Move-In / Move-Out Cleaning: Your Ultimate Cleaning Checklist

Moving out of one home and into another can be time-consuming, stressful, and expensive. Adding cleaning tasks on top of your ever-growing to-do list can make the process even more overwhelming. Luckily, professional cleaning companies have stepped up to bridge the gap between what landlords and property owners require for move-out cleaning and what busy tenants actually have the time, skills, and cleaning products necessary to accomplish. Our professional move-in move-out cleaning service in Maryland will work through a comprehensive cleaning checklist to make sure each and every inch of the property is returned to a pristine condition.

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What Is Included With Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning

The services included with move-in and move-out cleaning may vary depending on the company you use. Most professional cleaning companies offer some flexibility and customization with their move-in/move-out cleaning checklists. You may be able to pick and choose which services you need based on your goals, timeline, budget, and the size and scope of your cleaning job. In general, house cleaners who offer deep, detailed cleaning services for move-in/move-out provide:

Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping all floors

Cleaning baseboards, walls, and windowsills

Dusting or wiping down air vents and blinds

Dusting and sanitizing all surfaces

Cleaning toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and showers

Wiping down kitchen appliances

Cleaning inside drawers, cabinets, and closets

Dusting or wiping down shelves

Deep-cleaning the refrigerator, stove, and oven

Dusting or wiping down ceiling fan blades

The Differences Between Standard Cleaning and Deep Cleaning

Standard cleaning includes routine, everyday cleaning tasks like wiping down counters, sanitizing surfaces, taking out the trash, dusting and vacuuming, mopping, tidying up, and cleaning up obvious messes or spills. Deep cleaning[1] means cleaning everything from top to bottom in every room of your home, including inside drawers, cabinets, and closets. It also means cleaning your refrigerator, bathtub, shower, toilet, stove, oven, dishwasher, and other appliances. When you deep clean, you are scrubbing, polishing, removing stains, getting rid of dirt and grime, and cleaning areas that might not have ever been cleaned before. You will dust the blades of your ceiling fan, wipe down each slat of your miniblinds, launder curtains and pillows, and move furniture to clean underneath it. A deep clean of a home that is empty because someone has moved out or is about to move in is less complicated, as it won’t involve furniture or personal belongings.

Why You Should Hire Professionals for Move-In and Move-Out or Deep Cleaning Services

When you hire a professional for move-in or move-out cleaning services, you will save time and money and reduce stress. You will free up time to focus on the more important elements of your move and you will have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your property will be thoroughly and professionally cleaned by an expert. The biggest benefits of hiring a professional for move-in or move-out deep cleaning services are:

  • You won’t need to invest your own money in cleaning products and equipment you might never use again.
  • You won’t have to waste your time tackling big, difficult cleaning jobs.
  • You can trust a professional with years of experience to clean efficiently and effectively.
  • The property will be much cleaner than if you had done it yourself.
  • You have a better chance of maintaining a good relationship with your landlord or getting your security deposit back.
  • You’re leaving the property in good shape for the next tenants or owners.
  • You can focus your energy on the more important elements of your move.
  • You will be leaving the property in better condition than you found it.

How to Find Move-In Move-Out and Deep Cleaning Services

The best move-out cleaning services in Maryland offer free estimates for move-in and move-out cleaning costs, offer specialty deep-cleaning services, give a guarantee for their services, and use a thorough move-in move-out cleaning checklist. Here are our tips for how to choose the right move-in move-out cleaning service near you in Maryland:

Before you begin looking for a local move-in move-out cleaning company, you should identify your primary needs and goals. Make a list of the specific areas you want them to tackle and what your objective is. Are you making sure your new home will be clean and ready for you to move into? Are you preparing a commercial property or rental property for a new tenant or owner? Are you maintaining compliance with the terms of your lease and making sure your rental home is clean after moving out? Are you trying to get your security deposit back from your landlord? Having your needs and goals clearly outlined will help you communicate with the cleaning company, determine if their services meet your needs, and establish their rates.

The Benefits of a Professional Deep Clean

When you hire professionals for a deep clean of your old or new home, you’re getting an entire team of house cleaners who have years of experience, access to heavy-duty tools and equipment, and tips and tricks needed to get a sparkling clean. They can work much more efficiently and provide a much more detailed level of cleanliness than you could achieve on your own. This can help you maintain a good relationship with your landlord in case you need a reference the next time you rent a property, and it may help you get your security deposit back. Move-out cleaning also ensures you’re leaving the property in great shape for the next tenant. When you hire a professional for move-in cleaning, you can make sure you’re getting a fresh start in your new home by eliminating odors, dust, allergens, germs, and other contaminants that could affect your comfort, health, and safety.

The Best Checklist for Move-Out Cleaning

If you are hiring a professional cleaning company to deep clean your house after you move out or before you move in, you should make sure they are using a thorough deep cleaning checklist. A deep-clean checklist should cover every room and every area in the room and detail each area and method of cleaning. When a professional cleaning company uses a checklist, you can have faith that they are providing the same level of service to each customer and they won’t forget a single area of your home. You can also review the move-in move-out cleaning checklist[2] before they begin and discuss any special requests or services you do or don’t need.

FAQs About Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning Services

What does a move in move out deep clean include?

A move in/move out clean includes a deep, top to bottom clean of every room in your home, apartment, or commercial property. The specific cleaning tasks included depend on the cleaning company you use. Most companies allow some flexibility in choosing the cleaning tasks you need.

What defines move out cleaning?

Move out cleaning services are services provided when a client, tenant, or business has moved out of a property. These cleaning services are provided in vacant properties that are free from furniture and personal belongings. Move-out cleaning services are deep cleaning services that prepare the property for the next tenant or owner.

Should you clean your house when you move out?

Yes, you should clean your house when you move out. If you don’t want to clean it yourself, you should hire a professional cleaning company. Some leases require the tenant to clean the property to a certain standard when they move out. Cleaning the property helps you maintain a good relationship with your landlord and gives you a better chance of getting your security deposit back. It also prepares the property for the next occupant.

What happens if a seller doesn’t clean the house?

If a seller doesn’t clean the house, the buyer or their agent can hire a company to do a move-in clean.

How long should it take to deep clean a house?

The length of time it takes to deep clean a house will depend on the size of the house, how many rooms it has, how many appliances it has, how many windows it has, whether it is occupied or vacant, and which specific deep-cleaning services are needed.

Are tenants responsible for cleaning when moving out?

Most leases require tenants to do some level of cleaning when they move out. Some leases are very specific about what cleaning tasks need to be done, while others simply state that the property must be left in the same condition it was when the tenant moved in.

What’s included in a move-in cleaning?

A move-in cleaning service prepares a home or commercial property for a new owner, tenant, or occupant. The cleaning company will use the same type of cleaning checklist that is used for move-out cleaning. The services provided will depend on what is requested by the owner, landlord, property manager, or new occupant. Move-in cleaning services are deep cleaning services that sanitize the home, remove dirt and grime, and ensure it is ready for a new occupant.

Request an Estimate for Move-In Move-Out Cleaning Services From Cornerstone Cleaning

At Cornerstone Cleaning, we have a team of professionals who specialize in detailed move-in and move-out cleaning services in Baltimore County, Cecil County, and Harford County. We are committed to using safe, effective cleaning products and equipment that sanitize homes, remove dirt and grime, and reduce germs, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants. We use a detailed move-in move-out cleaning checklist to ensure a thorough, deep clean for each property. Whether you need a rental or commercial property cleaned quickly for a new tenant, you’re planning on moving into a new home and want to make sure it’s professionally cleaned first, or you’re moving out and you want to improve your chances of getting your security deposit back from your landlord, our team can help. Our residential and commercial cleaning services leave all rooms spotless and sparkling, and we work efficiently to maximize results while minimizing your downtime. Call us today or contact us online to learn more about our residential, commercial, move-in/move-out, recurring cleaning, or occasional cleaning services. We will send a team member to your home, property, or business to provide an estimate for the cost of moving cleaning services.

References

[1] Angi, What Is Included in Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning? http://www.angi.com/articles/general-house-cleaning-vs-deep-cleaning.htm

[2] Apartment Therapy, Get Your Deposit Back: A Move-Out Cleaning Checklist; https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/move-out-cleaning-checklist-to-get-your-deposit-back-175617