What's Included in a Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning? The Complete Checklist
"What does your move in/out cleaning include?" It's usually the first question people ask a cleaning company when a lease is ending, and the answers vary more than most renters expect. One company's move-out clean includes the inside of the oven; another charges extra for it. This guide gives you an itemized cleaning list, explains how the two jobs differ, and shows which items to confirm before you book.
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A move-in/move-out cleaning is a top-to-bottom clean of an empty home. The kitchen and bathrooms are scrubbed and sanitized, and the crew cleans baseboards, window sills, closets, vents and floors throughout. A move-out clean concentrates on what a landlord or buyer will inspect. A move-in clean concentrates on the surfaces you're about to use. Oven, refrigerator and cabinet interiors are where companies differ most, so ask whether they're included or priced as add-ons.
What a Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning Covers, Room by Room
Because the unit is empty, a crew can reach places a regular cleaning works around. A thorough move-in or move-out checklist usually covers:
Kitchen
- Countertops, backsplash and sink scrubbed; faucet polished
- Cabinet and drawer fronts wiped, handles degreased
- Exteriors of the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and microwave cleaned
- Stovetop and range hood degreased
- Inside the oven, refrigerator, microwave and cabinets: confirm whether this is included or an add-on (see below)
- Floor swept and mopped, including along the cabinet toe kicks
Bathrooms
- Toilet scrubbed inside, outside and around the base
- Tub, shower walls and grout lines scrubbed; glass doors de-spotted
- Sink, vanity, mirror and the inside of the vanity cleaned
- Exhaust fan cover cleaned
- Floor mopped and sanitized
For grout and fixtures in more detail, see our guide to bathroom deep cleaning.
Bedrooms, Living Areas and Closets
- Closet shelves, rods and floors cleaned
- Window sills and interior window tracks cleaned
- Baseboards and door frames wiped
- Light switches, outlet covers and door handles wiped
- Floors vacuumed or mopped edge to edge
Throughout the Unit
- Walls spot-cleaned for scuffs and marks
- Vents, light fixtures and radiator tops dusted (radiators collect years of dust in older Hudson County buildings)
- Trash from the cleaning bagged and removed
Nidus's own cleaning checklist has a dedicated Move-In / Move-Out tab that shows how these items are grouped.
What Is Included in a Move-In Cleaning vs. a Move-Out Cleaning?
The two checklists overlap almost entirely; what changes is who the clean is for. So what does a move-out clean include that a move-in clean doesn't? Mostly a difference in emphasis:
| Move-in cleaning | Move-out cleaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | You, before you unpack | The landlord, buyer or next tenant |
| Main priority | Surfaces you'll use first: cabinet and drawer interiors, shelves, bathroom fixtures | Details checked at a walkthrough: grout, baseboards, sills, appliance condition |
| Best timing | After the previous occupant leaves, before your boxes arrive | After your belongings are out, before the final inspection |
| Common extra | Sanitizing shelves and drawers before dishes and food go in | Inside the oven and refrigerator; scuffed walls |
Leaving one apartment and moving into another? Book them as two jobs. Our move-out cleaning page covers the walkthrough-focused version, and move-in cleaning covers preparing a new place before you unpack. If you're working out how to clean for a move-out yourself, the Move-Out Cleaning Guide for Renters compares DIY with hiring help.
What's Usually Not Included (and Common Add-Ons)
A move-in/move-out cleaning is a detailed clean of an empty space, not repairs or specialty work. Policies vary, but these items are usually outside the standard job or quoted separately:
- Appliance and cabinet interiors at some companies, so ask directly
- Full wall washing or paint touch-ups (spot-cleaning scuffs is not the same as washing every wall)
- Exterior windows and window screens
- Carpet shampooing or steam cleaning
- Hauling away furniture, junk or bags of trash left behind
- Mold remediation, pest cleanup or biohazard cleanup
- Post-renovation dust and debris, which needs a separate post-construction clean
If any of these matter to you, mention them when you request a quote so the price reflects the actual job.
How to Use This Checklist Before You Book
A checklist only helps if the crew can actually do every item on it. Four things make the difference:
1. Empty the unit first. Furniture and boxes block the closets, baseboards and floors this clean exists for.
2. Keep the utilities on. The crew needs working water, hot water and electricity.
3. Plan building access. In walk-ups and elevator buildings around Union City, tell your cleaner ahead of time about buzzers, lockboxes, elevator reservations or parking.
4. Review the list with your quote. Point out problem spots, such as a stained oven or greasy range hood, so there are no surprises.
Want to see how your unit lines up with this list? Request a free quote with your ZIP code, move date and the size of the space. Most requests get a reply within an hour.
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Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning FAQs
What is the difference between a deep clean and a move-out clean?
A deep clean happens in a lived-in home, so the crew works around furniture and belongings. A move-out clean happens in an empty unit, where closets, shelves and every baseboard are reachable, and the goal is to pass an inspection. For more on deep cleaning itself, see standard cleaning vs. deep cleaning.
Is move out cleaning more expensive?
It usually costs more than a standard recurring cleaning because it covers more surfaces and takes longer. The price depends mostly on the size of the space, its condition and any add-ons. Our guide How Much Does House Cleaning Cost in Hudson County explains the main pricing factors.
How long do move out cleans usually take?
It depends on the size of the unit, its condition and the add-ons; a tidy studio is a very different job from a three-bedroom with a heavily used kitchen. Ask for a time estimate with your quote so you can plan around your walkthrough.
What should I include on my move-in cleaning list?
Start with anything that will touch your food, clothes or skin: kitchen cabinets and drawers, refrigerator shelves, closet shelves, the bathtub and the toilet. Then add the spots that are hard to reach once you've moved in, such as floors where furniture will go, baseboards and window tracks.
Nidus Cleaning Company is a founder-led team handling move-in and move-out cleaning across Union City and Hudson County. Tell us your move date and unit size and we'll confirm your quote, usually within the hour. Call 973-346-5465 or request a quote online.