20 Things You Should Clean Before You Move Into a New Home

Even if the previous owners or tenants cleaned before leaving, give the home another once-over before moving day. You don’t know when the inside of the cabinets was last wiped down, what has been hiding underneath the refrigerator, or how thoroughly the bathrooms were scrubbed.

If possible, clean after you get the keys but before your belongings arrive. Work from the top of each room down, tackle hidden areas while they’re still accessible, and save the floors for last.

Key takeaways

• Clean your new home before moving in, if possible, while rooms, cabinets, closets, and floors are empty.
• Start with high surfaces, such as ceiling fans, light fixtures, and shelves, then work downward.
• Clean inside kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, drawers, and closets before filling them.
• Deep clean the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and other appliances that came with the home.
• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, including handles, switches, and knobs.
• Clean toilets, showers, tubs, sinks, and bathroom storage before unpacking toiletries.
• Vacuum carpets and clean hard floors after you’ve finished the rest of the house.
• Take advantage of the empty home to clean behind and underneath appliances and other areas that may soon become difficult to reach.

1. Ceiling fans

Start at the top of the room so dust that falls can be cleaned up later. Turn off ceiling fans, then dust or wipe the blades according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Remember to clean the top of each blade, where a surprising amount of dust can hide. If the fan has a light fixture, clean the accessible parts of it while you’re already up there.

2. Light fixtures

Check ceiling lights, pendant lights, chandeliers, wall sconces, and other fixtures for dust, dead bugs, and grime. Clean removable globes or covers if needed, and wipe accessible exterior surfaces.

This is also a convenient time to replace burned-out bulbs before you’re trying to unpack boxes in a dark room.

3. Walls

Empty rooms give you a rare opportunity to inspect the walls without furniture, artwork, or curtains getting in the way. Look for dust, cobwebs, fingerprints, scuffs, and other marks. Clean walls according to the paint or wall covering manufacturer’s recommendations. Be careful with aggressive scrubbing, particularly if you don’t know what type of paint was used.

4. Light switches and other high-touch surfaces

Before everyone starts touching things in the new house, clean the surfaces that previous occupants touched regularly.

Depending on the home, that could include:

• Light switches
• Door handles
• Cabinet pulls
• Drawer handles
• Appliance handles
• Faucet handles
• Stair railings
• Thermostat exterior
• Closet door handles

5. Window sills and tracks

Window tracks are much easier to clean before furniture and curtains get in your way. Use a crevice attachment to vacuum loose dirt, dust, dead bugs, and other debris from the tracks. Then wipe the tracks, frames, and sills using a method recommended for the window material.

Check sliding door tracks at the same time. A few minutes with a vacuum now may save you from discovering a tiny insect graveyard six months after moving in.

6. Windows

Clean the interior glass while the rooms are still empty and easy to move around. If you can safely reach the exterior, clean that side as well. Don’t forget glass doors and other large glass surfaces.

Cleaning windows before you unpack also gives you a chance to check for damaged screens, broken locks, condensation between panes, or other issues you may want to address.

7. Kitchen cabinets and drawers

Clean kitchen storage before filling it with food, dishes, cookware, and utensils. Work one section at a time. Vacuum loose crumbs and debris from shelves, drawers, and corners, then wipe the surfaces using a cleaner that’s safe for the cabinet material. Let everything dry before putting items inside.

Remember to clean:

• Upper cabinets
• Lower cabinets
• Drawers
• Pantry shelves
• Cabinet doors
• Drawer fronts
• Handles and pulls
• Under-sink storage

8. The refrigerator

If the refrigerator came with the house, clean it before filling it with groceries. Remove old food and any removable shelves, drawers, or bins that can be cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Wipe the interior walls, shelves, door compartments, handles, and exterior.

Check the top of the refrigerator, too. If you can safely access underneath or beside it without disturbing water or electrical connections, clean those areas as well.

If the refrigerator has a water dispenser or ice maker, check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning, filter replacement, and preparing the system for use.

9. The oven and stovetop

It’s much nicer to discover someone else’s mystery oven spill before you cook your first dinner. Remove loose crumbs and food debris and then clean the racks, interior, door, and exterior according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Clean the stovetop as well, paying attention to burner components, knobs, grates, drip pans, and other removable pieces if your model has them. If the oven has a self-cleaning function, check the owner’s manual before using it.

10. The dishwasher

A dishwasher may look clean while hiding buildup in less obvious places. Check the owner’s manual for cleaning instructions. Depending on the model, you may need to clean an accessible filter, wipe the door and gasket, remove debris, and clean other removable components.

Check the racks for food residue or buildup, and wipe the exterior and handle before you start loading your dishes.

11. Kitchen sink

Clean the sink, faucet, handles, drain area, and surrounding counter using products that are safe for the materials. Pay attention to the seam around the sink and the area where the faucet meets the countertop. These small crevices can collect grime.

If the sink has a garbage disposal, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning it. Never put your hand or cleaning tools into the disposal.

12. Bathroom vanities and drawers

Clean bathroom storage before filling it with toothbrushes, makeup, medications, towels, and toiletries. Remove any leftover items, hair, or debris. Vacuum drawers and cabinets if necessary, then wipe the interior and exterior surfaces. Clean drawer pulls, cabinet handles, and the area underneath the sink.

13. Toilets

Even if the toilet looks clean, give it your own cleaning before moving in. Clean the bowl, seat, lid, handle, exterior, and surrounding floor using products intended for those surfaces. Don’t forget less visible areas around the base and behind the toilet if you can reach them.

While you’re there, check for obvious leaks or moisture around the base and supply connection.

14. Showers and tubs

Clean the shower or tub before anyone takes the first post-moving-day shower.

Pay attention to:

• Tub or shower floor
• Walls and tile
• Grout
• Glass doors
• Door tracks
• Shower curtain rod
• Faucet
• Handles
• Showerhead exterior
• Built-in shelves and niches
• Drain area

Use products recommended for the specific materials in your bathroom. Natural stone, tile, fiberglass, acrylic, and other surfaces may have different cleaning requirements.

15. Closets

Dust shelves and rods, wipe built-in organizers, and vacuum or sweep the floor. Then, clean baseboards and corners while they’re still accessible.

16. Baseboards

Clean the baseboards before furniture starts blocking them. Vacuum loose dust and hair first, then wipe them if needed. Pay attention to corners, closets, hallways, and areas where the baseboards were previously hidden behind furniture.

This is also a good time to inspect them for damage that may need repair.

17. Laundry area

Before hooking up your washer and dryer, clean the laundry space while you can still reach everything. Vacuum or sweep the floor, clean the baseboards, wipe shelves and cabinets, and remove lint and dust from accessible surfaces. If you’re installing your own appliances, having a clean, empty space makes setup much easier.

If a washer and dryer came with the home, clean them according to the manufacturers’ instructions before using them. 

Don’t attempt to clean or modify dryer venting, gas connections, electrical connections, or plumbing beyond what the manufacturer or a qualified professional recommends.

18. Carpets

Clean carpets after you’ve finished dusting and wiping higher surfaces. Vacuum slowly and thoroughly, paying particular attention to edges, corners, closets, stairs, and other places that may have been missed during a quick move-out cleaning.

If the carpet needs deeper cleaning, doing it before moving in is much easier than shifting beds, sofas, tables, and boxes from room to room. Make sure carpets are completely dry before bringing in furniture and belongings.

If you’re concerned about significant stains, odors, pests, mold, or another problem, deal with the issue rather than simply covering it with a rug or furniture.

19. Hard floors

Make the floors one of your last cleaning jobs. Vacuum or sweep loose debris first, including underneath cabinets and along baseboards. Then clean the floor according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Don’t assume the same cleaning method works for every floor. Hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile, stone, and other materials can have different requirements.

Once the floors are clean and dry, you finally have a fresh starting point for moving in.

20. Don’t forget the garage

If your new home has a garage, give it a cleaning before it fills with moving boxes. Remove leftover trash and debris, sweep the floor, clear cobwebs, and wipe accessible shelves and storage areas. Look for nails, screws, broken glass, or other sharp debris before walking around or parking a car inside.

If the previous occupants left paint, chemicals, pesticides, automotive fluids, or other products behind, don’t automatically throw them into the household trash. Check local disposal requirements.

This is also the perfect time to decide how you want to organize tools, sports equipment, gardening supplies, holiday decorations, and other belongings before they arrive.

Move-in cleaning FAQ

What should you clean before moving into a new house?

Clean kitchen cabinets and drawers, appliances, bathrooms, closets, windows, window tracks, baseboards, high-touch surfaces, carpets, and hard floors. If possible, clean while the house is empty so you can easily reach areas that furniture will eventually cover.

Should you clean a house before moving in?

Yes, even if the previous occupants cleaned before leaving. Cleaning an empty house lets you tackle cabinet interiors, closets, appliances, floors, baseboards, and other areas that will be harder to reach after you unpack.

What should you clean first when moving into a new home?

Start with high surfaces and work downward. Clean ceiling fans, light fixtures, walls, cabinets, counters, and other surfaces before cleaning the floors. If you’re short on time, prioritize the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

Should you clean cabinets before moving in?

Yes. Vacuum loose crumbs and debris, then wipe shelves and drawers using a method that’s safe for the cabinet material. Let everything dry before adding dishes, food, clothing, toiletries, or other belongings.

Should you clean carpets before moving furniture in?

If carpets need a deep cleaning, doing it before the furniture arrives is usually much easier. Allow the carpet to dry completely before moving furniture and boxes onto it.

Should you clean appliances before using them in a new home?

Clean appliances that came with the home according to their manufacturers’ instructions. Pay particular attention to appliances that come into contact with food, including the refrigerator, oven, stovetop, and dishwasher.

How long does it take to clean a house before moving in?

It depends on the home’s size and condition. A relatively clean home may only need several hours, while a larger home or one requiring a deep clean could take a day or longer. Divide the work by room or hire professional cleaners if you don’t have enough time before moving day.

Is it better to clean before or after moving in?

When possible, do the deep cleaning before moving in. Empty rooms make it much easier to clean closets, cabinets, floors, walls, windows, and areas that will eventually sit behind or underneath furniture. After moving in, you can focus on smaller touch-ups and cleaning items as you unpack.