Clean a new home before you unpack anything. Start with high-touch surfaces such as door handles, switches, and cabinet pulls. Then clean inside every cabinet, drawer, and closet, inside the refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, and microwave, and scrub and disinfect each bathroom. Dust from the top down, wipe baseboards and window sills, and finish with the floors. Replace the HVAC filter while the home is empty.
Even a home that looks clean on the walkthrough has been lived in, shown, and packed up by someone else. A move-in clean resets everything you will touch, cook with, and sleep near, and it is far easier to do in an empty home than after the furniture arrives. This checklist is the order we recommend for new homes in Germantown, MD and across Montgomery County.
Before you start
- Schedule it between closing (or key pickup) and moving day. Even one empty day makes a big difference.
- Make sure power and water are on. You need both for appliances, lights, and mopping.
- Gather supplies: microfiber cloths, an all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant, glass cleaner, a degreaser, a scrub brush, a vacuum with attachments, a mop, rubber gloves, trash bags, and a step stool.
- Open windows if the weather allows, so the home airs out while you clean.
- Work top to bottom and dry to wet in each room: dust first, then wipe, then floors.
Step 1: Sanitize high-touch surfaces
Start with the spots the previous occupants touched most:
- Door handles, deadbolts, and the front door keypad or doorbell
- Light switches and switch plates
- Cabinet and drawer pulls
- Stair railings and banisters
- Thermostat, garage door button, and appliance handles
Kitchen move-in checklist
- Vacuum crumbs out of every cabinet and drawer, then wipe the inside, shelves, and doors
- Wipe the tops of upper cabinets
- Remove refrigerator shelves and drawers, wash them, and wipe the interior and door seals
- Clean inside the oven and microwave, and wipe the stovetop, knobs, and range hood
- Run the dishwasher empty and clean its filter
- Scrub the sink, faucet, and backsplash, and disinfect the countertops
- Pull out the refrigerator and range if you can, and clean the floor and sides beneath them
- Sweep and mop, including corners and under the toe kick
Bathroom move-in checklist
- Scrub and disinfect the toilet, including the base, hinges, and the floor behind it
- Scrub the tub, shower walls, and glass to remove soap scum and hard water spots
- Clean grout and check caulk for mold or gaps you may want to fix
- Empty and wipe the vanity drawers and medicine cabinet
- Clean the sink, faucet, mirror, and light fixtures
- Wipe the exhaust fan cover
- Mop the floor and wipe the baseboards
Bedrooms, living areas, and closets
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and air vent covers
- Clear cobwebs from corners and crown molding
- Wipe window sills and tracks, dust blinds, and clean interior glass
- Wipe closet shelves and rods, and vacuum the closet floor
- Spot-clean scuffs on walls (test a hidden spot first)
- Wipe doors, door frames, and baseboards
- Vacuum carpets slowly along the edges, and mop hard floors last
Laundry room, garage entry, and the rest
- Wipe the washer drum and door seal and run an empty cleaning cycle
- Clean the dryer lint trap and wipe the tops of both machines
- Sweep the garage entry and wipe the door between the garage and the house
- Replace the HVAC filter and write the date on its frame
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
What to skip or leave to specialists
A move-in clean is about surfaces you can reach and clean safely. Leave these for the right professional:
- Carpet shampooing or steam cleaning if the carpets are stained or smell of pets
- Air duct cleaning if the vents are heavy with dust after a renovation
- Mold, pests, or biohazards, which need remediation, not cleaning
- Bulk items the last owners left behind, which need hauling first
How long does a move-in clean take?
For an empty two or three bedroom home, plan on most of a day for one person, longer if the kitchen or bathrooms need heavy work. A professional team can usually finish the same home in a few hours. The more of the cabinets, appliances, and closets you want cleaned inside, the longer it takes.
Move-in vs move-out cleaning
The tasks are similar, but the goal is different. A move-out clean is about the next occupant and the landlord's inspection, so it focuses on what gets checked. A move-in clean is about your health and comfort, so it starts with sanitizing what you will touch every day. If you are leaving a home on the same week, use our move-out cleaning checklist for the old place.
Hiring a move-in cleaning service
A move-in and move-out cleaning from Nice Maids covers inside empty cabinets, drawers, and closets, baseboards, door frames, and light switches, and full kitchen and bathroom detail. Inside the oven and refrigerator, interior windows, and inside-garage sweeping are available as add-ons. The home should be empty, with power and water on. We use non-toxic cleaning products, our team is insured and background-checked, and if anything is missed, tell us within 24 hours and we will make it right.
Serving Germantown, MD and nearby
Germantown has a wide variety of housing, from older townhomes near Little Seneca Lake to newer builds in Milestone, plus homes in Black Hill, Churchill Village, Kingsview, and Germantown Center. In an older townhome, focus on built-up grime in kitchens and bathrooms. In a newer build, expect fine construction dust in vents, window tracks, and inside cabinets. Nice Maids offers move-in cleaning and recurring house cleaning in Germantown once you are settled.
Nearby, we also clean homes in Clarksburg, MD, Boyds, MD, and Damascus, MD.
Frequently asked questions
What should I clean first when moving into a new home?
Start with high-touch surfaces: door handles, light switches, cabinet pulls, and railings. Then clean inside the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator so they are ready for food, and disinfect the bathrooms before anyone uses them.
Should I clean before or after moving in?
Before. An empty home is much faster to clean, and you can reach inside cabinets, closets, and corners that furniture and boxes will block later.
Do I need to clean a brand new construction home before moving in?
Usually, yes. New construction often leaves fine dust in vents, window tracks, cabinets, and on floors. A thorough wipe-down and vacuum before you unpack keeps that dust out of your belongings.
What does a move-in cleaning include?
A professional move-in cleaning typically includes inside empty cabinets, drawers, and closets, baseboards, door frames, light switches, and detailed kitchen and bathroom cleaning. Inside the oven and refrigerator are often add-ons, so confirm them when you book.
Is there a printable move-in cleaning checklist?
Yes. You can print this page with your browser's print option to take the room-by-room list with you on cleaning day.
How long does it take to clean a house before moving in?
Most of a day for one person in an empty two or three bedroom home, and a few hours for a professional team. Heavy grime in the kitchen or bathrooms adds time.
- Checklist based on the Nice Maids move-in and move-out service scope and common new-home cleaning guidance (Molly Maid, Extra Space Storage, Lowe's move-in guides).
