-in clean take?
Three to six hours for most apartments and condos, longer for houses. It runs longer than a general clean because interiors are in scope, and it goes faster than the equivalent occupied home because there is nothing to work around. Our Move-In/Move-Out service is the same twenty-eight point clean in both directions.
Common questions
Should you clean a new apartment before moving in?
Yes. An empty unit gives access to cabinet interiors, behind appliances and every baseboard, which becomes impractical once furniture and boxes are in place.
Do landlords clean between tenants?
Often only to a basic turnover standard aimed at showings. Visible surfaces are usually handled; interiors such as the oven, cabinet insides and appliance filters usually are not.
How long does a move-in cleaning take?
Three to six hours for most Chicago apartments and condos. It takes longer than a general clean because cabinet interiors, the oven and the fridge are all included.