A move-in cleaning checklist works best when you clean the empty home from the top down, finish with the floors, and finish before the first box comes through the door. If you would rather hand it off, Ladybug’s Move-In/Out cleaning is built for vacant homes. An empty home is the one time you can reach every shelf, track and corner.
This guide gives you the order of work, a room-by-room checklist, Ladybug’s own Move-In/Out task list, and a few Las Vegas checks. If you are leaving a place instead, use our move-out cleaning checklist.
Quick summary
- Clean before furniture and boxes arrive, so nothing blocks cabinets, closets or floors.
- Work top to bottom and back to front: fans and vents first, floors last.
- Do the inside of cabinets, drawers, the oven and the refrigerator before you put anything in them.
- Las Vegas water is “very hard” by Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) standards, so expect mineral buildup on shower glass and faucets.
- Never mix cleaning products. The CDC says to never mix household bleach or any disinfectant with other cleaners or disinfectants.
Why clean a home before you move in?
Because it is much easier to clean an empty room than a full one, and everything you put away afterward stays clean. Whether the previous occupants were tenants, sellers or a builder, you do not know how the home was left. A cleaning pass before you unpack gives you a known starting point.
It also helps if you are a landlord or property manager turning a unit over to a new tenant. A consistent clean between occupants means the next person starts from the same standard. See Ladybug’s realtors and property managers page if that is you.
What order should you clean in?
Start high and finish low, so dust and debris fall onto surfaces you have not cleaned yet. Within each room, work from the far corner toward the door.
- Ceiling fans, air vents and light fixtures
- Cabinets and drawers, inside and out
- Appliances
- Windows, sills and tracks
- Bathrooms
- Light switches, outlets and door handles
- Floors, vacuumed first and mopped last, ending at the front door
Open windows or run fans if the air feels stale, and keep the water and electricity on, since you will need both.
What should a move-in cleaning checklist include?
A good move-in checklist covers the places you will touch every day and the places you cannot reach once furniture is in. Use the lists below as a starting point and adapt them to your home. They are a sample checklist for you to use yourself. Ladybug’s own task list comes next.
Kitchen
- Wipe the inside of every cabinet and drawer before you line or fill them
- Clean the oven inside and out, and the stovetop and knobs
- Clean the microwave inside and out
- Empty and wipe the refrigerator and freezer, including shelves and drawers
- Wipe the dishwasher door and gasket, and the sink and faucet
- Clean the countertops and backsplash
- Wipe the outside of every appliance
Bathrooms
- Scrub the tub, shower walls, glass and tracks
- Clean the toilet inside, outside and around the base
- Wipe the vanity, sink and faucet, and the cabinet interiors
- Clean mirrors and light fixtures
- Wipe door handles, light switches and towel bars
Bedrooms and living areas
- Dust vents, fans, blinds and window treatments
- Wipe window sills, tracks and frames
- Clean closet shelves and rods before you hang or stack anything
- Wipe baseboards, switch plates and outlet covers
- Vacuum carpets and rugs, then mop hard floors
Entry and hallways
- Wipe the front door, handle and frame
- Dust any hallway vents and light fixtures
- Clean the floor last, so you do not track dirt over finished areas
What does a Ladybug Move-In/Out clean include?
Ladybug’s Move-In/Out clean is built for vacant homes. Its cleaning checklist lists the tasks below on the Move-In/Out tab, and the service page describes the same service for vacant properties, whether you are moving in or out. The oven interior appears only on this tab, not on the Standard or Deep Cleaning tabs.
Actual scope may vary based on the home’s condition; confirm the checklist when booking.
Kitchen
- Dust Air Vents & Ceiling Fans
- Wipe Down All Cabinets & Handles (interior & exterior)
- Clean & Sanitize All Countertops
- Deep Clean Microwave (inside & out)
- Deep Clean Oven Interior & Exterior
- Clean Stove Top, Burners & Knobs (full buildup removal)
- Wipe Down Exterior of All Appliances
- Apply Stainless Steel Polish (if applicable)
- Deep Clean Refrigerator (full interior & exterior)
- Clean & Sanitize Sink
- Detail Ceiling Light Fixtures
- Empty Garbage & Replace Bags
- Hand-Clean Perimeter & Baseboards
- Clean Window Sills & Tracks
- Vacuum & Mop Floors (full detail to edges)
Bathrooms
- Dust Air Vents
- Detail Clean Light Fixtures
- Deep Clean All Cabinets (interior & exterior)
- Thorough Scrub of Tub & Shower Walls
- Deep Scrub Shower Glass, Tracks & Door Frames
- Remove Soap Scum & Hard Water Deposits
- Deep Clean & Sanitize Toilet (inside, outside & behind)
- Clean Mirrors (streak-free)
- Deep Clean Countertops, Sink & Faucets
- Clean Door Handles & Light Switches
- Empty Garbage & Replace Bags
- Hand-Clean Baseboards & Corners
- Clean Window Sills & Tracks
- Vacuum & Mop Floors
- Dry All Areas
Bedrooms and living spaces
- Dust Air Vents & Ceiling Fans
- Dust & Wipe All Surfaces
- Deep Clean Blinds, Shutters & Window Treatments
- Clean Window Sills, Tracks & Frames
- Clean All Glass Surfaces (streak-free)
- Wipe Down All Light Switches & Outlets
- Clean Interior Ground-Level Windows (sills, tracks & frames)
- Pick Up & Final Tidy
- Empty Trash Bins & Replace Bag
- Vacuum/Dust Rugs or Carpets
- Hand-Clean Perimeter & Baseboards
- Vacuum & Mop All Floors (full detail to edges)
Want help covering this list? Get an Instant Quote and tell us about your home and move date.
Should you clean it yourself or hire a cleaner?
Do it yourself if the home is small, in good shape and you have time before the move. Hire a cleaner if the home needs more work than you want to take on, if you are short on time, or if you would rather spend your move-in days on boxes. A professional clean is also an option when you manage a rental and want the same result between tenants.
Whichever route you choose, settle the scope before the day. Ask which tasks are included, such as oven interior, inside cabinets and window tracks, and what you still need to do yourself. The move-in and move-out cleaning guide explains what to confirm before you book.
How do you prepare the home for the cleaners?
Make the home easy to work in. Ladybug’s service page asks for the following:
- The home should be empty or nearly empty before the appointment
- Water and electricity must be on
- Let the team know about any specific concerns in advance
Tell them about anything that needs extra attention, such as a stained tub, heavy buildup on the oven or a window you cannot open.
What Las Vegas checks should you add?
Look closely at anything that touches water. SNWA says the hardness of Las Vegas Valley water is 280 parts per million, or 16 grains per gallon, which it categorizes as “very hard.” Hard water can leave a chalky buildup on fixtures and spots on glassware, and SNWA says these effects are cosmetic and do not affect health.
Check shower glass, faucets and sinks for mineral deposits. SNWA notes that deposits on fixtures and countertops can be prevented by wiping surfaces dry. For step-by-step methods, see our guide to removing hard water stains.
If you use bleach or other disinfectants, follow the label. The CDC warns against mixing bleach or disinfectants with other cleaners and advises good airflow when bleach is used indoors.
FAQ
What is included in a move-in cleaning?
It depends on the company, so ask for the checklist. Ladybug’s Move-In/Out tab covers the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms and living spaces, with the oven interior included. The full task list is above.
Should you clean before or after you move your furniture in?
Before. With the home empty you can reach cabinets, closets, windows, baseboards and floors that furniture will cover. After the move, you only need to keep it up.
Should you clean inside the cabinets and appliances?
Yes, and do it before you put anything away. Wipe cabinets and drawers, the refrigerator and the oven while they are empty. Ladybug’s Move-In/Out tab includes the interior and exterior of cabinets, the oven and the refrigerator.
Can a move-in clean help in a rental?
It can help a landlord or property manager start each tenant from the same standard, and it gives a new tenant a clean starting point. Ladybug has a realtors and property managers page for those teams.
Sources
- Ladybug Cleaning Co., “Our Cleaning Checklist”
- Ladybug Cleaning Co., “Move-In/Out Cleaning”
- Southern Nevada Water Authority, “Water quality FAQs” (hard water section)
- CDC, “Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach”
Related guides
- move in cleaning checklist
- Las Vegas
- move-in cleaning