Clean after the home is empty
Timing matters more than anything else on this page. A move-out clean performed before the furniture leaves has to be redone. Book the clean after the last load is out and, if possible, after any carpet or paint work, so nothing recontaminates surfaces that were already done.
Room-by-room checklist
Kitchen
- Inside and outside of all cabinets and drawers
- Countertops, backsplash and sink, including the faucet and drain area
- Inside the refrigerator, including shelves and drawers
- Inside the oven, stovetop, hood and exterior of all appliances
- Inside the microwave and dishwasher door and gasket
- Light fixtures, switch plates and outlet covers
- Baseboards, floors and any visible wall marks
Bathrooms
- Tub, shower, tile, glass and tracks
- Toilet, including the base and behind it
- Vanity inside and out, drawers, mirror and fixtures
- Exhaust fan cover and light fixtures
- Baseboards and floors, including corners and behind the door
Bedrooms, closets and living areas
- Inside closets, including shelving and rods
- Window sills, tracks and interior glass where booked
- Blinds where booked
- Doors, door frames, handles and switch plates
- Baseboards, vents, corners and cobwebs
- Floors vacuumed and mopped throughout
Entry, hallways, laundry and stairs
- Laundry area, including behind and around hookups where accessible
- Stair treads, risers and railings
- Entry floors and any tracked in salt or grit, which Michigan winters guarantee
- Interior of the garage entry door and adjacent walls where marked
What a Spotless move clean covers, and what does not
| Spotless move clean | Stays with you |
|---|---|
| Cleaning an empty home room by room | Removing all furniture, belongings and trash first |
| Inside cabinets, drawers, closets and appliances | Repairs, patching and painting |
| Bathrooms, kitchen, floors, baseboards and fixtures | Carpet replacement or professional carpet stretching |
| Interior windows and blinds where booked as extras | Exterior windows, gutters and yard work |
| Wall spot cleaning where booked | Pest treatment, mold remediation and biohazard cleanup |
| Reporting anything we cannot safely clean | Landlord or buyer negotiations and any inspection outcome |
We clean homes. We do not advise on leases, deposits or inspection disputes. If your lease or purchase agreement specifies particular cleaning requirements, share them when you book so the scope can be matched where possible.
Moving week timeline
- Two weeks out: book the move clean for the day after the home will be empty, and add extras such as interior windows or blinds.
- One week out: confirm access, keys, codes and parking for moving day and cleaning day.
- Move day: get everything out, including the garage, basement, attic and any storage area.
- Cleaning day: leave utilities and water on so the crew can work, and keep the home empty.
- Final walkthrough: check the home yourself afterward and flag anything within 24 hours.
Move-in cleans are worth it too
Cleaning a home before your things arrive is the only time you will have unobstructed access to every cabinet interior, closet and floor. If you are buying or renting, a move-in clean on an empty home is faster and more thorough than any clean you will manage afterward.
Book a move clean
Move-in and move-out cleans are priced from the same details as any other visit: size, bedrooms, bathrooms, condition and extras. See the move cleaning page for scope, then get your personalized price.