Moving in Cleaning Checklist

New Home Cleaning Checklist

I've moved several times in the past few years, and one thing I've learned is that it's best to clean before unpacking.  In my first apartment, I decided to unpack everything first, and had to spend the next few weeks trying to move everything around and clean around things.  Eventually, I ran out of motivation and never quite got everything exactly the way I wanted it.

The next time I moved, I took the time to clean as much as I could before my items arrived.  This definitely made a huge difference and let me just deal with upkeep, rather than deep cleaning around all of my furniture.

Gather your supplies
Having the right supplies will make cleaning go a lot quicker.  Here's what I recommend:

  • All purpose cleaner
  • Baking soda
  • Broom
  • Dishwashing soap
  • Drain cleaner
  • Dusting cloths
  • Grease remover
  • Mop
  • Painter's tape
  • Paper towels
  • Rags
  • Rubber gloves
  • Shower cleaner
  • Sponges
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Toilet brush
  • Trash bags
  • Vacuum
  • White vinegar
  • Window cleaner

A few rules
Just a few things to keep in mind:

  • Clean from the top down
  • Perform dry cleaning before wet cleaning

Starting with the ceiling and moving down to the floors will save you a lot of repeat work.  When dusting fans, light fixtures, cabinets, and other high up objects, dust and lint tend to fall in the floor.  It only took me a few times of mopping first to realize that I hated discovering that I'd recreated my mess.

Similarly, dusting before mopping or wiping down cabinets will make the wet cleaning a lot less frustrating.  If dust and other dry debris are not cleaned first, going after them with a mop or rag will simply smear them around and make streaks.  The wet cleaning process goes a lot faster if you get rid of the dry stuff first.

Save the kitchen for last
If you're cleaning while waiting for your items to arrive, it's best to go ahead and clean the areas that will go quickly.  Focus on bedrooms and your living area so that the big furniture can go where it belongs.  If you're not able to get to the kitchen and bathroom before your furniture arrives, you'll be able to leave those boxes in the rooms that are clean while you finish up.

If you have a self-cleaning oven, go ahead and let it run through its cleaning cycle while you work on the other rooms.  Finish up when you get to the kitchen.

Choosing a moving company who takes care of the driving for you allows you to take the time to make sure everything is in order with your new home before your items arrive.  Take advantage of this time to set everything up the way you want it and make your new home a place you want to come home to.