Moving into your new home is an exciting time, however, it’s also potentially an overwhelming experience, given all the logistics involved.

Whether you’ve bought or leased, it’s likely one of your most significant investments.

Before you begin unpacking boxes, at Progressive Cleaning Corp, we wanted to provide you a comprehensive house move in cleaning checklist to ease the transition into your germ-free home.

The Cleaning Items You Will Need

Before you begin, walk through your new home and make sure all the cupboards and drawers are empty. Now it’s time to gather your supplies, you will need:

• A microfiber mop and bucket
• Vacuum Cleaner
• Cleaning cloths and dusters
• Scrubbing pads
• All-purpose cleaner
• Broom and dustpan
• Spongers
• Paper towels
• Squeegee
• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Warm water

Try to avoid harmful chemicals, using white vinegar, lemon, baking soda and dishwashing liquid will remove most grime and tough stains.

Before You Begin

Our house move in cleaning checklist is easy to follow. However, before you begin, we wanted to share some tips that you can apply to each room on your checklist.

Always start high (e.g. cupboards/windows) and move your way down (e.g. to the floor).

We recommend using dry and dampened microfiber cloths when removing dust. Removing dust in this manner will help lower allergens and improve the air quality in your new home.

Using our house move in cleaning checklist will help you get a thorough clean, making sure you don’t miss any areas.

It’s a good idea to create your own checklist for your general cleaning too.

This way you can give your home a top to bottom clean; taking on one room at a time making the house cleaning a manageable weekly task.

It’s up to you if you approach this as a daily task or dedicate an entire day to cleaning.

• You should also read: Easy Home Cleaning: Clean Your Home in Record Time

Your House Move In Cleaning Checklist

Here’s your complete list to follow before moving in so you and your family enjoy a clean, germ-free home.

Kitchen Checklist

• Start from the top and remove any dust and cobwebs from the ceiling and work down the walls.
• Clean the cupboards starting from the inside and working your way to the outer side. Wipe down all the cupboard doors and drawers.
• Clean the windows (or at least the window sills).
• This is the perfect time to clean those stubborn stains from the fridge. Start by removing all the drawers and shelves and clean them in the sink with soapy warm water. Wipe down the inside of your fridge, returning shelving and drawers once dry.
• Remove grease and stains from your oven, dishwasher, rangehood and microwave. It’s a good idea to run your dishwasher on a hot water cycle with a cup of baking soda to freshen it up.
• Wipe down the backsplash, stovetop, countertops, and sink.
• Sweep and mop the floors.

Tip: To tackle stains and grime, consider using natural cleaning agents like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon.

Bathroom Checklist

Bathrooms are known to harbor the most germs and bacteria than any other part of the home which can lead to various health-related problems.

This is a room you need to pay extra attention to.

• Safely clean the bathroom extractor fan.
• Clean the tile grout, paying close attention to the inside of the shower.
• Scrub down the shower walls, shower head and glass shower screen with your all purpose cleaner, rinse and finish off with a squeegee.
• Using your all purpose cleaner, scrub down your bathtub removing any oils and soap scum.
• Clean the interior of your vanity cupboards and drawers.
• Polish your mirrors and disinfect the sink and faucets.
• Disinfect and clean toilets, inside and out.
• Mop the floor.

Related article: Cleaning Your Bathroom with Baking Soda: What To Clean

Living Room and Bedroom Checklist

The two rooms we spend our time relaxing and sleeping in, so make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies.

The accumulation of dust, dirt and grime in these rooms can increase the risks of health issues and result in poor sleep quality.

• Clean the air ducts and vents with a vacuum, and replace any dirty air filters to ensure your rooms are filled with fresh, clean air.
• Using your duster, remove cobwebs and dust from ceilings and cornices.
• Remove any light fixtures and wash them in warm soapy water. Once completely dry, re-fit into place.
• Vacuum blinds, window sills and curtains. Pay extra attention to the carpet.
• Wipe down the interiors and exteriors of wardrobes
• Disinfect door handles and light switches.

Laundry Checklist

Initially, it will look like an empty shell, however, the laundry cannot be missed and deserves some attention.

• Damp-wipe the light fixtures or remove and wash them in warm soapy water.
• Using a damp cloth, wipe over ledges above doors and windows, and other surfaces, high to low.
• Using an all-purpose cleaner, wipe down cupboards starting from the inside and working your way to the outer side.
• Wipe down benches inside the laundry.
• Sweep and mop the floor.

Extra Tasks For The House Move In Cleaning Checklist

While we have included a full house move in cleaning checklist, there are often other tasks than may be overlooked.

So we’ve added some extra checklist tasks to cover some other things you may want to do.

Patio – Look outdoors, your patio or deck may need some cleaning too.

• Start by eliminating loose debris with a leaf blower or broom.
• Wet the area using a garden hose.
• Clean with warm soapy water and a scrubbing brush or broom, rinse and allow to dry.

Tip: if you find any tough stubborn stains, use equal parts vinegar and water. Let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it clean.

More:

• Disinfect the wheelie bins
• Clean walkways and driveway
• Clean and spruce up the BBQ

Whether you choose to use our house move in cleaning checklist or want to call in our house cleaning service in Alexandria, VA, Progressive Cleaning Corp, is committed to assisting you enjoy a clean home regularly.

If you would like a quote or to book a service, simply call us on (703) 718-0787 or book online here.

Our move out cleaning service in Alexandria, VA, covers an extensive checklist similar to the one above and is also perfect for those moving into a new home.

You can also customize your service with our optional extras. Check out our FAQ page for the full checklist.