person cleaning overlay
Posted in How-to, Moving Tips&Tricks on December 3, 2021
Michael Vaughan

Moving through the Bay Area, Michael works as a freelance writer in the moving and transportation industry.

How to Perform Ideal Move Out Cleaning

When you are about to relocate to a new place, move out cleaning is the last thing on your mind. And although it may be tedious and tiring at times, it is something you’ll need to do. So, we’ve decided to create the most thorough scrubbing guide and make this dreaded process the easiest as it can be. So keep reading and get informed on how to get the place spotless prior to the move.

House Move Out Cleaning Is a Crucial Step of Any Relocation

Once you tip cross-country movers for a job well done, it may seem as if you’ve checked the final item off of your to-do checklist. However, once all the furniture has been moved and the place is empty once again, there is one last thing you need to do – and that is to wipe, cleanse, and disinfect the rooms before leaving them for good. Why is this so important, you may wonder, if you won’t be living there anymore? Well, there are a few, although one stands out in particular, and that is the return of your deposit.

Do You Have to Clean a Rental When You Move Out?

Basically, no one can force you to wipe down the place before leaving it. However, your lease should have in it a clause indicating in what condition you, as a former tenant, are required to leave the premises. On account of this bullet point, you can be denied the return of the deposit you left when you moved in for the first time. And as we suspect you don’t want to leave the deposit to your former landlord (no matter how well you got along), it may not be a bad idea to get your mop and disinfectants and get to work.

An older woman wiping a window
It's not obligatory to leave the place cleaned to perfection, but if you're set on getting your deposit back, you might want to

Those Who’ll Be House Cleaning After Moving Out Should Get All the Necessary Disinfecting Supplies Before Relocation

If it turns out that you have to save on relocation costs, the burden of getting your home spotless will fall on your back. But don’t let the move-out anxiety slip in – we’ll help you make the process as easy as possible with our professional relocation tips. First, you need to gather all the necessary supplies before the move. Of course, try not to buy multiple boxes of supplies and materials prior to packing your home.

You’ll want to do this when most of your home has been packed up and placed in boxes but prior to placing your stuff in the truck. Such timing will ensure that you won’t be tripping over your boxes of disinfectants but also that you won’t have to run out to gather items at the wrong moment, specifically when you have to focus on preparing for movers and helping them out.

What Are the Best Supplies and Disinfectants to Place on Your Shopping Checklist Prior to Move Out House Cleaning?

Boxes and packing supplies aren’t the only items you’ll have to get when relocating to a big city. If you don’t want to make common relocation mistakes, we suggest placing the following items on your shopping checklist:

  • Multiple sponges,
  • Steel wool,
  • Microfiber cloths,
  • Rubber gloves,
  • (Steam) mop,
  • A vacuum cleaner,
  • Alcohol,
  • Multi-purpose disinfectants,
  • Anti-grease spray,
  • Glass products,
  • Paper towels,
  • Trash bags.
Find your best moving solution in 2 clicks GET A QUOTE

The Best Strategy to Clean a House Is Through the Famous Top-to-Bottom Approach

Once a home is empty, it’s time to clean the vacant place. It’s crucial to wait after you’ve moved out your stuff because making bare rooms spotless is much easier than doing it with all the furniture inside. Additionally, furniture will block some surfaces and parts of the floor, and since you surely don’t want to be going back and forth with your mop and vacuum, it’s surely better to wait.

And if you want to make the cleanse as efficient as can be, we suggest you use the top-to-bottom approach. That means you’ll start by wiping down all the highest surfaces in a room, such as the curtain rods, window panes, and cabinets or shelves. Next up, you can continue wiping off the walls, and slowly work your way down to kitchen islands and tables, and finish off with the floors. This way, you won’t have to worry about going over any surface to which dust and dirt fell on because you’ll meticulously cleanse working your way to the bottom of the rooms.

A person carrying a bucket with supplies
With your deep cleansing supplies in hand, you'll be unstoppable!

Clean One Room at a Time for the Best Results

Another thing you should keep in mind is that the most efficient way to clean is if you scrub one room at a time. When you get into a relocation frenzy, especially if you are dealing with a last-minute move, it can be easy to lose your mind and want to do everything at once. But, rather than jumping around from one room to another, doing everything in bits and pieces, it’s wiser to get one portion of the job done prior to continuing to the other. And you should start with the easiest (and least essential) part of it – your living space and bedroom.

The Living Room and Bedroom Are Going to Be the Starting Scrubbing Points

Although the living room and bedroom can seem like the most essential of the spaces, trust us when we tell you that they aren’t. Although you may be spending most of your time in these spaces now, except for the bed, these rooms aren’t required to function, unlike the cookery and the bathroom. That’s why, as soon as you pack the TV, all your little sculptures, artwork, and books, you should get the cloth and mop.

Start with the approach we mentioned earlier: vacuum all the ceiling corners from spider webs, wipe the curtain rods, and then work your way down to the floors. It won’t take you more than three hours per room (depending on how many windows there are), and you’ll soon see what a piece of cake this job was in comparison to, for example, packing your fragile items and valuables.

A girl cleaning a TV
If you didn't buy a new TV, ensure you've cleaned the old one before packaging it up

Next Up in the Cleansing Line Is the Kitchen

The kitchen is considered to be one of the most difficult spaces to disinfect. That’s because the oil and food residue can mess up your cooking spaces faster than you could imagine. It’s enough to drop one utensil, and you already have a mess on your hands. That’s why it’s recommended to wait till you’ve packed up all the kitchen items and have stopped cooking and frying before you get to scrubbing.

Scrub Down Every Appliance and Cabinet Inside and Out to Get Your Deposit

More often than not, a lot of the appliances, such as the fridge, oven, and even microwave, will be staying in the apartment you’re moving out of. That’s why it’s crucial to take that anti-grease spray and get to scrubbing each surface. And when it comes to cleaning the cabinets, we recommend trying out a homemade solution of vinegar and baking soda. It does wonders and won’t leave any stains even when removing the most stubborn stains from the oldest of the cabinets. For more in-depth cleaning tips on these specific rooms, check out the following video.

YouTube video

Finally, You’re Going to Have to Wipe Down Every Corner of the Bathroom

Last but not least – the bathroom, also known as the room with the most germs and bacteria. Once all the bathroom items are packed and taken out, it’s time to get the sponge in one hand and the disinfectant in the other (covered by gloves, of course) and get to scrubbing. Start with the shower, toilet bowl, and sink, but don’t forget to give the tiles a good mop-down as well.

Don’t Forget to Disinfect Every Surface That Might Store Germs and Bacteria

Did you know that vicious bacteria like Escherichia coli, Streptococcus, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus Aureus are the most common bathroom germs? What’s even more frightening is that they are found not only on surfaces such as the sink, the toilet bowl, and the tub, but rather all the little surfaces you might not even think of.

So, when you are cleaning your soon-to-be former bathroom, don’t forget to thoroughly disinfect the door and cabinet handles, the towel racks, the light switch, and the faucet handles as well. Only after you’re done with them can you pat yourself on the back and consider the job finished.

A person cleaning a bathroom cabinet handle
It's crucial not to forget to scrub all the handles and doorknobs since they too store infinite amounts of germs

Is Paying for a Professional Apartment Move Out Cleaning Service Worth It?

Of course, if the endeavor of relocating efficiently left you void of the energy or physical strength required to leave the place spotless, you can always consider hiring professional cleaning services. Another question arises in this instance, and that is whether the cost of such a service weighs out its benefits. This is something that only you can answer, but we’ll give you the relevant information that might help you make a choice.

How Much Does a Move Out Clean Typically Cost?

The first thing to consider is always the cost, especially if you’re relocating without a job or on a budget and aren’t in a position to spend money carelessly. So, the first thing to know is that the cost of professional services depends on the size of the home. If the place you are leaving is considered a small apartment, it won’t cost the same as a multiple-story house to wipe it down.

On that note, you should know that the range of typical costs can go from around $110 to $350 for those who rented an apartment, while a house cleanse can go for more than $450. Typically, the average price is around $360. However, you won’t have to make this decision blindly. Find a trusted agency near you and contact them – they should be able to provide you with a quote of how much the final receipt should be, and that might turn decision-making into an easier process.

What’s Included in a Move Out Clean of a Home?

Another relevant part of figuring out is moving out cleaning worth it, is knowing what you’ll get for your money. While no two companies are exactly alike, and each will have its own rules and set of services provided, there are some that can’t be avoided. Of course, we always recommend asking the representatives about the service they provide before giving them any cash. However, if you decide on hiring professionals, you can probably expect to be paying for the following:

  • Vacuuming and mopping of floors,
  • Deep cleaning of appliances,
  • Bathroom disinfection,
  • Cleansing of surfaces such as window panes, kitchen islands, tables, cabinets, and the like,
  • Rinsing of glass surfaces such as windows, doors, and mirrors.
A professional cleaner vacuuming
Hiring a professional service provider can be of great help in overwhelming situations like relocation

If You Want Your Move to Be as Easy as Can Be, Hire Long Distance Moving Services in a Timely Fashion

Whether you are relocating from a house to an apartment or the other way around, you’ll surely require someone to help you take the things to their next destination, whether it’s your changed address or a designated storage unit. And there’s no better help than that of a professional cross-country moving company.

A long-distance moving company can help you with any type of service you require, whether it’s auto transport or providing you with packing service. All you have to do is research “long distance movers near me“, contact a few companies for a few free quotes, wage out your options, and hire the company you liked the most. And voila, your move is set to be as efficient and stress-free as can be.

Get a Quote

We Cover

© Copyright 2022 Long Distance Movers. All Rights Reserved.
Get a Free Estimate 323-949-2929