Listen, moving is crazy. I’m not gonna sugarcoat it. I’ve moved… gosh, probably seven times in my adult life? And each time I think, “This time will be different. This time I’ll be organized.”
But it’s always the same story – me frantically cleaning at 11 PM the night before, wondering how my baseboards got so dirty when I don’t even remember the last time I looked at them.
Moving out cleaning is a whole different animal than regular cleaning. When you’re living somewhere, you can ignore certain spots. Nobody’s checking behind your refrigerator during a dinner party, right? But when you move out? Everything is exposed. Everything matters.
So I learned some things. I made some mistakes so you don’t have to. Let’s talk about how to actually deep clean when you’re moving out.
7 Deep Clean Tips When Moving Out
I wish someone had given me a realistic guide when I first moved. Not just “clean everything” – because duh, I know that – but the actual steps in an order that makes sense. The truth is, there’s a method to the madness.
Today, if I would again have to move, I would rather prefer hiring a professional, like Val’s Services Cleaning. Since, they are located near me.
Moreover, there are layers to cleaning a house when you’re moving out, and if you don’t understand those layers, you’ll waste time, energy, and probably end up crying on the kitchen floor at midnight. Not that I’m speaking from experience or anything… Moreover, there are layers to cleaning a house when you’re moving out, and if you do not understand those layers, you will waste time, energy, and probably end up crying on the kitchen floor at midnight. Not that I am speaking from experience or anything. If you are weighing whether outside help makes sense during the process, a Homeaglow review can give you a more realistic sense of what that kind of support may look like.
Make a Room-by-Room Checklist
Okay, so the first thing – and I cannot stress this enough – make a checklist. Room by room. Seriously.
I used to think I could just wing it. “I’ll clean what looks dirty!” But then I’d finish a room, walk away, and suddenly remember I completely forgot to wipe down the ceiling fan that was covered in dust bunnies.
A checklist saves your brain. It’s not just about remembering everything – it’s about giving yourself the satisfaction of checking things off. There’s actual science behind this – your brain loves checking off boxes. It gives you a little hit of dopamine.
My method is to walk through each room and look up, down, and all around. Ceiling, walls, corners, floors. Write down everything you see that needs cleaning.
For the bathroom list: toilet (inside, outside, behind), shower (tiles, door, drain), sink, mirror, cabinet interiors, floors, baseboards.
For the kitchen: appliances (inside and out), cabinet interiors and exteriors, countertops, sink, backsplash, floor.
When we were moving, my husband laughed at my eight-page moving cleaning checklist. He wasn’t laughing when we got our full deposit back.
Declutter Before Cleaning
You cannot clean around stuff. I’ve tried. It doesn’t work.
This is actually the biggest mistake people make. They try to deep clean while all their stuff is still there. Listen, if you’re scrubbing a bathtub with shampoo bottles still in it, you’re doing it wrong.
Get everything out first. Everything. Even the stuff you think doesn’t matter.
When my friend Sarah tried to clean her apartment with half her stuff still there, it took her three times longer than it should have. Why? Because she was constantly moving things, working around things, putting things back.
The real truth is that cleaning an empty space is so much faster. It’s not even comparable. And bonus – when you’re packing and removing everything, you find all those little things that fell behind furniture years ago. I once found $40 behind my dresser! And also a half-eaten lollipop, but we don’t need to talk about that.
Remember that weird awkward space between your fridge and counter? It needs cleaning too. And you can’t do that with a kitchen full of stuff.
Refresh and Disinfect the Bathroom
Bathrooms are gross. I know we don’t like to admit it, but they are. Even if you clean regularly, there are spots you’ve missed.
According to a study I read, the average bathroom has over 200 times more bacteria than a kitchen cutting board. Gross, right?
Start at the top – that neglected exhaust fan that’s probably covered in dust. Then work your way down. The shower is usually the biggest job. If you’ve got soap scum buildup, a mixture of vinegar and Dawn dish soap works wonders.
Don’t forget the toilet base. Not just around it, but the actual base where it meets the floor. That spot where mysterious gunk collects. You know what I’m talking about.
The bathroom is the one place where I actually do use strong chemicals, like fabuloso. Bleach for the toilet, mildew spray for the shower. Everything else can usually be handled with vinegar or regular cleaners.
When I was cleaning our bathroom before showing prospective buyers our home, I realized I’d never properly cleaned the sliding door track of our shower. It was… well, let’s just say it was educational. And slightly traumatizing.
Deep Clean Appliances
Appliances are the things that make people go “eww” when they’re dirty. A dirty oven can make a whole kitchen feel gross.
The oven is usually the worst offender. If you’ve never used the self-cleaning function, now’s the time. Just remember it gets super hot and smelly, so do it before you start cleaning the rest of the kitchen.
The refrigerator needs to be completely empty. Take out all shelves and drawers and wash them in the sink. Don’t forget the rubber gaskets around the doors – they collect more crumbs than you’d think possible.
The dishwasher needs love too. Run it empty with a cup of vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack.
For the microwave, my favorite trick is to put a bowl of water with lemon slices in it, then run it for 3 minutes. The steam loosens all the stuck-on food, and you can just wipe it clean.
And please, please clean under and behind your appliances if possible. I know it’s a pain, but there’s probably enough dust under your fridge to build a whole new dust bunny family. And nobody wants to inherit your dust bunny family.
Wash Windows and Blinds
Windows are one of those things that you don’t notice until they’re clean, and then you’re like, “Wow, I can actually see outside clearly!”
For blinds, use a sock on your hand dipped in a vinegar-water solution. It’s faster than trying to clean each slat individually.
Don’t forget window tracks – they collect dirt like nobody’s business. A small brush like an old toothbrush works great for this.
And please, clean both sides of the windows if you can safely reach them. Nothing worse than cleaning the inside perfectly only to realize the outside looks like it’s been through a mud storm.
I remember cleaning the windows in our last place. It was a sunny day, and I thought they looked great… until the sun hit them at a different angle later and showed every streak. I had to do them all over again. Learn from my mistake – clean windows on a cloudy day!
Focus on Forgotten Areas
There are spots in every home that never get cleaned during regular cleaning sessions. These are the spots that will get you when you move out.
Light fixtures and ceiling fans – dust collects up there like crazy.
Switch plates and door knobs – they get grimy from hands touching them constantly.
Baseboards and crown molding – these collect dust in a way that’s not noticeable until you’re specifically looking for it.
Inside cabinets and drawers – they need to be completely empty and wiped down.
Air vents – these get dusty and can make the whole place look dirty.
Behind toilets – possibly the most neglected spot in any bathroom.
My friend Lisa lost $200 of her security deposit because she forgot to clean the inside of her kitchen cabinets. The property manager literally ran a finger inside each one during the final walkthrough. Talk about attention to detail!
Clean Floors Last
Floors are the very last thing you should clean. Why? Because all the dust and dirt from everything else falls onto them.
Start by sweeping or vacuuming thoroughly. Get in the corners, under where furniture used to be, everywhere.
For hard floors, mopping with the right cleaner for your floor type is crucial. Wood floors need different care than tile or vinyl.
For carpets, you might need to rent a carpet cleaner for stains. But at minimum, vacuum extremely thoroughly.
Don’t forget the baseboards! They’re technically part of the floor cleaning process in my book.
I remember when I was so excited about finding our dream mountain cabin that I rushed through cleaning our old place. I had to go back and redo the floors because I’d cleaned them first, then knocked dust everywhere while cleaning light fixtures. Learn from my mistakes!
Conclusion
Moving out cleaning doesn’t have to be the nightmare we all make it out to be. If you break it down into these steps and tackle them in order, it becomes manageable.
Remember: declutter completely first, work from top to bottom in each room, don’t forget the forgotten spots, and save floors for last.
The goal isn’t just to get your deposit back. It’s about leaving with a clear conscience, knowing you’re giving the next person a clean slate. When we finally found our perfect place, I was so grateful the previous owners had taken the time to leave it spotless.
Be the person you hope to move in after. Your future self will thank you when you’re not rushing around at midnight before handing over the keys. And hey, maybe you’ll even find that missing earring or the $20 bill you lost last year while you’re at it. Moving out cleaning: it’s like a treasure hunt, but with more scrubbing!
