Moving into a new home is exciting. Even a tidy house needs a proper move-in cleaning checklist. A thorough clean makes the space feel truly yours. Follow this room-by-room guide to get started.
Kitchen Deep Clean: Tips for Getting Your Appliances and Surfaces Shining
The kitchen matters most in any move-in cleaning checklist. Clean it fully before you start using it.
- Oven: Remove racks and soak in hot soapy water. Clean inside with oven cleaner or a baking soda paste. Wipe door glass inside and out
- Fridge: Remove shelves and drawers, then wash separately. Wipe the interior with a bicarbonate of soda solution to remove odours. Clean the seal — grime hides in the folds
- Dishwasher: Run an empty cycle with dishwasher cleaner. Clean the filter and door edges
- Rangehood: Soak the filter in hot water with dishwashing liquid to degrease it. Then wipe the exterior
- Benchtops: Disinfect all surfaces. Pay attention to the join between benchtop and splashback where grime collects
- Cabinets: Wipe inside every drawer and cupboard before you put items in. Line shelves with contact paper if you like
- Sink: Scrub with a non-scratch cleaner. Clean the drain and run boiling water through it
Bathroom Blitz: How to Make Your Bathrooms Feel Fresh and Inviting
- Toilet: Clean inside the bowl, under the rim, around the base, and behind. Replace the seat if it’s worn or stained — they’re cheap and it makes a big difference
- Shower: Scrub tile grout with a grout cleaner or bleach solution. Descale the showerhead by soaking it in vinegar overnight. Clean shower glass with a glass cleaner or vinegar
- Bathtub: Scrub with a bathroom cleaner. Clean the overflow and drain. Check for mould around the sealant — recaulk it if it’s black or peeling
- Vanity and mirror: Clean the mirror streak-free. Wipe inside cabinets and drawers. Disinfect the basin and taps
- Exhaust fan: Remove the cover and wash it. Vacuum dust from the fan. A clean exhaust fan prevents mould by keeping air flowing
- Floor: Mop thoroughly, getting into corners and behind the toilet. Tile grout on the floor often needs the most attention
Dusting and Vacuuming: Tackling Every Nook and Cranny
Work top to bottom so dust falls onto surfaces you haven’t cleaned yet. This order saves time and effort.
- Ceilings and cornices: Look for cobwebs, dust, and marks. Use a long-handled duster or vacuum with a brush attachment
- Light fixtures: Remove covers and wash them. Dust bulbs and fittings
- Window sills and tracks: Vacuum tracks first, then wipe them. A toothbrush or cotton bud gets into the corners
- Skirting boards: Run a damp cloth along every skirting board in the house. Previous occupants rarely clean these
- Air vents and returns: Vacuum the grilles and wipe them with a damp cloth
- Built-in wardrobes: Vacuum the floor, wipe shelves and hanging rails, and clean the mirror doors if fitted
- Carpets: Vacuum thoroughly. Consider professional steam cleaning too. You never know what’s in the carpet from previous occupants
- Hard floors: Vacuum first to remove grit. Then mop with the right cleaner for your floor type
Decluttering and Organising: Making Your New Space Feel Open and Inviting
- Unpack strategically: Start with the kitchen and bathroom. You need these rooms working first
- Don’t unpack everything at once: Live in the space for a few days before deciding where everything goes. You’ll make better decisions about storage and layout
- Use the move as a purge: Have you not used something in 12 months? If it’s still in a box, you probably don’t need it
- Storage solutions: Assess what storage you have before buying organisers. The new space may need different solutions than your old one
- Label as you go: If you store things in the garage, shed, or spare room, label the boxes. This helps you find things later
Green Cleaning: Eco-Friendly Tips for a Healthy Home
You can follow a move in cleaning checklist and still stay eco-friendly. These simple swaps help.
- Vinegar and bicarb: These work well for most general cleaning. Use vinegar for glass and descaling. Use bicarb for scrubbing and deodorising
- Microfibre cloths: These clean effectively with just water. They’re reusable and machine washable, so they create less waste than disposable wipes
- Steam cleaning: This gives chemical-free sanitising for floors, bathrooms, and kitchens. The heat does the work
- Concentrated products: These create less packaging and transport waste. Dilute them at home with your own spray bottles
- Open windows: Open windows during your cleaning tasks. This clears chemical fumes, dust, and stale air cheaply and effectively
Final Touches: Adding Personal Touches to Make Your New Home Feel Like Yours
- Fresh flowers or a plant: This small touch makes the space feel alive and lived-in
- New door mat: This gives the first impression of your home. Replace whatever the previous occupant left
- Change the locks: You don’t know how many copies of the old keys exist. A locksmith visit on move-in day is worth the cost
- Update light bulbs: Replace any blown or dim bulbs. Consider warm-white LEDs throughout for consistent, inviting lighting
- Hang pictures early: Even a few frames on the wall help. They turn a “new house” into “my home”
Follow this move in cleaning checklist step by step. Your new home will feel fresh, clean, and truly yours.
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