You already know that moving is an incredibly stressful task. Whether you are moving to a new house, back home, or leaving the country, the growing list of things to do can be very overwhelming. From packing and paperwork, to managing your regular schedule and perhaps even a job; it always seems like there is too much to do and not enough time for it all! To make matters worse, you might have a deadline or a fixed ‘moving day’ that puts that much more pressure on you to get everything done in time.

With all of the stress mentioned above already weighing you down, you probably haven’t even gotten to the cleaning aspect of things! This is yet another big task that needs to be taken care of before you eventually move out of the house. Of course, unlike a weekly cleaning routine, there is quite a bit of planning that goes into a move out clean. The task entails a comprehensive cleaning checklist that ensures a thorough, top-to-bottom clean of every room in the house. 

So, without wasting time, let’s learn about the ultimate move out clean checklist that will leave the place spotless!

All Rooms

There are many things that are common in all rooms and therefore, it helps to have a checklist that refers to each of them so that they aren’t overlooked as you move from one room to another.

Listed below are all the cleaning tasks you need to check off in all rooms before moving out:

    • Remove cobwebs from ceiling
    • Dust moldings
    • Clean ceiling fans
    • Dust wall-mounted light fixtures
    • Dust walls
    • Clean air vents
    • Clean and replace air filters in HVAC systems
    • Wipe switches/switchboards
    • Dust furniture
    • Wipe down baseboards
    • Wipe door knobs
    • Dust doors and door frames
    • Wash windows (interior and exterior)
    • Clean window treatments
    • Clean window sills and tracks
    • Wipe all surfaces (counters, ledges, in-built shelving, etc)
    • Vacuum and mop floor
    • Deep clean or steam clean carpets and rugs

Bedrooms

Typically, bedrooms are easier to clean considering that they are generally smaller than other rooms. With that said, if there is a lot of furniture or things in the bedroom that you are not taking with you, it might take some time to get through a top-to-bottom clean, particularly where storage spaces are concerned.

Nevertheless, depending on what is left in the bedroom, here is checklist of things one will need to clean:

    • Clean mirrors
    • Wipe bed frame
    • Dust bedside tables
    • Dust bookshelf
    • Clean closet interior and exterior
    • Wipe dresser exterior
    • Clean inside drawers of dresser, bedside tables, etc
    • Clean inside storage cabinets/cupboards
    • Wipe down fronts of doors and drawers
    • Deep clean mattress
    • Dust table lamps
    • Dust wall decor
    • Empty and clean trash can

Kitchen

You will probably need to use a bit of elbow grease to get the kitchen all cleaned up. Irrespective of whether you are a renter or a house owner, it is your responsibility to prepare the space for the next tenants/homeowners who move in. Therefore, as part of move out cleaning, the kitchen must be cleaned and sanitized thoroughly before you vacate the home.

Here is the ultimate move out cleaning checklist for your kitchen:

    • Wipe tops of kitchen cabinets
    • Clean inside and outside of cabinets and drawers
    • Degrease and wipe counters
    • Wipe shelves, tables, and other surfaces
    • Wash backsplash tiles
    • Clean sink, faucet, and surrounding area
    • Clean stovetop, oven, and range hood
    • Clean interior and exterior or refrigerator
    • Clean interior and exterior of microwave
    • Clean dishwasher interior
    • Freshen up garbage disposal
    • Empty and clean trash can

Bathrooms

The bathroom is another area that can get quite grimy if not cleaned thoroughly and on a regular basis. Bacteria thrive in bathrooms because of their particularly damp and humid environment, thereby encouraging the development of black mold and other fungi. For these reasons, it is important to give the bathroom a thorough scrub down to remove mold, dirt, and grime; this includes cleaning those areas that are out of sight and/or often overlooked.

When cleaning your bathroom before moving out, refer to the checklist below:

    • Scrub wall tiles
    • Wash sink (exterior included)
    • Scrub bathtub inside and outside
    • Clean shower door/curtain
    • Clean toilet bowl (inside and outside), toilet seat, and lid
    • Wipe and sanitize flush handle/buttons
    • Clean mirror
    • Clean medicine cabinet interior and exterior
    • Wipe down bathroom fittings and fixtures
    • Wipe countertops and other flat surfaces
    • Scrub floor tiles
    • Clean vanity unit (inside and outside)
    • Empty and clean trash can

Living Room

Considering the fact that the living room is typically where you host guests, watch TV, and spend time with the family, it tends to get overused which is often (visibly) evident. In this case, close attention to detail is required when cleaning the living area to ensure that there are no ‘missed spots’. 

With a little time and effort, you can get the living room properly cleaned and looking great for the people who move in next. Here is the checklist you will need:

    • Dust TV unit
    • Clean glass surfaces
    • Deep clean or steam clean couches/sofas
    • Clean upholstered chairs and other furniture
    • Clean and even out carpet dents
    • Dust all knickknacks and decorative pieces
    • Clean cabinets and drawers inside and outside
    • Empty and clean trash can

Other Rooms & Areas

Apart from the major rooms in a house or apartment that we have mentioned above, there are other rooms and areas that must be addressed as part of your move out clean checklist.

These are as follows:

Laundry Room

    • Clean up soap spills
    • Clean washing machine and dryer (interiors and exteriors)
    • Clean and sanitize laundry baskets
    • Clean sink
    • Wipe down all surfaces
    • Empty and clean trash can

Entryways

    • Dust console tables
    • Dust wall decor
    • Vacuum corners

Garage

    • Degrease and wash floor
    • Dust walls
    • Wash garage door inside and outside

Basement & Attic

    • Remove cobwebs
    • Dust beams and pillars
    • Dust walls
    • Sweep and mop floor

Patios & Balconies

    • Dust railings/banisters
    • Remove cobwebs
    • Dust lighting fixtures
    • Sweep and mop floor

Depending on your house design, there may be other rooms and areas that are not included in this list above. However, when cleaning a property before moving out, the general rule of thumb is to clean every part of the house, and thoroughly! To help you have a better understanding of what that should look like, take a walk around the house and pretend that you are moving into the property; if you see something you wish would have been cleaned (or cleaned more thoroughly), give it a once-over to ensure that you are satisfied with the result. 

Although having the ultimate move out cleaning checklist helps a great deal, we understand that getting it all done is no walk in the park, and many don’t have the time or means to even attempt doing it themselves. If you fall into this category of people, consider hiring a professional move out cleaning service to get the job done to your, and the next owners’ satisfaction!