Move-In Cleaning Checklist: Before You Unpack

Most cleaning advice for moving day is about getting your bond back from the place you're leaving. The home you're moving into gets far less attention, even though it's the one you'll actually live in. Even when the previous tenant or owner did an end of lease clean, there are usually areas that were missed, such as the inside of cupboards, the top of the fridge cavity and the tracks of sliding doors. A move in cleaning checklist helps you deal with all of it while the rooms are still empty, which is by far the easiest time to clean. This guide is for renters and new owners in Sydney. It walks through what to do before the removalists arrive, then goes room by room.

Why Clean Before You Unpack?

Empty rooms are quicker to clean. There's no furniture to move, nothing on the benches and nothing on the floor. Once your boxes are in, the inside of the kitchen cupboards becomes storage and you won't see the back of the wardrobe again for a year. There's also a practical reason for renters. Your ingoing condition report is the record your property manager will compare against when you leave. Walking through the property carefully while you clean is the best time to spot and record existing marks, damage and dirt.

Before Moving Day: Check, Photograph and Report

Do this before you clean anything, so you capture the condition the property was handed over in. • Read the ingoing condition report. In NSW, landlords or agents give tenants a condition report at the start of a tenancy. Check each item against what you see, and note anything you disagree with on your copy before you return it within the time frame stated on the form. • Take dated photos and video of each room, including floors, walls, the oven, the bathroom grout and any existing damage. Close-ups matter. A wide shot won't show a stain on the carpet. • Test everything: taps, the hot water, the oven and cooktop, the rangehood light and fan, the exhaust fans, the smoke alarms, window locks and blinds. • Report repairs to the agent or landlord in writing. Cleaning won't fix a leaking tap or a broken flyscreen, and you want a record that it was there before you. NSW Fair Trading has guidance for renters on condition reports and repairs. Check it if you're unsure what you're entitled to.

Supplies You'll Need

Keep it simple. You don't need a cupboard full of specialist products. • A vacuum with crevice and brush attachments • A mop and bucket, or a flat-mop system • Microfibre cloths (plenty of them, kept separate for bathrooms and kitchen) • A general-purpose cleaner, a bathroom cleaner and a degreaser for the kitchen • A soft scrubbing brush and an old toothbrush for tracks and corners • A step stool, rubbish bags and rubber gloves Read each product's label, ventilate while you work and never mix bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners.

Room-by-Room Move-In Cleaning Checklist

Work from top to bottom in each room, and from the back of the house towards the front door, so you aren't walking through areas you've already cleaned.

Kitchen

• Wipe the inside and outside of every cupboard and drawer, including the shelf edges and the top of the cupboard doors. • Clean the inside of the oven, the oven racks and the grill. A previous clean may have missed baked-on grease at the back. If it's heavy, a professional oven clean will save you a lot of scrubbing. • Degrease the rangehood and wash or replace the filters. • Clean the cooktop and the splashback. • Pull the fridge cavity clean: wipe the floor, walls and the top of the cavity before your fridge goes in. • Run the dishwasher empty on a hot cycle if there is one, and clean the filter. • Scrub the sink and taps, and run water down the drains to check they flow freely.

Bathrooms and laundry

• Clean the shower screen, tiles and grout. Look closely for mould in corners and along the silicone. If you find it, our guide on removing bathroom mould explains what to do. • Clean and disinfect the toilet, including behind the seat hinges and around the base. • Clean the vanity inside and out, and the mirror. • Wipe the exhaust fan cover and check that the fan runs. • In the laundry, clean the tub, the cupboards and the space where your washing machine and dryer will sit.

Bedrooms and living areas

• Dust ceiling fans, light fittings and the tops of door frames. • Wipe skirting boards, light switches, power points (dry cloth only) and door handles. • Clean the inside of built-in wardrobes, including the shelves and the hanging rail. • Vacuum carpet thoroughly, especially along the edges. If the carpet looks or smells like it needs more than a vacuum, a hot-water extraction clean before your furniture goes in is much easier than doing it later. See our carpet cleaning service. • Mop hard floors last.

Windows, doors and tracks

• Vacuum window and sliding door tracks, then scrub them with a brush and wipe them out. • Clean the glass inside and out where it's safe to reach. • Wipe the window sills and frames. • Dust or wipe blinds, and check curtains for marks.

Outdoor areas

• Sweep the balcony, patio or courtyard. • Wipe outdoor light fittings and the front door. • Check the bins provided by the property and find out the council collection day.

A Sensible Order for Moving Day

If you only have one day between getting the keys and the removalists arriving, prioritise: 1. Photograph and test everything. 2. Kitchen cupboards and the fridge cavity, because your food and crockery go in first. 3. Bathrooms, because you'll need them that night. 4. Wardrobes and bedroom floors, because the beds go in next. 5. Everything else after the boxes are in.

When to Book a Professional Move-In Clean

A professional move-in clean makes sense when: • You have a short gap between handover and moving day. • The property was empty for a while and dust has built up. • The previous occupant's clean wasn't up to standard. In that case, as a tenant, raise it with your agent in writing first. • You're moving with young children, pets or someone with allergies and you'd like a thorough clean before they arrive. Our house cleaning service can do a one-off move-in clean to the checklist above. If you're also leaving a rental, book your end of lease cleaning at the same time so both properties are sorted. For the outgoing property, our bond cleaning checklist covers what agents look for.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a move-in clean and an end of lease clean?

An end of lease clean is done when you leave a property, and it's aimed at meeting the condition in the ingoing report so your bond can be returned. A move-in clean is done for you, in the home you're moving into, before you unpack. The task lists are similar, but the goal is different.

Should the property be clean when I move in?

In NSW, the landlord should hand the property over in a reasonably clean condition. If it isn't, record it on your condition report, take photos and let the agent know in writing. Many people still choose to do their own move-in clean, because "reasonably clean" and "clean enough to unpack into" aren't always the same.

How long does a move-in clean take?

It depends on the size and condition of the property and how many people are helping. An empty apartment is much quicker than a large house with an outdoor area. Doing it before furniture arrives is always faster.

Do I need to steam clean carpets when I move in?

Not necessarily. Vacuum first and look closely. If there are stains, odours or the carpet has clearly not been cleaned in a long time, a professional clean before your furniture arrives is worth considering.

Ready for the Keys?

Save this checklist to your phone and take it with you at handover. If you'd rather walk into a home that's already done, get in touch with iCleanPro to book a move-in clean anywhere in South West Sydney. Related guide: How to Prepare for a House Cleaner (So You Get More From Each Visit) Related guide: Streak-Free Window Cleaning: Tools, Method and Common Mistakes Related guide: Routine Rental Inspection Cleaning Checklist for Tenants

Move-In Cleaning Checklist: What to Clean Before You Unpack