A professional move in cleaning gets your new home clean before a single box comes through the door. It typically covers the inside of every cabinet, drawer, and closet, the inside of the fridge and oven, a full scrub of bathrooms and the kitchen, baseboards, doors, switches, window sills and tracks, and every floor. The goal is simple: you shouldn’t have to clean up after the last occupant before you can put your dishes away.
Even if the previous tenants or owners cleaned before they left, their idea of clean may not match yours. Cupboards can hold crumbs, fridges can hold smells, and bathrooms can look fine at a glance while grime sits in the grout. A move in clean is your one chance to reach every surface while the home is empty, which is far easier than trying to do it once your furniture and belongings are in place.
Quick Answer: A professional move in cleaning is a detailed, one time clean of an empty home before you move in. It usually includes cleaning inside cabinets, drawers, and closets, inside the fridge, freezer, oven, and microwave, scrubbing bathrooms and kitchen surfaces, wiping baseboards, doors, frames, switches, and window sills and tracks, and vacuuming and mopping every floor. Carpet cleaning, inside windows, and wall washing are often add ons, so confirm what’s included when you book.
Key Takeaways
- An empty home is the easiest home to clean. Move in cleaning reaches every shelf, corner, and floor before your furniture blocks access.
- Insides matter most. Cabinets, drawers, closets, and appliances get the attention you’d never give them once you’re living there.
- Bathrooms and kitchens get a full reset. These are the rooms most likely to hold the previous occupant’s grime.
- Some services are add ons. Carpet cleaning, interior windows, and wall washing may cost extra depending on the company.
- Renters should document the unit first. In BC, the move in condition inspection records the unit’s condition, which matters when you eventually move out.
What Move In Cleaning Actually Is
Move in cleaning is a detailed clean of a home you’re about to occupy. It’s similar in depth to a deep clean, but it’s timed for the short window between getting the keys and unloading the moving truck. Because the home is empty, cleaners can work through every cupboard and closet and clean behind and inside spaces that are hard to reach once a home is lived in.
How Move In Cleaning Differs From Move Out Cleaning
The tasks overlap a lot. The difference is who the clean is for. A move out clean is done for the landlord or buyer, to leave the home ready for inspection. A move in clean is done for you, to make the home ready to live in. Our guide to what to expect from a move out cleaning service covers the other side of the move.
Move In Cleaning vs Move Out Cleaning: Side by Side
| What You’re Comparing | Move In Cleaning | Move Out Cleaning |
| Who it’s for | You, the new occupant | The landlord, property manager, or buyer |
| When it happens | After you get the keys, before you unpack | After you’ve moved out, before the final inspection |
| Main goal | A fresh, hygienic start in your new home | Leaving the home ready for inspection |
| Inside cabinets, closets, appliances | Usually included | Usually included |
| Focus areas | Kitchens, bathrooms, storage spaces you’ll use | Everything a landlord or buyer will check |
| Who usually pays | The incoming occupant | The outgoing occupant |
READ MORE: When Should You Book Move In vs Move Out Cleaning? A Renter’s Timeline
What’s Included in a Professional Move In Cleaning
Every company has its own checklist, but a thorough move in clean usually covers the following. [VERIFY: match this list to Sweepy Maids’ actual move in cleaning checklist before publishing.]
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers
- Inside and outside of the fridge and freezer
- Inside the oven, stove top, and range hood
- Inside and outside of the microwave, plus the dishwasher exterior
- Countertops, backsplash, sink, and faucet
Bathrooms
- Toilet, including the base and behind it
- Tub, shower, tiles, grout, and glass doors
- Sink, vanity, mirror, and inside cabinets and drawers
- Faucets, fixtures, and exhaust fan cover
Bedrooms and living areas
- Closets, shelves, and closet doors
- Baseboards, door frames, doors, and light switches
- Window sills and window tracks
- Light fixtures and ceiling fans where reachable
Floors throughout
- Vacuuming carpets, including edges and corners
- Vacuuming and mopping all hard floors
If you want a sense of how this compares to a regular deep clean, our room by room deep cleaning guide breaks down the same spaces for a home you’re already living in.
What’s Usually an Add On
Carpet cleaning. Vacuuming is standard, but steam cleaning or shampooing is usually extra. Before moving in is a good time to do it, since the rooms are empty. Our guides on how often to get professional carpet cleaning and steam cleaning vs shampooing carpets explain your options.
Interior windows and wall washing. Washing full walls and the glass on the inside of every window takes extra time, so many companies price them separately.
Balconies, garages, and storage lockers. Outdoor and storage spaces are often outside the standard scope. Ask if you want them included.
[ADD: which of these Sweepy Maids includes as standard and which are add ons, so readers know exactly what to expect.]
Did You Know? According to the Province of British Columbia, the move in condition inspection should happen on the day the tenant gets the keys, with the landlord and tenant walking through the unit together. The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the inspection report within 7 days, and the province recommends taking plenty of photos and videos. If you’re renting, it’s worth completing the inspection and noting any existing dirt or damage before your move in clean, so the report reflects the condition the unit was in when you received it.
READ MORE: Hiring a Cleaning Company vs an Independent Cleaner: Pros, Cons, and Cost
How to Plan Your Move In Clean
Book it for the day you get the keys. The best time is after the home is empty and before the movers arrive. Our move in vs move out cleaning timeline shows how to fit it around your moving day.
Choose the right cleaner. A move in clean has a tight window, so reliability matters. Our comparison of cleaning companies and independent cleaners covers what to check before you book.
Know what you’re paying for. Move in cleans are detailed jobs and are usually priced more like a deep clean than a regular visit. Our guide to the deep cleaning vs standard cleaning price difference in Canada explains why. If you’re unsure whether to hire help at all, our cost vs time breakdown can help.
Plan what comes next. Once you’ve settled in, a regular schedule keeps your new home feeling fresh. Our guide to recurring vs one time cleaning service and our breakdown of the average cost of weekly house cleaning in Calgary can help you plan.
Getting the keys to a new place soon? Get a free move in cleaning quote from Sweepy Maids and start fresh before you unpack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is move in cleaning necessary if the previous tenant already cleaned?
It’s not required, but many people book it anyway. The previous occupant’s clean may have focused on passing an inspection rather than on the inside of cabinets, appliances, and other spaces you’ll use every day.
How long does a move in clean take?
It depends on the size of the home, its condition, and any add ons. A small apartment takes much less time than a large house. Your cleaning company should give you an estimate when you book.
Should I clean before or after the movers arrive?
Before, whenever possible. An empty home lets cleaners reach every cabinet, closet, and floor without working around boxes and furniture.
I’m setting up a short term rental. Is move in cleaning enough?
A move in clean is a great starting point for a new rental suite, but short term rentals then need a turnover clean after every guest. See our complete guide to booking Airbnb cleaning and our breakdown of Airbnb turnover cleaning costs in Surrey and Kelowna.
Can I book a move in clean for a new office?
Yes, many cleaning companies clean commercial spaces before a business moves in. For ongoing service afterward, see how often a commercial office should be cleaned and our guide to in house janitorial vs outsourced commercial cleaning.
About the Author
Parth Katyal is the founder of Sweepy Maids and a cleaning industry specialist with more than 10 years of experience serving Canadian homeowners. Sweepy Maids started in Surrey, BC and now operates across Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, Kelowna, Calgary, Brampton, Edmonton, and Montreal, including our Vancity Newton branch. Parth’s focus on eco friendly products, bonded and background checked staff, and transparent pricing shapes how Sweepy Maids approaches every home it cleans.