How to Clean Before Moving In (And End of Lease Cleaning Checklist)

Most buyers assume the property will be left in reasonable condition when they get the keys. Research from first-home buyer communities consistently shows otherwise. Sellers leave behind hair in the shower drains, grease-caked range hoods, dusty ceiling fan blades, and kitchen drawers lined with contact paper from 2009. The property feels like someone else's home — because it was.

Cleaning before you move furniture in is your one opportunity to reach every surface in the new property without obstacles. Once the sofa is against the wall and the bed is assembled, you'll never clean those areas as thoroughly again.

Here's how to tackle both sides of the cleaning equation: the new home you're moving into, and the old property you're leaving.

The New Home: Clean Before Furniture Arrives

The ideal sequence is to clean the empty new property before the moving truck arrives. Even a few hours makes a significant difference. Work top to bottom in each room — ceiling fans and shelves before floors.

Kitchen (highest priority):

• Run the dishwasher empty on a hot cycle to clear any residual odour or film
• Remove and soak range hood filters in degreaser solution; replace if severely caked
• Wipe the interior of every cupboard and drawer with an antibacterial spray
• Clean the oven interior — the previous owner rarely does this adequately
• Wipe down all appliances including under and behind the refrigerator if it's staying
• Clean inside the microwave
• Run hot water and a drain cleaner through the sink trap

Bathrooms:

• Replace toilet seats — this is inexpensive ($20–$40 per toilet) and gives an immediate fresh start
• Clean shower screens and tiles with a bathroom acid cleaner to remove mineral deposits
• Clear the shower drain of any hair or debris
• Wipe down all cabinetry interior and exterior
• Clean the extractor fan cover — these accumulate dust and rarely get cleaned by outgoing occupants

Bedrooms:

• Vacuum carpet thoroughly before any furniture lands on it; consider a professional carpet clean if there are visible stains
• Wipe window sills, ledges, and skirting boards
• Clean window glass (and tracks — they collect extraordinary amounts of grime)
• Wipe ceiling fan blades if present

Living areas:

• Wipe all built-in shelving and cabinetry
• Vacuum and wipe skirting boards
• Clean light switches and power outlet covers — these are consistently overlooked

Whole-home checks:

• Test smoke detectors on every floor; replace batteries
• Check air filters if the property has ducted heating and cooling; replace if clogged
• Wipe exhaust vents throughout the home

In Australia and New Zealand, it's worth specifically checking for mould in bathroom grout and around window seals — the climate and construction styles in both countries create conditions that encourage mould growth in ways that aren't always visible in an inspection.

End of Lease Cleaning Checklist

If you're leaving a rental, the standard for end-of-lease cleaning is typically "returned to the condition at the start of the tenancy, fair wear and tear excepted." In Australia, the Residential Tenancies Act in most states requires tenants to arrange professional cleaning if the property was professionally cleaned at the start of the tenancy — and landlords typically have evidence of this in the ingoing condition report.

In the UK, deposit protection schemes require photographic evidence of condition. In Canada, the tenant's obligation varies by province; in Ontario, it's covered under the Residential Tenancies Act with relatively tenant-friendly standards; in Queensland, Australia, the RTA's bond lodgement and inspection process is strictly documented.

End of lease cleaning checklist:

Kitchen:

• Clean oven interior including racks and door glass
• Degrease range hood and replace filters if required
• Clean all appliance exteriors and interiors (microwave, dishwasher)
• Wipe all cupboard exteriors and interiors
• Clean stovetop thoroughly including burner grates

Bathrooms:

• Scrub tiles and grout
• Clean toilet thoroughly including under the rim
• Clean shower screen (acid treatment for mineral deposits)
• Wipe all cabinetry and mirrors

Bedrooms and living areas:

• Steam clean carpets if they were professionally cleaned at the start of tenancy
• Wipe all skirting boards, door frames, light switches
• Clean windows inside (and outside if accessible)
• Remove any picture hooks and patch the holes with filler

Outdoor areas (if applicable):

• Mow lawn and trim edges
• Remove personal items from garage, shed, and garden
• Clean outdoor furniture if it was present at start of tenancy

Utilities:

• Take final meter readings for electricity and gas on the day you hand the keys back
• Photograph the readings and the property condition on your phone with timestamps

Hiring a professional end-of-lease cleaner typically costs $200–$500 for a 3-bedroom property in Australia, £100–£250 in the UK, and $150–$400 in Canada. Many real estate agents in Australia require proof of professional cleaning via a receipt, so DIY cleaning may not satisfy the condition regardless of quality.

Sequencing the Two Cleans

If you're leaving a rental and buying simultaneously — which most movers are — the sequencing matters:

1. Clean the new property first (ideally the day before moving in, while empty)
2. Move all furniture and boxes out of the old property
3. Conduct the end-of-lease clean of the old property
4. Do the final walk-through and meter readings at the old property
5. Hand back keys

This sequence ensures you're not cleaning around furniture in the new home, and you have access to all cleaning supplies during the old home clean before they're loaded onto the moving truck.

Cleaning is one of those moving tasks that's tempting to skip or rush, but properties left dirty by outgoing owners are one of the most consistent complaints from first-home buyers — and losing a rental bond because of a substandard clean is an expensive mistake.

The Moving Day Toolkit includes room-by-room cleaning checklists for both the new home and the end-of-lease clean, alongside the full 8-week moving timeline so each task lands at the right point in your schedule.